Day-by-day itinerary for Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai
Day 1: Lao Cai – Sapa – Cat Cat Village – Sapa Town
06:15 – Arrival at Lao Cai Station
Your Impress Travel guide will pick you up at Lao Cai railway station and take you by private vehicle over a twisty, picturesque road to Sapa. This is just the beginning of your Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai, the misty mountains, fresh mountain air, and your journey starts!
07:30 – Arrive in Sapa, check in luggage at Pistachio Hotel
Upon landing in Sapa, you will be greeted at the 4-star Pistachio Hotel Sapa. If your bed isn’t ready, you can deposit your luggage there and use the morning facilities.
08:00 – Breakfast at Ta Van Restaurant
Begin each morning with a filling breakfast at Ta Van Restaurant, which is housed in your hotel. Grilled corn cakes and hot tea made from ginger provide a welcoming introduction to the highlands.
09:30 – Trekking to Cat Cat Village
Your guide accompanies you on your initial trek of the Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai, the easy but immersive trek to Cat Cat Village, inhabited by the Black H’mong people. Enjoy traditional crafts such as indigo dyeing, weaving, and blacksmithing. See water wheels and rural scenery unfold before your eyes.
12:00 – Lunch at A Phu Restaurant
Following your morning hike, indulge in a signature lunch at A Phu Restaurant that includes mountain specialties like grilled stream fish, buffalo jerky, and sautéed forest greens.
14:00 – Hotel check-in and free time to relax
Go back to Pistachio Hotel Sapa, where you can now check in to your comfortable accommodation. Relax with a well-deserved rest or unwind at the rooftop infinity pool overlooking the rice fields.
17:00 – Stroll through Sapa Town
Take an unhurried stroll around Sapa Town in the late afternoon. See the stone church, visit local craft stores, and indulge in lively food street life.
18:30 – Dinner at Red Dzao House
Cap off your first day with an intimate dinner at Red Dzao House, which is inspired by traditional Dao houses. We suggest our signature salmon hotpot, which is a popular choice among our Sapa Tours travelers!
Cat Cat Village (Source: passportandstamps)
Day 2: Lao Chai – Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Return to Lao Cai Station
07:00 – Breakfast at the hotel
Begin with fresh air from the mountains and a breathtaking panorama view of the hills. Experience a satisfying breakfast at Pistachio Hotel Sapa before beginning another adventurous day on your Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai.
08:30 – Trekking through Muong Hoa Valley to Lao Chai and Ta Van
Your guide will take you on a scenic journey downhill to breathtaking Muong Hoa Valley, with lush rice terraces covering the landscape. Hike through Lao Chai and Ta Van, villages of H’mong and Giay people. Encounter water buffalo, bamboo bridges, and welcoming locals along the way.
11:30 – Lunch with a Giay family in Ta Van
In Ta Van, you’ll experience a genuine cultural gem: a “farm-to-table" meal cooked by a local Giay family. Share a meal of sticky rice, mountain chicken, and fresh garden veggies, all of which were harvested in the area and prepared with love.
13:00 – Trek to Giang Ta Chai Waterfall
Travel on to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao village, which lies under some of the oldest bamboo forests around. Arrive at the stunning Giang Ta Chai Waterfall, which you can stop to enjoy and breathe in some fresh, cool, misty air.
15:00 – Return to Sapa by vehicle
After finishing off today’s trek, you will be driven by private vehicle from there to return to Sapa. Hotel facilities will be available for you to use to take a shower, change clothes, or have a hot drink.
17:00 – Transfer to Lao Cai Station
As your 2-day Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai end, we will take you back to Lao Cai Station in time to catch your night train or bus. Take home with you memories of the mountains.
Trekking through Ta Van (Source: sapanomad)
Day 3 (Optional): Ma Tra – Ta Phin – Cultural Deep Dive (for 3-Day Tour)
08:00 – Forest trail trek to Ma Tra Village
Begin with a leisurely breakfast, then head off for a stunning trek along pine forests and fields of flowers to Ma Tra, a secluded village well off the beaten track. This part of the Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai is peaceful, serene, and unspoiled.
10:00 – Continue to Ta Phin Village
Journey on to Ta Phin, home to the Red Dao. You will be greeted by local villagers in their traditional red headcloths and introduced to their traditions, such as healing with herbs and spiritual rituals.
12:00 – Lunch at a Red Dao family home
Have an intimate, homestyle lunch with a Red Dao host family. Share a meal of mountain chicken, stir-fried bamboo shoots, and forest mushroom soup, all harvested from local fields and forests.
14:00 – Relax or shop for local souvenirs
After lunch, spend time browsing about traditional local crafts: soaps made from plants, brocade pouches, embroidery, et al. Your guide can assist in suggesting the best shops to patronize local craftspeople.
15:30 – Transfer back to Lao Cai
Your driver will return you to Lao Cai Station at the end of the longer 3-day version of our Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai. You will take with you a better appreciation of Vietnam’s ethnic diversity, and memories that will last you a lifetime.
Ta Phin Village (Source: localvietnam)
What’s Included and Not Included
Tour Includes
- Private round-trip transfer from Lao Cai Station to Sapa
- Accommodation at Pistachio Hotel Sapa 4*(1 or 2 nights according to package).
- All meals specified: 1 or 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 or 2 dinners
- Local English-speaking guide along the trek
- Admission fees for all villages and locations mentioned in the itinerary
- Ethno-cultural experiences with ethnic families (lunch in Ta Van, visit to Ta Phin)
- Water in bottles and trekking snacks
- Provide a support vehicle (if required) for the return journey from Sapa
- Trekking permit fees and local administration costs
Tour Excludes
- Transport from Hanoi to Lao Cai and back (can be arranged upon request)
- Travel insurance and personal medical costs
- Drinks with meals except as mentioned
- Tips for the guide and driver (optional but welcome)
- Optional activities: Herbal bath in Ta Phin, spa massages at the hotel
- Personal expenditures, purchasing, laundry, or other activities not mentioned
Essential Trekking Tips for Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai
Best Time to Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai
We highly advise booking your Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai from September to November, or in March. During these times, there will be high clearness in the sky, golden-glowing rice fields (autumn), or lush green rice fields (when spring), with dry, comfortable paths to walk.
Trekking in Sapa (Source: wherearethosemorgans)
What to Pack for Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai
It’s not a walk around town, trekking will require durable equipment. Bring good hiking boots, a water-repellent jacket, refillable water bottles, and trekking poles if you require assistance on uneven ground. Don’t overlook sunscreen and a sun hat, no matter what the weather!
Fitness Requirements
Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai are appropriate for moderately fit tourists. Day walks will range from 5 to 15 kilometers, with some uphill and downhill. It’s not a competition, it’s an exploration. Take your time.
Watch the Weather for Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai
Trails may also be muddy and slippery during the rainy season, which runs from May to August. Traveling then means that you should carry an additional set of clothes, waterproof covers for your bags, and be ready for tougher conditions.
Use Local Guides and Porters
A local guide who knows their way around isn’t just useful, it’s life-altering. Impress Travel guides are trained, licensed, and deeply rooted in the communities you will explore. Hire a porter if longer walks or maximum loads are involved. He or she knows every trail by heart and can lighten your load, in the best way!
Respect Local Culture with Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai
As you move through villages of other ethnic people on our Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai, respect is vital. Wear appropriate clothing, keep voices down, and don’t take pictures without permission. Keep in mind that you’re a guest in their world, respect their space just as you’d have people respect your own.
What Makes Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai Unique with Impress Travel?
So what’s so special about our Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai? We can mix stunning scenery with deep human connection. We invite you to join a small group with an expert, licensed local guide who doesn’t just map the trail but shares his home. We craft each of our Sapa Tours with your speed, interests, and comfort in mind. Want to prioritize photography, culture, or peaceful nature pauses? We tailor the journey so that it’s your own story among the mountains.
We think authentic travel is about creating authentic relationships. That’s why our Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai incorporate home-hosted meals with local ethnic families, responsible tourism practices, and experiences that go well beyond the standard tour. We partner directly with communities in Cat Cat, Ta Van, and Ta Phin so that your presence adds welcome support to local livelihoods. Hike, yes. But connect, learn, and be treated like a guest of the people. Your journey starts now.
Contact Impress Travel Today to Book Your Trek
Hanoi Head Office
- 125 Hoang Ngan, Hanoi
- Tel: (+84) 912 379 189
- Email: hanoi@impresstravel.com
Saigon Office
- 155 Ben Van Don, Rivergate, 4 District, HCM
- Tel: (+84)961675566
- Email: saigon@impresstravel.com
Conclusion
Are you up for going off the beaten track into an atmosphere of mist-shrouded mountains, multi-colored hill tribe villages, and unforgettable experiences? The Sapa trekking tours from Lao Cai provide not just a trip, but an in-depth journey through Vietnam’s authentic spirit. Let Impress Travel take care of every step, with expert care, cultural insight, and 4-star comfort you can count on.