04 DAYS SAPA THE CANTONESE ALPS

Information

04 DAYS SAPA THE CANTONESE ALPS
Private tour (HANDHSA4): Daily departure from Hanoi with local English speaking guide (other language speaking guides at surcharge)

Day 1 : HANOI – LAO CAI (-/-/-)
Pick-up at your hotel and transfer to the Hanoi Railway station to take the night train to Lao Cai. The train departure time is approx. 21:00 hrs.

Overnight on train in air-conditioned soft sleeper compartments (sharing basis – 4 berths per compartment). Train departing time is approx. 21:00 hrs.

Notes:
Train schedule is subject to change.
Private compartments on request at surcharge.
Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.
Our tour guide will not accompany during the train trip
Meals included: None

Day 2: LAO CAI - SAPA (B/L/-)

Upon arrival to the border town of Lao Cai at 06:30 hrs, transfer to the former hill station of Sapa. In the terraced hills and mountains of this area, the monotony of the expansive green landscape is enlivened by the colours of its hill tribe population - flashes of shining silver jewellery from the necks and wrists of indigo-clad H'mong and the scarlet hues of the turbans worn by the Red Dao can be seen. Breakfast at hotel.

At 10:00 hrs we leave the hotel and start trekking. Walk through the local market and leave the town behind. After a couple of minutes, you will follow a road going downhill to Cat Cat village. Short stop at a waterfall and a hydroelectric station. Continue trekking on a trail through rice paddy terraces and along a small river, enjoying spectacular scenery. Arrive at the Black Hmong minority village of Y Linh Ho. Take a rest and then head to the Muong Hoa valley, passing through the Black Hmong minority village of Lao Chai and Tavan village, inhabited by the Giay minority. Weather permitting you can even take a swim in the river nearby.

Accommodation at hotel in Sapa

Meals included: Breakfast
Picnic lunch

Day 3: SAPA – LAOCAI – HANOI (B/-/-)

Time at leisure to discover Sapa at your own or visit one of the area’s weekly markets (the market location rotates daily) at a surcharge:

Optional market tour with lunch
Market days: Can Cau – Saturdays; Bac Ha or Muong Hum or Muong Khuong – Sundays; Cao Son – Wednesdays.
In the market, you can meet hundreds of beautiful women from the Flower H’Mong tribe, who are famous for their wonderful craft and hand-made clothes and fabrics, or mingle with people from the Black H’Mong, Dzay, Dzao and other ethnic groups coming to the market not only for purchasing things, but also for meeting and chatting, making the market a real cultural centre. A picnic lunch is included.

Optional boat trip on Chay River after tour to Bac Ha Market (surcharge applied): Enjoy a boat trip along the Chay River. Be stunned by the mountain scenery and breathtaking waterfalls. The Fairy Cave is located deeply in the rocks. Get off the boat to visit a village of the Tay Minority (Trung Do village) by the river. After the boat trip, visit a small town – Bao Nhai and then transfer back to Lao Cai station for the night train to Hanoi.

Overnight on train in air-conditioned soft sleeper compartments (sharing basis – 4 berths per compartment). Train departing time is approx. 21:00 hrs.

Day 4 : HANOI ARRIVAL (-/-/-)

Arrival to Hanoi is in the early morning at approx. 06:00 hrs. Pick-up and transfer to your hotel. A transfer to the airport can be arranged at surcharge. Accommodation in Hanoi is not included.
Meals included: None
“WE WISH YOU AN ENJOYABLE JOURNEY”

SPECIAL NOTE
Bring along - Light cotton dress / trousers
- Warm jacket (rain and wind)
- Mosquito repellent
- Good walking / hiking shoes
- A walking stick
- Sun hat / sun lotion
- Hand lotion
- Lip balm
Roads - Driving can be a challenge as roads can be bumpy or under construction
- Driving time depends on weather and road conditions – only rough estimates can be given
Reward - Stunning scenery
- Most colourful people and dresses

OUR TOUR PRICES ARE INCLUSIVE OF
• Accommodation in shared twin room with air-condition (AC) and private bathroom
• Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
• Transfers and tours with local English-speaking guides in private air-conditioned vehicles
• Return train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi: Normal train (sharing basis, 4 berths per compartment)
• All entrance fees as mentioned in the programme
• Drinking water and cold towels available on the vehicles
NOT INCLUDED ARE
• Optional market tours (quoted separately)
• Optional boat trip on Chay River on tour to Bac Ha Market (quoted separately)
• Our guide onboard the train from/to Hanoi
• Surcharges for other language guides
• Surcharges for Lunar New Year (TET) holiday
• Surcharges for night-time services, especially applied for transfers with arrivals after 23:00 hrs and arrivals or departures before 05:00 hrs.
• Personal travel insurance
• Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
• Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme
• Drinks with meals
• Compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges which will be advised at the time of booking
• Visa application and visa stamp fees at Vietnamese embassies overseas and/ or upon arrival (Please note that a visa is compulsory for most nationalities.)
• Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme

CANCELLATIONS
• Refunds will not be given for unused or cancelled services after the tour arrangements have commenced.

• FIT (Individuals): Cancellation charges are calculated from the day the written notification is received by the company or agent as a percentage of the net total tour price as shown plus any surcharges (e.g. ticketed air sectors, other penalties imposed by suppliers such as hotels):
• Between 29- 21 days before departure: According to the costs incurred will be charged
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 25% of package price
• Between 14 days and 8 days prior to departure: 50% of package price
• Between 07 days and 2 days prior to departure: 75% of package price
• 1 day prior to departure or no show: 100% of package price

• GIT (Groups): Cancellation of tours due to minimum number of participants will be advised 6 weeks before departure of the tour; in which case Happy Go Travel will offer an alternative tour of a similar standard or a full refund. Cancellation policy for GIT bookings will be advised separately case by case.

• HOTEL ONLY
• Between 29- 21 days before departure: no charge
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 60% of accommodation price
• Between 14 days and 0 days prior to departure: 100% of accommodation price

• Certain Hotels impose stricter cancellation policies which will be advised separately.
PLEASE NOTE
• For air ticket reservations, we require the guests’ full names AS THEY APPEAR IN THEIR PASSPORTS. Airfares and reservations are always subject to change until paid in full and ticketed.
• Airfares are subject to increase without prior notice.
• Please be advised that prices will be adjusted periodically in case of fuel price increase by our suppliers.
• This is a quotation only and neither reservations for services nor hotel bookings have been made.
• Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.

CONTACT INFORMATION OF HAPPY GO TRAVEL
HAPPY GO TRAVEL - HANOI HEAD OFFICE:
Address: 5th floor, 130F Thai Thinh str, Trung Liet, Dong Da, Hanoi, Vietnam
Telephone during office hours: +84 24 32 686 686; +84 24 32 898 898
Fax: +84 24 32 171 783

EMERCENCY CONTACTS (ENGLISH AND GERMAN-SPEAKING)
Mobile: Mr. Thang (Managing Director) (+84) 934556056

IMPORTANT NOTICE
 Certain parts of the tours on offer are provided by independent third parties, such as airlines, hotels, transport operators and local tourist offices. Happy Go Travel is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage caused thereby to the tourists, including those occurring outside of the normal touring programmes. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accident, natural disaster, political actions and unrest shall be borne by the tourists.
 Programmes, prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of proposal submission and are subject to change thereafter without advance notice until all services have been paid in full.
 We strongly advise to leave valuable items (money, passport, credit cards, jewellery, sensitive documents, laptop computer, etc.) in the hotel safe. During excursions and roundtrips, personal belongings, especially money and valuables should NEVER be left on vehicles, even during short breaks, and carried around at all times. Happy Go Travel is not responsible for any loss or theft.
 Vietnam being a developing country is in full process of upgrading its infrastructure. Therefore, driving overland can be cumbersome due to ongoing road constructions.

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