Sapa has long been recognized as a fascinating tourist attraction for travelers who love Sapa trekking tours and come to Vietnam because of its trekking routes, landscapes, climate and ethnic minorities, making Sapa unique in its own way.
As tourists, you can help too! Here is some valuable information to help you along your way. Please take this opportunity read through the following information, especially as you prepare for your Sapa tours.
A place for amazing experience of Sapa trekking tours
Sapa is a beautiful place with such stunning landscapes and colourful cultures. It is a photographer’s mecca, an explorer’s playground and many travellers’ favourite place. This place is renowned for its trekking capability in the terrain and has historically been an ideal place to escape from the heat and humidity of urban area.
Sapa is an ideal place for trekking tours
A quick glance at a tour program or a single session of Google search about Sapa trekking tours will provide you a variety of Sapa tours and possible villages for your preferences including: Cat Cat village, Ta Phin village, Lao Chai village, Ta Van village, Ban Ho village and Bac Ha market.
Booking your Sapa trekking Tours
Serving as a prominent destination for tourists, there are multitude of options you can find in Sapa region. You cannot miss the villages around Sapa as they are special parts of the Sapa experience. Without them, there is not much that Sapa can offer you during the tours. It is recommended to have a look at a map of Sapa and decide on trekking route that matches your desired activities, experiences and timeframe. Once you have narrowed down some ideas, you can be more prepared to meet with a travel consultant or tour operator.
Several ways of booking tour are available for your preference: on the internet, in Hanoi or directly in Sapa. If you wish to book on the internet, most tourism agent will provide
Booking your tour will more than likely happen in one of three places: on the internet, in Hanoi, or in Sapa. If you are booking on the internet then you are probably looking into taking a private tour. Most of the companies will be able to coordinate a specialized package for you, based on your price requirements and taste.
In case you want to book your Sapa trekking tours in Hanoi, you will have many travel agents to choose from. Many travellers book through their hotel receptionists, who will then make arrangements with local tour operators in Sapa on your behalf. Tour itineraries will be limited, but with your pre-booking research you will be much more able to ask for what you want.
If you plan to book a Sapa trekking tour once you arrive in Sapa, it is best to join a group tour in order to save the expense. I would also recommend that you should definitely ask travel agents before booking to get further necessary information to ensure the best experience during your trip.
Some well-known villages worth spending time during your Sapa trekking tour
It would take a short walk from Sapa town to Cat Cat village. It is a Hmong village with a some great photo spots for tourists including picturesque waterfall and scenic backdrops. Just more than half a day of walking, you can explore this beautiful village independently with a local H’mong guide organized with a responsible tour operator.
Ta Phin is just about 20 minutes driving or 4-hour trekking from Sapa town. Ta Phin is predominantly a village of Red Dzao people, with a small community of Black H’mong on the west side of the valley. Ta Phin has been primarily offered as a half-day trip for travellers, yet the increased zealousness of the street-sellers has made it somewhat unattractive to tour operators.
Children in villages around Sapa
Meanwhile, Lao Chai is a Hmong village in the descending valley southwest of Sapa. Easily accessed by a number of trekking routes, this hill tribe village can be reached in three hours by the average trekker. Most of the local Black Hmong trekking and tour guides are from this village and many are currently working with their families and the CBT Vietnam team to set up homestays. We definitely recommend doing the minimally challenging trek from Sapa to Lao Chai, via Cat Cat Village and Y Linh Ho, and spending an afternoon learning traditional batik in the village of Lao Chai. Follow this up with a night one of the great homestays already established for an amazing and authentic Hmong experience.
Read more: Lost in the mysterious beauty of Sapa’s unique architecture
Ta Van has become the most popular trekking destination in all of Sapa. The Giay (Day) ethnic minority has truly been entrepreneurial and industrious in retrofitting their homes to offer a place for trekkers to spend the night.
>> Sapa tour review – Some experience before you go
