Sapa Motorbike Tour: Waterfall & Green Tea Farm Review

Okay, so you’re thinking of exploring Sapa, Vietnam? Well, doing it on two wheels is almost certainly one of the best ways to really soak up the fantastic scenery. I took a motorbike tour that went from Sapa town all the way to a truly striking waterfall and a totally authentic green tea farm, and let me tell you, very few experiences compare to the sensory overload that this trip provides. What follows is, actually, a blow-by-blow of that amazing day, some helpful tips, and whether or not I believe this tour, very specifically, is something you, too, should experience.

Choosing the Right Tour Operator

Finding a decent tour operator can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack, it’s virtually a free-for-all when you stroll through the town of Sapa. In many ways it felt like the wild west, if the wild west had, in addition to horses, tour guides offering to take you here, there and everywhere. First of all, ask yourself what you value; is that affordability, convenience, or just a plain five-star service? See, depending on that answer, it could really influence your choice. The hotel staff where I was staying, bless them, offered me some good recommendations; the reviews on travel websites, they can often be your very best mate, too. I would really pay very close attention to recent reviews specifically because they usually paint a much more reliable picture than, I find, something written five years ago.

I looked, as one does, for guides that could communicate clearly in English because my Vietnamese extends to, roughly, ‘hello’ and ‘thank you,’ then I wanted someone with a really good safety record, for obvious reasons! The size of the group you travel with also can either be a pro or a con, you see, because a smaller group will always, definitely, offer a more personal experience, a larger one may, too, offer you the chance to meet some folks and perhaps save some money on the deal. Oh, one last thing. Making sure that your operator is completely and totally licensed is, too, super important.

Setting Off: Sapa to the Countryside

Leaving Sapa, like with many things, can actually be bitter sweet. The views overlooking the valley during sunset are really amazing, the mountains that surround you, those rice terraces which cascade down the hillsides are, too, breathtaking. Anyway, as you move from the city, you’ll immediately be greeted with a sense of serenity that, clearly, only a rural landscape provides. The air, so it seemed to me anyway, just felt crisper and cleaner. One minute you are bartering for souvenirs and the next you are amid stunning natural beauty. And if you do this trip by motorbike then I’d argue you appreciate that juxtaposition even more.

The route can, to be fair, be a bit challenging because the roads in certain parts can be a bit bumpy but that is very much part of the fun. These tours will typically make their way through villages where ethnic minorities dwell; here you’ll have a fabulous chance to really glimpse, actually, authentic Vietnamese culture and day-to-day life, it feels incredibly special to be even a small part of it. Also keep your eyes peeled for local markets – stopping to look at these and try a few fresh local snacks is something, too, I would say is vital.

The Majestic Waterfall

Okay, so reaching the waterfall is just absolutely worth every single bump along the way. The cascade is almost overwhelmingly picturesque with very crystal waters tumbling down rocks that have seemingly been in place since time began; the sight is both impressive and somehow, too, very peaceful. In that case, give yourself an hour or so, anyway, just to simply relax by the waters edge, get some snaps for Instagram and recharge your batteries. If you, like your writer, actually visit during the drier months, well, then you may also be able to take a paddle, a very brave swim, even.

Oh, also that sound of the water thundering down – seriously – really amplifies the whole natural spectacle, you, basically, could be a million miles away from reality. Many of these tours, I understand, often include a picnic lunch by the waterfall, a little perk that transforms what would already be a brilliant outing into one that’s unforgettable, too.

Exploring the Green Tea Farm

From the falls, it’s on to what, seemingly, is a completely different kind of paradise – the green tea farm. The bright green fields that extend over what seem to be hundreds of acres, is definitely quite a striking view, almost like another world. These farms are clearly incredibly important to the local economy and what’s actually even more enlightening is that you often get the opportunity to meet local farmers. These farmers are normally quite keen to share with you the whole tea-making process from, for instance, picking all the way through to drying and, indeed, brewing. What then usually happens is, too, that you can get to sample some tea so be very polite and drink up, okay?

When visiting, treat the surroundings, and people you meet, with some respect, if you will. These places are usually peoples homes and livelihood. Many places now allow tourists to pick tea themselves – that certainly makes a fantastic picture for the folks back home and really lets you learn so much about, seemingly, a day in the life of a tea farmer. That being said, and, frankly, I’m just putting this out there – it isn’t actually easy.

What to Bring: Your Sapa Survival Kit

A little prep can really ensure the difference between a very average tour and a day that you won’t soon forget, you see. Given Sapa’s changeable weather, bring, similarly to boy scouts and girl guides the world over, layers, lots of layers. A waterproof jacket is obviously key, it can often be chucking it down one minute and the sun splitting the stones the next. Good sturdy footwear is essential, too, that I will really emphasise that! The roads can be a bit uneven in places and that, arguably, picturesque waterfall isn’t quite so much fun if you’ve taken a tumble and twisted an ankle. Bringing sunscreen and insect repellent, too, almost feels like an admission of failure but these little touches often mean more than the big ones.

Bottled water is super important to bring – dehydration can strike at any time! Finally, remember to keep your camera charged because, as I might have mentioned, the views are definitely something you want to capture and, ultimately, bottle, forever.

The ‘Sapa to Waterfall and Green Tea Farm with Motorbike Driver’ tour is more than, perhaps, just a trip; I would actually say that it’s quite an experience. From all the picturesque countryside views to the pretty almighty splendor of the falls and all the peaceful green tea fields, every moment offers, surely, something unique. By choosing a decent tour operator, packing properly, and respecting the locals, you can often turn a quite good journey into, certainly, something spectacular.

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