In the evening our guide picks you up from the
hotel. Transfer to railway station for a 10 hour
night train to Sapa.
Day 2 : Sapa
We are met on arrival into Lao Cao in the
early morning and transferred to
Sapa tours by minibus,
driving through dramatic and breathtaking scenery.
The remainder of your day is at leisure to explore
this fascinating town. You can take some exercise
with a walk to Cat Cat village, set in a beautiful
valley just outside Sapa. Cat Cat is home to the
H'mong people who originated from China about 3000
years ago. The H'mong people are easily
recognisable by their dark blue or black clothing.
The dye is made from the indigo plant which is
native to the area. H'mong women wear long aprons
with embroidered waistcoats and have their hair
rolled up into a turban-like hat, while the men
wear a black skullcap, long waistcoat and loose
trousers.

As you walk to the village nestled in the valley
below
Sapa trekking tours, you will meet some of the local
minority people on their way to and from Sapa.
These minority people walk to Sapa to trade at the
markets - always an exciting place. As well as
the H'mong, you can expect to see the Dao
(pronounced Zao). Dao women are particularly
striking as they wear a large red turban often
covered with old coins or jewellery, and shave
their hair and eyebrows.
Day 3 Sapa Trek- Ta Van homestay
Following
breakfast you embark on a six hour trek which
takes you along buffalo paths and trails and
through several hilltribe villages. This is an
absolutely spectacular walk through stunning
scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest
people you can hope to meet. Stopping for a picnic
lunch along the way, you spend the night with a
family in Ta Van Village, inhabited by the Zay
people. These people have become very adept at
rice cultivation, in marked contrast to the H'mong,
and have a higher living standard as a result.
Day 4 Giang Ta Chai - Sapa, Overnight train
back to Ha Noi
After breakfast, you set off for a two hour
walk to Giang Ta Chai village where you meet up
with your vehicle to take you back to Sapa town.
Arriving back in
Sapa tours around lunchtime, you have a
free afternoon to further explore the town before
your transfer to the train station for the night
train to Hanoxi.