Topas Ecolodge 2Days or 3Days

3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS  
Reference: HENPT3 
Activity: Hiking  
Grade: Easy
Duration: 3 days and 2 nights – it’s possible to extend with one or more nights.  

Summary 
Day 1: Take Topas Mountain Express to Sapa. Hike to Topas Ecolodge. 
Day 2: Explore the remote Red Dao village of Nam Cang and hike to the surrounding mountains. 
Day 3: Relax at Topas Ecolodge or visit Sapa town. Transfer by Topas Mountain Express to Hanoi.  

Itinerary  
Day 1: Comfortable drive to Sapa and hike to Topas Ecolodge (-,-,-) 

From 6:30 - 7:00 AM, you will commence from your hotel with Topas Mountain Express for a 5 hours transfer to the mountain town of Sapa. After having lunch in Sapa town at your own expense, you will have a transfer to the trekking point near Hau Thao village. Trekking is the best activity to enjoy the beautiful nature and get in touch with the unique culture of Sapa. The 2.5 hour trek today is on the trails running through a pure and beautiful mountainous area, home to Black H’mong minority. Some parts of the trek are a little bit challenging with steep ascents, but as compensation, you will enjoy the breathtaking views of towering mountains and paddling rice terraces valleys. You will visit the two villages of Hang Da and Hau Chu Ngai and be charmed by the unmixed culture of the Black H’mong minority, who has special skills in making agricultural tools, wooden furniture, musical instruments and jewelry. They are also famous for their hemp production and indigo dying.

You then have another short transfer to the remote hilltop located 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.  

Day 2: Explore the most remote land of Sapa (B,L,-)
 
The Red Dao village of Nam Cang is 20km from Topas Ecolodge. At 8:45 AM, you have a drive to the village, enjoying the picturesque views of peaky mountains, endless rice terraces, waterfalls and Hill tribes’ villages on the way. Nam Cang village locates at the far end of the road. 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 around the village and learn how the local villagers make writing paper, jewelry and embroidery. You then have your lunch at the Nam Cang Riverside Lodge, enjoying the peaceful life on the banks of river. 

In the afternoon you can choose to relax at lodge, make more visits to the village, take a swim in the river or join a trek to explore the beautiful surrounding nature. The 3 hour moderate trek starts with an ascent to a small Blue H’mong village, but from here it is mostly straight and downhill with a beautiful view to the high mountains, waterfalls and the deep valley.  In the mid afternoon you will have a transfer back to Topas Ecolodge/ Sapa town.   

Day 3: Leaving the mountain and back to Hanoi (B,-,-) 

The morning is at your leisure at Topas Ecolodge. You can either relax or borrow free of charge mountain bikes from the lodge for an exploration to the neighboring villages. You can also take a scheduled shuttle bus to Sapa to visit the town.  At 14:00, Topas Mountain Express departs from Topas Ecolodge, pick you up if you are in Sapa town, and return you to your hotel in Hanoi.   

Please note: Topas Mountain Express can only pick up and return passengers at hotels in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
  
Price: USD320/person - based on double occupancy. (There will be a single supplement of USD120/person if you are travelling alone)

This package includes: 
+ English speaking guide during shared excursions* 
+ 2 night at Topas Ecolodge (twin shared Deluxe bungalow) 
+ Indicated meals (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)** 
+ Mineral water and snack during walking trips 
+ Transfer by Topas Mountain Express bus Hanoi – Sapa – Topas Ecolodge – Sapa – Hanoi 
+ All other indicated transportation 
+ All entrance fees to the indicated places  

* The excursions are based on sharing group of maximum 10 travelers 
**Other meals at Topas Ecolodge are recommended to be booked in advance.  
If you would like to stay in our Executive bungalows, at surcharge of USD20/night, please request this when booking.    

3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS  
Reference: HENPM3 
Activity: Hiking, Market visiting 
Grade: Easy 
Duration: 3 days and 2nights – it’s possible to extend with one or more nights. 
 
Overview 
The markets are always the colorful meeting places for the hill tribes of Vietnam. Minorities come down from the mountains to sell their produce. Sometimes it is a long hike for the tribes to come to sell or exchange their goods. Others may simply come in order to catch up on the latest news or gossips. With the various tribes in their colorful traditional dress, the smell of exotic herbs and spices, abundant rice wine and food stalls - you can be assured that market day in Vietnam is truly an unforgettable experience.  

Summary 
Day 1 (Friday): Take Topas Mountain Express via the mountain town of Sapa to Topas Ecolodge. 
Day 2 (Saturday): Explore the remote area dominated by the Red Dao minority. 
Day 3 (Sunday): Visit Bac Ha market. Transfer by Topas Mountain Express to Hanoi.
  
Itinerary  
Day 1 (Friday): Comfortable drive via Sapa to Topas Ecolodge (-,-,-) 

From 6:30 - 7:00 AM, you will commence from your hotel with Topas Mountain Express for a 5 hours transfer to the mountain town of Sapa. You then continue the ride to the remote hilltop located 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.  

Day 2 (Saturday): Explore the most remote land of Sapa (B,L,-) 

The Red Dao village of Nam Cang is 20km from Topas Ecolodge. At 8:45 AM, you have a drive to the village, enjoying the picturesque views of peaky mountains, endless rice terraces, waterfalls and Hill tribes’ villages on the way. Nam Cang village locates at the far end of the road. 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 around the village and learn how the local villagers make writing paper, jewelry and embroidery. 
You then have your lunch at the Nam Cang Riverside Lodge, enjoying the peaceful life on the banks of river. In the afternoon you can choose to relax at lodge, make more visits to the village, take a swim in the river or join a trek to explore the beautiful surrounding nature. The 3 hour moderate trek starts with an ascent to a small Blue H’mong village, but from here it is mostly straight and downhill with a beautiful view to the high mountains, waterfalls and the deep valley.  In the mid afternoon you will have a transfer back to Topas Ecolodge/ Sapa town.   

Day 3 (Sunday): Visit Bac Ha minority market. Take Topas Mountain Express to Hanoi (B,L,-) 

At 6:30, you will commence the market tour from Topas Ecolodge by a transfer to Bac Ha, which is 70 kms Northeast of Lao Cai. Bac Ha is the largest market in the area, situated inside the small town of Bac Ha. On every Sunday mornings, it is literally a riot of color as many different ethnic groups such as the Flower H’mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay and Nung minorities gather to trade. 
After spending the whole morning exploring the market, you will have a transfer to a nearby minority village, where you will enjoy lunch in a local house which is well prepared by your friendly hosts.

After lunch, you drive downhill for about half an hour to visit Trung Do village. The beautiful village, located by the Chay river, is inhabited by Tay minortiy. Hereafter you will get on a motor-boat and have a cruise to Bao Nhai, experiencing the picturesque scenes on the river banks, if the Chay river’s water level is high enough, or continue to visit another of many interesting minority villages. Your vehicle then picks you up for the journey to Lao Cai, where you continue the drive with Topas Mountain Express back to Hanoi.  

Please note: Topas Mountain Express can only pick up and return passengers at hotels/ residence in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.   

Price: USD340/person - based on double occupancy. (There will be a single supplement of USD120/person if you are travelling alone)

This package includes: 
- English speaking guide during shared excursions* 
2 nights at Topas Ecolodge (twin shared Deluxe bungalow) • Indicated meals (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)** 
- Transfer by Topas Mountain Express bus Hanoi – Sapa – Topas Ecolodge – Sapa – Hanoi
- Mineral water and snack during excursions 
- All entrance fees to the indicated places  

* The excursions are based on sharing group of maximum 10 travelers 
**Other meals at Topas Ecolodge are recommended to be booked in advance.  
If you would like to stay in our Executive bungalows, at surcharge of USD20/night, please request this when booking.