Village Homestay in Sapa - 4 days / 3 nights

Explore remote tribal villages – New tour ***

(Sapa – Seomity –Ta Trung Ho – Thanh Phu – Ban Ho – Sapa)

Tour plan:

Day 1: Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Seo Mi Ty (–, L, D)
Departure at 08.30 heading southwards along the paved road for 3 km, turn right to follow a dirt path for nearly one hour through impressive terraced rice paddies gradually downhill to Muong Hoa river(1,486m to 1,085m). This portion of the trip offers breathtaking scenery of Hoang Lien mountain range and Sapa Valley. Cross the river by suspension bridge and then the trail gets narrower and tougher uphill for about another hour from to Lao Hang Chai(1,146m). This portion of the trek includes a long and steep ascend but offers great view of Muong Hoa Valley. Paying visit to several local homes in Lao Hang Chai village before lunch break.
Leave Lao Hang Chai after lunch and trek along the narrow trail for half an hour between farm land and bamboo forest with not too much up and down before challenging the steep path for about 1,5 hour, through thick rain forest to 1,785m high. Taking a long break here for recovery and enjoying the marvelous panorama of Muong Hoa Valley. The last portion of the trek today takes about 1 hour gradually downhill to Seo Mi Ty village of the Hmong which sits near the bottom of a stunning valley(1,548m).

The rest hours of the afternoon is for relaxing by the stream near the newly built hydraulic power station.

Day summary: Trekking 6 to 7 hours, grade 4 of 5/ Home stay or camping at Seo Mi Ty Village of the Hmong.

Day 2: Seo Mi Ty – Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho (B, L, D)
Leave Seo Mi Ty at 09.00 after breakfast. Take an easy walk along a large path for 20 minutes downhill, passing through a small hamlet. And then the trek gets harder for 2 hours along a tougher which is a combination of lose rocks, steep dirt track and stream crossings, through re-grown forest to Den Thang village(from 1,548m to 1,294m). Walking to explore this isolated village for half an hour before lunch break.
Afternoon trek is also downhill for most of the way about 2 hours from Den Thang to Ta Trung Ho suspension bridge (at 872m). The trail is tough plus two stream crossings which makes this part harder. Enjoy a short rest here before challenging 3 km uphill to home stay at a small Red Zao hamlet(at 984m).

Day summary: Trekking 6 hours approx.16 km, grade 4 of 5/ Home stay at Ta Trung Ho Village of the Red Zao.

Day 3: Ta Trung Ho – Nam Ngan – Nam Sang – Ban Sai (B, L, D)
Breakfast and trekking from home stay at 08.30. Morning trek is a real challenge along a narrow dirt trail which sneaks on steep hill sides from the height of 950m up to nearly 1,632m. Lunch break at the top of the mountain in the thick rain forest.
Continue trekking after lunch along the same trail downhill for 1,5 hour through the rain forest of Hoang Lien National Park to Nam Ngan Village of the Red Zao(952m). Enjoy an easy walk to explore this quiet and charming village. Then following a larger dirt path for nearly 1 hour downhill to Nam Sang Village of the Xa Pho peoples(a sub group of Phu La group), whose population is only about 6,500 individuals and well maintained their traditional way of living. The last portion of the trail getting across the fairly flat bottom of Nam Sai valley to Ban Sai village of the Tay ethnic peoples(at 570m). Dinner and home stay in this village.
Day summary: Trekking 6 hours approx.16 km, grade 4 of 5/ Home stay at Ban Sai of the Tay.

Day 4: Ban Sai – My Son – Nam Toong – Thanh Phu Bridge – Sapa(B, L, –)
Breakfast and leave Ban Sai at 09.00 am. Walk along a large and rocky path for a hour to My Son(553m), a newly formed village of the Xa Pho peoples after the terrible landslide in 2000. Then, from here follow a narrow dirt track uphill to Nam Keng where the traces of several landslides can be seen evidently along the way. Process towards Nam Toong village(679m) of the Red Zao and arriving to this isolated at noon. Walk around the village for half an hour and then settle down in a local home for lunch break.
Afternoon trek is just about 5km mostly downhill through farmed land to Thanh Phu Bridge(392m) which takes about 1,5 hour. Picked up and transfer by road 26km uphill back to Sapa. Trip end with drop off at hotel.

Day summary: Trekking 5 hours approx.13 km, grade 4 of 5/ Road transfer 26km, approx.1 hour.

Notes:
• This is a hard trek tour for customers whose strength and mobile ability is above average plus some trekking practice or experience. The trekking trail is tough at some parts with river and stream crossings. Especially the river and stream crossings on day 2 may cause danger after heavy rain.
• This trip can be organized the whole year around. Landscapes is lively beautiful from May to September thanks to rice and corn farming. Unfortunately it is hot and wet in these months especially heavy rain in July and August. Weather is nice in October, November and first half of December. January, February is cold and foggy. It gets better from March to April.

• Personal luggage should be no more than 6kg while trekking. Good trekking shoes, rain gear, warm clothes, especially in Jan & Feb and insect repellent should be brought.
• We may change tour plan when needed for the safety of clients.