You will arrive in Hanoi, where you will be met by your local guide and transferred to the station. There, you will board the overnight Chapa Express train, staying in a comfortable shared cabin or similar for the evening, on your journey to Sapa.

Shared Cabin or similar aboard the Chapa Express Train

As the sun begins to rise on day 2, you will arrive at Lao Cai station and be transferred to your hotel in Sapa. Enjoy a delicious breakfast and get to know your fellow travellers. Ride the Fansipan Cable Car up to 3,000 metres, where you can explore the striking temples and enjoy the sweeping views over Hoang Lien Son and Muong Hoa Valley.

The next morning, meet your guide and driver at the hotel, before taking the short transfer to O Quy Ho. On your way, you can admire the landscapes of Fansipan, Sin Chai Valley and local farms. Continue through the rainforest to explore the village of Ban Khoang, a Red Zao village known for its rich traditions and agriculture. Then, your guide will take you to Giang Phinh Valley, home to the Black Hmong, where you will eat a delicious lunch and wander the village paths, before returning to your Sapa hotel for the evening.

Bamboo Hotel or similar

Breakfast (day 2 & 3) and Lunch (day 3)

Spend the morning of day 4 exploring Sapa at your own pace, before taking the scenic drive back to Hanoi, soaking in the stunning vistas as you descend from the highlands. Upon your arrival in Hanoi, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you can settle in before attending a tour briefing and welcome drinks with your fellow travellers.

The next morning, your guide will meet you at your hotel at 8am for your Hanoi city tour. It will begin with an orientation drive past significant sites like the Opera House, Long Bien Bridge and St. Joseph’s Church. Then, explore Old Quarter with a walking tour through the bustling markets.

Your next stop is the Ho Chi Minh Quarter to visit his mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, his ‘house on stilts’ and the One Pillar Pagoda. After a short drive, you will arrive at the UNESCO-listed Citadel and Flag Tower, and eat lunch at KOTO Van Mieu restaurant.

The tour then takes you to the Temple of Literature, which is Vietnam’s first university dedicated to Confucian worship, and visit the Tran Quoc and Ngoc Son Temples. Finally, explore the “Hanoi Hilton” museum, which acted as a prison for U.S. pilots during the Vietnam War.

Le Jardin Hotel & Spa or similar

Breakfast (day 4 & 5) and Lunch (day 5)

Your guide will meet you at 8am on day 6, ready for a 90km drive South to the ancient capital of Vietnam, Hoa Lu. Explore the sanctuary of Dinh Tien Hoang, a former emperor of the Dinh Dynasty, and the temple dedicated to the Le Emperor. Hoa Lu dates back to the 10th centuary, but following the Le dynasty, the capital moved to Hanoi.

After some independent time to explore the city and find some delicious Vietnamese food, your next stop if the UNESCO-heritage Trang An Landscape Complex. Admire the dramatic limestone karst peaks and the submerged valleys, and discover caves with archaeological traces of human activity spanning over 30,000 years as you take a small boat through the park.

After a day of exploring, you will be transferred to your Ninh Binh hotel for check in.

Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel or similar

Breakfast

As you journey from Ninh Binh to Halong City, soak in the views of the lush paddy fields and the majestic limestone karst peaks. Board a traditional Chinese junk boat for an overnight cruise of stunning breath-taking Halong Bay. Drift through the huge limestone rocks that jut dramatically out of the azure waters.

Enjoy a delicious lunch as you take in the views, before spending the afternoon exploring the bay’s secluded corners. Unwind in your private cabin for the evening, or enjoy the main deck and the on-board bar.

Rise early the next morning and head to the sundeck for a Tai Chi lesson, or if you’d rather you can take in the views of Halong Bay, before a buffet brunch. After disembarking, you will be transferred back to Hanoi airport, where you will head to Chiang Mai for 2 nights.

On-board the Victory Star cruise or similar

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore some of Chiang Mai’s stunning temples on a guided Temple Tour. You will visit the breathtaking temple of Wat Pra That Doi Suthep, which is over 600 years old and perched atop Doi Suthep mountain. Take in the ornate temple and the panoramic views over Chiang Mai.

The tour also explores Wat Suan Dok, housing the ashes of Chiang Mai’s royal family; Wat Chedi Luang, previously home to the Emerald Budda; and Wat Phra Singh, which enshrines a sacred 1,500 year old Buddha image.

Melia Chiang Mai or similar

Breakfast

You will be transferred to your Chiang Mai hotel to Elephant Hills Bush Camp, where you can explore the camp and your luxury safari tent. Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch, before heading to the elephant park. The elephants are free to roam the park, and you will have the opportunity to feed and interact with these incredible creatures. You will also be introduced to the mahouts that care for the elephants, and you will even get the chance to meet the Karen Hilltribe, working alongside them, as they teach you how to weave and cook.

On day 2 at Bush Camp, you’ll be taken to the ‘free roaming forest’. Here, the elephants have their morning wash, and you will be taught more about how the mahouts care for them. You’ll also be offered a traditional breakfast, before a lesson in making paper from elephant dung. Your afternoon is free to spend at your leisure, perhaps have a dip in the infinity pool, or relax on your balcony. The day will be rounded off with sunset drinks and a barbecue, followed by a buffet dinner.

On your final morning at Bush Camp, feed and interact with the elephants in the elephant park again, before eating a final lunch with your fellow guests. You will then be transferred to Chiang Mai airport, where you can either head home, or continue your travels by adding another destination.

Elephant Hills Bush Camp

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner