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Vietnam - The Top of Indochina & Sapa Hill Tribes

17 days Guided Groups, Fixed Departures or Daily Seasonal Departures, Minimum 2 People

This tour takes you trekking through perhaps the most beautiful hill country in Vietnam, to the top of Mount Fansipan, at 3143 metres Indochina's highest mountain giving spectacular panoramic views across into Laos and China.
High in the spectacular scenery of the remote North West you will enjoy walking over hills, following hidden paths through valleys with crystal clear streams, bamboo jungle and pine forest, passing emerald terrace upon terrace of rice paddies stretching up the hillsides. But perhaps the highlight will be meeting the remote hill tribe people whose home this stunning area is. This is where they live, working the land in their colourful costumes that have remained unchanged for centuries, speaking in a multiplicity of languages.
They are shy but friendly people and you will stay in their villages, offering a unique opportunity to observe a way of life seen by few westerners. There will also be the opportunity to experience Hanoi, Vietnam's unique capital city, with its old quarter and French colonial buildings virtually living in a time warp. The itinerary has been created by experienced trekkers who are experts in the area and will confirm you are in a truly different world, where you really do get smiles and a friendly welcome from the locals.
Days 1 to 3. Outbound to Hanoi
Fly overnight to Hanoi and transfer to your hotel in the fascinating old quarter with its amazing street life. Take a guided cyclo tour and explore this attractive capital city with its lovely lakes, ancient buildings, palaces and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Take the overnight train to Lao Cai in the North West.
Days 4 to 9. Mount Fansipan Trekking
Drive through farmland to Tac Ko Pass and a H'Mong hill tribe village where the trek commences. Walk through further villages, along terraced rice fields, over rivers, climbing uphill on narrow trails through subtropical forest and spectacular tiny passes to reach remote campsites amidst bamboo surrounds, high on the slopes of Mt Fansipan. Camp in idyllic sites increasing daily in altitude. Ascend gradually along hidden valleys and dense forest, using roots as 'ladders' to emerge at the summit of Mount before descending to the famous hill town of Sapa.
Day 10. Sapa
Sapa is a great trekking base and you will have the whole day to relax and explore this small town and its market, full of colourful minority people from the surrounding hills.
Days 11 to 15. Hill Tribe Trekking
Five inspirational days of trekking through some of the most stunning countryside Vietnam has to offer. You will pass some wild and fantastic landscapes - hill country, pine forests, jungle and valleys, crossing rivers by rope suspension bridges and swimming in the clear waters. Often you will be zigzagging along tiny ancient paths, beside streams with terraces of rice paddies, passing through the villages of the local people in this remote area. You will see the different hill tribe people working in their fantastic colourful costumes, worn by these people for centuries. Each tribe has a different style, pattern and colour, as well as speaking a different language. There are at least nine tribes in this area including the Black H'Mong, Red Zao, Zay and Xa Pho (the smallest group). The people will be very curious to see you but are extremely friendly and interested. Continue to the fabulous mountainous area, the most remote part of Sapa, where you will be some of the very first westerners passing by. Descend through the rainforest to a Tay minority village and transfer by car to Lao Cai station for your overnight train back to Hanoi.
Days 16 and 17. Homeward
A further chance to wander the streets of this lovely old city before flying back overnight to the UK.
Rice fields, Vietnam

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  • Tour grade: C
  • Cost per person: £1,595 fixed departures.
    From £1,795 open dated.
  • Single supplement: £195.
  • CO2 Offset cost: £20.06.
  • What is included: Flights, accommodation, most meals, guide, cook, porters, permits, transfers including trains.
  • Accommodation: Hotels, camping, homestays
  • Departure dates:
    Thursday, 8 May 2008.
    Thursday, 9 October 2008.
    Open-dated for 2 passengers.