Northwest
Mountain Villages
(Tour code: Ethnic - 01)
Travel to Vietnam on seven-day exotic
vacations in Vietnam's Northwest Mountain area and its ethnic minority villages - one
of our more unusual holidays
| This is an example of one of our classic tailor-made holidays in Vietnam - we'll be pleased to design similar Vietnam vacations with dates and itinerary customised to your personal preferences. |
|
Highlights:
Our tours
to Vietnam's Northwest mountains are unusual holidays. Travel
to Vietnam to visit Hanoi, take an overnight sleeper train
to the north-west mountains, explore ethnic minority villages,
visit local ethnic markets, hike and sleep in ethnic stilt
houses |
Your
unusual holiday begins with......
....... a night in Hanoi, half a day to
explore the city and an orientation session before an overnight
train journey.
Once you’ve arrived and settled in, we’ll provide
you with some light but informative entertainment. On the following
day, we’ll show you the sights of Hanoi and take you to
the Ethnology Museum to prepare you for your excursion up into
the mountains. In the evening, we’ll meet you over dinner
to say ‘hello’, and talk about your tour.
Around 21.30, you’ll
board the overnight sleeper to Lao Cai on the border with China.
Meals:
one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner
Guide:
transfers from the airport, a full day and transfer to the train
Four
days in the mountains
The train arrives in Lao Cai at a decidedly uncongenial time
of 05.00, but breakfast and a shower will fortify you for a
drive to a market in a remote area. Then it’ll be back
to Lao Cai and on up into the mountains to Sa Pa. As you’ll
probably be suffering from the effects of getting up in the
dark, we put you in a hotel for the night.
At a more civilised
hour, you set off to visit some of the many ethnic villages
in the area. How you travel is mainly up to you. Hardy souls
will probably want to trek, but other options are gentler hiking
routes, bicycle, the back of a motorbike, jeep or, for the ‘softies
and proud of it’, an air-conditioned car. Of course, the
more comfortable modes of travel limit your range.
You’ll sleep
in local houses, usually communally in a large room. If there’s
no other travellers booked in, you’ll probably have the
place to yourselves, as some the house owners prefer a separate
room.
Meals:
four breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners
Guide:
from meeting you at Lao Cai to helping you on to the train for
your return journey to Hanoi, apart from one evening in Sa Pa
Back
to Hanoi
Another early morning, unfortunately, but your hotel room will
be ready for you for a rest and breakfast, and you have time
to do some souvenir shopping before your car arrives to take
you to the airport.
Meals:
one breakfast
Prices (person in US dollars):
The prices below are based on the hotels on the Vietnam Sonata '' page. If you would prefer a different hotel, or hotels, choose your preference on the relevant '' page, tell us, and we'll send you a modified price within 24 hrs at the latest.
| Number in group |
2 |
3-4 |
5-8 |
9-12 |
*Supplement for single hotel room occupancy* |
| Mid-range |
549 |
510 |
451 |
425 |
136 |
| Superior |
679 |
662 |
605 |
561 |
207 |
| Deluxe |
742 |
706 |
649 |
625 |
361 |
| First Class |
1,147 |
1,111 |
1,054 |
1,030 |
766 |
These prices are valid until December 31, 2007. Please note that bank transfer fees are not included.
* ‘Single room occupancy’ refers to the accommodation element of the programme only, and applies to someone who is travelling with others but requires an additional room for him or herself. Single traveller prices are available on request.
Our prices include:
- Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.
- Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above
- Return train tickets: Hanoi - Lao Cai
- Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle and/or a Jeep with an experienced safe driver.
- The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests' return to their hotel or reaching their destination). Free days or part days will not include the services of a guide unless requested and included in the final itinerary.
- Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
- Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available
- VAT and other taxes
Our prices do not include:
- International flight tickets and airport tax.
- Visas
- Dinners, except as specified above.
- Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
- Camera fees (if any)
- Insurance.
