Night 1:  Night train to Lao Cai.

Transfer from your hotel to Hanoi Railway Station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight in AC soft sleeper cabin.

Summary
Transfer hotel – railway station:  AC vehicle
Accommodation:   Soft sleeper in AC cabin

Day 1:  Lao Cai – Sapa – Tavan Village

Arrive in Lao Cai around 5.30 am. We will take 1hr bus ride uphill to the beautiful town of Sapa. The ride give you a glimpse of the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces. Upon arrival in Sapa Town we have breakfast in local restaurant. Free time for the rest of the day to explore the town.

Optional walking tour begins at 1 pm to Lao Chai Village, home to Black H’mong people. Overnight in Sapa

Summary
Transfer Laocai – Sapa: 1 hr
Accommodation:  Hotel in Sapa
Activity:    Free at leisure
Meals:    Breakfast

Day 2: Trek to the first base camp

After breakfast in the hotel we will meet our support crew, who will carry all equipment, foods and our clothing. We will carry our day pack with water, jacket and camera only. Today we will begin the first part of our ascent  with a trek through terraced rice paddies and some of the hilltribe villages. Setting out from Sapa we descend into the nearby village of Cat Cat and cross Muong Hoa River. Past the river we start our upward trek to reach an elevation of 1,700m where we will have lunch break.

In the afternoon we will continue trek to the first base camp at an elevation of 2,300 m. The terrain in the afternoon becomes steeper and more difficult as we trek through massive Arrowroot plantations and up steeper slopes surrounded by bamboo. Our camp for the evening will be in a very small clearing on the mountain enclosed by bamboo. Sleep in bamboo hut or tent.

Summary
Trekking:   7 hrs/ascend 2,300m from 1,600m (Sapa)
Accommodation:  Camping
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Trek to the second base camp

Today we set out for a full day trek to the second base camp. As we continue on we will pass through primary forest containing giant, century old pine trees and expanses of bamboo. Our trek will take us to an altitude of 2,900m  from this elevation we have a spectacular view across to the peak of Mt. Fansipan. After lunch we start climb down to an elevation of 2,700m. Our decent will be over large boulders, down a fairly steep slope. Our camp is on the mountain slope facing west, near a mountain stream. Dinner and overnight at the base camp.

Summary
Trekking: 7 hrs/ascend 2,900m/descend to 2,700m
Accommodation:  Camping
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Trek to the summit and descend to the third base camp

Today is the summit day, we climb to the roof of Indochina: the peak of Mt. Fansipan. The final climb will takes around three hours though dense bamboo forest . Once at the summit we will spend sometime soaking up the best panorama in Vietnam. We then descend 2,700m for lunch.

In the afternoon we will descend to the third base camp where we spend the last night on mountain.

Summary
Trekking: 7 hrs/ascend 3,143m/descend 2,000m
Accommodation:  Camping
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Back to Sapa. Night train to Hanoi

Today we trek downhill all the way. We will reach Sapa around lunch time. In the afternoon we will then be free to take shower and relax after the climb, In the late afternoon we will be transferred to the railway station for night train to back Hanoi.

Summary
Trekking: 4 hrs/descend 1,600m (Sapa)
Accommodation:  Camping
Meals:    Breakfast

Day 6: Back to Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi early morning. Tour ends.