Sapa
Fully Guided 7 Day Hiking Tour
Fully Guided 7 Day Hiking Tour
Sapa is tucked away in the far north of Vietnam, in the mountains, but it is relatively easy to reach from Hanoi. Beginning from the drive up the mountains from Lao Cai, Sapa has some of the most beautiful scenery in Vietnam; with rolling hills and jagged mountains, rice terraces on an epic scale and small authentic villages. Sapa is the premier hiking destination of Vietnam with countless routes to explore.
We currently do not have any tours planned for Vietnam, but if you have a group of six to twelve people, contact us and we will give you a quote and some date options.
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Frequently asked questions
The tour is 7 days and 6 nights and the cost is
$AU1,790 per person for groups of 10-12
$AU1,990 per person for groups of 8-9
$AU2,190 per person for groups of 6-7
What is included
- All accommodation
- 5 breakfasts, 1 dinner
- Bus and train transfers to and from Hanoi to Sapa, and around Sapa
- Luggage storage while hiking
- A guide for the trip
What is not included
- Airfares to Hanoi and return
- transfer from Hanoi airport to Hotel and Hanoi train station to the airport
- 1 breakfast, all lunches and 5 dinners
- optional cablecar ride to Mt Fansipan
- Passport, visa (if applicable) and travel insurance
Minimum group size is 6 guests, maximum is 12 guests plus the guide.
Day 1
- Meet at our hotel in Hanoi, in the old quarter, by 5.30pm. Tour briefing will be held at 6.00pm
- Hanoi is alive! Lots of options for meals and entertainment.
Day 2
- After breakfast we will do a 3 hour, 6km urban walk taking in some of the highlights of the French Quarter and the Old Quarter of Hanoi, including the Hanoi Hilton and the French Cathedral. PADS rating is 1.6
- After lunch we will board a bus for the 5 hour trip to Sapa
- Our accommodation is at a hotel in Sapa
Day 3
- After breakfast we head for a hiking tour of Silver Waterfall and surrounding areas. Rated Easy to Moderate
- Hiking in this area will be short and relatively easy. Views are stunning!
- Our accommodation is at a hotel or homestay in Sapa
Day 4
- After breakfast we hike from Sapa to Ta Van. The hike is about 13km and rating is Moderate
- Lunch at a local cafe
- Our accommodation is at Sapa Sisters homestay at Ta Van. Dorm style accomodation. Dinner and breakfast included.
Day 5
- After breakfast we hike from Ta Van to Ban Mo. The hike is about 13km and rating is Moderate
- Lunch at a local cafe
- At the end of the hike, our bus will take us back to Sapa
Accommodation at a hotel in Sapa
Day 6
- Today is a free day in Sapa
- Explore the town, take the cablecar to Mt Fansipan, or spoil yourself at one of the local spas
- At 5.00pm we take the bus from Sapa to Lo Cai. We’ll have time for dinner at Lo Cai before boarding the overnight sleeper train to Hanoi at about 9.00pm. Each sleeper accommodates 4 people. Twin share available for an extra charge of $100 per couple.
Day 7
- Our train arrives at Hanoi at about 6.00am
- Transfer to the airport by bus or taxi from Hanoi station, for your flight home, or extend your holiday in Vietnam.
Please contact us to check available dates and to make bookings.
The bank details for the deposit are:
Home Comforts Hiking
BSB 932000
Account 500196069
Please contact us to check available dates and to make bookings.
Please see our full cancellation and refunds policy on the “Bookings” Page
The balance is due 2 months prior to the trip start date. If the trip is cancelled by us due to Covid 19 travel restrictions, we will refund your payment in full.
There are no refunds, due to cancellation by you, unless a replacement hiker is introduced by you (the person cancelling), to replace you. If a replacement is introduced in this manner, we will refund 75% of the total paid by you.
Overall the hike is rated moderate. There are some hilly sections to navigate, and some of the trails can be muddy. The routes chosen will be decided after consultation with the group, it can be easy, moderate or difficult, or a combination of these. We use local indigenous guides to plan and support our hikes. We walk at a slow to moderate pace with plenty of breaks and opportunities to enjoy the sights, culture, villages, views, fauna and flora.
It is not compulsory to hike each day. If you prefer to have a rest day at any stage, this can be accommodated.
Our hike does not include Mt Fansipan, but you can visit the summit via a cablecar if you want during your free time.
The accommodation is excellent in Vietnam. We stay in 3 or 4-star hotels. The rooms are generous in size and all have their own bathroom. Note that bedding linen and towels are provided at every accommodation we stay at. While hiking we stay at ‘Homestays’ which are quite basic. The hosts are very friendly and meals are provided.
- Breakfast is included each morning. Usually it is a mix of western and Vietmanese food.
- Lunch – Usually we can find a café on the trail to have some lunch. If no café is available, we will get some lunch from a general type store.
- There are many restaurants and cafes to choose from, located near our accommodations for dinner. Lunches and dinners are at your own cost.
- Snacks – please bring or purchase your own snacks and ensure you have sufficient water each day.
- On some hiking days in remote areas, meals will be provided
No, but luggage can be left in your room or at the hotel. You only need to carry a day pack while hiking.
- Small backpack with waterproof cover (for the hike)
- Shirts, pants, shorts, underwear, socks
- warm clothes during colder months (Nov-March)
- Sturdy waterproof hiking shoes – hiking pole(s)
- Rainproof jacket and trousers
- Cash and/or Debit/Credit Card (ATMs at Sapa and Hanoi)
- Passport, Visa (if applicable), Travel Insurance docs
- Phone and/or tablet, camera and chargers
- Toiletries and medication
Our accommodation was on the second floor and our room had a huge sliding window that opened at waist height with a drop to the cement many metres below. An OH&S disaster waiting to happen! The place was thumping, literally, as it was Saturday night with a band and lots of backpackers and locals enjoying the entertainment.
Pam and I searched out some food in town for the next day, and later, wished that we had bought/brought more. Even at 5.00 pm, there was not much open.
The bus trip and dinner provided an opportunity to glean some first impressions of our walking companions and they were all positive: a very nice bunch. As well as Pam Dawes from Manly, there was Sarah, Steve and Claudia from Port Macquarie, Tony from Byron Bay, Derek from Mosman, plus Marcus and his wife Marika, their daughter Monica with husband Dave and daughter little, 12 months old, Ashlin. Steve had camping gear and used it for some of the nights.
Home Comforts Hiking proved to be a well-organised and friendly crew.
Mara Creek Campsite is the starting point for the Yuraygir Coastal Walk and this site is historically-significance as it was a source of fresh water and fish for the local Goorie (Aboriginal) people. A natural fish trap on the rock platform below the Shelley Beach path is clearly visible.
So it is with an appreciation of the timelessness of this stunningly beautiful area that we set off, a family of sorts. A group photo is taken. Little Ashlin is strapped into her carrier and Monica steps out strongly with tales of her walk along the Pacific Crest Trail (4,270 km) that makes our 65 km effort over 4 days seem insignificant. But it is good to chat about ultra trail events and great walks and to hear Monica describe her new interest: trail running, her long legs perfectly built for that.
The walk to Lake Arragan via Shelley Headland is varied, with the beach and sand dune trails offering views of ochre-coloured rock platforms and coffee rock sand cliffs to the south. Whales and dolphins are spotted by some of the group but I'm not quick enough to focus. We follow the coastal emu footprint signs and although we come upon wallaby or kangaroo footprints in the sand, we see no emus. Heath and woodland vegetation is diverse and we enjoy a springtime flush of flowers - flannel flowers, orchids, boronias. Coastal banksias, pandanus palms and paperbarks (complete with a native beehive) shade the trails.
By midday, the air became quite smoky from the fires to the north-west of Lake Arragan and as we walk on, we speak with locals who have packed up their pets and driven to Plumbago Headland to be well away from the fires. Later we are told that the picnic area near the lake where some of the group enjoyed a bracing swim was burnt out the next day and National Parks closed the section of the walk from Angourie to Laka Arragan until further notice.
We end the day with views of Red Cliff and Grey Cliff Headlands and drop down to the beach via stairs - newly repaired. We walk briskly along the beautiful beach to Brooms Head with its stately Norfolk Island pines but as we a glance northward, we are reminded that the fire situation is worsening. Devastating for so many.
Our accommodation is adequate - spacious and clean, the only problem being that the bathroom door doesn't close but we aren't too fussed and manage. The bathroom light globe pops but is replaced promptly. The shop is run down as is the owner, the shelves barely stocked and the food is outrageously expensive eg 50g of coffee $12.95! Dinner at the Bowling Club is pleasant and we finish the day with a lively game of BOMB.
Sandon is a pretty place with an estuary separating the camping ground and the renovated beach shacks; some are pretty flash. Life is in the slow lane here as access is limited. There is a clear message in the lack of garbage bins - take care of this special place. There was time to have a swim but the wind was cold so a sit in the sun, lunch and a wander around the camping area and along the inlet filled in the time nicely. The break provided an opportunity to read the information signs and appreciate that this stretch of coast is protected by Sanctuary Zones and Commonwealth Marine Reserves. The environmental campaigns of the '80s and '90s are to be applauded.
There could not have been a greater contrast to the Brooms Head shop in the Minnie Waters shop: pleasant people run it, well-stocked shelves, pricey...yes but good quality. I eyed off the cheeses... not this time. The sign on the window said it all: Kitchen and Coffee close by 4 (or earlier if there are waves or we just wanna) and the local facilities indicate a community at work here.
And what a peaceful end to the day's walk through the Angophoras for the last kilometre to the comfortable cabins at the caravan park. The late afternoon light was magical.
We were all feeling a little worn out after the soft-sand slog in the afternoon but showers and pre-dinner drinks followed by a hearty barbeque dinner prepared by Marcus and the family is just what we needed. I need to add that when we left Brooms Head in the morning, there was a possibility that the road would be closed due to the fires and Dave and the trailer would not make it to Minnie Waters. All was well however and Dave was able to bring the gear through as well as the BBQ makings.
Unfortunately. a cool southerly wind had sprung up and battered us for 6.5 km.
We were pleased to arrive at Wooli River Lodges mid-afternoon. What a nice place. Shady, well-maintained gardens; lodges with good linen; an outdoor fully equipped kitchen; and just 5 minutes to the local store and hotel. We enjoyed dinner at the hotel and this was followed by a gathering in the outdoor kitchen to wish Dave a happy birthday with party hats and cake. It seemed like a long day and I headed back to our lodge while most stayed to play 31. I was surprised to find it was only 7.30 pm but the opportunity for an early night was too good to pass up.
After lunch, we crossed Station Creek estuary easily as it was only wading depth. Then there was another beautiful beach walk to Red Rock River and our final boat crossing to Red Rock.
Press play on the following link:
https://www.relive.cc/view/v1vjpeABDY6
Pam and I had intended to spend the night at Nambucca Heads but as it was only 2.00 pm when we arrived at Red Rock, we canceled our motel booking, thanked and fare welled our walking family and drove home to Caves Beach.
What a wonderful walk along a beautiful, pristine coastline in good company, thanks to Home Comforts Hiking – we couldn’t ask for a better few days!
[post_title] => Yuraygir Coastal Walk 7 – 11 September, 2019
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