Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van (Vietnam)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 7.38 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,293 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 2,451 ft
- Max elevation
- 4,322 ft
- TrailRank
- 51
- Min elevation
- 3,156 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 5 hours 31 minutes
- Coordinates
- 4373
- Uploaded
- July 28, 2022
- Recorded
- July 2022
near Xóm Hai, Lào Cai (Vietnam)
Viewed 1751 times, downloaded 123 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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+ Route data marked by Garmin GPS: 11.58 Km / Accumulated positive slope: 291 meters. / Accumulated negative slope: 650 meters.
+ Degree of difficulty according to IBP Index for an average physical condition: 44 HKG (Easy).
+ Route Itinerary: Sapa > Y Linh Ho > Lao Chai > Ta Van
+ Notes: Probably the most popular trek in the Sapa region. It is a route that descends through the valley through several picturesque villages of the Hmong ethnic group and with spectacular views of the mountains and rice terraces.
In Sapa and on the paths that begin the route, many Hmong women offer to serve as guides. They are very insistent (also very nice) and, on many occasions, they accompany you even if you have told them that you do not want them to guide you. In our case we managed to do the route alone but for this we had to be very clear and assertive, without being rude, so that no one accompanied us as a guide. In my opinion, going with a guide has its advantages, such as being able to quietly enjoy the route without fear of making a mistake and getting lost along the way, or learning more about the Hmong culture in the event that the woman who guides you accompanies have a sufficient level of English to be able to explain to you. On the other hand, it must be taken into account that paying these women for their guide service is a way of contributing to the local economy and to the livelihood of families in the region, which are among one of the poorest groups in the world. country.
However and despite what has been said, we decided to walk on our own, which is what we really like and how we enjoy the walk the most. We decided to stop in the villages to buy supplies, have a drink and buy some handicrafts from the local women. In this way we also wanted to contribute something to their economies.
- As you can see on the track, at the beginning of the route you reach a point where you can't see very clearly which way to go (it is indicated on the track with a waypoint). At this point you have to take as a reference a house that looks isolated and surrounded by a barbed wire fence. You have to walk following the steps between the crops, leaving the house and the fence on the right until you come out on a path that gives access to the house, once you leave it behind. If you have doubts about where to go, it is best to wait for a guided group to pass by and follow them to see where they go.
Later you have to follow the paths that descend the hillside until you reach a paved track that we will take to the left for about 500 meters and take a path, which goes to the right and crosses a stream that falls into a waterfall, in the direction of the town. by Y Linh Ho. From here, again take a small paved road uphill to the left. From this, and following the track, there is no difficulty in reaching the towns of Lao Chai and Ta van, a few kilometers further on. Attached to Ta van, and a little further on, is the town of Giang Ta Chai, which we also reached, but this section was not recorded in the GPS.
To return to Sapa, in addition to walking, you can take a taxi or moto-taxi from any of the towns. The easiest thing is to ask for help at any Homestay so that they call someone.
- It is an easy route without any type of complication that runs mostly along well-defined tracks and paths. You only have to take into account the paths at the beginning of the route, leaving Sapa, which are less clear and can lead to some confusion. However, just keep an eye on the track. At this point, you also have to be careful with the slips that can occur with the mud when it has rained. Also, heat and humidity can be a small difficulty to take into account. It is advisable to bring sunscreen and enough water to hydrate well. Water and other drinks, in addition to food, can be bought without problem in the towns.
+ Degree of difficulty according to IBP Index for an average physical condition: 44 HKG (Easy).
+ Route Itinerary: Sapa > Y Linh Ho > Lao Chai > Ta Van
+ Notes: Probably the most popular trek in the Sapa region. It is a route that descends through the valley through several picturesque villages of the Hmong ethnic group and with spectacular views of the mountains and rice terraces.
In Sapa and on the paths that begin the route, many Hmong women offer to serve as guides. They are very insistent (also very nice) and, on many occasions, they accompany you even if you have told them that you do not want them to guide you. In our case we managed to do the route alone but for this we had to be very clear and assertive, without being rude, so that no one accompanied us as a guide. In my opinion, going with a guide has its advantages, such as being able to quietly enjoy the route without fear of making a mistake and getting lost along the way, or learning more about the Hmong culture in the event that the woman who guides you accompanies have a sufficient level of English to be able to explain to you. On the other hand, it must be taken into account that paying these women for their guide service is a way of contributing to the local economy and to the livelihood of families in the region, which are among one of the poorest groups in the world. country.
However and despite what has been said, we decided to walk on our own, which is what we really like and how we enjoy the walk the most. We decided to stop in the villages to buy supplies, have a drink and buy some handicrafts from the local women. In this way we also wanted to contribute something to their economies.
- As you can see on the track, at the beginning of the route you reach a point where you can't see very clearly which way to go (it is indicated on the track with a waypoint). At this point you have to take as a reference a house that looks isolated and surrounded by a barbed wire fence. You have to walk following the steps between the crops, leaving the house and the fence on the right until you come out on a path that gives access to the house, once you leave it behind. If you have doubts about where to go, it is best to wait for a guided group to pass by and follow them to see where they go.
Later you have to follow the paths that descend the hillside until you reach a paved track that we will take to the left for about 500 meters and take a path, which goes to the right and crosses a stream that falls into a waterfall, in the direction of the town. by Y Linh Ho. From here, again take a small paved road uphill to the left. From this, and following the track, there is no difficulty in reaching the towns of Lao Chai and Ta van, a few kilometers further on. Attached to Ta van, and a little further on, is the town of Giang Ta Chai, which we also reached, but this section was not recorded in the GPS.
To return to Sapa, in addition to walking, you can take a taxi or moto-taxi from any of the towns. The easiest thing is to ask for help at any Homestay so that they call someone.
- It is an easy route without any type of complication that runs mostly along well-defined tracks and paths. You only have to take into account the paths at the beginning of the route, leaving Sapa, which are less clear and can lead to some confusion. However, just keep an eye on the track. At this point, you also have to be careful with the slips that can occur with the mud when it has rained. Also, heat and humidity can be a small difficulty to take into account. It is advisable to bring sunscreen and enough water to hydrate well. Water and other drinks, in addition to food, can be bought without problem in the towns.
Waypoints
Intersection
4,384 ft
Continuar por sendero rodeando sembrado y alambrado
Have as a reference the house that is in the crop field and that has to be on the right. Go around the barbed wire fence with the crops until you reach the path that is next to the house, which cannot be seen from this point because of the vegetation.
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Intersection
4,110 ft
continuar recto por el sendero
Intersection
3,903 ft
continuar por la pista hacia la derecha
Intersection
3,775 ft
abandonar la pista y seguir por sendero a la derecha pasando por la parte superior de la cascada
Intersection
3,821 ft
continuar por camino a la derecha
Intersection
3,587 ft
continuar por camino a la izquierda
Intersection
3,433 ft
continuar por pista hacia la izquierda dirección al puente
Waypoint
3,283 ft
Puente
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