Friday, December 6, 2013

Conquering Fansipan Peak - The Roof of Indochina 5 days 6 nights

Locating nearby Sapa town in Lao Cai, Fansipan Peak is famous to almost travellers for its height 3143m as the roof of Indochina. Reaching this Indochina roof after overcoming difficulties may not just give you the absolute victory feeling but certainly bring you with breathtaking natural scenes, spectacular beauty of clouds on Hoang Lien Mountains and cultural life moment of ethnic minorities in the Northwest area.
Highlights:
Discovering Sapa town in the clouds;
Conquering Fansipan Peak - the roof of Indochina with the height of 3143m;
Experiencing the daily life and cultural values of the highland ethnic minorities.

Night 1: Hanoi - Lao Cai Railway Station (-/-/-)
We will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi and take you to the station for a night-train travel from Hanoi to Lao Cai.

Day 1: Lao Cai Railway Station - Sapa (B/-/D)
Arriving at Lao Cai Station in the early morning, our local tour guide will welcome and transfer you through a 35km (22 miles) slopping road to reach the poetic Sapa Town. After enjoying breakfast in misty scenery of “Sapa in the clouds”, you are free to walk around the peaceful and narrow streets and admire the ancient architecture corner of the town built by the French in the early 19th century.

In the afternoon, the tour guide will lead you to Ham Rong Mountain to enjoy the Sapa’s panoramic view as part of trial practice trekking course before climbing to Fansipan Peak the next day. Later, you can go shopping at the local market or walk around the villages to get familiar with trekking activities. After that, our tour guide will remind you about necessary things and trekking rules in the forest.
Enjoy the dinner with local specialties of mountainous Sapa Town. You will stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Sapa - Base camp 2 (2800m) (B/L/D)
After breakfast at Sapa, we will start our trekking trip to conquering Fansipan Peak. Bringing your only necessary items, we will transfer to Tram Ton Heaven Gate) where you will get acquaintance with friendly and experienced porters from Vietnam Discovery Travel and start trekking up to the top passing through the spectacular landscapes of Hoang Lien Mountains. We then stop for a picnic lunch at 2200m point.
Enjoying a short rest, we will keep on trekking up to 2800m base camp for overnight. The porters will help you make personal tent and campfire. You will have unforgettable experiences at night in the mountain.

Day 3: Fansipan peak - Sin Chai - Sapa (B/L/D)
This day we will swallow the final challenge rocky slopes up to reach Fansipan Peak at 3143m height and experience the memorable winning moments in your own way at the top of Indochina’s Roof. After the moments of victory and photo time, we will then turn back to the trail through the jungle and yellow bamboo forest – specialties of Hoang Lien Son Mountains. Lunch will be served on the way back at the scheduled stopover so that you will have full of energy for a hard trekking day.
Trekking downhill is easier and faster and you will arrive at Sin Chai Village in the late afternoon when the smoke from H’mong kitchen floating around the air. Getting into the car and come back to the hotel then you will have time to shower and relax before tasting a cozy dinner full of local specialties.
Stay overnight at the hotel in Sapa town.
Day 4: Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van - Lao Cai Station – Hanoi (B/L/-)
You can reward yourself with a long sleep and having late breakfast after an exciting day. Then the tour guide will lead you to some local houses to learn more about the daily life and unique culture values of ethnic groups in the Northwest of Vietnam. Different from the itinerary of the previous days, on the way of trekking downhill to Lao Chai Village, a residence of Black H’mong ethnic minority, you will see the panorama of Sapa with floating smoke from peaceful wooden houses, a clean stream, grey mountain ranges and immense terraces. Stop at Lao Chai Village, you will meet and talk to friendly locals before trekking to Ta Van Village– the only place in the valley inhabited by Dzay minority.
After lunch at Ta Van Village, you will return to Sapa by car for showering, relaxing and spending leisure time shopping before driving to Lao Cai Railway Station for the night-train back to Hanoi. Stay overnight on train. The trekking tour ends at the station in Hanoi.

Inclusion
Transportations as itinerary mentioned
Soft sleeper sharing cabin train Lao Cai - Hanoi (two-way)
02 night accommodation in Sapa
Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast; L= Lunch; D=Dinner)
Fresh water, tea or local coffee and snack for trekking days
Gloves, first aid kit
Tents and water-proof jacket
Sleeping bags
Local porters (02 pax/porter, private porter +15$)
English speaking experienced guide
All admissions and environment fees

Exclusion
Visa arrangement
Private expends (beverage, laundry...)
Insurance
Private trekking accessories (see what to bring)
Gratuities for guide and porters
Other services not mentioned in the itinerary
   
Special Note
This is a private trip with sharing 4berths cabin on train.
Guide speaking other languages is subject to availability.
Tour program is subject to change due to weather and operating conditions.
Tour could be well operated from September to May of the following year. For rainy seasons on June, July and August, please request.

 
Related Venues
 
Sapa Town
Lao Cai, Vietnam

Being a beautiful and mountainous town in Northern Vietnam, Sapa is famous both for its fine, rugged scenery and for its rich cultural diversity. The colorful and charming town provides a perfect oasis in the midst of a strenuous mountain trek to discover its attractions and culture.

Ham Rong Mountain
Sapa, Lao Cai, Vietnam

Located right in the center of Sapa town, Ham Rong Mountain is home to some stunning orchid gardens and rock gardens. From here, visitors can enjoy the best view of Sapa and the surrounding fresh nature including Mount Fansipan.

Fansipan Mountain
Sapa, Lao Cai, Vietnam

Being the highest peak in Indochina with the altitude of 3143 m above the sea level, climbing up Fansipan mountain is an actual adventurous and challenging opportunity to those who love trekking among the beautiful nature and conquering the height. It also offers some intimate visits to minority groups, beautiful terraces and colorful markets in Sapa

Sin Chai Village
Lao Cai, Vietnam

About 4 km trekking downhill from Sapa town at the foot of Fansipan Mountain is Sin Chai Village which is home to Red Dao Ethnic people. Coming to the village, visitors have chance not only to experience its natural beauty and fresh air but also to observe the daily life and learn about the unique cultural identities of the locals.

Lao Chai Village
Sapa, Lao Cai, Vietnam

Lying right at the beginning of Muong Hoa Valley, Lao Chai Village with its attraction has been an appeal to trekkers. The village offer visitors a chance to enjoy the fresh air, see terrace fields, stream, visit and discover some of the H’mong families.

Ta Van Village
Sapa, Lao Cai, Vietnam

Nested within the picturesque valley of Muong Hoa, Ta Van Village is home to Giay ethnic people. The place is now a favorite destination in Sapa for visitors to have a close-up experience of the life-style and culture typical of the area.