Enjoy an adventurous holiday in the Tonkinese Alps.
The old French hill station, Sa Pa, is located close to the Chinese border and only one day by train from Hanoi. In the mountains and valleys surrounding Sa Pa 5 different hill tribes are represented all with their own distinct language and culture. They wear their traditional clothes and often their way of life is hardly effected by modern life style.
The Victoria Sa Pa Hotel and Topas Travel/ Phu Thinh Trekking Co. invite you to experience this very special part of Vietnam. You will enjoy the comfort of the Victoria Sa Pa Hotel and during the three-day trekking trip you have the opportunity to follow the every-day life of tribe people such as Thay, Giay, Red Dao, Black H`mong and Xa Pho.

Wednesday
You board the luxurios Victoria Express Train, where the soft foam mattress ensures you a good night sleep. The train departs from Hanoi at 10 p.m. and arrives at Lao Cai station at 7 a.m. Thursday morning.

Thursday
Staff from the Victoria Sa Pa Hotel will welcome you at Lao Cai train station at 7 a.m. and transfer you by minibus to the hotel in Sa Pa. After an hour drive along the exciting curv road surrounded by steep mountains and terraced rice fields, a delicious buffet breakfast will be awaiting you at the Victoria Sa Pa Hotel. The day is free to explore Sa Pa and its surroundings.

Friday
After enjoying a delicious breakfast you will go on a three hour trekking trip to a village close to Sa Pa accompanied by an English speaking guide. You will be back at the hotel before lunch. The afternoon is free to enjoy the heated swimming pool and other recreational activities at the Victoria Sa Pa Hotel and to prepare for the next three days trekking adventure. Phu Thinh Trekking Co. will provide you with the necessary trekking equipment to enable the preparations.

Saturday
The trekking trip starts around 9 a.m., where you will be picked up at the victoria Sa Pa Hotel and driven with Russian jeep to the end of the dirt road from where the adventure start by foot. An experienced English speaking guide will be at your assistance as well as a cook. All your equipment will be carried by local porters from the Black H`mong hill tribe. You will be trekking down to Ban Ho village which is characterized by its inhabitants from the Zay minority. You cross the river by foot and reach the village of Thanh Phu set beautifully among the surrounding mountains. Your cook will prepare lunch in a local Tay-house. After the deserved lunch break slow ascends bring you to the other side of the mountain and to Sin Chai - the Red Dao village where you will spend the night in small bamboo huts. Do not expect any level of luxury, but the huts are well equipped with foam mattresses, sleeping bags with silk linnings and mosquito nets. In the evening you enjoy dinner in a private Dao house probably accompanied by the three generations living there.

Sunday
You wake up early to the morning sounds of the village. A two hour walk with beautiful views of the valley will take you to Suoi Thau village. The entrance to the village is a remarkable thatched wood brigde. While lunch is prepared in the village there is time for a swim in the river next to a small waterfall and there is a chance to see the local production of rice paper. Back in Sin Chai in the late afternoon, where you enjoy a glass of wine on the balcony overlooking the valley while the cook prepare a delicious dinner in the Red Dao family`s kitchen.

Monday
Early start back to Ban Ho. There is time for a swim in the river, while the cook prepare the lunch. Russian jeeps will be waiting at the top of the hill to take you back to Victoria Sa Pa Hotel. It is time for a hot shower and a recreational afternoon before you enjoy a delicious cheese fondue dinner made by the notable chef - Mr. Remy !!!!!

Tuesday
You will be departing Sa Pa by minibus to reach the comfortable Victoria Express Train at 10.20 a.m. in Lao Cai. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Red River and various landscape before you arrive in Hanoi at 8 p.m. after a refreshing and unique experience in the Tonkinese Alps.  

The special package includes:

 

Train Hanoi - Lao Cai return with the Victoria Express Train.
Transfer Lao Cai - Sa Pa return by minibus
Buffet breakfast on arrival
3 nights at the Victoria Sa Pa Hotel breakfast included
1/2 day trekking trip in the Sa Pa area
3 days remote village experience all equipment, transport and meals included.
Cheese fondue dinner at Victoria Sa Pa Hotel on the last night in Sa Pa
Free access to the indoor swimming pool, tennis court and sauna.                                                     

The special package does not include:

 

Lunch and dinner on the first and second day in Sa Pa
 Drinks, massages, sporting material and tips
 Meals on the Victoria Express train
 Insurance

Special introduction price
388 US$ per person. (A minimum of two persons are necessary).This price is valid from 1/3-31/5-2001.
Hereafter the price is $450 per person.

All above prices are on a sharing room basis and subject to change without notification.
All prices are net, VAT and service charge included.
The special package is only available with departure on Wednesdays.

Note
For the trekking trip you should be reasonable fit and able to walk 6-8 hours a day carrying a small day pack of 2-3 kilo. Additionally you must be medical insured. This enables us to provide you with the best possible help in the very unlikely case of an accident
The three day trekking trip mentioned in the programme above is only a suggestion. We are more than happy to customize the trip to the fitness and wishes of you and your family. For further information please contact us.
The Victoria Sa Pa Hotel and Phu Thinh Trekking Co. denies any responsibility for personal accidents either on the train, in Sa Pa or on the trekking trip.