Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour

On joining the 3 days 2 nights Tu Lan tour, visitors may experience firsthand the ecosystem of a tropical forest and admire the beauty of the Tu Lan Cave system, Quang Binh. You will swim in the underground river of a cave carved out millions of years ago, trek along forest trails, spend the night camping in the wild by the side of a waterfall, enjoy a local dinner, and spend the night at a Rural Homestay, the very first weather-adaptive homestay in Vietnam. During this tour, visitors will also have the opportunity to experience an ATV Quad Bike tour to explore the Home of Kong. These experiences will help you temporarily forget the hectic city life and immerse yourself in nature.

On this tour, visitors will have unique experiences such as:

  • Swimming in an underground river inside the cave: The valleys are connected by a system of underground caves. Visitors can experience the magical feeling of swimming in the total darkness of the cave. This is one of the most unique experiences of Tu Lan tours. If you don't want to swim, you can sit on the raft.
  • Exploring many remarkable caves: The caves you will explore are: Hang Ken, Hang Tu Lan, Hang Kim, Hang Hung Ton. All four have dry and river passages, hence to explore the caves you will need to swim and hike.
  • Camping in the most beautiful area of Tu Lan: Guests will have a night camping at Tu Lan Valley deep in the forest. The campsite is located in the most idyllic location, with waterfalls and natural swimming pools surrounded by the vast primeval forests and limestone mountains.
  • Culinary experience in the tour: During the three-day, two-night trip, visitors can enjoy delicious dishes prepared by local chefs.
  • Local experience: At the end of the adventure, guests will have the opportunity to have dinner at the home of one of the locals. Hearing how tourism has improved a villager’s life from working as a farmer and logger to providing services for tourists, visitors can learn about their daily activities whilst dining with their family. The lovely and tranquil Tan Hoa village can also be explored by bicycle.
  • Unique stay after the tour: You will spend one night at Rural Homestay in Tan Hoa. Rural Homestay is a weather-adaptive lodging model sponsored by Oxalis. It is based on the construction of 10 flood-resistant floating houses for households in Tan Hoa. These homestays offer peaceful views of the lives of Tan Hoa villagers.

Note: Tour takes place in remote areas with complex terrains. Customers must be physically fit.

Please carefully read the tour itinerary and honestly fill out the booking information yourself, especially your experience and health condition.

To book a tour for a group, please send the tour information to them and instruct each member to complete the booking form on their own. Our booking system lets each person fill in their own information, avoiding errors or missing details when someone else does it for you. Read more about Oxalis Adventure Level.

TL2 trekking graph

Itinerary

The Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour schedule may be adjusted according to the weather conditions. The trek can be quite muddy and slippery when it rains.

Download the itinerary

Phong Nha - Tan Hoa - Ken Cave - Tu Lan campsite

Between 07:30 to 08:00, the guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Phong Nha town and take the group to the Oxalis office in Tan Hoa Village, which is 70km from Phong Nha. At the office, the guide will give you a short briefing about the trekking itinerary and safety regulations; pack your bag, sign the Release Form and receive essential safety equipment (The transportation cost to Tan Hoa is included in the price of Tu Lan 3 days 2 night trip).

The group will hike around 2.5km through corn and peanut fields to reach the Rao Nan River bank. From there, you will need to cross the river and climb over a small hill (around 50 m) which is rocky in places. Continuing down the other side the group will reach the flat Hung Ton Valley. After crossing the valley, the group will rest and enjoy lunch at the entrance of Hung Ton Cave. After lunch the trek is a bit more challenging with some steep hills leading to the Tu Lan Valley campsite by the waterfall.

Afternoon activities include swimming and exploring Ken Cave, which is located close to the campsite. Then return to the campsite and enjoy a wonderful dinner prepared for you by the chefs. As you immerse yourself in the peaceful natural scenery of mountains and forests as well as the sound of the waterfall, you will feel calm and have a peaceful night’s sleep.

Notice

You need to arrive at Phong Nha before 06:00 AM on the day of the tour and avoid being late for departure to ensure the tour starts at the correct time.

If you want to get to Phong Nha by train on the morning of the tour departure, it is recommended to book the SE3 train departing from Hanoi/Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi station; or the SE8 train departing from Da Nang/Hue to Dong Hoi station (It is recommended to book an additional shuttle bus from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha). Then, the tour minibus will take you from Phong Nha to Tu Lan. The Tu Lan Cave System is about 112 km from Dong Hoi, please contact Oxalis for specific travel advice if required.

Oxalis has free dorm rooms with 6 comfortable beds available at Oxalis Home (Oxalis Office) for those who arrive in Phong Nha early in the morning of the tour and want to rest a bit before the tour. Please inform us in advance if you want to use the free dorm room service. Please scroll down to the Price and Availability section to view the schedule/register for Tu Lan Encounter tour.

Tu Lan cave - Kim Cave - Hung Ton Cave - Tan Hoa

The next day, you will trek, explore and swim through Hang Tu Lan and Hang Kim to reach To Mo Valley, two spectacular caves. You will have lunch at To Mo campsite before swimming into Hung Ton Cave, at the side of the waterfall. Inside the cave, the group will have to climb up a 10m high ladder with safety harnesses. A short hike leads to the cave entrance. In front of the cave entrance is the beautiful scene of the Hung Ton Valley, a great spot for beautiful photos. From there the group will return to Oxalis Tan Hoa office along the Hung Ton Valley, crossing the Rao Nan River and the peanut corn fields one last time. Back at Tan Hoa office, the group will check in to Rural Homestay in Tan Hoa to shower and relax.

Around 6:00 pm, the group will walk to the local’s house for dinner and interact with the villagers. You will not only have the opportunity to try some delicious local food but also learn more about the living condition of the people here. After dinner, the group will come back to Rural Homestay for a restful night.

Day 3: Explore Tan Hoa village and ATV tour - Phong Nha/Dong Hoi

Early in the morning, waking up from your Rural Homestay, there will be a peaceful review of the lives of the villagers, guests can explore Tan Hoa village and enjoy the sunrise over the Tan Hoa paddy fields or corn fields by biking around the village. You can also enjoy breakfast at the Tu Lan Lodge Restaurant.

Adventure enthusiasts can also join the ATV - Squat bike off-road tour to explore Lim forest and Kong's home, for two hours. This is a sporty driving tourism activity that takes you up hills, across streams, and through the beautiful Lim forest and Kong’s tunnel.

Homestay check-out time is 12:00 PM. There will be a shuttle service from Tan Hoa to Phong Nha or Dong Hoi City at 12:30 PM after the Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour. You can consider visiting other sightseeing and exploring destinations in Phong Nha, such as Phong Nha Cave, Paradise Cave, Blue Diamond Camp, Mooc Spring, or Chay River-Dark Cave.

Suggested accommodations before and after the tour:
Chay Lap Farmstay is an ideal place to stay before and after joinging Oxalis cave tours. High quality rooms, swimming pool, spa, kayaking, cycling, yachting... Specially discount rate for Oxalis customers are 1 million VND/room for 2 people. Check availability here
chaylapfarmstay.com →

Weather and Climate in Tu Lan - Tan Hoa area

Tu Lan - Tan Hoa has 4 seasons in a year (spring, summer, autumn and winter) like many northern provinces of Vietnam. Due to the weather conditions, and because Oxalis Adventure wants to protect and conserve the Tu Lan Cave System. The Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour will only be available from mid November to mid September every year. Weather conditions in the Tu Lan – Tan Hoa area are different in each season.

  • From January to March, there are some cold days, especially on rainy days but there are also many warm sunny days.
  • April and May are the warmer months, and this is the time when wildflowers are blooming.
  • From June to August are the hot summer months, but most of the time visitors are in the cave with the temperature from 22 to 25 degrees, or forest, so it should not feel too hot. In the summer months, visitors can comfortably swim in the streams and underground lakes inside Vietnam caves, so exploring Tu Lan is the ideal suggestion for you if you don't know where to go for 3 days and 2 nights.

Each season will have its own unique features for visitors to explore, and find out more about the uniqueness of nature. In addition, visitors can check the weather in Tu Lan - Tan Hoa through Accuweather before joining this caving adventure tour.

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Adventure level on tour

After many years of adventure tourism activities, Oxalis Adventure has created a Level of Adventure scale to help guests participating in Oxalis tours to visualize and choose the adventure tour most suitable for their fitness and health. This scale is not to be applied to other companies or tours with different conditions and terrains. The easiest level (level 1) anyone can join, and the most difficult level - 6 requires regular exercise and some trekking experience. Those who play sports or do some exercise can complete this tour.

Adventure Level 2 · Easy
The Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour is rated as Easy (Level 2) on the Oxalis Adventure level system. The difficulty of the tour is based on the physical fitness and health of average active people, not runners, athletes, or intensely active individuals.
Number of guests per tour:Maximum of 10; Age 16-70 years old.
Expect: Easy trails, some rocky sections, short ladder climb and optional swim

  • Easy to moderate trekking
  • 14,5km of trekking including up to 2km of caving
  • 300m elevation gain
  • 1km swimming in the caves
  • Descend 15m ladder in cave
Adventure Level TL2 trekking graph

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Physical fitness requirements for Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour

The basic physical fitness requirements for participating in the Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour include:

  • Trekking experience requirements: Having experience in trekking and camping in the forest is an advantage.
  • Fitness Preparation: Regularly participating in physical activities (such as yoga, swimming, hiking, running, stair climbing, gym, and some other sports)to maintain physical fitness. This ensures that they are able to:
    - Run continuously for 3 kilometres within 30 minutes or walk for 45 minutes.
    - Climb 5 floors continuously without experiencing shortness of breath or dizziness.

Guests aged 16 to 70 are permitted to join the Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour, which demands good physical fitness and prior trekking experience. Those with experience in mountain trekking and good physical health, as well as those who engage in regular sports training, could easily complete this tour.

Some guests on the Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour may find it not particularly challenging, while others may encounter difficulties and require assistance from many safety assistants to complete the tour. The tour regulations allow safety experts and/or guides to temporarily suspend the journey, and escort guests out of the forest if significant difficulties are encountered on the itinerary. Refunds or rescheduling are not applicable in such cases.

For more information on the necessary physical activities for a successful trip, please refer to: https://oxalisadventure.com/getting-ready-oxalis-tour/.

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Safety on the tour

This is always the top priority of Oxalis Adventure to ensure the safety of both visitors and Oxalis’ staff on any trip, including multi day adventures. We only use high-quality equipment meeting international standards, mainly imported from France, the UK, and Switzerland. The tour guides must undergo professional training and be tested for skills regularly. Only qualified guides may lead an Oxalis tour. Visitors can learn about the "safety management" and " safety equipmen" that Oxalis uses here.

Communication on tour

The Tu Lan Cave Encounter Tour is a unique adventure tour with some difficulty, located deep in the forest, far from outside support such as medical assistance, hospitals etc.

The trekking tour follows jungle trails, with hills up and down, and no paths are suitable for vehicles. There is no phone signal, no wifi, and no charging facilities. Each Oxalis caving adventure is equipped with 1 satellite phone for the guide to contact the office in case of emergency. Guests can only use the internet and phone at the hotel before and after the Oxalis tours. While trekking in the mountains and exploring the caves, the safety team will communicate with each other by walkie-talkie if necessary.

Oxalis Adventure has an established "Emergency Response Protocol" that includes on-site first aid and rescue if an accident occurs during trekking or caving tours. We organize many training courses for first aid, rescue, and evacuation, and have rescue teams for each tour operation area. The specialized equipment is imported from abroad and complies with European standards. Due to the remote location, rescue teams and medical assistants will take from 30 minutes to 2 hours to reach the location. Therefore, the safety of visitors is the top priority of Oxalis in any activities related to caving in Vietnam. For Experts and Sales consultants to give suitable advice, guests are required to fill in their fitness and health information in the Booking form honestly. They are also required to update the information to the Oxalis consultant 45 days before the tour departure.

Dangers, risks and how to avoid them on tour

Any adventure activities will always contain risks and these must be carefully managed. Oxalis tours take place in remote locations without easy access to medical care. Hence a lot of work goes into managing and reducing risks to the lowest level possible. Please always follow the instructions of the tour guide and safety assistants.

You can learn more about "Adventure Safety Tips" here.

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Items to bring on tour

All adventure tours in Vietnam will cross a variety of terrains and customers will be asked to prepare suitable clothing for safety and comfort. Clothing should be good for trekking in the jungle, river crossings, or exploring the cave as well as avoiding dangers and risks from sharp rocks, snakes, insects, or poison ivy. Visitors need to choose a good, well-fitting pair of shoes for steep rocky terrain and they should not be waterproof, as during river crossings they will hold water inside.

You need to prepare

Essential clothing

  • Trekking clothes:
    - 2 quick-dry, bright, long-sleeved shirts
    - 1-2 pairs of quick-dry trekking pants
    - 1 waterproof jacket (winter months November to March)
  • Campsite clothing sets:
    - Warm clothes for winter from November to March
    - Shorts and T-shirts for summer from April to September
  • 1 pair of good gripping trekking shoes (drainable); *Waterproof/Gore Tex shoes are not recommended.
  • 2 pairs of calf-length, thick socks
  • 1 pair of sandals/slides for campsite
  • Swimwear using at the Campsites

Personal items

  • Mosquito repellent
  • Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen
  • Hand fan for summer (April to September)
  • 1-2 medium towels
  • Underwear
  • Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, nature-friendly shampoo & soap, …)
  • Power banks
  • Personal medication
  • Antifungal foot powder
  • Passport

Provided by Oxalis

  • Camping equipment: tent, mattresses, pillow, sleeping bags
  • Caving and safety gears: helmet, headlight, gloves, …
  • PVC backpack (40L) to carry helmet, dry box.
  • Basic jungle boots (size 36-46)
  • Water bottle (1L)
  • Water filter
  • Compost toilet, toilet paper, hand cleaner
  • Shared dry box and semi-dry bag (15L)
  • First aid and medical rescue equipment
  • Hand fan (in summer)

Optional

  • Arm cover if wearing short-sleeved T-shirts
  • Camera & Tripod
  • Ear plugs
  • Bandana or headband
  • Rehydration tablets
  • Blister prevention tape
  • Personal dry bag/box for electronic devices

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Campsites in tour

The campsite for the Tu Lan Cave Encounter is located in the most beautiful camping spot of the Tu Lan area - Tu Lan Valley. The valley has a waterfall about 5m high pouring out from Ken Cave to form a large natural pool where you relax and enjoy the cool water. On the opposite side is a natural sandy beach where our campsite is located. Here deep in the valley of a primeval forest, you can hear the birds chirping, or watch the clouds hanging over the limestone cliffs above Ken Cave entrance.

The average temperature in winter is around 15 to 18 degrees, and in summer from 30 to 38 degrees Celsius. Customers are provided with warm sleeping bags in the winter or a battery-powered fan in the tent during summer months. More information about "The campsites at the Tu Lan Cave System ".

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Bathing at the campsite

All campsites of Tu Lan Adventure tours are located close to a river, lake or waterfall. Customers are free to swim at the camps. Oxalis staff will carry out lifeguard duties to ensure the safety of customers. At the campsites, Oxalis has prepared a number of water tanks to store clean water in case the river water is brown due to heavy rain. To protect water resources, shampoo or conditioner are not allowed to be used in the river or pools, and must be discharged onto the sandy area of the campsite. Environmental friendly biological shampoo is required on tour.

Toilet at campsites

The Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour is situated in remote areas without electricity or modern infrastructure. To protect the environment and maintain hygiene at the campsites and throughout the tour, Oxalis has created an eco-friendly toilet called "Oxalis Composting Toilets".

The toilet is inside a tent, and consists of a normal toilet seat on top of a box. Inside the box, is a bucket and waste bag to collect all waste and toilet paper which is provided. Nearby is a container of rice husks. After finishing, cover the waste with a generous scoop of rice husks. This ensures a dry composting process, which does not smell, and covers the waste from insects.

When the buckets are full, the porters will change them and bury the waste in a designated location in the jungle. This will biodegrade and turn into fertilizer.

Visitors are required to use the composting toilets for both urination and defecation. Urination outside the toilet or inside the cave is not allowed because of the smell and impact on cave formations and the cave ecosystem.

Hand washing facilities are provided.

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Directions to Phong Nha

Phong Nha is located 45 km from Dong Hoi City, the capital of Quang Binh Province (about 40 minutes by car). You just need to get to Dong Hoi, and Oxalis staff can arrange the rest. You can book a carpool/private car service from Oxalis to pick you up at the airport or train station, or you can hire a taxi. There are many ways to get to Dong Hoi such as a plane, train or sleeper bus.

* Visa: Vietnam provides visa exemption for citizens of ASEAN countries (30 days), and 45 days for citizens of (United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belarus, Russia).

* International airports: There are 3 main international airports for international flights: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Noi Bai International airport (HAN) and Da Nang International Airport (DAD). From Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Ha Noi, travellers can book domestic flights to Dong Hoi Airport (VDH). From Da Nang, traveler can catch a train or bus to Dong Hoi/Phong Nha.

  • Airplanes: There are many flights with Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Pacific Airlines, and Bamboo Airways, daily from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi.
  • Trains: Many SE trains run daily from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City stopping at Dong Hoi Station.
  • Bus: There are many day or night buses from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Hue to Dong Hoi or Phong Nha daily.

You can see more details of “transportation to Phong Nha" here.

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Tour booking process

This is an adventure tour in Vietnam and requires a lot of logistic support. To avoid disappointment and complications, guests should choose the best tour for their fitness, abilities and interests. Reading the tour information carefully will help visitors make the right choice for their trips. The booking process includes the following steps:

  • Visitors carefully read the tour program and self-assess their health and physical fitness. Appropriate training and preparation may be necessary.
  • Guests carefully read the tour highlights and activities to ensure they choose the tour that most interests them.
  • Guests fill in their personal information on the booking form themselves. They are asked to give honest answers about their fitness and health.
  • After the reservation is made, the Oxalis consultant will contact you within 48 hours to review the information and give guidance for the next steps. If you have not received any news from Oxalis’ within 48 hours, please give us a direct call or check the spam box in case Oxalis’ emails are in there.
  • After approval, guests will be asked to pay 100% of the tour cost to confirm the booking.
  • Leading up to the departure, your Oxalis consultant will regularly contact you to support you with the preparation of items as well as physical fitness. Or you can contact us for questions.
  • 45 days before departure, guests are asked to update their health and fitness to Oxalis.

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Tour price and available dates for booking

Due to limited capacity and to minimize the effect on the environment and ecosystem of Tu Lan, the Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour has a limited number of visitors each year. The tours are open for sale on a fixed schedule and individuals can join by themselves or in a group. In addition, Oxalis also has a few private tours for special groups or film crews. Please see the departure schedule in the calendar box below, the dates in bold are the dates available. If you do not see the calendar box appear, please wait a few seconds or press F5.

The date in bold is the first date of the tour schedule.

Terms of tour cancellation

To confirm the booking, visitors will be asked to pay 100% of the tour price. Guests may cancel the trip 7 days prior to the departure date and receive a full refund. For cancellations after 7 days, no refund will be given. Please see more refund and cancellation terms here.

Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour price includes

The Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour price is 8,100,000 VND (US$338) per person, this tour price includes VAT, entrance fee and forest environment service fee. The tour includes the following services:

  • Logistics: Each tour of 10 guests will have: 1 guide, 1 safety assistant, 1 cook, 2 kitchen assistants and 4 porters, cleaning and maintenance costs for the whole route.
  • Meals: Oxalis provides food, tea and coffee for visitors during the journey (excluding extra requests by guests). Dinner at the local household. The dishes follow a fixed menu. There are vegetarian or vegan options available. Please request in advance.
  • Accommodation: Oxalis offers 1-night camping in the jungle and 1 night at Rural Homestay in Tan Hoa after the tour.
  • ATV Tour: 2 hours ATV Squat bike tour, explore Lim forest - Home of Kong.
  • Safety equipment: Oxalis will provide safety equipment such as helmets, harnesses, headlamps, gloves and other safety equipment.
  • Travel insurance: Oxalis buys travel insurance for all guests participating in the tour with a maximum compensation of 10,000,000 VND. Visitors are advised to purchase their own comprehensive travel insurance prior to joining the tour.

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FAQs

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Whether you prefer long treks, camping in a cave, sleeping under the stars in the jungle, swimming underground in river caves, explore the huge dry caves or just taking an exploratory day trip, Oxalis Adventure Tours can provide the right amount of adventure just for you.

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