Local - 6D5N Real Sapa & Ha Giang Experience (Trekking & Easy Rider)

6 day

Overview Local - Local - 6D5N Real Sapa & Ha Giang Experience (Trekking & Easy Rider)

After a really comfortable drive with the morning coach bus from Hanoi we arrived in the early afternoon in Sapa. Such a colorful town thanks to the H’mong and Dzao people from the local hill tribes who head into the town’s market every day to trade their produce. The region is also known as “the Tonkinese Alps”, Sapa is just a lovely hill station town in Northern Vietnam near the Chinese border.

Enjoy a very warm welcome from our local (Hmong or Red Dzao) tour guide who will guide you through this stunning piece of Vietnam. From the lush terraced rice paddies to the rustic charm of the native dwellings, Sapa is a place you’re sure to fall in love with! Many diverse groups like the Dzay, Dzao, Tay, Xa Pho or Hmong populate this richly cultural northern territory.

You’ll sample their unique delights as you pass through each village, trek 2 days and overnight with the local Hmong minority family in a homestay, enjoy cooking with locals & lovely 30 min herbal foot massage.

We hope you are ready for our non-touristic trekking.

Ha Giang is Vietnam’s magical hinterland and an absolute must see for any intrepid adventurer visiting this beautiful country Vietnam. Ha Giang offers dramatic landscapes, with limestone and granite mountains jaggedly reaching towards heaven, while ancient rivers carve canyons through the cliffs on their journey to the sea. With 90% of the local population being one of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups, this area has become synonymous with authentic, non-tourist, and unforgettable adventures. And the best way to explore this wonderland is to get on two wheels from the back of a bike - but not any bike, an Easy Rider Tour bike in order to smell the mountains area see the flowers, feel the nice breeze on your skin and drink in the stunning pastoral scenery, where meeting ethnic minority as a pillion passengers with very skillful driver who’s showing this amazing breathtaking scenery.

An Easy Rider tour is the perfect solution for the traveler who wants to explore Vietnam from the back of a bike, without having to navigate the challenges that driving a bike in Vietnam may bring. It's one off the most upcoming trips in Vietnam to be done by Easy Riders! With this expert service you can sit back and let one of our qualified motorbike drivers show you the way! Plus, the bikes we use are of a much better quality and standard that’s on offer when you rent one from some rental company with little or no reputation.

An Easy Rider tour is the best way to ensure your trip to Ha Giang is unforgettable for all the right reasons!

This is a trip you’ll remember for the rest of your life...

Itinerary

Itinerary day by day

• Day 1: Hanoi - Sapa - Ma Tra - Ta Phin Village ( L, D)
• Day 2: Ta Phin - Trung Trai - Sapa (B, L)
• Day 3: Sapa - Ha Giang - Ban Bang Village (B, L, D)
• Day 4: Ha Giang- Heaven Gate - Twin Mountain - Quan Ba - Yen Minh - Vuong Palace - Dong Van. (B, L, D)
• Day 5: Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Boat trip on Nho Que River - Mau Due - Du Gia (B, L, D)
• Day 6: Du Gia - Duong Thuong - Ha Giang - Hanoi (B, L)
• The information below is intended to assist you to have a clear view in expectations as you consider your travel options for Vietnam with us. In addition to the detailed itinerary each tour has been supported with some useful information to provide you with an overview of your accommodation & meals, all things money, passports, visas, vaccinations, insurance, clothing, personal equipment and much more to help you with your travel preparations.

Day 1: Hanoi - Sapa - Ma Tra - Ta Phin Village (L, D)

• Route 1st Day trekking: Sapa - Ma Tra – Ta Phin Village, unique route non-touristic mountain area & on the rice paddy fields and buffalo tracks, 15KM+/-.
• 6:30 - 7:00 Pick up from our meeting point (you will be informed) or your hotel located in Hanoi Old Quarter. When the booking is made, we will confirm the pick-up location with you. We will give the instruction via WhatsApp (+84 90 432 92 89) connection or meet up at our office at No 15 Ly Nam De, Hang Ma, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi. Will arrive in Sapa at around 13:00.The bus is air-conditioned and doesn't have toilets on board. Your luggage can be stored under the bus. Food and drinks are not available for purchase on the bus. The bus might stop 2 times on the way.
• On arrival in Sapa, after lunch, the local guide picks you up for trekking, and then you all begin through the breathtaking landscape to the village of Suoi Ho, home to the Hmong minority. From here you can enjoy views over endless rice terraces, and you will have the opportunity to see some of the animals used by the locals
• Arriving at Ma Tra Village you will come across the impressive ruins of a church dating back to the French occupation in the early 1900s. Take a minute to explore this intriguing sight and take some photos.
• Continue trekking to the village of Ta Phin you will be able to meet both Black Hmong and Red Dao minorities. The Red Dao are known for their expertise in herbal medicine as well as usage of plants from the land to treat many illnesses. Your guide will be able to introduce you to some Red Dao women who can tell you more about their many remedies.
• We will end up at our local homestay with our guide family. Dinner with family and a Red Dao herbal medicine bath will be arranged for you to experience.

Day 2: Ta Phin - Trung Trai - Sapa (B, L)

• Route 2nd Day trekking: Ta Phin - Trung Trai - Sapa, a unique route non-touristic on the rice paddy fields and buffalo tracks, 10 KM+/-.
• After breakfast, you will begin your trek to Trung Chai Village, with a choice of routes depending on the weather and your preferences. Trung Chai is home to Red Dzao and Hmong minorities, and they have chosen a location with an exceptional landscape! You will be provided with a picnic lunch en route to the village and upon arrival to Trung Chai, you will be transferred back to Sapa Town.
• Free time walking around in Sapa Town. Overnight at a 3* Hotel.

Day 3: Sapa - Ha Giang - Ban Bang Village (B, L, D)

• 6:00 - 6:30 We’ll pick you up at our meeting point in Sapa (We will inform you) and depart on our adventure towards Ha Giang by bus. This is a large bus, equipped with AC and comfortable seats.
• You will have a short break along the way.
• 13:00 - Arrive at Ban Bang Village, a picturesque rural village, where you will be welcomed by your local Tay ethnic family and enjoy a delicious traditional lunch with them.
• 15:30 - Enjoy some downtime after your long journey - use it to explore the village of Ban Bang, or maybe relax or catch up on your reading. Local Village walking around and stream and water fall visiting available.
• 19:00 - Back at your homestay before 19:00 to enjoy a delicious traditional meal with the host family and fellow travelers. Sit back, relax, and exchange stories and experiences as the as the crisp Ha Giang night air washes over you.

Day 4: Ha Giang- Heaven Gate - Twin Mountain - Quan Ba - Yen Minh - Vuong Palace - Dong Van. (B, L, D)

• On this day, we will be driving for 150 km and walking for about an hour. Throughout the trip, you will have the opportunity to encounter the Mong people and witness their fascinating way of life. We will have plenty of time to pause at beautiful locations to take pictures or simply enjoy the breathtaking view.
• The Heaven's Gate, which is 1500m high and above the clouds, offers an astonishing view. In Quan Ba, you can witness the renowned Twin Mountains. After that, we will have lunch in a small restaurant located in Quan Ba. Drive down Ha Giang stop 15 km west of Dong Van to visit the Vuong Palace It's recommended to drive down Ha Giang and make a stop at the Vuong Palace, which is located 15 km west of Dong Van. The palace was built by the Mong people for their King. We should be able to reach Dong Van by 5 pm. Upon arrival, you can check into a homestay and have dinner.

Day 5: Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Boat trip on Nho Que river - Mau Due - Du Gia (B, L, D)

• If it is Sunday, we can visit the Dong Van market and learn more about local customs and traditional cuisines. It's a great opportunity to meet local people.
• You will drive through the Dong Van Geopark which offers stunning views. The best pass to visit in Vietnam is the Ma Pi Leng Pass, which is considered the "king" of Vietnam's passes. At the top of this pass, you can begin your journey along the 20 km-long Happiness Road, handmade by the local people and has a romantic atmosphere.
• We had a chance to go on a boat trip to the Nho Que river. In Meo Vac, you can witness one of the most magnificent landscapes in the country.
• Finally, we will move to Du Gia and stay the night there.

Day 6: Du Gia - Duong Thuong - Ha Giang - Hanoi (B, L)

• After having breakfast, we will continue exploring different viewpoints. We will return to Ha Giang City for lunch at a restaurant. Following lunch, we will visit a village in Ha Giang. Take in the awe-inspiring landscapes and capture unforgettable memories. Take your time to immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty and fresh air. We will end the tour at 16:30.
• 17:00 - Step into the comfort of your limousine bus and make your return to Ha Noi.
• 22:30 - Arrive back in Ha Noi. Wave us goodbye, greet your newly made friends, and keep on exploring Vietnam… Hopefully with our help! Please remember to leave us a review or contact us with any feedback about this experience, we value your opinion and look forward to improving in ways that we’ve not even thought of yet!
• You will be dropped off at your hotel or center of Hanoi Old Quarter.

Know before you go

Itinerary Disclaimer

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travelers' comments and our own research.

The information given in your itinerary may be slightly different on the day of your departure. It's very important that you print and review a final copy of your Itinerary & Trip Notes a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans, we always handover before your departure our latest updated itinerary. If you have any queries, please contact us directly and we are here to help you!

While we operate different options for all our “Real Sapa Experience” trips in this region throughout the year, some changes may occur in our itineraries. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather to timetables and transport routes or other reasons could force us to make changes to this itinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing.

This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary from time to time.

Is this trip right for you?

• Our basic trips include one night or more in simple homestay accommodation with local families, and there are a few ways to better understand a country and its people. You might sleep on mattresses on the floor in a mixed-gender dormitory style. If this is not your cup of tea we will advise you to book the hotel option. All our private experiences will have a private room with a shared bathroom.
• This trip includes a moderate level of hiking in the hills and mountains during this trip, ranging from 6 to 8+ hours. Although this hiking is possible for most travelers, a good level of fitness will help increase your enjoyment of this experience.
• Weather conditions might affect the level of hiking into challenging to difficult level tracking. We strictly advise to be prepared for the weather conditions with the right gear, our tracks can be on muddy roads where it might be slippery where in some situations the track can be classified as dangerous.
• In very bad weather conditions such as thunderstorms, storms or typhoons we have the right to cancel a part or the whole tour, with heavy rain or rainfall we might delay the trip and adjust the road depending on the weather forecast.
• Pregnant women will be advised not to join this trip, people with heart diseases or heart problems or weak fit level are not advised to join this trip.
• Please note many of our Adventures tours operate with a minimum of 1 person, so there may be instances where you are the only person on the trip.
• The average group size for our trekking is limited to 6-8 persons who join in our group tour, this all to create a unique experience. For private group tour bookings it will be only you and your own group.
• This experience is a ‘join in’ group departure, which means for some portions of this trip, such as at the homestay, you may join-in with other travelers who have booked on a different style of trip, or through other companies we work with. If you booked a complete private tour with a private homestay this will not be applicable.

Important Notes

We found expectations of our travelers very important, therefore we daily monitor all our travel services to guarantee the expectations in quality & service. If we are not sure about our set standards we will have the right to amend your booked travel services to similar service on last-minute notification without any extra cost for the traveler. There will be no refund for amending the booking in the same price category.

• Programs & itinerary schedules might be subject to change without prior notice, alternative refunds are not applicable.
• No shown or belated arrivals are subject under our terms & conditions policy.
• The cancellation decision made by local authorities or by us when safety is an issue on the day of the trip in case of bad weather conditions as strong wind or storm might occur on last minute notification. In such a case, we will make alternative travel arrangements for you on request or offer a refund in accordance with our policy.

Trip Notes

We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before traveling, and would appreciate any feedback on how well it's being implemented in the field.

What to bring

The following experiences suggestions for the packing list are based on our and feedback from our past travelers. Our packing list should be used as a guide only and is not intended to be a complete packing list. Any other items that you wish to pack are at your own discretion; Most travelers carry their luggage in a day backpack, though an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would be fine if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are NOT convenient.

Packing list for Sapa

• Small Bag-pack: You will also need a daypack/bag to carry water and a camera etc and personal stuff.
• Walking / hiking shoes: Comfortable walking shoes with good grip/profile, Sandals/flip-flops (for evening), Hiking poles/walking sticks, Trekking socks.
• Sightseeing: Binoculars, Camera equipment, Film or memory cards, Spare batteries/charger, Dust proof camera bag.
• Personal items: Toiletries, Rubber flip-flops for showers, Small sewing kit & safety pins.
• Winter or extreme weather: Thermal underwear or base layers, Beanie/woolly hat/balaclava, Gloves / Hand warmers.
• Wet weather: Raincoat, Small Umbrella, Waterproof bags for rain protection while walking, waterproof & windproof jacket, Waterproof trousers.
• Personal health: First aid kit, Personal medication/prescriptions, Prescription glasses, Contact lenses and solution High protection sunscreen (25+), Lip balm/lip salve, Hat/wide brim hat, Sunglasses, Insect repellent, Antihistamine/insect bite cream, Antibacterial gel/wipes, Travel sickness tablets, Travel vaccination certificates, After-sun moisturizer, Anti-malaria pills (if recommended by the doctor), Aspirin and/or paracetamol, Dehydration powder (salts & glucose), Anti-diarrhea pills (consult your doctor for more detailed advice).
• Luggage: On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage also during the trekking.
• Packing Tips: Remember to bring a plastic bag for dirty clothes.

Note: Again our advice will be to travel lightly and store your luggage at our office or leave at your hotel!

Tips

• Next departing destination directly possible:
• Halong Bay - Bai Tu Long - Lan Ha Bay
• Ninh Binh
• Cat Ba Island
• Mai Chau - Pu Luong
• Ha Giang
• If you are planning your next destination please let us know as we can assist you to start directly from our office to it.

David Leenson

David Leenson

David Leenson

6D5N The Real Extreme Sapa Experience

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