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Putaleng Peak, adorned with the blossoms of azaleas, transforms into a haven for adventurous souls.
Conquering Putaleng Peak: A Journey Through Enchanting Blossoms
Putaleng Peak, also known as Pú Tả Lèng, stands proudly at an altitude of 3,049 meters, claiming the title of the second highest peak in Indochina. Nestled within the Hoàng Liên Sơn range, it resides in Tả Lèng commune, Tam Đường district, Lai Châu province.
Putaleng Peak captivates with its vibrant red hues of azalea blossoms, known as the queen of flowers in Northwest Vietnam. However, this paradise offers more than meets the eye. Conquering Putaleng Peak entails traversing streams, trekking through forests, navigating bamboo groves with no defined paths, immersing in the mist of the Hoàng Liên Sơn range, or treading upon endless carpets of red azalea blossoms.
Transportation Options
Motorcycle: You will travel along the route from Hanoi to Phu Tho to Yen Bai to the city of Lao Cai to Sapa town to Tam Duong town to Ho Thau.
Car: You can catch a sleeper bus at My Dinh bus station (Hanoi), departing at 10 PM, passing through Km15 (the turn to Ho Thau).
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi – Ho Thau – Milestone 2,400 m.
Before departing from Hanoi, you must contact the guide (responsible for assisting and guiding you to the mountain peak).
The sleeper bus departs from the station at 10 PM, arriving at the destination around 4-5 hours later. You get off the bus at Km15, contact the guide to pick you up, lead you to their house, and prepare equipment and food.
After preparing all the necessary gear, you'll trek from Ho Thau for about 8-10 hours (depending on your fitness level) to reach the campsite at the 2,400m mark. The whole group will set up tents, rest, and have meals to continue the journey the next morning.
Day 2: 2,400m mark – Pú Tả Lèng peak – 2,400m mark – 1,800m mark.
In the morning, everyone wakes up early for breakfast. Starting from the campsite at the 2,400m mark, you'll ascend to the summit of Pú Tả Lèng. Along the way, you'll encounter a few small streams and lush bamboo forests.
Upon reaching the 3,049m mark, everyone takes photos, rests, eats for about 2 hours, then descends to the 2,400m mark campsite. After packing up, you'll descend to the campsite in the grassy area, the 1,800m mark (taking the route back to Tả Lèng village), where you'll spend the second night.
Day 3: 1,800m mark – Tả Lèng village – Lai Châu city – Hanoi.
From the 1,800m mark, you'll move along the route back to Tả Lèng village. The return route and the initial route are different, so make sure you bring all your personal belongings.
Upon arrival at the village, take some rest to regain energy then hire a motorcycle taxi to TP Lai Châu and catch a bus back to Hanoi.
Dining Tips
If you prefer not to carry too much food for 3 days, you can arrange in advance with the local guide for assistance. Local guides usually prepare rice, pork, chicken, and cooking utensils. Traveling with locals, you may have the chance to enjoy wild vegetables as they know which ones are edible.
However, it's advisable to also prepare some snacks or bring ready-to-eat food such as sausage, square glutinous rice cake, sticky rice, dried provisions, and drinks. This helps to save costs and provides energy when feeling hungry and tired during mountain climbing.
Source: Diem Dang Dung/Zing News
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Explore: Travel guide by Mytour
By Mytour teamApril 20, 2017
