FAQ

Why Trekking?

Trekking is a great way to see the outside world, especially in Northern Vietnam - to see the old ways of tribal life that have been preserved by their remoteness.

Who Can Go Trekking?

We do cater for families, couples and solo travellers too, we love all our guests equally! Private tours are for groups of up to 10 people. Although we typically find the average number is around 4-5 people.

Why Should I get a Tour Guide?

Having a tour guide really helps out with a lot of things here in Vietnam. The trekking locations are remote & not many people speak English. For most people up there Vietnamese is their 2nd language. Your time is precious & we help out with all the arrangements & know from being locals ourselves great routes & places to see. We are also fun people to be with & we have many stories (story telling is a big thing in tribal culture of the region). We can also introduce you to local families & interesting groups of people along the way.

Weather - Northern Vietnam

Peak season is between May and November. Many people have this time off to come and visit as well as the sunlight / dry days being optimal. Below is a chart with the monthy average for Northern Vietnam (source Wikipedia 2018). Ga Hiang, Sapa and Ninh Binh.

Fitness And Health

A general level of fitness is required to really get the best out of the trekking adventures. Treks are usually 5-7 hours of walking per day. We rate each of the tours and tell you how many KM walking per day is on the itinery. Please note that with a private tour, so you can do as much or as little as you are comfortable and happy with.

Vaccinations

As far as vaccinations go. Vietnam is a pretty safe place. Dengi is worth a mention, though it is not common with toursits as they tend to drink bottled water and eat higher quality food than the locals. The only time of year for Dengi is at the start of the rainy season. If you think you need more, please consult your local doctor.

What to bring

We recommend you to have some comfortable footware that is suitable for trekking. You can buy trekking shoes in Vietnam if you are “travelling light” but beware that shoes bigger than size 42 for men and 38 for women are not commonly stocked. Other items to take would be sunblock for the summer months, mosquito repellant and suitable clothing for the time of year that you book. Please check the tour details as you will find the information for the average monthly temperatures, hours of sunshine and rainfall there to help you plan your adventure.

Insurance Cover

You are responsible for your own insurance. We are just simple people from the mountains. Make sure that is covered if that is a concern for you, especially if you have health issues.

Vegetarian / Vegan

Unless stated - local meals usually contain some meat. Pork is especially popular in Vietnam. If you have special dietary requirement, please let us know ahead of schedule so we can arrage. Eating is with chopsticks although a spoon is avaliable on request if you require.

Wildlife & Bugs

Dont squish it! If you find a bug on your body - a usual reaction can be to squish it. However some of the bugs here bite & can burrow under your skin. The local advice is to flick it off with your finger! Please note this is a super rare thing to happen, but just please be aware & be warned. Parts of our trek are literally in the jungle so we must respect the creatures that are already there.

 There once were tigers in this part of Asia, however those days are long gone & now only come up in story telling.

Accommodation - Homestays & Hotels

For multi day tours, accommodation is provided in either a hotel or homestay depending on trip / options. Homestays have private rooms & dorms. Let me know what your preference is. Also breakfast is usually served in the mornings from 7am to 9am as tours start early to get the most out of the day.

Transport - Picking Up & Dropping Off

Tours to Ha Giang start from Hanoi, being driven in a private car with a driver who knows the area well. Beautiful mountain passes are not to be undertaken by the inexperienced. They are wild and rugged (read: basic).

Tours in Sapa are from Sapa. If you require assistance getting there from Hanoi, select from the additional options when you subit your enquiry. Options are going by overnight train (most popular) and also luxury coach which is very reasonably priced. Otherwise we will collect you from a central location, either your hotel or by the church in the main square as this is such an iconic landmark.

To get to Ninh Binh, it's either private car or train. If you are wishing to go by train it usually means an early start as the only morning trains are at 6am and 9am respectively.

Refund Policy

Booking and availability are subject to opportunity cost, Refunds will not be issued after the tour begins. Cancelation has to be 48 hours before the tour begins.