Fansipan Additions and Corrections
[ Post an Addition or Correction ]
|
| atavist | prices | |
Hasn't voted | Approx prices (as of Feb 2008): overnight sleeper from Hanoi to Lao Cai (216000 VND ~ 13.5 USD) minibus from Lao Cai to Sapa (3000 VND) list price for one-person guided 'tourist' climb (279 USD - which ridiculously includes 3 porters) I met a girl from HCMC who said that locals will pay 60 USD for a guided climb but that only includes one porter. I guess that means you can't haul out any big rocks that you might fancy. There are 2 main trails. One starts at Tram Ton Pass which is about 14 kilometers from Sapa and saves you about 400m of elevation gain. The other trail starts from Sapa or Cat Cat Village and goes through minority areas. This route seems a little longer and a little steeper and definitely less well marked. | |
| Posted Feb 11, 2008 5:01 pm | ||
| Bill Kish | comments and prices (March 2008) | |
Voted 8/10 | minibus from Lao Cai to Sapa is 30,000 VND (approximately $2 USD) List price for two-day one-person guided climb (1 guide, no porters) is currently $120 at various locations in Sapa. The trail from Tram Ton pass is actually pretty easy to follow and could easily be done in a long day (sans guide). Permits are required for overnight trips but I could not figure out the dayhike permit requirements (if any). The locals seem to be rapidly 'improving' this area to increase tourist draw so expect less of a wilderness experience as time goes on. Trash on the trail and summit is indeed a major eyesore. | |
| Posted Mar 26, 2008 9:23 pm | ||
| LS | prices etc | |
Hasn't voted | I just arrived Sapa, and have some useful information: Sleepers in public train from Hanoi to Lao Cai is really hard to get if you order less than one week before departure, because travel agents in Hanoi buy up all the sleepers well in advance and sell them for double the price. So in most cases you will end up in one of the private trains (like Friendly Express) to 25+ dollars one way. No problem to get a sleeper in one of the many private trains/expresses, less than two days before departure. The private trains are not separate trains, but coaches hooked up to the public trains. The guys/drivers at the station in Lao Cai tried to really rip me off. They started at 500.000 for a shared minibus to Sapa. But after a while looking around and inquiring some of the 20-30 minibuses at the station, I found one ready to leave for 40.000. I saw some tourists accepting 200.000 per pax, and who smiled of their negotiation skills because they just knocked the price down from 500.000 to 200.000. Stupid westerns tourists. When my bus was leaving they were still waiting for the bus to be filled up with local passengers....... The price for a full package 2 day/1 night hike seems to be 80-120 dollar if you are alone, and 60-70 dollar if you join a group. I asked around several places. That package includes guide, porter, four meals, transportation, permits, tent, sleeping bag, mattress. A local guy said to me that permit will be 20 dollar if you go independently. Then add costs for transport (10 km by jeep to the trailhead), food, hire of tent etc. There are a myriad of trails up there, so expect big problems in routefinding. No detailed map to be found of this area. | |
| Posted Feb 4, 2009 11:02 pm | ||
|