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Day 1 - UK to Hanoi, Vietnam
We depart the UK for our overnight flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.
Day 2 - Arrive Hanoi
Arrive Hanoi and the challenge begins!! We enjoy breakfast and warm welcome at
one of the Hanoi floating cafes on the West Lake, before continuing to tour the
Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. After lunch at Brother’s cafe– a wonderful fusion of
Viet/French buffet style cuisine, discover the unknown parts of Hanoi’s Old
Quarter by cycle and on foot. The bewildering maze of narrow streets tells a
fascinating story of Hanoi where past meets present. In the early evening
witness the wonderful performance of marionettes – at Hanoi’s famous water
puppet theatre. Sample typical north Vietnamese cuisine in the evening before
taking the overnight train to Sapa. Overnight on board in 4 birth cabins. (BLD)
Day 3 - Lao Cai – Sapa Village Trails trek
Upon arrival in Lao Cai we will be met by our local trekking guide. We then
drive for one hour up into the mountains and to the former French hill station
of Sapa, home to some of Vietnam’s most colourful ethnic groups. Have breakfast
in Hoa Sua (a restaurant teaching local ethnic minority children the restaurant
trade and skills for life). After checking into our hotel, we start exploring
the region. Today’s trek will pass through many minority villages. As there are
not so many villages on the ascent of Fansipan, today is aimed at experiencing
as much cultural contact as possible. From Sapa we then transfer 20km down hill
to the Black Hmong Village of Supan. From here we start trekking down to the
bottom of the Sapa valley to Ban Ho, a Tay village located on the banks of a
stunning river. From here the trek undulates continuously and then rises steeply
to the village of Nam Toong, a Red Dzao village.
We will have lunch here before continuing to My Son – a village populated by
Xafu people, one of the smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam. Return to Sapa for
overnight. Overnight Hotel. (BLD)
5 - 7hours trekking
Day 4 - Ascent of Mount Fansipan to Pine Camp (2000m)
We begin trekking from Sapa with our Black Hmong Porter team, who all come from
nearby villages. Starting at 1500m, we pass through Sapa’s 1960s style market
and hike downhill to the bottom of the Cat Cat valley. After about 20-minutes,
we reach the Hmong village of Cat Cat, where pigs scuff freely among wooden
houses, and children look curiously at our strange attire. The valley is quite
wide and there are expansive views. The forests have all been cut here to make
way for human habitation. Trekkers will then cross River Linh Ho, carefully
edging across a bamboo bridge. From here the long climb starts. We begin
trekking on a small trail running up through cardamom farms. After approx. 2
hours, we reach an altitude of 1700m, where lunch will be prepared by our cook.
In the afternoon, continue the ascent into thick rainforest, passing some
tricky, short steep slopes. The steps made by tree roots are very helpful! Count
the numbers of species of orchids on your way up. Before nightfall, you will
reach the first camp base at 2000m altitude, located next to a small stream, in
a clearing surrounded by pines.
Overnight in tented camp. (BLD) 5 – 6 hours trekking
Day 5 - Basecamp 1 (2650m)
There are two options today depending on the size of our group.
Start after a leisurely breakfast with a 100m descent, before again moving
upwards. Keep an eye open for the giant butterflies - some can reach a wingspan
of 25 cm!! At around 2400m the rainforest gradually gives way to huge, succulent
bamboo. We will trek up some short slopes, but it is a little easier on the
muscles than the previous afternoon. Stop for lunch at a scenic spot in the
forest at 2500m. This afternoon, we have a challenging day ahead of us - we
scramble up a long steep stone slope, which will take about 2.5 hours to the
altitude of 2650m, where our camp will be based today. From here, we will enjoy
the nice view down through the long Sapa valley, over the area we have just
passed, to the mountain range on the other side. The lights from Sapa below and
the lights of the stars above will give us a magnificent night. We prepare
ourselves for the testing day tomorrow – the summit day. If the group is smaller
it is possible to continue to a smaller camp at 2600m. There will be no views
though as the site is situated in a small steep valley near a waterfall.
Overnight in tented camp. (BLD) 7 – 8 hours trekking
Day 6 - Summit (3,146m) – Basecamp 2 (2,800m)
We continue trekking on limestone through wet bamboo forest. The ascent is
steep, and after an hours hard hiking, we emerge from the forest to trek through
an Eco zone where only canes, miniature bamboo (druc in Vietnamese, meaning
chopstick forest), long grasses and water-rail flowers can grow. We trek on a
narrow track up to 3000 m. From here we can enjoy the enormous view of the
surrounding mountain ranges and Sapa town deep below. Follow a stream down
through bamboo forest to 2600m then continue trekking up another steam up again
to 2800m. After lunch the going is tough. We trek on rocky footpaths through
miniature cane forests eventually and triumphantly reaching the summit at 3146m!
This is the highest point in Indochina, and the views are stunning, to the North
into China as well as South to Laos, with the mountainous area of Lai Chau and
Dien Bien Phu in between. After our celebrations on the summit, we descend along
a quite slippery trail to base camp at 2800m on the other side of the summit.
The forest is clearer here so there are awe inspiring views all along the way.
Basecamp is pleasant set among the canes.
Overnight in tented camp. (BLD) 7 – 8 hours trekking 8km
Day 7 - Basecamp (2,800m) – Heavens Gate (1945m) – Sapa – Lao Cai
Today we have a shorter trek which allows us to take in these beautiful
surroundings while our porters take down the camp and move ahead down the
mountain. We start descending through a bamboo forest on a light slope, and then
trek through forest down streambeds eventually emerging at Hoang Lien National
Park’s gate. From here the jeeps will take us back to Sapa, with an opportunity
to visit Silver Waterfall. This trek is 4 –5 hours. Check into a day room in
Sapa before early dinner and departure to Lao Cai for the overnight train to
Hanoi.
Overnight on board train. (BLD) 4 hours trekking
Day 8 - Hanoi
Today we have a free day in order to rest our legs and oak in the atmosphere.
After breakfast, we can visit the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and then drive on to
the Museum of Ethnology. The Museum of Ethnology is one of Vietnam’s best with
interactive displays and a wide collection of well preserved objects and
documents. It is also a great place to learn about Vietnam’s 52 ethnic minority
peoples. From the Museum of Ethnology, we can drive back to the centre of town.
We will then enjoy a great buffet lunch at Brother’s café, a wonderful fusion of
Vietnamese and European dishes, plus local street food made and served by
Vietnamese women in traditional dress. In the afternoon take a guided walk to
some of Hanoi’s hidden markets and old streets or enjoy free time.
In the evening we enjoy a celebratory farewell meal.
Overnight standard hotel. (BLD)
Day 9 - Depart Hanoi
The morning is at leisure until our transfer to the airport to catch our return
flight home. (B)
Day 10 - Arrive UK
(Copyright of Global Adventure Challenges Ltd – this is a complex itinerary and
subject to change)
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