It’s a horrible feeling realizing you’ve just drank the last drop of your water and there are still another 2 hours of hiking ahead of you. You will get thirsty and you’ll be guzzling more water than a camel. Well, actually, you do – the quicker you walk, the sooner you get to the next village with a restaurant, but whether you can get the rest of your group to go any faster is another question… Bring some snacks and save yourself the suffering.īring double the water you think you’ll needĪctually, make that triple. ![]() There will be stops for lunch and dinner, but you have no control over those times. I am a perpetual snacker and my mood starts to quickly decline when I go unfed for long periods of time (I’m talking like 2 hours). If you’re doing some travels around Southeast Asia prior to your visit to Sapa and don’t feel like lugging around boots and hiking poles, know that those things can be found in the town at affordable rates. Now that would be one way to ruin the rest of your travel plans…Īs a side note, there are lots of shops in Sapa that both rent and sell trekking gear. Hiking boots might be something to consider if you’re planning something longer than a 2 day trek, like say the summit of Mount Fansipan.Īside from my runners, I brought a pair of flip flops to wear at the end of the day – my feet were tired and craving some wiggle room after a long day of trekking in Sapa! I’ll also admit I did wear the flip-flops on the last day of the hike when we were back on even terrain, but I would NOT recommend attempting the whole hike in flip-flops lest you end up with a sprained ankle. I brought a pair of running shoes with good support and a solid grip. ![]() It was demanding and you’ll want good footwear. There were times when we were scrambling up the mountain on all fours, hopping across ditches, and having our bodies whipped by branches as we cut across a bamboo forest. Our guide took us “off-the-beaten-track”, quite literally. ![]() Remember, your bag may not feel heavy when you first try it out in your room, but it’ll only get heavier as the day progresses. Only bring what you deem absolutely necessary. I saw a few people lugging around their own sleeping bags and heavy packs with who knows what…you really needn’t bother.Īlso, keep in mind that the guide is not a porter (this is not Everest Base Camp) and he is not going to carry your bag for you. It was a bit of an open-concept with lots of mattresses lined side by side and a mosquito net over top, but we had clean bedsheets, warm blankets for the night, and fresh towels. The accommodations arranged by my tour were at a small family-run guesthouse. In my personal experience, towels and bedding were not necessary. Most of the guides are local and they speak great English, so know that you’re giving back to the local community when you book a trekking guide. I booked my guided tour through my hotel in Sapa, but you can also book tours through the main tourism office or the various tour operators found in town. Treks are easy to arrange once you arrive in Sapa, so don’t bother making bookings in advance as it’ll be cheaper to do so in person. ![]() There are full-day hikes and even half-day hikes (like Cat Cat Village) which you may want to attempt on your own, however, if you want to spend a few days experiencing the hillside I would recommend hiring a local guide who is familiar with the terrain, the changes in weather, and the best lookout spots. Here I’ve compiled a few tips for trekking in Sapa: It was incredibly picturesque, the cool mountain air was refreshing, and it was just great to be out exploring nature. Sapa was the final stop of my 1-month Vietnam travel itinerary, and what a way to finish an incredible month of travel across the length of the country. This is, after all, one of the most scenic regions of Northern Vietnam, and if there is one thing the frontier town of Sapa is known for, it’s rice terraces with sweeping mountain vistas. If you’re travelling all the way to Northern Vietnam, you shouldn’t miss trekking in Sapa.
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