Sapa Muong Hoa Valley - 3 Day Hiking and Cultural Experience

Sapa Muong Hoa Valley - 3 Day Hiking and Cultural Experience

This 3 day hiking and cultural tour which introduces you to some of the tribes of the region while hiking though the spectacular Muong Hoa Valley with its rice terraces & rivers in your vista. If that wasn't enough, you also have the Dragon Mountain range in the background! Your hiking and cultural guide is a member of the Black Hmong who have lived in the same region for hundreds of years and know the area better than anyone.

These private tour groups are small so you are guaranteed a personal experience and memories to last a lifetime. If there is a little extra something you would like to do or see, please just ask us and we will see how we can make your trip just that little bit extra special. There is also a 2 day version of this hike if you would prefer.

Itinerary

Day 1: Hiking to Lao Chai & Ta Van

Stop At: Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai Tl152, Sapa 290000 Vietnam
Our 3 day tour package starts by picking you up at around 9am from your hotel in central Sapa. Getting out of Sapa is easy as it's quite a small town and it's not long before we hit the small hiking trails (entrance fee to the valley is included) and going down through the rice fields, enjoying the specular views along the way. Our 1st destination is the village of Y Linh Ho, where we take a quick rest stop right beside the river (swimming here is possible in the summer time). There is a local shop for supplies for anyone requiring extra water etc. After crossing the bridge we head towards the rice paddy fields and Lao Chai.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Lao Chai Village, Lao Chai, Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam
Lunch is provided in Lao Chai. You can choose from traditional Hmong food or Vietnamese. Please do let us know in advance if you are vegetarian or vegan so we can make the necessary arrangements. Lao Chai is known for its handicraft and hemp weaving. We will visit one of The Hmong Family homes to see and learn how the traditional clothes are made. There is an option to buy the handicrafts and textiles which directly supports the villagers.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ta Van Village, Sapa 330000 Vietnam
In the afternoon we set off once again hiking up to Ta Van with amazing views of the Muong Hoa Valley. Ta Van is our destination for the rest of the day and also where our homestay for the night is located. We aim to get to Ta Van around 3pm and there is much to do. From meeting and being introduced to the villagers (there are 3 tribes in the village, Black Hmong, Red Dao and Zay), watching the sunset, learning about traditional Hmong cooking and even having a go yourself if you wish. Supper is also included in the tour package price and is usually served around 7pm. For those that are old enough, a small glass of locally made rice wine can be enjoyed with the family. Evening chatter will take the time up to 9pm. Sleep is at 10pm so there is plenty of time to watch the stars outside if the skies are clear. 
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner: We will prepare and cook for you a traditional Hmong evening meal in our family home.
• Lunch: Vietnamese lunch.
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at an Hmong tribal family home

Day 2: Full day hiking in the Muong Hoa Valley

Stop At: Ta Van Village, Sapa 330000 Vietnam
Day 2 starts early. Tribal farmers are a hard working folk, so expect to hear people being busy from 7am. Breakfast is between 730am and 8am which is either Vietnamese or H'mong cuisine. We will then head off around 9am to hike to the bamboo forest - a favourite among many guests.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Giang Ta Chai Village, Ta Van Commune, Sapa 008420 Vietnam
We then head towards the rice terraces and meet a tribe called the Giay's. This 1:30hr hike will pass some breath taking scenery with rice terraces and the river Hoa for you to enjoy. The Giay speak their own language and have a different culture, wearing unique clothes. We will make a quick stop to meet here and talk to the the local farmers. There is also a small waterfalls here at Giang Ta Chai. At the waterfalls you can also swim if the weather is warm enough. We will stay here for around half an hour. The Red Zao tribe also live near the falls and we will make a stop off to meet them, spending around half an hour with them.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Su Pan Village, Sapa 330000 Vietnam
From Giang Ta Chai we continue to Su Pan, a H'mong village where we have rest stop before hiking to Su Pan 2 for our Lunch stop. You can choose either Vietnamese food (noodles soup or fried noodles with pork or chicken vegetables) or H'mong food (we have steamed rice with spinach, chicken, pork, beef, beans & chill sauce),
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ban Ho Village, Sapa 330000 Vietnam
After our lunch break we continue down to Ban Ho village of the Tay people and with a tribe called the Black Tay. Their traditional houses are built on wooden stilts. We aim to arrive around 3:30pm in the afternoon. There is plenty of time to take a rest, explore the village and the valley as dinner will be around 7pm with the family. Sleep is around 10pm at the homestay.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at the homestay of the Black Tay

Day 3: Ban Ho to Nam Toong

Stop At: Ban Ho Village, Sapa 330000 Vietnam
If the weather is clear, viewing the early morning sunrise is a must. The sun will rise at 530am over the mountains in front the homestay.

Breakfast time will be 8am. Vietnamese food is served or pancakes if you prefer. After we get ready for a 1:30hr hike to the Nam Toong village.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Nậm Toóng School, Nậm Toóng, Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam
Nam Toong is the home of the Red Dao tribe. After visit the village we hike down to the rice terraces and back to the Ban Ho village which takes about 1:30hr and then back to the homestay for lunch.
Duration: 3 hours

Pass By: Sapa Town Square, 019 Thạch Sơn, TT. Sa Pa, Sa Pa, Lào Cai 333320, Vietnam
This concludes the tour and its back to Sapa by mini van or motorbike for 2:30pm. There is still much to do in Sapa town before 6pm. If you are going back to Hanoi we can drop you off at the bus station. If you are coming to Sapa from Hanoi, why not upgrade yourself from the sleeper style bus to a more luxurious European style coach with larger reclining seats? The cost with our provider is not much different to the sleeper bus.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.