Short answer: YES
Long answer: yes but only if you go with the right guide.
We went on 2 hikes and the second hike stood out to us. Booked on SeekSophie and when they say off the beaten track, they mean OFF the beaten TRACK.
✨What to expect:
✔️guide met us at our hotel at approximately 9am
✔️ right off the bat, she gave us 2 options: adventurous or easy route. She told us straight up that the adventurous had better views but it wouldn’t be easy. We had both hiked 13km the day before so we were extremely sore, but since we’re in Sapa, we opted for the adventurous route and had NO REGRETS.
✔️from our hotel, it was a 10-20 mins walk out of the city and before we started our hike proper
✔️she wasn’t joking when she said it’s off the beaten track: we had to cross streams by hopping from rock to rock, we walked on muddy terrain (it started raining mid hike) and certain parts of the (not really a) path was super slippery. And yes we both fell at least once but it was still very enjoyable and fun.
✔️guide was AMAZING: she pointed out various veggies and plants throughout the journey, farming practices in the region and gave us insight into the daily lives of the Hmong and their culture. She even taught us some common phrases in her language! I have so much respect for her and you can really see how she loves her job of bringing people around her home region.
✔️pictures speak for themselves — the views on this hike was AMAZING. Honestly took my breath away and there were multiple times throughout the hike where I looked up and couldn’t help but exclaim “wow!”
✔️as for lunch, we INHALED it. It was so so so good. As I mentioned, we had a hike the day before and it paled in comparison (actually it was so bad on day 1 — just 1 plate of fried rice that was doused in msg) but on THIS hike, there was tofu, cabbage (i usually hate cabbage but this was so fresh, fried spring rolls and chicken)
✨Pro-tips✨
🫶🏻 your shoes are gonna be wrecked so please wear proper hiking shoes or sport shoes that you’re ok with being caked in mud
🫶🏻 you need a good mozzie repellant. We used Ceramoz (omg the way I can gush about this brand) and didn’t get stung the entire time.
🫶🏻 sunblock! We went in July (summer) and when it’s hot, the sun really beats down on you. I got sunburnt on the first day since I forgot to bring my sunblock :”)
🫶🏻 bring an umbrella or raincoat. Weather wasn’t the greatest for us and it started raining mid hike so def good to have
‼️fair warning, for your hikes, random ladies (sometimes old ladies) carrying big baskets on their back might start following you and might even tag along for your entire hike — they’ll tell you at the end that they walked a long way with you and want you to buy some of their handmade items (pouches, headbands, small bags etc). Our guide warned us that this was common and told us to firmly tell them that we were not buying at the start once they begin following you. If you tell them at the start, they’ll be understanding, they’ll leave you alone and they won’t follow your group. However, if you don’t speak up, they’ll pressure you hard at the end of your hike to buy their wares. I was so grateful for my guide for warning us about this practice. She’s likely gotten hate for it among the locals, but she was protecting us and we loved that about her 💕
✨The trek we booked:
Sapa Off-Grid Trek with Social Enterprise on Seek Sophie. Our guide was San May!
Check it out here: https://www.seeksophie.com/a/z48o
#travelrecommendation #traveltips #travelwithlemon8 #sapavietnam #sapa #hikes
If you're wondering whether Sapa is really worth the visit, let me share a bit more from my experience that might help you decide. The key to truly enjoying Sapa lies in choosing the right guide and itinerary. Booking with SeekSophie allowed me to explore areas that felt untouched by typical tourism crowds. The guides are locals passionate about sharing their culture and environment, which makes a huge difference. What I found especially rewarding were the little details on the trek: learning about local vegetables, farming methods, and even a few Hmong phrases. This cultural immersion added so much depth to the hike beyond just the physical challenge. Do keep in mind that off-the-beaten-track hikes in Sapa demand good preparation. Muddy paths and unexpected showers are part of the adventure, so come geared up with sturdy shoes, mosquito repellent (Ceramoz worked great for me), and sun protection. An umbrella or raincoat is a must if you hike during summer when sudden rain is common. Be aware of local customs too. During my hike, some local women carrying baskets tried to join our group to sell handmade souvenirs. Our guide advised us to politely decline at the beginning to avoid pressure later — it worked well! Finally, the food offered at lunch during the trek blew my mind compared to other meals we had in Sapa. Fresh, tasty, and filling, it was a great reward after hours of trekking. All in all, Sapa proved to be more than worth visiting. The combination of breathtaking nature, authentic cultural encounters, and thoughtful guiding made the trip unforgettable. If you want a genuine and enriching trekking experience in Vietnam, I highly recommend going off the beaten path with SeekSophie.
