Trekking to Fansipan in One Day - SaPa

Climate & Weather

There is a microclimate in Fansipan that differs from SaPa’s.

• From November to April: It is winter in Fansipan, characterized by very cold temperatures, although sunnier compared to the other months. There may be occasional light rains and sections of the hike could be cloudy or misty. However, it is often sunny at the summit, so your higher chances of enjoying a great view are during that period.
• From May to October: It is summer in Fansipan. It’s also cold, and heavy rains are common during this period. Additionally, misty conditions may also be encountered.

As you can see, the weather on Fansipan is a matter of luck. You will encounter fluctuating weather conditions throughout the hike. For instance, you may begin your hike in dense fog, and the sun may appear after a couple of hours of walking. However, without warning, the landscape may once again become obscured by clouds, obstructing your view entirely. The wind constantly moves and shifts the clouds, causing rapid changes in the temperature.

All things considered, the best season to go is from November to April, as it’s the dry season.

Book the Tour

As we said before, you are not allowed to undertake the hike alone; it is mandatory to be accompanied by a guide and obtain a permit. Sapa Original Trek is a company that handles all the necessary arrangements and provides you with a guide. You can check their website for pricing, which varies based on the number of people in your group (maximum of 5 participants).

• 1 pax 94 USD
• 2 pax 63 USD / pax
• 3 pax 59 USD / pax
• 4 pax 57 USD / pax
• 5 pax 55 USD / pax

The price includes an English-speaking guide, a snack, and lunch (vegetarian/vegan options) at the summit, 1.5L of water per person, transportation to and from your hotel, entrance fees, a medal, a certification, and insurance.

⚠ If you pay by card, there is a 3.5% fee, like almost everywhere in Vietnam.

The Trek

Tu guía te recogerá en tu hotel a las 5:30 AM and take you to the beginning of the hike, here. Once there, your guide will handle the necessary permits, and you will begin the hike. In the beginning, you will traverse a lush forest, and as you progress, the scenery will transform into a panorama of green mountain ranges. The trail will lead you along mountain ridges and slopes, offering diverse and fascinating views all along the journey.

The terrain is rugged, starting with a cemented rocky path that transitions into a deteriorated dirt trail. Along the hike, you will have to step on slippery tree roots and rocks, in addition to uneven and titled steps and the ladders previously mentioned.

Two base camps are situated at altitudes of 2,200 and 2,800 meters respectively (some tours spend a night here). At these camps, you will enjoy a longer break and the guide will give you some snacks. The steepest and most demanding section lies before reaching the second base camp (here), but if you are lucky, you will also have the best views. Due to the endless amount of steps, your knees will be the part of your body that will suffer the most.

On average, hikers reach the summit around noon, but it really depends on your pace. If the guide is too fast for you, just let him know, and he will slow down and make more stops along the way.

Once you reach the cable car station, there will still be many stairs to climb to reach the summit at 3.143 meters. Lunch will be served there. If you still have some energy left, you can have a stroll to explore the spectacular pagodas and impressive statues around you. The views are insane, beyond anything you can imagine.

Afterwards, it will be time to hike down the mountain. Generally, the return journey is quicker, but you have to be careful as your knees may experience significant strain. Typically, hikers return around 18:00, but it will depend again on your pace.

If you have already checked out of your hotel, you can have a shower at the company’s office. They will also drop you off wherever you want around SaPa town (bus station, hostel, …).

Advice

Remember that the weather conditions can change a lot. The feeling is completely different when the sun is shining than when the sky is covered in clouds. Since you will be starting early in the morning, you should bring along some extra layers. If it gets too hot, you can just leave them at the base camps. We strongly recommend you take a raincoat, trekking shoes, sunscreen, hat, and gloves. At the beginning of the hike, you will have the possibility to pick up a bamboo stick. Just do it, it will make a big difference.

If you are too tired to do the hike back down, you can opt for the cable car instead (34 USD round trip, no one-way tickets are sold…). Someone will pick you up at the cable car station… but come on… you can do it!

The hike is not busy. As you will start so early in the morning, you’ll only come across a few groups along the way. On the descent, you might encounter some groups doing the 2-day tour. The summit, however, is a different story - it’s usually packed with people. There’s one punctual time each year, usually in November or December, when the cable car is closed for maintenance. This is the perfect opportunity to embark on the hike as the summit will be almost empty.