Sapa Trekking - Trails of the Red Dzao

3 days & 2 nights at Topas Ecolodge​

Topas Ecolodge, set deep in the Hoang Lien National Park, 18 km from Sapa town, offers you an ideal stay during your hiking tour into the Sapa Mountains.

Enjoy the direct Hanoi – Sapa ride with our luxurious Topas Mountain Express limousine; take the best hiking tours along hilly trails to experience the ethnic communities and their interesting cultures, explore the deep valleys covered by terraced rice fields, and relax with breathtaking mountain views at Topas Ecolodge.

Reference: SEH3  |  Activity: Hiking   |  Grade: Easy
Duration: 3 days 2 nights – it’s possible to extend with one or more nights.

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SUMMARY

Day 1: Take Topas Mountain Express to Topas Ecolodge. Hike to a nearby village.

Day 2: Day walk exploring the remote area of Sapa.

Day 3: Relax at Topas Ecolodge or visit Sapa town. Transfer by Topas Mountain Express to Hanoi.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

Day 1: Direct limousine drive to Topas Ecolodge and hike to neighboring Red Dao village

From 6:45 – 7:30 AM, you will commence from your Hanoi hotel with Topas Mountain Express for 5 hours transfer to Topas Ecolodge. After checking in your bungalow, you will enjoy the beautiful and peaceful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys from your private balcony.

The walk in the afternoon starts from Topas Ecolodge on a quiet road with a great view of the rice terrace below. You then take a slight ascent to Lech village. You will visit a wooden local house, meet the friendly Red Dao hosts and experience their daily way of life. The Red Dao women, like their ancestors, have hair and eyes brows shaved and wear very colorful customs. They are famous for beautiful handmade embroidery. On the way back to Topas Ecolodge, you will walk on small trails passing rice terraces and cross a suspension bridge, where you can take some great pictures of the natural landscape. Your guide will explain the interesting cultivating culture of the local farmers.

Approx: Grade: Easy/ 2.5 – 3 hours walking

 

Day 2: Explore the most remote area of Sapa

Enjoy a great breakfast and prepare for today´s walk. At 8:30 AM, you will commence the excursion with a transfer deeper into Hoang Lien National Park to the trek starting point near Sin Chai village. You are now “off the beaten track” enjoying beautiful views of high mountains, waterfalls and deep valleys. The trails will soon lead you to the Red Dao village of Nam Nhiu, here you will meet the villagers, visit their houses, and learn about their daily way of life. Leaving the village behind, you will turn into a small dirt trail and soon be inspired by the marvelous view of the rice valley dotted with bamboo huts, which are used by local farmers as overnight lodges on harvesting days. Passing the rice terraces and a river you will walk on a quiet road for a while before arriving Nam Cang village. Your lunch is served at local restaurant.

Nam Cang village locates in the most remote area of Sapa. The Red Dao women wear some of the most colorful and diverse costumes of all Vietnam’s ethnic groups. Herbal bath, local medicine and embroidery are some of the things that the Red Dao are very skilled at. Accompanied by your guide, you will explore the village and learn how the local villagers make writing paper, jewelry and embroidery. 

At 14:15, you will have a transfer back to Topas Ecolodge. Here you may want to book a traditional Red Dao herbal bath at the lodge’s spa.

Approx: Grade: Moderate/ 3-3.5 hours walking

Day 3: Leaving the mountain and back to Hanoi

The morning is at your leisure at Topas Ecolodge. You can either relax or borrow high-quality mountain bikes from the lodge for an exploration of the surrounding areas. You can also take a scheduled shuttle bus to Sapa to visit the town or book a half-day tour to explore the highest peak of Indochina, Mt. Fansipan (3.143m) by cable car.

Topas Mountain Express departs at 1:30 PM from Topas Ecolodge and returns you to your hotel in Hanoi.

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This package includes:

  • English speaking guide during shared excursions*
  • 1 night at Topas Ecolodge (twin shared Premium Executive bungalow)
  • 1 breakfast + 1 lunch
  • Transfer by Topas Mountain Express: Hanoi – Topas Ecolodge – Hanoi (SIC)
  • Mountain bike with disk brakes, helmets, gloves and water
  • All other indicated transportation (sharing)
  • All entrance fees to the indicated places

What to wear and bring: 

It is recommended to wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, trekking shoes, and to bring insect repellent, sunglasses, sun hat, and sunscreen.
 

Attention:

  • (*) The excursions are designed for shared experiences in groups of up to 10 travelers. 
  • Please note that during the tour, you may be followed by ethnic women who are eager to sell their handcrafted items. They may follow you throughout your journey. If you are not interested in purchasing, just decline nicely. We are very sorry for this inconvenience.
  • As described on the program, you will visit a local house, and interact with local people. However, during the seasonal days, they all may not be at home but work in the fields, this experience may be lacking.
  • Visiting a local school is also subject to availability of school calendar.
  • The course’s difficulty is assessed on average across the program, meaning that even an “easy” rating could include sections of moderate or hard difficulty due to the uneven, mountainous terrain with varying elevations.
  • Lunches are intended to be provided at local restaurants; however, should unexpected situations arise, a picnic lunch will serve as the fallback option.

Note for biking:

  • No supported car during the biking time.
  • When joining a tour, one of the most important parts is selecting the right bike. Topas Travel provides mountain bikes that are suitable for people from 155cm only. Client’s height is requested at the booking time or at least 24 hours in advance for smooth services.
  • Biking tours offer up and downhill segments. For safety, these tours are advisable for adults or children from 13-year-old up, who are familiar with mountain road biking. For smaller children, contact us.

 

Note for Topas Mountain Express (Seat in Coach):

  • Only pick up and return passengers at hotels/residences in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Tay Ho Area.
  • Pick-up time is around 6:45 AM – 7:30 AM, but guests need to be ready at 6:45 AM. for smooth services. Kindly share the client’s phone number or WhatsApp that is functional in Vietnam, allowing us to reconfirm the day 1 pick-up time and reach them if there are any emergencies.
  • Due to limited space, guests are requested to bring only 1 cabin bag/ suitcase 115cm (56cm x 36cm x 23cm) per person.
What's included?

Inclusions

  • Join-in Topas Mountain Express direct shuttle between Hanoi and Topas Ecolodge
  • 2 nights in a premium executive bungalow at Topas Ecolodge
  • All meals as indicated in the program
  • All entrance tickets and permits to local villages and Hoang Lien National Park
  • Nam Cang shuttle bus on Day 2
  • Free refillable water during transfers and at Topas Ecolodge (Please check with your guide or driver and bring your own water bottle)
  • 1 bilingual (ENG and VN) speaking local tour guide on day 1 and 2 hikes
  • Government Value Added Tax
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Important notes

  • Maximum group size of 10 people allowed during activities
  • Pick-up destinations and times are as follows
    • From Hanoi's Old Quarter or Tay Ho Districts - 6:30 - 7:00 am
    • From Noi Bai Airport - latest 8:00 am
  • Prices are quoted in VND
  • If the lodges are closed or travel bans/restrictions apply, booking date can be amended and/or transferred to another person for use with written confirmation from Topas Ecolodge

Your adventure awaits with just a click.