2-Day Sapa Trekking Tour: Homestay with Local Families

You sleep in a village house, not a hotel, and wake to breakfast cooked by your host family.

A 2-day small-group trekking tour in Sapa that takes you through Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai and Ta Van villages, staying overnight in a local homestay in Ta Van with the Giay ethnic group. Day one covers 6 km of trekking through terraced rice fields and across the Muong Hoa valley. Day two continues through bamboo forest and the Red Dzao village of Giang Ta Chai before returning to Sapa town. A local guide leads the entire route and meals are shared with your host family.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Trek Sapa villages and homestay

• Pick up in Sapa town
• Trek to Y Linh Ho village
• Trek to Lao Chai village
• Lunch in Lao Chai village
• Trek to Ta Van village
• Arrive at homestay in Ta Van

Day 2: Trek Giang Ta Chai and return

• Breakfast and trek to Giang Ta Chai village
• Cross bamboo forest and waterfall
• Lunch at Red Dao home
• Explore hill in Giang Ta Chai village
• Finish trek near Su Pan village
• Transfer back to Sapa town

The experience

The trek starts at 8am in Sapa town, where your guide meets you and covers the basics before heading southeast into Muong Hoa valley. The first village is Y Linh Ho, home to the Black H'mong people. The trail passes through terraced rice fields and small wooden houses, with the landscape shifting by season: golden rice in August, flooded paddies in May, green fields from June through July. From there you trek 3 km to Lao Chai, another Black H'mong settlement, crossing a small bridge to enter the valley proper. Lunch happens around midday in a local restaurant near the river, with food cooked by people from the village.

After lunch you walk another 3 km to Ta Van, where the Giay ethnic group lives in traditional stilt houses scattered among the rice terraces. This is where you stay the night: in a homestay run by a local family. You have the evening to rest, talk with your hosts and listen to the countryside. Breakfast comes the next morning before you set out again at 8:30am, this time heading uphill to see Muong Hoa valley from above, then trekking to Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Dzao people. You'll walk through a bamboo forest and past a waterfall, then have lunch at a local home. The final stretch takes you through rice fields and up into the hills before you finish near Su Pan village around 2:30pm, where a car picks you up to return to Sapa.

Water, all meals and accommodation are included. The guide speaks English and stays with the group throughout. Children from age 6 are welcome. The trek is graded suitable for all fitness levels, though the terrain is steep in places and the second day involves more elevation gain.

What’s included

• Local English-speaking guide for the full 2 days.
• accommodation in a Ta Van homestay.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• 1.5 liters of water per day.
• hotel pickup in Sapa town.

Options for this experience

2 options

Sapa: 2-day trek with 1 nightGuide in English · 09:00NaChi Homestay: NaChi Homestay is a cozy, authentic local stay with a warm, family-style feel in the heart of nature. Duration: 2 days. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Trekking itinerary, 2 days: Day 1: Sapa, Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van. Day 2: Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai, Su Pan, Sapa. Transport by car or minivan. Includes pickup.

2-day Sapa trekking tourGuide in English · No fixed timeSaparis Station Hostel: Arrive in Sapa early in the morning and enjoy free time to freshen up and leave your luggage at Saparis Station Hostel. Pick-up and transfer service is offered from Hanoi Old Quarter, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Ha Giang and Cat Ba Island. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (16 to 75 years) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Saparis Horizon Travel

Is this one for you?The overnight homestay is what sets this apart from day-trip alternatives. You're not rushing back to town at sunset, so you have time to sit with your host family, eat together and understand how the village actually works. Book this if staying in a local home and waking up in the mountains matters more to you than hotel comfort.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What are the three villages I'll visit on this 2-day trek?

You trek through Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai on day one, both Black H'mong villages in Muong Hoa valley, then stay overnight in Ta Van, home to the Giay people. On day two you continue to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dzao village, before returning to Sapa.

Do I sleep in a hotel or stay with a local family?

You stay in a homestay in Ta Van village with a local Giay family, giving you the chance to share meals and daily life with them. This overnight stay is part of the experience and helps you understand the region differently than a standard tour would.

How much trekking is involved each day?

Day one covers roughly 6 km of trekking through rice terraces and valleys, with stops in each village. Day two involves walking through bamboo forest and rice fields with more elevation gain as you head to Giang Ta Chai and then back down to the pickup point.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes a local English-speaking guide for both days, accommodation in the Ta Van homestay, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), and 1.5 liters of water per day. Hotel pickup in Sapa town is included.

When is the best time to visit for the rice fields?

The terraced fields look different depending on the season: golden rice in August, flooded paddies in May, and green fields from June through July. Each season offers its own landscape, so any time of year shows a different view of the valleys.