TU LAN ENCOUNTER 2 DAYS
Code: PTLQ02
Routes: Phong Nha – Tan Hoa – Ken Cave – Tu Lan campsite – Tu Lan cave – Tan Hoa
Duration: 2 Days 1 Night
Features: On joining the 2-day 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. Swimming in the underground river of a cave carved out millions of years ago, trekking along forest trails, and enjoying the night camping in the wild by the side of a waterfall, will help you temporarily forget the hectic city life and immerse yourself in nature.
-
Departure
Tan Hoa, Quang Binh
-
Departure Time
07:30 AM
-
Return Time
18:00 PM.
-
Dress Code
Passport, change of clothes, sunglasses & hat, toiletries, sun-block, insect repellent, flashlights, camera, proper sport boots/shoes, personal first aid kit & medicine, small VND notes for buying drinks. If you feel the need, you can bring along a luggage lock for your belongings.
-
IncludedTU LAN ENCOUNTER 2 DAYSVehiclesEntry FeesAccommodationTour GuideMeals
-
Not IncludedAny services not mentioned in the itineraryBeverages and other personal expensesTravel Insurance
FROM OUR GALLERY
Day 1: 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 office in Tan Hoa, 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 2 days 1 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.
Trekking Distance: 2.5 km
Trail Difficulty: 2/5
Inclusion: Transfers, guide, porter, trekking gear, sleeping bag, entrance fees, picnic lunch, dinner and campsite.
Day 2: 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. At Oxalis Tan Hoa office, everyone can relax, take a shower, enjoy a drink and say goodbye to your team before getting on the car back to Phong Nha town.
The group goes back to Phong Nha and the Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour ends at about 18:00.
Trekking Distance: 12 km
Swimming Distance: 1 km
Trail Difficulty: 2/5
Inclusion: Transfers, guide, porter, trekking gear, entrance fees, breakfast and lunch.
Comments:
WRITE A REVIEW
PREPARATION OF THE CUSTOMER
- Seasonal Preparation: The best time to travel in Vietnam is between September and April. The temperatures are more comfortable in this period and the rain season in the summer will be avoided. If you decide to travel in Vietnam in its summer months, please review our travel tips and notes for summer travel, which we will send you along with this itinerary.
- What to bring: Passport, change of clothes, sunglasses & hat, toiletries, sun-block, insect repellent, flashlights, camera, proper sport boots/shoes, personal first aid kit & medicine, small VND notes for buying drinks. If you feel the need, you can bring along a luggage lock for your belongings.
- What to bring for trekking: 1 long (easy to dry) pants and 1 long sleeved shirt to wear during the trek (quick dry), 1 pair of shorts and t-shirt to wear at campsite, 1 pair of flip flops (sandals) for campsite, 1 medium sized towel, 2-3 pairs of thick socks. If you are trekking in the colder months (December – March) please bring additional warm clothes such as a gortex waterproof jacket, an extra change of long pants and shirt. You will want a change of clothes when your first set gets wet from trekking and / or river crossings.
- Health: Please be aware that due to legal reasons our local tour guides are prohibited from administering any type of drug or medication for the clients, including headache pills and antibiotics. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.
- Insurance: In order to travel safe, a good insurance is essential. Thus, please ensure that you have booked an appropriate insurance prior departure.
TREKKING INFORMATION
- Age: The minimum age we accept is 16 years with no exceptions.
- Experience: The clients must have previous experience trekking and swimming abilities. You should be able to swim as you’ll explore a number of wet caves of varying lengths (about 100 m to 400 m each). You should also feel comfortable having to climb through some small passages, and also up/down a 15 m ladder (with safety rope).Never forget you are deep in the jungle and the difficulty of this tour is also very dependent on the weather. It can get very cold during December to March (8 – 15°C) and very hot during June to August (32 – 38°C), not to mention anytime it rains the jungle becomes very slippery and muddy!
- Route: From December to the beginning of September (Site closed from middle September to November due to the rain & flood season). This tour or trekking routes may be changed due to weather conditions. Your Prime Travel Vietnam consultant will assist you with any changes.
- Porters: Provided for carrying the food and camping equipment only. An extra porter is available upon your request. Please check with our travel consultant.
- Provided equipment: Helmet, trekking boots (sizes 38-46), headlight, life jacket, sleeping bag, water container, first aid kit, cooking equipment, all food and snacks. Trekking poles are available upon request. Please inform us whether you would like to sleep in a hammock or a tent.
Trekking & Safety Rules: Please follow the following instructions when trekking:
- Trek in group or at least trek in pair (never trek alone).
- The trek is slow; this is not a race
- Please inform the guide if feeling tired or unwell (do not feel guilty!)
- Never advance before the leader or fall behind the last porter.
- Drink water as needed, but not too much.
- Only drink treated water or boiled water.
- Do not jump to a rock and be careful with rotten wood.
- Try and keep at least 3 points of contact on rock on difficult sections.
- Do not try to go anywhere without prior consultation with your guide.
- Wear a helmet in the cave at all times with chinstrap fastened.
- Walk in a line while in the cave.
- Do not hold onto trees on the rock, unless it was tested, as it may be weak.
- Watch where you put your hands. Thin gloves can be useful for protection.
- Ask your guide if you are unsure of anything.
Time validity: From December to the beginning of September (Closed from Middle September to November because of the rainny& flood season). Weekly departure on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
We will bring the following for you to use and enjoy:
- Trekking Pole (if requested)
- Hammock or Tent. Let us know if you have a preference.
- Sleeping Bag
- Helmet & Headlight
- Water Container (bring your own if you prefer)
- First Aid Kit
- Trekking Boots (sizes 38-44). If you do not fit these sizes, please bring your own one.
- Cooking Equipment
- All Food & Snacks (Please specify if you are vegetarian)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This itinerary and supplementary information has been complied in good faith and was accurate at the time of writing.
Karen Mathon
This tour is perfect! Our kids are so small, we had worried that they might feel tired during the trip, but everything was ok, they all were so happy. Highly recommend this tour for families like us!
Anna Scott
I chose the right tour. The price of this tour wasn’t the cheapest but it was reasonable and still fit my travel budget. In fact, the services were over my expectation. I was totally happy with the tour guide and transportation on this tour, they were wonderful compared to the cheap price I paid. The itinerary was mostly impressive and it was suitable for a first-time visitor like me. Overall, I had an amazing trip traveling Vietnam with this tour.