Tu Lan 6-Cave Adventure
Active
5 Days
Trip Overview
This exciting journey has some challenging sections, but it’s totally worth it! Swim through river caves and admire rare cave coral and dry caves covered in intricate calcite formations. With a mixture of lush jungles, mysterious caves, and stunning campsites, you’ll experience a whole new world just below Vietnam’s surface in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.
Highlights
- Trekking and sleeping overnight in the jungle for 2 nights
- Spelunking in 6 different caves within the gigantic Tu Lan Cave System
- Swimming in underground rivers and seeing rare cave coral
This Tour is Perfect for
- Nature lovers and adventurous travelers
- Getting off the tourist trail
- Extending for a few days at the beach in Da Nang or Hoi An
Detailed Itinerary
Topas Travel creates tailor-made tours for our guests according to their specific requests. This itinerary has been designed to show you just one of many options
In Brief
Day 1: Phong Nha/Dong Hoi Arrival
Day 2: Phong Nha – Tan Hoa – Ken Cave
Day 3: Rat Cave – Tu Lan Cave – Hang Kim – To Mo
Day 4: Song Oxalis – Hung Ton – Tan Hoa – Phong Nha
Day 5: Phong Nha/Dong Hoi Departure
Day 1: Welcome to Vietnam’s Final Frontier | Dong Hoi Arrival – Phong Nha
Xin Chao and welcome to Dong Hoi! Upon arrival to the airport or train station, a Topas representative will welcome you before heading straight to Chay Lap Farmstay near the entrance to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.
The day is at leisure to discover the area on your own.
Included meals: Dinner
Distance and activities: 45’ drive
Day 2: Into the Wild | Phong Nha – Tan Hoa – Ken Cave
Depart for Tan Hoa this morning between 7:30-8:00, located around 70km north of Phong Nha. After a tour briefing, start the trek on a flat path through peanut fields and grazing buffalos. A river crossing leads to a short, steep and rocky uphill section, followed quickly by a descent into the next valley. Stop here for lunch at the entrance of Hung Ton Cave.
The trek will continue through more hills and jungles before entering Tu Lan Valley where camp is for the night. Swim inside Ken Cave while dinner is prepared. Enjoy a night under the stars in your comfortable tent.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance and activities: 1h drive – 5km trek
Day 3: Underground Rivers and Beautiful Valleys | Rat Cave – Tu Lan Cave – Hang Kim – To Mo
After a hearty breakfast, trek uphill to the cave above Ken Cave. Admire the beautiful calcite formations before returning to the campsite for lunch.
After lunch, swim into the wet entrance of Tu Lan Cave and then climb up to the dry passage entrance and exit. Trek around the valley to Kim Cave and enter its small entrance by climbing, following the dry passage to the underground river. A series of short swims through waterfalls brings you to the beautiful To Mo Valley and your camp for the second night.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance and activities: 1km trek – 500m swimming – 2km caving
Day 4: Cave Coral and Waterfalls | Song Oxalis – Hung Ton – Tan Hoa – Phong Nha
Wake up to the sounds of the valley and enjoy a delicious breakfast from your porter team. Then, hike the challenging steep hill which leads to Hang Song Oxalis, home to an amazing display of cave coral. Descend the steep hill for snacks and tea or coffee before crossing To Mo Valley to Hung Ton Cave, situated beside a small waterfall.
Swim inside and find the dry passage, using the metal ladder with the safety line for added extra protection to climb out the exit.
From here the route follows the same way as Day 2–across flat valleys, up short hills, and through rivers and buffalo fields to the office. Return to your hotel around 17:30 for a hot shower and relaxation.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance and activities: 5km trek – 500m swimming – 1km caving – 10m ladder climb
Day 5 - Time to Say Good-bye | Phong Nha/Dong Hoi Departure
Enjoy the last day as you see fit before your transfer to Dong Hoi Domestic Airport or south towards Hue for onward booked travel.
Included meals: Breakfast
Distance and activities: 45’ transfer
Tour Inclusions
- 2-way private A/C airport transfer
- All accommodation indicated as twin-shared room
- All meals as indicated in the program
- All entrance tickets to local villages and caves
- 3D/2N Tu Lan Caving Expedition
- Refillable water in vans (Please check with your guide or driver)
- 1 x English speaking local tour guide on days with activities
- Government VAT
Important Notes
Tour Exclusions
- Drinks and alcohol
- Vietnam visa (On request with additional charge)
- Travel insurance (Compulsory with Topas Travel programs)
- Upgrades to higher standard rooms or single supplements
- Personal travel items (Please visit our Vietnam weather page for more information)
Essential Information
This program utilizes comfortable accommodation in the form of carefully curated hotels, lodges, and homestays. Hotels and lodges have been selected with the active traveler in mind, offering standard services and located as close to nature and local engagement as possible. Homestays are simple and equipped with western toilets and amenities such as fans and mattresses. If you have a specific property in mind you wish to stay at, please let your travel designer know so they can work it into your program.
