Highlights
Get the full picture of the twin caves of Hang Tien, both with enormous entrances and staggering formations. Sleep under the stars in two different campsites, bushwhack through the jungles, and eat delicious, freshly prepared food. This tour is for adventurous travelers who want the full experience of the two biggest caves in the Tu Lan system.
- Trek over jungle hills and mountains and walk through rivers.
- Explore the two biggest caves in the Tu Lan system.
- Discover some other Tu Lan caves as well!
- Sleep in two very different campsites.
- Tuck into freshly cooked meals during the journey, plus snacks.
- Marvel at beautiful and unusual cave formations.
Itinerary
Due to the weather conditions the itinerary may need to be changed at short notice. The paths can be muddy and slippery after rain.
Day 1: Phong Nha – Tan Hoa – Secret Cave – Hung Ton Cave – Hung Dung Campsite
07:30 - 08:00 Pick up and one-hour drive on Day 1 to the Oxalis Adventure office in Tan Hoa, located 70km from Phong Nha. Here you will have a tour safety briefing, sign the release form and receive the required equipment for the tour.
The trek starts with a flat path past the peanut field and grazing buffalo and cows. A river crossing leads to a short but steep and rocky uphill section. At the top you will enter Secret Cave, a short but beautiful cave. Descend to the next valley. Cross the valley on a flat path to enjoy a picnic lunch in the entrance of Hung Ton Cave. Continue through Hung Ton Cave to a 10m ladder descent with a safety line. Reach the underground river and swim out of the exit to To Mo Valley. Enjoy a swim in the lake before heading up out of the valley. Another steep hill follows before you descend to Hung Dung and your campsite.
Day 2: Hung Dung – Hung Nhai – Tien Campsite
The second day is a long trekking day over hills and through beautiful valleys and jungle.
You will cover a total of 8km with a 350m ascent. From the campsite, you will head uphill and trek through the jungle to Hung Nhai, a pleasant and mainly flat scenic valley. Lunch will be next to the river, before the last big hill of the day. Ascend and descend around 200m to arrive at a different river valley. A short trek upstream leads you to your campsite and beautiful blue lagoon. Here the underground river wells up providing a cool natural swimming pool. Relax and enjoy this after your long hike.
Day 3: Tien Campsite – Hang Tien 1 – Hang Tien 2 – Dong Dau Mountain – Tan Hoa – Phong Nha
In the morning the trail is a large jumble of rocks to pick your way over, with the help and direction of the guide and safety team. As you enter the cave you will appreciate the full size of the passage. Plants and algae cover many of the calcite formations. Further into the cave you will see splendid cave features such as a ceiling dome, and multiple layers of rock, giving the walls a stripy appearance. A 10m ladder will be climbed up with a safety rope, and a short distance later you will see the end of the cave, an opening into the jungle.
Continue into the jungle valley and trek for around 30 minutes to the second cave. A small opening with swirling stripy patterns on the walls drops into a much larger passage filled with calcite formations. The final challenge of the Expedition now follows. Enjoy the lunch served in a small valley on the way and climb up around 200m on a rocky trail. Take your time, this is not a race. From the top the descent is initially steep and rocky, and up and down, but soon joins an old logging trail, and then a fairly flat forest walks back to the road. Here you will be picked up with a welcome cold drink.
Return to the office for a welcome shower.
Transfer to Phong Nha arriving around 19:00.
Adventure Level 4: Moderate
- 3-day tour
- Moderate trekking - very rocky terrain
- 18km of trekking including 4km of caving
- Total elevation gain: 800m
- River crossings
- Swimming in caves (100m)
- There will be some rocky terrain, steep hills and a 10m ladder climb with a safety rope, operated by the safety team