Climb the Roof of Fansipan Mountain

Overview:   With the height of 3,143 meters, Fansipan is Vietnam's highest mountain. It is only 9 km from Sapa Town but can only be reached on foot after at least 3 days of forest trekking to get to the peak and back.

The peak is accessible to anybody who is in good healthy. As there are no mountain huts on the way, we will be camping. Our porters carry all the equipment and food if you require. No ropes or technical climbing skills are needed, just endurance and plenty of energy. The terrain is rough, foggy and often cool. The tour is available all year round. Contact us and we’ll check for weather forecast before you make your booking. This trip is for those who are fit and seek a challenge. It provides 360° views of the surrounding area and into China, from "The Roof of South East Asia".  If you have more time this tour can be extended to include another peak on the West Side of the mountain. Each day involves 6 to 8 hours of hiking

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)
Our guide will pick you at Noi Bai airport and transfer to hotel. If time available, take a cyclo cycling around Hanoi’s Old Quarter for a glance at handicraft centre of Hanoi before dinner. At 9:30pm, transfer to Hanoi’s railway station for the night train to Lao Cai.

Day 2: Lao Cai - Sapa - Climb upwards - Camp (B, L, D)
Arrive at Lao Cai railway station at 6.30 am, then transfer by bus to Sapa. After shower and breakfast at our office in Sapa. Meet our guide and H'mong porters, pick up our baggage and start ahead, along with the cook. From our altitude of 1500 m, we pass through the Sapa day market and leave Sapa, heading for the bottom of the valley. After a short while we pass the H'mong village of Cat Cat, where pigs are scuffling around freely among the wooden houses, and the children look curiously at these strange people. At the bottom of the valley(1200 m) we pass the river of Linh Ho, carefully keeping our balance on the fragile bamboo bridge. We start the long climb upwards, and later in the day reach the rainforest, which softens our steps and blocks our view for a while. Before nightfall, we pick a spot in the jungle and put up our camp in 2200 m altitude. Enjoying the nocturnal sounds of the forest is a perfect background for the smell of a good evening meal, being prepared by the cook...

Day 3: Climb to the Fansipan Roof - Camp (B, L, D)
After an early breakfast, we start slowly with a minor descend, before we again move upwards. If we are lucky, we might see some of the giant butterflies living around here, reaching a size of 25 cm. At around 2400 m the rainforest gradually gives way to huge, succulent bamboo, passing which we reach a ridge at 2900 m, and now have a magnificent view down through the long Sapa valley, over the area we have just passed, to the mountain range on the other side. We prepare our lunch at an elevation of 3100 m. Then we set out on the final ascend. A few steep stretches must be passed, but nothing insurmountable and we reach the summit at 3.143 m. We now stand at the highest point in Vietnam, the view is stunning, to the north into China as well as to the south and Laos, and the mountainous area with Dien Bien Phuin between. Time for a good long break, before we return to our base camp at 2400 m.

Day 4: Descend down to Sapa (B, L, D)
We enjoy our morning - coffee and the sounds of nature, then we take down the camp and move ahead down the mountain. Trekking back down across well-known country goes quickly and we will reach Sapa again in time for a good evening meal, a hot shower, a cold drink... Enjoy Sapa at night with streets filled with local children in different traditional costumes, brocade works lay on the pavements, the vendors sitting in front of the old Catholic Church, cafes and shops. Nowhere in Vietnam you could find yourself in such a fantastic night like in this quiet town.

Day 5 : Sapa in the mist of cloud - Night Train to Hanoi (B, L, D)
Enjoy breakfast at our spectacular balcony. Then whole day is free for shopping or just to relax or visit the day market in Sapa or make a trek with our guide to villages of Lao Chai, Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai of Black H'mong, Zay and Red Zao people. We return to Sapa at 2.pm then at 4pmtransfer by bus to Lao Cai railway station and take the overnight train back to Hanoi

Day 6: Hanoi Departure (B)
Arrive at Hanoi early in the morning. Back hotel. Have shower and relax then order for the breakfast. Free shopping till the departure time of your own flight.