Highlights
Swim, walk and wade through 8 caves on our longest expedition in the Tu Lan cave system. Spend three nights under the stars in three different campsites, scramble over jungle-carpeted hills, and discover Hang Tien – the biggest cave in the system. This tour is for adventurous travelers who want to switch off from the modern-day, embrace the wilderness, and see the full extent of the Tu Lan cave system.
- Swim and wade through underground rivers.
- Explore 8 wet and dry caves in the system.
- Trek over jungle hills and mountains.
- Sleep soundly in three different campsites.
- Relax in natural swimming pools at the end of each day.
- Abseil inside Tu Lan Cave – a thrilling highlight! (You can decide not to participate this activity as you wish).
- Unearth Hang Tien. The only Tu Lan tour to include this huge cave.
- Tuck into freshly cooked meals during the journey, plus snacks.
- Marvel at the full range of different 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. Lifejackets are required while swimming in the cave.
Arrival date in Phong Nha
Viet Green Travel's transport will pick you up at Dong Hoi airport or train station and transfer to Chay Lap Farmstay for check-in procedures.
You can experience free activities while staying at Chay Lap Farmstay including 1-hour kayaking on the Chay river, 2 hours cycling on peaceful village roads, or participate in other activities such as gardening, herbal sauna, and water skiing. In the evening, you can enjoy dinner with a variety of local dishes at Chay Lap restaurant (at your own expense) and prepare yourself for the trip the next day.
Day 1: Chay Lap - Secret cave - Tu Lan Campsite
From 8:00 on Day 1, we will pick you up at Chay Lap Farmstay and take a one-hour drive 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.
After the briefing, the trek starts with a flat path past peanut fields and grazing buffalo and cows. A river crossing leads to a short but steep and rocky uphill section, Secret Cave is waiting for you ahead. Secret Cave is quite small but extremely magnificent with unique stalactites and cave pearls. It was formed many years ago but has just been discovered by the porter of Oxalis in recent years. Highlight paths are set to minimize erosion and protect formations within the cave. After the exploration, the crew will turn back and have a picnic lunch at the cave entrance.
More hills and jungle trekking before you drop down to Tu Lan Valley and your camp for the night. Finish the day with a swim into Ken Cave. Dinner is prepared and served by the porter team. After dinner enjoy the evening before sleeping in your comfortable tent. Composting toilets, changing tents and drying racks are provided at camps.
Day 2: Tu Lan cave- Hang Kim Cave - Hang Hung Ton Cave - Hung Dung Valley Camp
The following day you will trek and swim through three caves: Tu Lan Cave, Kim Cave, and Hung Ton Cave. After breakfast, you will have a briefing and practice using the abseil equipment. From the campsite trek across the valley and into the dry entrance of Tu Lan Cave. Follow the dry passage to the end. Here the safety team will help you put on the abseil equipment. Enjoy the 15m abseil into the lower river passage with only your headlight to illuminate the chambers. Our guide and safety team will assist you all the way. Land on the raft and paddle out of the wet entrance.
The crew continued to swim through Kim cave and explore about 300m of this dry cave. You will have the opportunity to witness natural sunlight shining in the cave's bed through the collapse thousands of years ago. Lunch at picturesque To Mo valley with waterfall and jade lake among the mountains awaits after Kim cave. Cross the valley and enter Hung Ton Cave next to the small waterfall. Swim 100m along to the dry passage, where you will climb a metal ladder with the extra protection of a safety line. Follow the dry passage to the exit. The final hills of the day follow with a steep 150m climb and descent into the La Ken valley followed by a small hill into Hung Dung and camp. Enjoy your dinner after a long and challenging day.
Day 3: Hung Dung Valley Camp - Hung Nhai Valleyt - Hang Tien Cave Campsite
The third day is a long trekking day over hills and through beautiful valleys and jungle. You will cover a total of 8km with an ascent of around 350m. From the camp you 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 Hang Tien campsite and a pretty blue lagoon. Here the underground river wells up providing a cool natural swimming pool. Relax and enjoy after your long hike.
Day 4: Hang Tien 1 - Hang Tien 2 Cave - Chay Lap Farmstay
The pace continues on the fourth and final day. After breakfast, you will follow a very rocky trail to the entrance of Hang Tien, the largest cave in the Tu Lan System. Pass inside the spectacular entrance and proceed through the cave to the exit after a 10m ladder climb with a safety rope. A short jungle section leads you to the second dry cave, with amazing rock patterns and cave formations. Then the crew return to the cave entrance and start the final challenge of the expedition: climbing 200m and passing two rocky mountains. Take your time, this is not a race. Lunch will be prepared in the valley along the way. You will soon join 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 in Tan Hoa, take a shower and transfer to Chay Lap Farmstay and enjoy a gala dinner with your guide at 19h30. If you wish to go directly from Tan Hoa to Dong Hoi, please notify Oxalis for assistance.
Departure: Stay or transfer to Dong Hoi
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, take a swim in the pool at Chay Lap or enjoy Chay Lap water sports center before leaving. Off-property excursions are also available and can be booked directly through Chay Lap Farmstay.
Please contact our adventure consultant and inform your tour guide of your departure time the night before to arrange a transfer. We wish you all the best in your onward travels!
Adventure Level 5 · Challenging
- 4-day tour
- Moderate to hard trekking- very rocky terrain
- 22km of trekking including 5km of caving
- Total elevation gain: 900m
- River crossings
- 1km swimming (50-200m)
- 15m underground abseil using ropes and harnesses (with instruction and supervision)
Inclusion
- Caving & safety gear: caving helmet, caving headlight, gloves
- Basic canvas trekking boots (only if you do not have your own pair) sizes 36 – 46
- Water and picnic lunch
- Professional English-speaking tour guide and guide safety assistant
- Porter to prepare meals and pump water
- Shared dry box for phones and small cameras (limited availability for larger cameras)
- Water filter and purifier (used only by guide and porters)
- Eco-friendly compost toilet using western toilet seat at lunch site
- First Aid Kit and Medical Rescue Equipment (application by guides and porters only)
- Dry box is prepared in case of high water level
- Secure Storage Facility at Our Headquarters to store any luggage you will not be taking on the trek
Exclusions
- Tips & Personal Expenses
- Travel/Health Insurance
- Other services not mentioned in the itinerary
WE WILL PROVIDE
- 2 night’s accommodation at Chay Lap Farmstay (single or double room)
- Transfer between Chay Lap Farmstay and Dong Hoi City center before and after the tour
- 1 hour complimentary kayaking at Chay Riverside
- Camping gear: tent, camp light, sleeping bag, mattresses, pillow
- Caving & safety gear: caving helmet, life jacket, gloves, safety harness, ropes..
- Professional caving headlight (Hope Technology headlights – 1500 lumens)
- Photography lighting supports (Hope Technology – R8 3,000 lumens)
- Light PVC backpack (if you do not want to take your own, as it will get wet)
- Biodegradable plastic bag (for clothing and personal belongings)
- Basic canvas trekking boots (only if you do not have your own pair) sizes 36 – 46
- Meals on tour: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner (day 1, 2, 3 & 4); and breakfast on departure.
- Gala dinner on day 4
- Professional English-speaking tour guide and safety assistants
- Porter team to carry all camping gear and prepare all meals
- Porter team to carry all your personal belongings to camp
- Shared dry box for phones and small cameras (limited availability for larger cameras)
- Water filter (used only by guide and porters) and water bottle
- Basic camping facilities with eco-friendly compost toilet using western toilet seat
- First Aid Kit and Medical Rescue Equipment, satellite phone (application by guides and porters only)
- Secure Storage Facility at Viet Green Travel office to store all luggage you will not be taking on the trek
YOU WILL NEED TO BRING
- 2 pairs of long pants and 2 long-sleeved shirts (quick dry) to wear during the trek.
- 2 pair of shorts and t-shirts to wear at the campsite and swimsuit
- 1 pair of trekking boots/shoes – difficult terrain, good footwear necessary. Gore-Tex/waterproof boots are NOT recommended as they do not drain well (but you may wear them, if you prefer your own comfortable pair)
- 1 pair of flip flops (sandals) for the campsite
- 1 medium-size towel
- 3-4 pairs of calf length densely woven socks (not ankle socks!)
- Antifungal foot powder (talcum powder)
- Personal items: mosquito repellent, sunglasses, hat, camera, underwear, toiletries
VIET GREEN LUXURY TRAVEL
Address: 102 H50 Alley 41/27 Vong Str, Ha Ba Trung Dist, Hanoi
Quang Binh - Branch Office
Add: 64 Hoang Dieu, Dong Hoi, Quang Binh
Core activities: Luxury Indochina Tours, Vietnam Luxury Tours, Vietnam Adventure Tour, Vietnam Helicopter & Seaplane Tour, Laos Balloons Tour, Marathon Tours, Caves Expedition & Adventure, Cruise Tours, Hotel Booking, Meeting, Incentive, Conferences, Event, Car Rental, Visa Renewal & Extension
CALL US 24/7
English Zalo/Whatsapp: +84989313339
Email/Website info@vietgreentravel.com www.vietgreentravel.com
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