Experience Overview
Experience both the bustle of Hanoi and the gentle lifestyle of northern Vietnam’s hill tribe communities on this nine-day Premium hiking adventure through Vietnam. Hike with a knowledgeable local leader through valleys, tea plantations, limestone peaks and verdant rice terraces in Nam Ti and Hoang Su Phi, and capture the panoramic views from Horse Shoe Viewpoint and Raspberry Hill. Spend the night at two Feature Stays, including the Garrya Mu Cang Chai Eco Lodge, surrounded by beautiful mountains and rice terraces, learn about northern Vietnam’s rural village culture in La Pan Tan and Tu Le, and enjoy Vietnam’s local cuisine with a traditional barbecue in Sapa and a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hanoi.
Highlights
- Explore Sapa – a mountain town known for its rich hill-tribe culture. Visit the Sapas Stone Church, learn about the French influence on the area’s architecture and wander the local market.
- Hike through valleys surrounded by towering limestone peaks, bamboo groves and rice terraces in Nam Ti and Tu Le.
- Visit the National Heritage Site of Hoang Su Phi and stroll through its renowned rice fields.
- Indulge in Vietnam’s local cuisine with a traditional barbeque in Sapa and Michelin Star restaurant in Hanoi.
- Learn about northern Vietnam’s rural culture through meaningful local interactions – meet welcoming families in Lim Thai Village in Tu Le and hear about the village's history and way of life.
Trip Details
Product Code: 37142
Tour Type: Kleine Gruppe
Accommodation: Unknown
Transport: Private Transport,on foot
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator: Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: TVXP
Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam
Finishes: Hanoi, Vietnam
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating: Average
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (8), Lunch (5), Dinner (4)Accommodation: Comfortable hotels (4 nights),Eco Resort - Feature Stays (4 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,350 ($372 /day)
Itinerary
Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and taken to your comfortable hotel, where your adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to see and do in Vietnam's storied capital. You could book the Hanoi Street Food Experience with Urban Adventures to sample local street eats from markets and food carts, take a stroll around the serene Hoan Kiem Lake or explore the Old Quarter lined with shops, imperial temples and French architecture. This evening, head out to dinner with the group at Tam Vi, a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its authentic ‘mother’s cooking’ style dishes and take the time to get to know your leader and group.
Included Activities:
- Hanoi - Welcome dinner at Tam Vi Restaurant
- Hanoi - Fast Track Airport Service on Arrival
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Optional Activities:
- Hanoi - Women's Museum (30000 VND)
- Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison (50000 VND)
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex (80003 VND)
- Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology (40000 VND)
Accommodation:
- The Ann Hanoi or Similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Today you’ll travel by private vehicle to Hoang Su Phi – a mountain village known for its stunning terraced rice fields. Today is a bit of a long but definitely worthwhile travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts or watch the scenery pass you by. Stopping for lunch along the way, you’ll soon arrive in Hoang Su Phi, a mountainous region on Vietnam’s northern border and far from the usual tourist trail. When you arrive, set off on a village walk to Nam Ti – known for its stunning patchwork of sprawling vibrant green tea plantations. After walking through this amazing scenery check into your first feature stay eco-lodge, voted one of Vietnam’s Leading Green Resorts for 2025. Perhaps enjoy a post hike relax in the hot springs before dinner, then attend a cultural Flame Dance Ceremony and a traditional blessing ceremony to prepare for your upcoming trekking adventures.
Included Activities:
- Hoang Su Phi - Traditional Flame Dance Ceremony
- Hoang Su Phi - Na Namem Ti Guided Village Walk
Accommodation:
- Panhou Retreat or Similar (Feature Stay) (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, set off on an incredibly scenic hike through Hoang Su Phi’s rice terraces. This region – that remains largely untouched by mass tourism – is known for its verdant green hillsides and traditional stilt houses. Along the way, you’ll stop at the Horse Shoe Viewpoint – named for its curved shape that wraps around the hillside like a horseshoe. With panoramic views of the layered rice fields and surrounding highland landscape, this is the perfect spot to pause your hike and snap a few photos. This afternoon is free for you to spend how you like. Maybe head back to your comfortable eco-lodge to relax or unwind in a rejuvenating herbal bath.
Included Activities:
- Hoang Su Phi - Horseshoe Viewpoint guided hike
Accommodation:
- Panhou Retreat or Similar (Feature Stay) (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast transfer by private vehicle though the mountainous scenery to the bustling town of Sapa (1600m), nestled in the shadow of the highest peak in the region, Mount Fansipan (3143m). After checking in, set out on a guided walk through the town, renowned for its colourful hill-tribe cultures. Visit the iconic Sapa Stone Church, a testament to the French influence in Vietnam’s architecture in the 1920s, then, explore the town’s local market filled with fresh produce and handmade crafts. Later, enjoy a traditional Sapa-style barbeque and learn about the area's culinary culture. This specialty is grilled over open flames and served street-style with local meats and vegetables.
Included Activities:
- Sapa - Sapa Market
- Sapa - Walking tour of Sapa
- Sapa - BBQ street food meal
- Sapa - Sapa Church
Accommodation:
- Sapa Jade Hill or Similar (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning you’ll drive from Sapa to Nam Cang – a remote community primarily home to the colourful Red Dao people, with a small population of Black Hmong residents. From here, set off on a circular hike through terraced rice fields, dense bamboo forests and misty hills. As you hike past traditional hill tribe villages, your guide will introduce you to the region’s history and the rich culture of northern Vietnam's local communities. On arrival back into Sapa you have some free time to explore before retiring to your comfortable hotel bed for the evening.
Included Activities:
- Sapa - Full - day Guided Hiking: Nam Mat - Suoi Thau - Nam Cang
Accommodation:
- Sapa Jade Hill or Similar (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast you’ll drive south through the misty grey mountain peaks to another stunning region with breathtaking landscapes views. Today you’ll explore La Pan Tan – a village in northwest Vietnam known for its rice terrace fields layered up the mountainside. When you arrive, head out on a guided hike along the historic trails past Raspberry Hill, where vivid red hues contrast with lush greenery to create a stunning natural mosaic. At 1500m above sea level the temperature is ideal for hiking. This afternoon, settle into your second Feature Stay at the Garrya Mu Cang Chai Eco Lodge. Surrounded by mountains, and terraced rice fields this is a haven of relaxation. Enjoy some ‘you time’ with a spa treatment or massage to soothe your trekking muscles.
Included Activities:
- Tu Le - La Pan Tan Village Guided Walk
Accommodation:
- Garrya Mu Cang Chai or Similar (Feature Stay) (Number of Nights: 1)
Discover the traditional culture of northern Vietnam with a visit to the serene and rustic Lim Thai village near Tu Le. Set out on a hike along footpaths lined with stilt houses and rice terraces, as the village's daily life unfolds around you. These paths look out over Vietnam’s well-known landscape of patchwork green and brown rice fields, surrounded by mountains and towering trees. As you hike, take the time to meet the local Thai community and enjoy the warm hospitality the region is known for.
Included Activities:
- Tu Le - Lim Thai Village Guided Walk
Accommodation:
- Garrya Mu Cang Chai or Similar (Feature Stay) (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, travel by private vehicle down the scenic route back to Hanoi, as you drop from the mountainous north to the coastal plains of the Red River. Stopping for lunch on the way, you’ll arrive back in to the bustling city in the afternoon. The rest of today is free for you to spend how you like. Tonight, head out for a traditional Vietnamese dinner with your group at the Ha Thanh Maison Restaurant. Located within a beautifully restored historic mansion, tonight’s restaurant offers a charming dining experience with meticulously crafted dishes that celebrate local flavours – the best way to celebrate the end of your trip.
Included Activities:
- Hanoi - Farewell Dinner at Ha Thanh Maison Restaurant
Accommodation:
- The Ann Hanoi or Similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you wish to spend more time in Hanoi, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Optional Activities:
- Hanoi - Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) (355 USD)
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure (29 USD)
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
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