As soon as you set foot on Sapa, you’ll be bombarded on all sides by trekking opportunities. So there’s no need to book a trek in advance because resources abound.
In this guide, we will delve into the whole Sapa trekking tour process:
• How to book it
• Treks to choose from
• Prices
• Equipment
• Our experience at it
Booking a trek in person or by phone
Two months before arriving in Sapa, we were recommended a local guide by a Portuguese backpacker we met in Kampot. We followed her suggestion and called Mama Mae — the local Hmong guide she told us about.
The booking process was simple: you can do it directly with the local guides as they approach you in the street, or by phone since they’ll hand out their numbers if you’re not ready to commit on the spot. You can also do it through your hotel, the Sapa tourism office or any tour operator around town.
You can book one of the following options:
• Half day trek
• Full day trek: includes one meal
• 2-day trek with homestay: includes two meals and a few drinks, a bath, and a bed for the night (usually at the guide’s family house)
• Some tour operators like Buffalo Tours or Sapa Sisters offer up to 5-day trek options
Then you’ll set up the day, time and spot where the trek starts.
The payment is usually done at the end of the trek.
Price tables
Booking directly through a local guide will cost a fraction of what you’ll pay to a tour operator. Still, every guide has her own fee and these are some of the offers we got:
Mama Bau: 14€ for one day trek and 28€ for 2 days + homestay.
Mama Susu: 11,50€ for one day and 28€ for the 2 days + homestay.
Mama Mae: 11€ for one full day
Tour operator fees start at 35€ for one day
If you’re an experienced hiker you could do the trek on your own, but by hiring an experienced guide you’ll be helping the local communities and learning about them. Besides, no one knows the hillside as they do.
Let’s do this!
Nuno and I met Mama Mae at 9 in the morning, near the Gothic church in the city center. The two of us joined a group of four American girls and three other Hmong women that walked alongside us the entire trek.
Mama Mae spoke very good English but the other Hmong women did not. We figured that they must accompany tourists as a way to practice their English, so eventually, they can become guides themselves.
Take plenty of water
It was a beautiful warm and sunny day in opposition to the stormy days before. We were super excited to be out and about exploring nature, and having a genuine taste of the Vietnamese rural life.
However, two hours in, we realized that 1,5L water bottle wouldn’t last long for two grown men hiking a mountain and descending through muddy rice terraces. Not to mention that Mama Mae got thirsty too, so we ended up sharing our water with her—because we’re gentlemen.
Take plenty of water, you’ll need it. There aren’t any shops in the hills, only in the villages.
Soul cleansing views
The scenery was breathtaking—everywhere we looked was like a panoramic screensaver!
Not only Mama Mae took us to the best lookout spots in the mountains, but we also saw water buffaloes, piglets, tea and cannabis plantations. We talked for hours about Vietnam, her family and ours. She was like an open book.
Meanwhile, the other 3 Hmong women kept walking by our side asking time and again:
– Where are you from?
At noon, we stopped for lunch at a humble restaurant where other hikers were. Mama Mae provided us with a noodle soup and some pieces of fruit, but the drinks we paid ourselves. After lunch, we walked a few more hours to her house, where the first day of trekking ended. We met the husband and granddaughters as she prepared some tea for us: Lipton, believe it or not.
After tea, she explained how she makes indigo blue dye from plants.
True colors
The other 3 Hmong women that followed us around came with a goal in mind: to sell. To sell as much as possible.
After a subtle sign from Mama Mae, they pulled out all sorts of knick-knacks from their wicker baskets: bracelets, wallets, shawls, and whistles, along with an aggressive selling tactic. They turned into unfazed vending machines that didn’t take “no” for an answer.
Back to Sapa on a motorbike
Having finished our full day trek, Mama Mae took us to the center of her village, calling two motorbike taxis to take us back to Sapa: 2.00€ each, paid by ourselves.
The ride back to Sapa alone was amazing. It’s not every day that someone can ride through valleys in Vietnam, with the sun setting behind the mountains and the last sunbeams reflecting on the rice paddies. That’s something we’ll never forget.
Trekking equipment
Keep it light and simple.
All you’ll need is a comfortable pair of sturdy shoes, light clothing, and a camera. Remember to take plenty of water, snacks, sunblock and you’ll be good to go.
As a side note, Sapa has plenty of shops that both rent and sell trekking gear.
Full day trek expenses
Full day trek: 11€
Motorbike taxi: 2€
Water bottle: 0.60€
If you’re planning a trekking tour on Sapa we still have Mama Mae’s, Mama Bau’s and Mama Susu’s phone numbers and will gladly share them with you. Leave a reply down here or at any of our social media outlets and we’ll send it to you via email or PM.
Here’s a photo of Mama Mae taken in September 2018 by Cristelle — one of our readers. Cristelle reached out to us and asked for Mama Mae’s phone number. Two days later she was trekking with her in Sapa!
We’re super glad to contribute (even if in a small way) to your adventures, and by doing so helping Mama Mae on the other side of the world.
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Hi Nuno & Mario,
I enjoyed reading your blog as I am doing research for my SaPa trip for this upcoming November.
Would like to get contacts of Mama Mae, mama susu and mama bau from you 🙂
Also is it possible to text/whatsapp them before I arrive in Sapa or better give them a call only once I arrive in Sapa?
Thank you so much. Hope to get in touch with you.
Kind Regards.
Hi Alia, glad you liked it and we can help!
Check your email inbox for the phone numbers.
It’s better to call them once you arrive, or even one or two days in advance. Whatsapp or text won’t do as the Mamas can’t read (much less in English 😉).
Enjoy your trek!
Hi Nuno and Mario.
We will be travelling in November to Vietnam and would like to have the phone numbers of Mama Mae to do the trekking with her in Sapa.
BTW, how much does she charge approximately for 1 day and 2 days trek.
Thank you for your help.
Hi Bobby,
Sure! Check your email inbox for the phone numbers.😉
Mama Mae charges 11€ for one day and approximately 28€ for the 2 days trek + homestay.
You’re very welcome, have fun in Sapa!
Hello! Thanks for the information…would you be able to provide me with the contact details please?
Hi Heather! Check your email info for the contacts.
Have fun in Sapa!
Hi, thanks for the info on your site.
do you mind sharing the contacts of the guides to me? Do they have WhatsApp or other apps that uses the internet to communicate?
You’re very welcome! Check your email for the phone numbers.
I’d say that they don’t. Remember that they are hill tribe women and that live in the mountains. Most of them can’t read or write (much less in English) and they don’t have an internet connection.😉
Hi, great blog.
Could I please have the numbers for the Mamas?
Thanks
Hi Sam,
Thanks!
Done. Check your email inbox.🙂
Hi Nuno and mario
Nice blog with beautiful photos!
Can I have the contact numbers for those Mamas ?
Many thanks.
Thanks Marleen, glad you like it! 😀
You can check your email inbox, the contacts are all there.
Enjoy!
Hi Nuno and Mario great blog guys!
Could we get the guides contacts please. Thanks!
-Albert
Thanks, Albert! 🙂
Of course you can, check your email inbox.
Have a blast in Sapa!
Hey!
Thanks for usefull info 🙂
Can I also ask you for the phone numbers of the mama guides?
Thank you!
M.
Sure can! Check your email inbox and have fun in Sapa!
Send our regard to the Mamas. 😀
Hi Nuno and Mario!
We are going to sapa in a week. would love to do a trekking with 1 of the mamas. can you please share their contact numbers?
thank you!
Hi Hansanee! ?
Of course! Check your email inbox.
Hello Nuno and Mário,
Thank you for the content! Those tour guides sound incredible!
Would it be possible to have the numbers of Mama Mae, Mama Bau and Mama Susu please?
Thank you.
Hi David,
They sure are!
Check your email inbox for the phone numbers.
Have fun in Sapa!
Hello Nuno and Mário,
Thank you for the insightful content!
I am going to Sapa during September, and I would love to get the contacts of these ladies to arrange for a tour.
Thank you.
Hi there,
This is a great blog so much really helpful info! We are planning on going to sapa and do some trekking would you be able to send the contact info?
Many thanks,
Saoirse
Hi Saoirse.
Thanks for the feedback! ?
Of course we can. Check your email info, the phone numbers are there.
Have fun in Sapa!
Hi guys,
Chanced upon your blog when i am researching on Sapa. Planning to go in Oct. Can i have their contact number as well please?
Thank you.
Hi Peh Lay Hui,
Sure can! Check your email inbox. ?
Hi Nuno & Mario! Thank you for the interesting and informative blog! My friends and I will be in Sapa in August. We would like to ask for the contact details of Mama Bau, Mama mae and Mama Susu so that we could arrange for a tour with one of them! 🙂
Hi Baiti,
You’re very welcome!? Glad you found the blog helpful.
Check your email inbox, the phone numbers are there.
Have fun in Sapa!
Hi guys I was wondering if you could share the contact with me too by DM.
Many thanks
We just send the contacts to your email, is it ok?
We can also do it through facebook or instagram if you prefer. Give us a like on our page facebook.com/planetgravy and send a DM so we know it’s you. ?
Hi guys,
I was wondering if you could send me the contact as well to contact them by phone.
Many thanks
Hi Maria,
Of course, we can! Check your email inbox for the phone numbers. ?