Imagine O Quy Ho Heaven Gate or what many photographers dream of – one of the most beautiful sights for every Sapa Tour. This tour will be perfect for people in love with capturing the beauty of nature. Lying at almost 2000 meters above sea level, O Quy Ho has a panoramic view of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, with clouds rolling beneath your feet. Whether a professional photographer or just an adventurous soul, the Sapa Photography Tour takes you to misty mountains, vibrant ethnic villages to terraced fields of gold. It is the perfect combination of photographic and adventure activities on the majestic landscapes that will create lifetime memories with ever-great shots. Let us begin our journey to shoot the soul of Sapa!
Heaven Gate O Quy Ho
Heaven Gate O Quy Ho is one of the most breathtaking spots in Sapa and a photographer’s dream on any Sapa Tour. Located almost 2,000 meters above sea level, O Quy Ho is considered one of Vietnam’s “tứ đại đỉnh đèo" four greatest mountain passes, promising breathtaking views over the Hoang Lien Son range and Fansipan, the tallest peak in Indochina. Only its place makes it a dream destination for the landscape photographer, with endless opportunities for shooting dramatic sceneries.
Photographers will love O Quy Ho because it affords panoramic views into the valleys, mist-filled mornings, and sunsets in golden hour that paint the sky with tints of golden hues. With surreal and ever-changing landscapes, formed by clouds rolling over the mountains, cloud hunting and long exposure are pretty enticing here.
The best seasons, depending on which photography Sapa Tours at Heaven Gate are different when flowers bloom in spring; rice fields are golden in the autumn, and the peaks display the rare beauty of snowfall in winter. Whichever time, the natural attractiveness of O Quy Ho deserves great shots and breathtaking experiences. This is the top spot for capturing the most iconic dramatic landscapes of Sapa and is a true haven for photographers!
Are you ready to take part in a stunning visual adventure into the heart of Sapa? This Heaven Gate Sapa Photography Tour will let you get enough time to explore, shoot, and enjoy the incredible landscapes of Sapa. Attached is the detailed itinerary with time and activities that shall help you plan every second of this fabulous experience.
Cat Cat Village
06:30 – Departure from Hanoi
Early in the morning, the tour starts from Hanoi. You will be picked up from your hotel and leave for Sapa via the new Hanoi – Lao Cai Expressway. This is a drive of about 5-6 hours on an undulating road that snakes its way through a sea of beautiful countryside landscapes. The soft morning light means this is a perfect time of day for photography.
12:00 – Arrival in Sapa and Check-in
Arriving in Sapa, we check in at your hotel, where some time to relax can be taken before lunch. After lunch was served at a local restaurant, now it’s time for lunch to get our energy levels prepared for this afternoon.
14:00 – Visit Cat Cat Village
Lunch over, we go to Cat Cat Village, a traditional Hmong ethnic village 2 kilometers from Sapa town. The picturesque village is every photographer’s haven, with beautiful wooden houses, terraced rice fields, and local artisans. Portray villagers weaving textiles, making their traditional jewelry, or working in the fields. The contrast between their traditional lifestyle and the surrounding natural beauty offers a unique photography experience.
17:30 – Return to Sapa Town
We will now drive back to town for some free time to explore or simply take it easy before dinner. Again, it’s well worth doing a bit of street photography with evening lights on, and the hustle and bustle of the town commencing.
19:00 – Dinner and Free Time
Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant with Sapa specialties that include grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and even the famous salmon hotpot. Take an evening walk around the Sapa Night Market and photograph the dynamic feeling of locals shopping, eating, and socializing after dinner. Don’t forget photos of the Sapa Stone Church when it is magnificently enlightened in the darkness of night.
Overnight in Sapa
You would then go back to the hotel for some rest after an eventful first day in Sapa. Get your cameras ready for the next adventures!
Fansipan Legend
07:00 – Breakfast at the Hotel
Enjoy breakfast heartily in your hotel before embarking on another photography-filled day.
08:00 – Visit Fansipan Legend by Cable Car
We will start our morning by visiting the Indochina Peak-Fansipan Legend, which is at 3,143 meters above sea level. You will get to ride a modern cable car system that will take you across the panoramic sights of the whole Sapa region. Ready your camera, since these views of valleys and rivers and lush mountains are worth your while. At the summit, head to Bich Van Thien Tu for some of its spiritual shots that capture the serenity of the temple with the looming mountain backdrop.
12:00 – Lunch at a Local Restaurant
We then use the morning to create fantastic views for photography. Later, we will stop for lunch at any of the restaurants in town, refilling ourselves with yet another delicious meal.
13:30 – Depart for Heaven Gate O Quy Ho
The next destination in our tour is the highlight of Heaven Gate O Quy Ho. It’s a scenic journey to the top; stops at will on the road for photographing. O Quy Ho is a mountainous pass that is characterized by an all-around view, rugged terrain, and deep valleys. You will feel like you are standing on top of the world, to say the least, being above clouds that are in a drifting mood and the peaks of Hoang Lien Son stretching to eternity. It is one of two good spots for wide-angle landscape photography, perfect for capturing the grandeur of Sapa’s natural beauty.
15:00 – Cloud Hunting and Golden Hour Photography
At that time of the day, when the hue of light begins to change in the late afternoon, stay at Heaven Gate. This is prime photography time; the golden hour casts soft, warm light over mountains and valleys. Forgive yourself not by not missing this chance to capture an enigmatic play of lights and shadows with clouds across the landscapes. It is a fabulous experience every photographer dreams about.
16:30 – Begin the Journey Back to Hanoi
After the successful whole day of photography, the start of our way back to Hanoi will begin. On this drive back, enjoy the final opportunity to capture the peaceful countryside evening. Lean back, relax, and let the memories of a great photography journey come in.
22:00 – Arrival in Hanoi
Late in the evening, we arrive back in Hanoi, where you are dropped off at the hotel. You will conclude this tour with a camera full of wonderful pictures and memories of Sapa’s most spectacular scenery.
Beautiful photography angles
In photography, timing is everything to get the best shots during your Sapa Tours. Quite ideal times to shoot for those misty, cloud-filled scenes are during the early morning when the sun rises over the mountains. The morning fog creates a surreal, dreamy landscape that is perfect for wide-angle landscape shots. For that golden, dramatic lighting, try shooting during the golden hour just before sunset. At this time, the soft and warm light is usually diffused throughout the landscape, infusing depth and texture into the images you can get of the rugged mountains and valleys.
Sapa Tours requires proper equipment to fully make the most of the tour. Bring a wide-angle lens for those expansive vistas, or a telephoto lens to make a peak afar or local life in villages stand out. If shooting in low-light or fog conditions, a tripod will help keep long-exposure shots steady. Remember to carry the ND filters for exposure balancing during bright conditions and take a lens cleaning kit with you for better equipment maintenance in case of any moisture in the air at altitude.
The weather at Heaven Gate changes so fast that it’s going to add even more excitement to your photography Sapa Tours. Be prepared for anything! Fog may roll in offering moody and mysterious shots, while sudden rain showers bring in texture and reflections to add to your photos. If you are lucky enough, capture snow and the beautiful contrast between white snow and dark mountain peaks. Bring a weatherproof camera bag and wear your layers; temperatures do change throughout the day.
Photography of the local ethnicities is a high spot of any Sapa Tour; however, it is vital to be respectful to them. Always ask for permission before clicking on somebody’s photo, especially in villages like Cat Cat. A pleasant smile and polite request get you a long way. This not only will help you capture more respectful and authentic imagery but also build a rapport with the people, thereby making your photography more meaningful.
In all, Heaven Gate O Quy Ho is a spot with unmatched beauty and unlimited shots. Worthwhile for every photographer to visit. With Impress Travel, you get to enjoy a well-organized Sapa Photography Tour to take you to the best locations and guide you professionally through the tour. Don’t miss this chance to shoot the art of Sapa. Book your photography Sapa Tours in advance with us today for lifelong memories! Don’t forget to regularly follow our Impress Travel for more interesting information about traveling Sapa to and to book Sapa Tours at the best prices.
Hotels in Sapa
Homestay in Sapa
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
Inclusion: Night train tickets, Tour guide, Transfer from Hanoi to Lao Cai station
Inclusion: Breakfast; lunch; dinner, Homestay in Ta Van, Entrance fee; Tour guide, Private air-conditioned vehicle pick up from Lao Cai train station to Sapa town
After breakfast, we keep the easy trekking through the rice terrace track to Giang Ta Chai village where is home of Red Dao people, and then to Su Pan village where the vehicle is awaiting for transferring back to Sapa town.
The afternoon time is free at leisure and explore Sapa town by self
Hotel overnight in Sapa town
Inclusion: Breakfast; Entrance fee; Tour guide, Private air-conditioned vehicle pick up from Su Phan village back to Sapa town, Hotel in Sapa
Inclusion: Breakfast; Entrance fee; Tour guide, Private air-conditioned vehicle pick up from Cat Cat village back to Sapa town and transfer to Lao Cai station and Night train tickets to Hanoi.
Impress Travel – Sapa tours offers classic and easy tours, trekking tours (easy trek, medium trek & hard trek) to discover the remote ethnic minority villages & adventurous tours to conquer Fansipan’s highest mountain peak or motorbike to travel around and mountain biking, market day tours, homestay with an ethnic family. For the most trusted and most saving for North Vietnam Tour Packages to explore Sapa Vietnam. Email: Sapatours@impresstravel.com & call to Mr. Alex Impress Travel Manager at his cell phone (+84) 9123 79 189
Contact us about any of our tours, or discuss your trip ideas, about Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar with Impress travel consultants. All replies asap and always within 24 hours.
