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Three days in Sapa,from the villages to the summit.
Walk down to Cat Cat on the first afternoon, trek the Muong Hoa valley from Lao Chai to Ta Van on the second day, then see the terraces of Y Linh Ho and ride the cable car up Fansipan before lunch at a Red Dao restaurant.
Villages first, then the summit.
Sapa sits high in the Hoang Lien mountains, above valleys of rice terraces farmed by H'mong, Dao and Giay families. Three days give you time to walk through them instead of only looking down from a viewpoint.
You start gently with Cat Cat, a short walk from town. On the second day you trek the Muong Hoa valley from Lao Chai to Ta Van and have lunch with a local family. On the last morning you see the terraces of Y Linh Ho, then take the cable car up Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina, before lunch at a Red Dao restaurant and the drive back to Hanoi or Ninh Binh.
Three days, valleys to the peak.
Three days, door to door. Pick-up and drop-off can each be in Hanoi or Ninh Binh, whichever suits you, and the times below follow your choice.
Times are flexible. This is a private tour, so the day runs at your pace. The drive is on the expressway with rest stops, and in Sapa your guide adapts the walks to the weather and your legs. Drive times are approximate.
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Day 01Lunch · DinnerUp to Sapa, down to Cat Cat
We drive north on the expressway and climb into the mountains to Sapa in time for lunch. In the afternoon you walk down to Cat Cat, a Black H'mong village of wooden houses, indigo dyeing and weaving, with a waterfall and a small bridge at the bottom of the valley. A car brings you back up to town.
- Pick-up at your hotel in Hanoi
- Lunch in Sapa town, then check in to your hotel
- Walk down to Cat Cat village: H'mong homes, indigo dyeing, weaving and the waterfall
- Car back up to town, free time around the stone church and the lake
- Dinner in Sapa town
Easy village walkNight in Sapa -
Day 02Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Lao Chai to Ta Van, through the valley
A full day in the Muong Hoa valley. You walk between rice terraces and bamboo to Lao Chai, a Black H'mong village, and have lunch with a local family. In the afternoon the path follows the river to Ta Van, home to the Giay people, before the car takes you back to Sapa.
- Breakfast, then start your walk into the valley:
Your trek · pick oneYou can change your mind on the day- Lunch with a H'mong family in Lao Chai
- Walk on along the river to Ta Van, a Giay village
- Car back to Sapa, free time to rest
- Dinner in Sapa town
Valley trekNight in Sapa -
Day 03Breakfast · LunchY Linh Ho and the roof of Indochina
A morning walk through the terraces of Y Linh Ho, a quiet H'mong village above the valley. Then you ride the cable car up Fansipan, at 3,143 m the highest peak in Indochina, for the view from the top. Lunch is at a Red Dao restaurant before the drive home.
- Breakfast and check out
- Walk through Y Linh Ho village and its terraces
- Fansipan by cable car, with time at the summit (tickets not included)
- Lunch at a Red Dao restaurant
- Start the drive home, with a rest stop on the way
- Drop-off at your hotel in Hanoi
Terrace walkFansipan ticket extra
Two nights in Sapa, your way.
Choose the kind of stay you want in Sapa. Everything else stays the same: the car, the guide and the plan. Philip confirms the exact hotel when he sends your quote.
Town hotel
A comfortable 3★ hotel in Sapa town- A short walk to the church, the lake and the restaurants
- Clean, warm rooms with heating for the cold months
- The best value
Mountain-view hotel
A 4★ hotel with valley views, or similar- A room with a balcony over the Muong Hoa valley
- Restaurant and spa, an easy walk into town
- The best balance of comfort and setting
Luxury resort
e.g. a 5★ resort or mountain lodge in Sapa, or similar- Spacious rooms with fireplace or valley views
- Spa, heated pool and fine dining
- Ideal for honeymoons and special trips
Hotels are chosen for each trip. If one is full on your dates, Philip offers another of the same standard. Prices depend on the stay and your group size, and Philip quotes them with your plan.
Clear prices, per person.
The more of you there are, the lower the price per person, because you share one private car and one guide. Choose a stay above or a group size below to compare.
| Group size | Town hotel | Mountain-view hotel | Luxury resort |
|---|
Pay in USD, EUR or GBP, whichever suits you. Philip confirms the final price in writing before you book.
Children 1–4 travel free, ages 5–11 pay 50% of the adult price. Add their ages in the form.
Travelling solo, or a group of 10 or more? Message Philip for a tailored price.
Sapa, month by month.
The rice sets the calendar here. Tap a month to see what the fields, the weather and the stream are usually like.
Golden harvest
Everything taken care of.
Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Hanoi or Ninh Binh (they can be different), in a private air-conditioned car with a driver for all 3 days
- Private English-speaking local guide
- 2 nights in Sapa in the stay style you choose
- All meals listed: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches (one with a family in Lao Chai, one at a Red Dao restaurant) and 2 dinners
- Entrance fees for Cat Cat, Lao Chai, Ta Van and Y Linh Ho
- 2 bottles of water per person each day
Not included
- Fansipan cable car and funicular tickets, paid on the day or booked ahead by Philip
- Drinks with meals, and massages or spa treatments
- Tips for your guide and driver (always optional)
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Extras you add, such as an extra night or an airport transfer
Pack light:
- Walking shoes with grip
- A warm jacket for Fansipan
- Light rain jacket
- Layers for cool evenings
- Hat & sun cream
- A small backpack
- Warm clothes (Nov–Feb)
- Some cash for village crafts
Make it yours.
Tell us where to pick you up, how you'd like to stay and when you want to go. Philip replies with your plan and a firm price. Nothing is booked or paid until you're happy with it.
Book once you're sure.
Nothing to pay until your plan and price are agreed. Then four simple steps.
- 1
Agree your plan
Philip sends your itinerary and a firm price on WhatsApp (+84 84 635 9779). Ask anything and change anything. There's nothing to pay yet.
- 2
Pay the deposit 15%
When the dates and price are confirmed, scan the Moreta Pay QR and pay 15% with your own card. This books your stays, car and guide.
- 3
You're booked
Philip confirms on WhatsApp (+84 84 635 9779) with your booking details, pick-up time and your guide's name.
- 4
Pay the balance
Pay the rest on the tour, or in cash once you are in Hanoi or Ninh Binh, in USD, EUR or GBP, whichever suits you.
Cancellation
- Over 72 hours before
- Full refund
- 48–72 hours before
- 30% fee
- Under 48 hours before
- 100% fee
Children
- Age 1–4
- Free
- Age 5–11
- 50% of the adult price
- Age 12 and over
- Adult price
Only pay after Philip confirms. The deposit goes to the account on this card, and only after Philip has confirmed your dates and price on WhatsApp (+84 84 635 9779).
Terraces, villages and mountain air.
The landscapes and crafts of the northern mountains, from the valley floor to the peaks.
Photos: Duong Nguyen, Duc Anh Nguyen, Vietnam Hidden Light, Quang Nguyen Vinh, Ama Journey and Tiến Đạt Lê on Pexels; Harry Le, Audrey Dolceyvoyage and Fuu J on Unsplash.
Questions, answered.
Anything else? Ask Philip on WhatsApp, +84 84 635 9779, or by email at philopentours@gmail.com.
Average fitness is enough. Cat Cat is a walk down steps with a car back up. On day 2 you choose the full 12 km trek or the easy 5 km walk, and the paths can be muddy after rain. Y Linh Ho is a gentle walk, and Fansipan is by cable car. Tell us about any limits and we'll plan around them.
No. The cable car (and the funicular to the summit, if you want it) is paid separately, on the day or booked ahead by Philip at the official price. If you prefer to skip Fansipan, your guide takes you to another viewpoint or village instead.
Sapa weather changes fast. Your guide picks the trek route for the conditions, and Fansipan can move to the clearest part of your stay. In the rainy months, July and August, bring a rain jacket and shoes with grip.
Sapa is much cooler than Hanoi, and Fansipan is colder still. From November to February nights can be near freezing, so bring a warm jacket. Hotels have heating.
Yes, always. Your car, driver and guide are for your party only, and no other travellers join. You can change the pace, the stops and the order of the days as you go.
Send the form or message Philip. You'll get a written plan and price. Once your dates and price are agreed, Philip confirms on WhatsApp (+84 84 635 9779) and you pay a 15% deposit by Moreta Pay QR to book the services. The balance is paid on the tour, or in cash once you are in Hanoi or Ninh Binh. Cancel more than 72 hours ahead for a full refund. Please never pay anyone before Philip's confirmation.
Three days in the mountains start with one message.
Tell Philip your dates and where you're staying. He'll reply with the plan, a firm price and honest advice on the season.