Original
Short Breaks
Walking & Trekking
Hiking in Sapa
5 days • 4.7
4.5
Excellent
9 reviews
5 days
Start
Hanoi, Vietnam
Finish
Hanoi, Vietnam
Trip Code
TVAG
Min Age
12
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Minibus, Overnight sleeper train, Private vehicle
Accommodation
Homestay (1 night), Hotel (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)
From £338(5 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Start your adventure in Hanoi, discovering the Old Quarter, delicious food and gorgeous landmarks in your free time.
Stay in a traditional homestay for one night – the perfect way to access the remote parts of Vietnam and get a real glimpse into local life. You’ll also be treated to home-cooked meals, among breathtaking mountain scenery.
Hike through the rolling rice terraces, waterfalls, mountains and lush green hills of Sapa and you’ll quickly realise why this has become an iconic image of Vietnam.
Discover Sapa town on a walking tour with a local guide, tasting local snacks along the way – a trademark of the local lifestyle.
Meet a community of hilltribe people who have been in Vietnam for over three centuries. Having emigrated from China, the H'mong settled in Cat Cat Village and will invite you to learn about their rich culture.
Is this trip right for you?
This Short Break Adventure 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 travellers who have booked on a different style of trip, or through other companies.
With the flexibility of frequent departures there is a chance you may end up travelling solo on this trip. You will always have a local guide and all included activities will remain the same.
You’ll cover a lot of distance on this trip, including on overnight trains. Accommodation and amenities are shared and basic, but the experience of rubbing shoulders with the locals makes it all worthwhile. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here:  https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam/ https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam/ (https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam/)
This trip includes a moderate level of hiking in the hills for 3 days of this trip, ranging from 3 to 6 hours. Although this hiking is possible for most travellers, a good level of fitness will help increase your enjoyment of this experience.
Itinerary
Travel from Hanoi to Sapa and back on this short Vietnam adventure
Northwest Vietnam is a captivating mix of dramatic mountain landscapes, crisp fresh air and colourfully clothed hilltribes. Set on the slopes of a beautiful green valley, Sapa is the heart of this unique piece of Vietnam. Travel to this peaceful land and meet resplendently dressed ethnic minorities at the local market, visit neighbouring villages and hike through rice terraces, witnessing how the current of life has thrived here for centuries. This five-day trekking adventure is full of opportunities to get to know traditional hilltribe culture and cuisine, while relishing the landscapes of Sapa and its surrounds.
Inclusions
Meals
3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Minibus, Overnight sleeper train, Private vehicle
Accommodation
Homestay (1 night), Hotel (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)
Included activities
Sapa- Guided Central market visit and local food tasting
Sapa- Orientation Walk with local guide
Sapa- Guided Trek Sapa - Sa Seng - Hau Thao - Hang Da - Giang Ta Chai
Sapa - Guided Trek Giang Ta Chai - Su Pan
Optional activities
Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000
Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND50000
Hanoi - Temple of Literature - VND70000
Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000
Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000
Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29
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Important notes
1. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at around 9 pm - on Day 1 in Hanoi. This trip ends on Day 5 and you are free to leave at any time.
2. You will be picked up on Day 1 from the Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary. Pick-up will take place between 9.00 pm-9.30 pm in the hotel foyer.
3. If you require to pick up from another hotel located in Hanoi's Old Quarter, please inform your booking agent at least 14 days prior to departure.
4. Your adventure ends upon arrival at Hanoi train station in the early morning (around 5 am). If you would like to stay a little longer in Vietnam, Tuuur can book additional nights for you (if you wish to have the room available on your arrival, you may need to book the night before as check-in time is usually midday). Please note that it's not possible to organize a transfer from the train station, so please make your own way to your hotel or the airport.
5. Please note this trip is operated by one of our local partners, based in Vietnam.
6.Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train and flight tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
Reviews (9)
5 stars
7
4 stars
1
3 stars
1
Ian
Dec 09, 2024
We loved our Sapa adventure, for the beautiful countryside, friendly people wearing traditional dress, great trekking and excellent guide, Sang. Small Sapa hotel and homestay exceeded our expectations!
Kathryn
Dec 01, 2024
take this amazing opportunity to visit a unique culture and enjoy the scenery. The trek was challenging but achievable as the weather conditions were great. This would be much more difficult if it was rainy and the tracks were wet and slippery.
Alan
Sep 02, 2024
The guide was excellent & I got a good understanding of the country.
Yamini Madhusoodanan
May 21, 2024
Very well organised trip to Sapa. There was someone to meet us at every point and instructions were clear. The hotels we stayed at were also good. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. The homestay was a great experience too. Loved it all! We chose to try out other food places in Sapa as we wanted better restaurants to eat in.
Mei-Ling
Apr 18, 2024
A must if going to Vietnam, was an amazing experience, the views stunning , people ( really friendly) and food was amazing and delicious. If you have time add Sapa to your trip.
Aaron
Aug 09, 2023
Great trip, most stunning area. Definitely pack shoes with excellent grip for the hike if it rains.
Sung In
Jul 01, 2023
This was my first Short Break Adventure, having been a regular Intrepid traveller for many years. The trip was well-organized and I was the only guest, making it essentially a private tour! I strongly recommend booking ahead for early check-in at the hotel in Sapa upon arrival off the train and also before getting on the overnight train back to Hanoi - a hot shower makes a world of difference, especially as it was rainy and muddy for my last day of hiking. My Hmong guide May was a wonderful guide and she was both knowledgeable and also considerate and attentive to my needs. The meal before boarding the train in Hanoi was simple local fare, but the highlight meal for me was at the homestay. Despite the on and off rain throughout the trip, I loved walking through the villages and rice terraces and experiencing the peaceful countryside in Sapa. I’d definitely do this trip again!
Lynette
Nov 27, 2023
Great tour guide. Sapa us a really cool place to visit. Make sure you visit the Hill tribe villages and Mt Fancipan. Two days is not enough if you are doing a homestay - stay longer!!@
Yasmina
Mar 29, 2025
Whilst the scenery is beatiful the trip was a bit disappointing. Sapa is getting way too crowded and sometimes you feel more in a thematic park than in a remote area from Vietnam. The hike was not challenging and we had amazing weather. It would have been totally the opposite with rain though!
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