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Private Tour

Number one top rated ethical cultural trekking and homestay by ETHOS

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Overview

Available languages

English

2 days

Mobile ticket

We are an award winning Social impact organisation with a long track record of supporting ethnic minority communities by empowerment through sustainable, ethical tourism. We are proud to feature in the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame after maintaining our position as the top tour provider in our region for over five years. Our aims and objectives are to provide experiential, cultural opportunities for visitors to Sapa, but we also care for the natural environment, our growing guide team, and the local communities in which we work. ETHOS constantly strive to improve our operations and services through self-evaluation, innovation & creativity. As well as tours, our community leadership team run regular human trafficking awareness and prevention workshops. Our guides are also pivotal in a wide range of dynamic community education, healthcare, hygiene & sanitation projects. Our tours are now supporting 49 families across 19 villages in four provinces. We also have 26 ongoing development projects

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Minimum group size of two required for this booking

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

What To Expect

Day 1

The Spirit Tree

Accommodations

Homestays offer access to real village life. Hmong homes are set within the rice paddies & have incredible views.

Food and Drinks

LUNCH

Lunch

Share a feast with your Hmong host family. Share stories and learn about culture over fresh, local food.

DINNER

Dinner

Dinner is together with your host family in your homestay.

1

Sapa

The first day trek is approximately 14km, with the first six kilometres over relatively easy, but undulating terrain. This route passes through rice terraces and traditional villages. There is a steep climb of around 2km before stopping to cook lunch and share together with your host family. There is then a downhill walk down to your homestay.

Admission Not Applicable
Day 2

Rice terraces and bamboo forests

Food and Drinks

BREAKFAST

Breakfast

Try a local breakfast with your homestay host family.

LUNCH

Lunch

1

Sapa

Continue your trek with lots of flexibility in both distance and challenge. Taxi pick up in the afternoon will bring you back to Sapa.

Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Private transportation

Homestay accomodation

Water and refreshments

Dinner

Breakfast

Travel insurance

Options

ETHOS trekking & homestay 2

ETHOS trekking & homestay 2

ETHOS trekking & homestay 3

ETHOS trekking & homestay 3

ETHOS trekking & homestay 4

ETHOS trekking & homestay 4

Tailor to your requirements

Multiple routes available
Walk distance: Distances can be arranged to suit your requirements

ETHOS trekking & homestay 5

ETHOS trekking & homestay 5

ETHOS trekking & homestay

ETHOS trekking & homestay

Reviews

5.00

460 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

460
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  • Buffalo Valley Trekking Experience

    claudiorD195IP,Mar 10, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    We had a great adventure, first day it was rain y and foggy, so we had some muddy trekking, but the second day was sunny and we could enjoy great views and beautiful forest trails. The hospitality of the families was amazing and our guide A was excellent, she was patience and also teach us a lot of the traditions and customs of the valley communities. Definitely a Five Stars tour!

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  • Amazing experience to remember for a lifetime

    Nam1789,Feb 9, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Wow what an experience! Do not hesitate, if you are thinking of booking it, do it. Worth the money for thí beautiful private tour, we had a guide to ourselves! As a Viet Kinh from overseas it was a very meaningful experience to learn about ethnic minority groups. I learned a lot! My wife and I did an overnight trek and homestay with May Linh, an absolutely brilliant, warm and funny guide from the Dao peoples who could give meaningful insight that no museum/book can. ETHOS live up to their values and even before getting there the co-owner Hoa was amazingly helpful and organised overnight trains for us from/to Hanoi and transport from Lao Cai station to/from Sa Pa. It was wonderful to be able to support a business that values education and bettering the lives of workers and the community, all guides are women and many routes are their design. Xin cảm ơn người!!

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  • Ethos is a MUST!

    roxanan704,Feb 8, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Phenomenal experience! We as a couple did an overnight trek where we went through forest, past farms, and via villages to get a taste of life at Sapa. We were greeted with lush greenery, misty mountains, and a variety of forest foods! Our guide May Linh was an absolute gem. She showed us local foods, introduced us to local Dao people (who were incredibly welcoming and hospitable), and even held my hand when I struggled with some of the muddy steps! Others at Ethos were also so welcoming - it was a joy to spend time with them at Ethos HQ! It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to be a part of such an amazing experience and to be welcomed by Dao families and Ethos.

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  • Wonderful 2 days in hiking paradise

    maximilianrem,Feb 7, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    We stayed as a family two days with ethos near Sa Pa. The tour exceeded all our expectations. From a warm and very informative reception in the Community Center to two great days in the middle of beautiful nature to the great organization and communication. We were especially lucky with our guide Cha. She was very warm, incredibly well versed in the area and with nature and plants and was always there for us. Thank you, cha!! Also the homestay and lunches at local families were really a highlight and a real cultural asset. Rarely have we been so close to the culture and real life of a country. In summary, we would recommend a tour with Ethos to every traveler to get to know the real people and support the work of Ethos. Keep up the good work and we have the utmost respect for your performance for the region, the culture and every single person who works at Ethos. THANKS for the lovely two days ☺️

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  • Unforgettable Family Experience

    Geegee I,Jan 15, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Unforgettable experience for our family! We did the 2 day 1 night trek with a homestay, and herbal bath with May Lei family, of the Red Dao. May Lei and her family were so wonderful with our children 12yrs and 2yrs. During our hikes and toddler melts downs we had an amazing experience. We learned so much, she taught us a bit about herbs in the forest, we stayed in her beautiful home, where we picked fresh veggies from the garden for dinner, made chopsticks from bamboo, the kids got to help feed the animals, she showed us some of the embroidery work they do make their clothes, she even prepared a special herbal bath for me and my eczema. This experience will be a core memory in our adventures and we love that it's all going for a good cause. And not commercial companies trying to make money off tourist. They genuinely care for the people and the villages. We would definitely recommend and return if we are ever in Vietnam again.

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  • Super interesting stories about their history. Learned so much. Very welcoming people who has a lot to share and give.

    Sunshine48946658598,Dec 31, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Had the best time with them. Did the batik workshop and the day after went on a trek with May linh, amour guide, who knew so much about nature and medecine.

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  • Authentic experience of Red Dao Culture

    isabelletY2485SA,Dec 5, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    This was an incredible experience. As promised, ETHOS offered an extremely authentic tour, aligned to my wants. I had a Red Dao local guide (Lomay) who taught me all about local traditions - including sewing traditional clothing, and picking herbal medicines. I stayed with a local family, had a traditional herbal bath and even taught the children some maths! I would thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to escape the tourist hubs and experience real culture.

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  • Very engaging and interesting guides

    Gfdsrtfx,Dec 4, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    I did two one day walking trips with Ethos - both of which were excellent. The mountain scenery was really good as were the lunches in mountainside homes. But what made the walks exceptional was the quality of the guides, they were very engaging and could articulately explain local cultures, farming practices and adapting to the modern world etc. They made very good and interesting company for a walk. Ethos office staff were also welcoming, friendly and helpful. I would have no hesitation in recommending Ethos and wish them all the best for the future.

  • Unforgettable family experience

    N7405CBannah,Dec 2, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    We had a fantastic day tour with ETHOS! Our guide was very kind, helpful and knowledgeable. During the walk we visited her mothers’s home, and her own home. The food was absolutely amazing - and we really enjoyed being part of preparing the meal. Our kids age 8 and 9 yrs loved this experience and were enjoying playing hide and seek with our guide’s same age daughter, while we dozed off in the wonderful herbal bath. This experience with ETHOS felt very respectful and close to heart, and will stay with us for a long time. I would warmly recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the spirit of the local communities in this breathtakingly beautiful part of Vietnam.

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  • An amazing experience in the SaPa mountains

    Sherry52 10,Dec 1, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    We had an amazing experience trekking to the Red Dao village. The trek was beautiful and we were lucky to have a view of the rice terraces. Prior to the trek, the Ethos staff ensured that we had proper foot wear and provided us with rubber boots. Which was necessary. Our guide was lovely and spoke English well and shared a lot about her culture and everyday life. It was wonderful to come to her home for lunch and meet her family. The lunch was delicious. While on the trek, she collected fresh herbs for the herbal bath which was very relaxing. Highly recommend this trek and experience. We also experienced a food tour through Ethos, which was very eye opening. The 2 guides were lovely and knowledgeable young women from the Hmong people. Local foods we tried were snails, quail eggs and bamboo worms and other delicacies. The guides helped us understand the importance of these foods as well as cultural struggles and history. All in all, the tours with Ethos were amazing and having the women from the different communities share their stories and cultures memorable. Recommended highly

From US$93.34

1 Adult

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Operated by Ethos - Spirit of the Community

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Australia: Pavel Australia Pty Ltd

Việt Nam: Công ty TNHH Trip Social

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