Samu Summit - U Bo (often referred to as Samu Summit) is one of the three mountain peaks located in the so-called "Bermuda Triangle" area (as named by locals) within the Ta Xua Special-use Forest. The summit stands at an elevation of 2,756 meters and lies on the border between the Yen Bai and Son La provinces. Around March and April each year, this area becomes the kingdom of rare and exotic flora within the mysterious and enchanting primeval forest, drawing many who long to witness its breathtaking beauty firsthand.
There are several trekking routes to conquer Samu Summit, but the most scenic and diverse one is the trail starting from Tram Tau in Yên Bái, leading to Samu Summit and ending at Hang Đong in Bac Yen, Sơn La.
Highlight
Departure from: Ha Noi
Min: 6 people
Destination: Yen Bai
Max: 15 people
Duration: 2 days 3 nights
Best season: Sep - Apr
Activities: Trekking
Level: 6/10
18:00 - Arriving at the picking up point to board the bus to Tram Tau, Yen Bai. We will make a stop along the way for dinner (if needed).
23:00 - Arriving in Tram Tau, where we will spend the night at a cozy and beautiful homestay.
* Dinner not included
06:00 - Waking up, packing your belongings, and having breakfast.
06:45 - The guide will brief the group on the program and important notes for the journey.
07:00 - The group boards a vehicle to the Ban Mu junction.
07:30 - Going by motorbike taxi to the mountain base.
08:00 - We will warm up and begin our trekking journey. Today, we will trek for about 5-6 hours through pristine forests with countless exotic plants. The route includes some short slopes and sections that require climbing ladders, but it's not overly challenging.
11:30 - Having a rest for lunch along the way.
16:00 - Arriving at the overnight shed. We’ll store our belongings, freshen up, and rest after the trek. While waiting for dinner time, we can help the porters with cooking or take a walk around the shelter to enjoy the sunset views.
18:30 - Dinner will be served, followed by socializing and sharing stories with the group members. Afterward, you’re free to enjoy the quiet mountain atmosphere. We’ll sleep in a windproof wooden shelter, with blankets and insulated mats to keep warm.
* Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
04:30 - Waking up early for breakfast and having cups of hot coffee or ginger tea.
05:00 - After breakfast, we will warm up and begin the final stretch of our trek to reach Samu Peak.
07:00 - Reaching the summit of Samu, where the group will rest and take photos.
08:00 - The group will descend toward Hang Dong in Bac Yen. On the way, we’ll pass through a stunning forest full of ancient trees covered in moss year-round.
12:00 - Stopping for lunch during break along the way.
14:00 - Arriving at Hang Dong, where a vehicle will pick us up and take us to a homestay for a shower and some rest.
17:00 - Departing for Hanoi, with dinner along the way.
23:30 - Coming back to Hanoi. End of the tour.
* Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Difficulty Level (6/10): Most people can participate in the tour, children from 6 years old and above also can join with parents. It will be easier and more comfortable for you to experience outdoor activities if you have good preparation for physical training before the trip. The duration of each trip is generally 2 days. With those trekking tours at this level, it might take 2 – 3 hours/day to do the trek with the relatively easy terrain. At the same level, the kayaking and SUP tours, 2 – 3 hours/ days paddling with the large water surface, and plenty of times to take photos and rest as well.
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Suggested physical training: Practice running or kayaking/SUP 1 - 2 weeks in advance. Run twice a week, each session 3 - 5km every night. Or paddling from 2- 3 times, each time is 5 km.
Equipment provided by UA:
Essential stuff you need to bring:
Other items you may consider to bring:
1. Travel insurance
● Umove Adventure uses service from Bảo Việt Insurance with a maximum insurance payout of 100 million VND/person/case.
● See the Bao Viet policy of insurance Quy tắc bảo hiểm Bảo Việt.
2. Referring to the postpose policy, and cancel the tour in the requirement and instructions here.
3. Reading and signing the exclude all liability before departing
● The customers who buy adventure tours from Umove Adventure have enough awareness about the level of challenge as well as other physical challenges and other potential dangers during the tour. Hence the customer is asked to read and sign the Exclude all Liability form before departing. Find the form below and read it carefully.
4. Notes on the trekking route:
● This is a moderately difficult trek (6/10), comparable to Lao Than or Lung Cung. However, we will be trekking through dense jungle with several short, steep sections, so it is recommended that you prepare your physical fitness before the trip (refer to the Physical Preparation Suggestions section).
● Umove Adventure recommends bringing a backpack of around 10L and limiting it to 2kg of essentials for the hike, such as your wallet, phone, and water. Your personal belongings, such as a change of clothes for the campsite, daily drinking water, and food for mountain meals, will be carried by porters.
5. Sleeping on the mountain:
● We will spend one night in a mountain shelter. The shelter has bathrooms and showers. For sleeping, you will be provided with an air mattress or an insulated mat, along with a blanket or sleeping bag.
6. Food & water:
● Dinner on the mountain will be hot meals prepared by the porter team. Breakfast will be fried rice, instant noodles, or crepes. Lunch is typically pre-prepared cold food.
● Drinking water on the mountain will be taken from streams and boiled for purification by the porters. Participants should bring their own water bottles to collect water for daily use.
● At the campsite, hot tea and coffee will be available before and after each meal.
7. Protecting the environment together
● Umove Adventure supports and practices Leave No Trace principles in each program and outdoor activities itself. We also encourage our customers and partners to apply to Leave No Trace principles when traveling in the outdoor environment. See details about the Leave No Trace tại đây
● In order to limit the use of single-use plastic, Umove Adventure encourages each of us to prepare for ourselves a bottle of water with a 1L capacity for daily water refilling.
● On the tour, tourists comply with the instructions and regulations on environmental protection at the destination.
8. Medical assistance
● If you have cardiovascular disease or bone and joint diseases (knees, ankles, shoulder joints, etc.), you should consult your doctor before deciding to join the trip.
The best time to explore Samu is from September to April of the following year. From about September to November, maple leaves change color to yellow and red; March and April are the rhododendron flower season. From December to February is the easiest time to hunt clouds on the top.
This tour is suitable for children aged 12 and above when accompanied by their parents or guardians.
This is a trek with an average difficulty level (6/10), equivalent to Lao Than or Lung Cung. However, we will go through dense forests and many short sections have steep slopes, so you should prepare your physical strength before the trip. You should refer to the notes and instructions for preparing for a trip with a difficulty level of 6/10 here.
This is a group tour, so you can join alone. However, the tour requires a minimum of 7 participants to proceed. If the minimum number is not met, UA will notify you one week in advance, allowing you to either change the departure date or receive a refund of your deposit.
Upon registration, customers must pay a 50% deposit via bank transfer or by card through Onepay. The remaining 50% must be paid no later than one day before the departure date, also via bank transfer or credit card through Onepay.
UA will not confirm the booking until the deposit has been received.
Cancellation fees depend on how far in advance you cancel from the departure date. If you wish to postpone the tour or switch to a different one, Umove Adventure can arrange a new departure date for you with applicable fees (or without fees). For details, see our Cancellation Policy.
You will need to inform Umove Adventure of your dietary requirements when booking the tour. We will check if the destination can accommodate your needs and notify you accordingly. Typically, Umove Adventure offers vegetarian options depending on the location of the tour.
Please refer to the “Equipment” section in the detailed tour description.
Umove Adventure does not organize tours specifically for guests with pets, so bringing a pet depends on the agreement of other tour participants. If you wish to bring a pet, Umove Adventure will ask for the consent of all tour members. You will be fully responsible for maintaining hygiene and ensuring your pet’s safety.
In remote forest areas, a buried latrine system will be used. Rangers will set up a secluded, private location for you. At the wooden hut in Ta Xua where we will stay overnight, there will be toilets and showers available for personal use.
We will be camping in a high mountainous area, so phone signals will no longer be available. You should make personal arrangements before starting your journey to conquer Samu Peak.
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