Hiking in Northern Vietnam

Begin your adventure in Hanoi, a delicious first taste of Vietnamese culture. Whether you're buying baguettes and inexpensive coffee from the grand doorways of a past era, drifting alongside Hoan Kiem Lake or roaming the animated streets, the capital will delight your senses.

Around 6pm, say xin chào to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Vietnamese welcome by arranging dinner at a nearby restaurant. Want more time in Hanoi? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative. Stay: Minasi Grand Hotel (or similar) (D).

This morning we take a transfer (five to six hours) through scenic country and mountainous terrain towards Sapa, stopping at a restaurant en route for lunch.

Upon arrival around 4. 30pm, we stretch our legs with a short walk into Sapa town. It's possible to visit the bustling Sapa market, where local people buy and sell fresh produce, handicrafts and souvenirs - wander through the maze of stalls and stop to sample delicious street food. Stay: Hotel De Sapa (or similar) (B/L).

Leave the town of Sapa this morning and transfer (one hour) to the start of today's trek, Suoi Thau village. Our trail takes us through the most remote region in the Sapa district, mostly along dirt trails, providing us with a fascinating insight into an area rarely explored by tourists. It ends in Nam Cang, a village of around 1,500 people from the Red Dao and Black Hmong ethnic groups.

This evening, we enjoy a special experience, sleeping in a homestay, a chance for us to dive deeper into the local customs and cultures, learning firsthand from the people who live here. Stay: Nam Cang homestay or Ta May homestay (B/L/D).

Waking in our homestay, we start our hike directly from Nam Cang after breakfast. Along the way, we visit a family of silversmiths to observe their craft and learn about the role silver jewellery plays in the spiritual life of the Dao people. Today's hike finishes near Thanh Phu village, where we take a transfer (around one hour) back to our hotel. Today's hike can be modified as required, to match local conditions and individual abilities. Stay: Hotel De Sapa (or similar) (B/L).

Bid farewell to Sapa this morning, as we transfer (3hr 30min) to the rural Bac Ha district in the Lao Cai Province. After lunch at a restaurant en route, we visit a family to learn about the local corn wine-making process and to sample their produce. We also visit another household, who specialise in making palm-leaf hats with the chance to make your own. Stay: Binh Minh Bac Ha Motel (or similar) (B).

Today's hike starts from the Na Hoi commune, near Bac Ha town centre. Along the way, we pass through Ban Pho village, where we can observe the daily life of the resident Black Hmong people. Our hike takes us to the Hoang Thu Pho viewpoint, where we can enjoy vistas over a valley of rice terraces. The terrain is a mix of dirt trails, a short stretch of tarmac and concrete village roads. The hike finishes back in Bac Ha, where we spend our second night. Stay: Binh Minh Bac Ha Motel (or similar) (B/L).

After breakfast, we visit Lung Phin Market; here, Giay, Phu La and Mong Hoa ethnic groups meet and exchange goods, including the indispensable nua tubers – a specialty the local people used instead of meat in delicious, creative dishes. We then transfer (four hours) to Hoang Su Phi in the Ha Giang province. This mountainous region, which is largely untouched by tourism, sits near the Chinese border and is home to breathtaking terraced rice fields and untouched nature.

Enjoy a short hike from Thong Nguyen commune this afternoon, walking uphill to Hoang Su Phi Bungalow, where we stay for the next two nights, enjoying stunning views over terraced rice fields. Before dinner, we witness a fire dancing ceremony, a custom of the Red Dao people, which demonstrates their strength and desire to conquer nature and master life. Stay: Hoang Su Phi Bungalow (or similar) (B/L/D).

Our hike today starts and ends at our accommodation, with wonderful views of rice terraces and tea hills, and passing small streams and villages. We stop for lunch at a homestay near Raspberry Hill viewpoint, one of the most beautiful spots in northern Vietnam with panoramic views of the tiered rice terraces and highland-mountainous landscapes.

This evening, you may wish to enjoy a traditional herbal bath (optional extra, pay locally) before dinner to soak away any aches from a full day's hike. Stay: Hoang Su Phi Bungalow (or similar) (B/L/D).

Head out early this morning to participate in the tea-picking process with a farmer, before returning to a local household to observe the drying process before tasting freshly made tea. After, we hike from our accommodation to our next accommodation, Panhou Retreat, arriving around mid-afternoon. Use the rest of the day to unwind in this standout resort, which solely employs people from nearby villages and offers a peaceful escape in the mountains, with a bar, restaurant and soothing hot springs. Stay: Panhou Retreat (or similar) (B/L/D).

Enjoy a relaxed morning, making good use of the hot springs and other facilities before departing the retreat around 10am. We have a 6hr 30min transfer back to Hanoi today.

This evening is free for you to enjoy the capital or explore as you wish. Stay: Minasi Grand Hotel (or similar) (B).

The group departs early this morning and transfers (2hr 30min) to the pier in Ha Phong city, where we catch a 30-minute ferry to Cat Ba island. We then transfer to Beo Pier, where we board our boat and spend four hours cruising Lan Ha Bay, where incredible karst islands and limestone outcrops mirror those at the better-known Ha Long Bay. The tour includes kayaking for those who wish to participate, allowing us to get up close to the towering limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons and tranquil beaches of the bay. We also enjoy lunch on the boat.

This afternoon, we check into our comfortable accommodation for the evening. Stay: Cat Ba Paradise Hotel (or similar) (B/L).

After breakfast, we head to Trung Trang Cave, which was used as a hospital cave during the Vietnam War. From here, we hike to Ngu Lam Peak, where we can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole island. After, we transfer back to Hanoi (arriving mid to late afternoon) with free time before we head out for a farewell dinner. Stay: Minasi Grand Hotel (or similar) (B/L).

You've hiked through emerald rice terraces, immersed yourself in the culture of ethnic minority groups, and cruised among the limestone peaks of Lan Ha Bay; but today, the adventure comes to an end, and we begin our return journeys home. Alternatively, if you'd like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options (B).