TU LAN 1-DAY EXPERIENCE TOUR

Central Vietnam

Location

Phong Nha, Quảng Trị

BEST SEASON

Mid - Nov to Mid - Sep

AVAILABILITY

Every day

LEVEL

Moderate

GROUP SIZE

12 guests

TRANSPORTATION

Bus

ACCOMODATION

N/A

MEALS

Lunch

TOUR OPERATOR

Oxalis

AGE

16-70

TREKKING

Approximately 10km

SWIMMING

150m

MORE INFOMATION

OVERVIEW

ITINERARY

OVERVIEW

Tu Lan 1-day Experience is an adventure tour that offers you a taste of the unspoiled Tu Lan Cave System, which has stayed unknown to tourists. In this tour, you will have a chance to visit Tan Hoa village, Rat cave (where the blockbluster “Kong Skull Island” was filmed), Hung Ton cave and To Mo Valley.

HIGHLIGHT

Trek through legendary Hung Ton & Tan Hoa valleys
Discover a hidden underground cave kingdom
Challenge yourself with cave swimming
A journey that transforms lives

ITINERARY

TU LAN 1- DAY EXPERIENCE

7:00 - 7:30AM

The English-speaking tour 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, 70 km from Phong Nha. At the office, the guide will give you a short briefing about the trekking itinerary and safety regulations. You will sign the RELEASE FORM, and receive the necessary safety equipment.

9:45-10:00AM

After the briefing, the group will start walking through the flat corn and peanut fields toward the Rao Nan River. You will cross the river and go up a small slope to get to the entrance of Rat Cave. Here, you will be provided with helmets, headlamps, and safety equipment to explore Rat Cave for about 300m long. This cave has many beautiful stalactites and a soaring dome with a unique heart-shaped structure.

12:00PM

After exploring Rat Cave, the group returns to the cave entrance for a picnic lunch to recharge. Following this, you will begin the journey to conquer “Baby Hill,” which stands at an elevation of about 60m. Once over the hill, the group will continue trekking across Hung Ton Valley to reach the dry passage of Hung Ton Cave.

13:30PM

Guides will assist guests in putting on safety harnesses to descend a 15-meter ladder inside Hung Ton Cave. Here, the group will continue exploring the cave passage and witness firsthand the fossils of marine species dating back millions of years.

The group will then move to the river passage, equip life jackets, and double-check personal belongings. You will experience swimming through the underground river to reach the cave’s exit. Opening up before your eyes is the incredibly picturesque To Mo Valley. Here, the group will enjoy lunch and have free time to swim and relax in the emerald-green stream before starting the trek back.

The 1-day Tu Lan expedition concludes with a journey across lush green valleys and fields. Upon returning to the Oxalis Tan Hoa office, guests can shower, relax, and enjoy some refreshing cold drinks.

18:30-19:30PM

The car will then transfer the group back to Phong Nha between 18:30-19:30, officially ending a unique and impressive trekking adventure.

PRICING

The Cost Includes

Pick-up and drop-off from Phong Nha town (Available for all hotels centrally located within Phong Nha town).
Drinking water
Lunch. Vegan/ Vegetarian is upon request.
Professional English-speaking tour guide, safety assistants and porters.
Safety equipment: helmets, harnesses, headlights, gloves and other safety equipment.
Travel Insurance: maximum compensation of VND 10,000,000/ case.

The Cost Excludes

Gratuities for the tour guide and service team.
Extra drinks or snacks that are not mentioned above.

WHAT TO BRING

Essential clothing

Trekking clothes:
– 1 quick-dry, bright, long-sleeved shirt
– 1 pair of – long trekking pants (quick-dry)
– 1 waterproof jacket (for winter months November to March)
1 pair of good gripping trekking/approach closed shoes. Heavyweight trekking boots are not necessary
1 pair of calf-length, thick socks
Clothes to change after the trek
Footwear to change after the tour (If you use your own trekking shoes)

Personal items

Mosquito repellent
Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen
Hand fan for summer (April to August – optional)
Medium towel
Personal medication
Passport

Optional items

- Arm cover if wearing short-sleeved T-shirts
- Camera & Tripod
- Bandana or headband
- Swimwear
- Rehydration tablets
- Blister prevention tape

FAQS

What is the adventure level of the Tu Lan 1-Day Tour, and do I need to be an elite athlete to join?

This tour is rated as a moderate adventure level (Level 1 or 2 on Oxalis's scale). It is designed for active travelers who enjoy being in nature, but you do not need to be an elite athlete. If you can comfortably walk up a 5 flights of stairs, hike on uneven terrain, and handle a 5km to 7km trek with some elevation changes, you will do great on this day trip.

I’m not a strong swimmer. Can I still join the cave swimming sections?

Absolutely! Safety is our priority. Life jackets are mandatory for everyone during the water and cave swimming sections, regardless of your swimming ability.

How do bathroom breaks work while we are deep in the jungle and caves?

To protect the pristine cave and jungle environment, we use specialized eco-friendly compost toilets at our designated lunch and rest spots. These are clean, private, western-style toilet seats over a composting system using rice husks to eliminate odors.

What is the carbon footprint index of this tour, and how does it help the environment?

Oxalis tracks and minimizes the carbon footprint of every trekker. Because the Tu Lan 1-Day Tour is a human-powered adventure—relying entirely on trekking and swimming rather than motorized vehicles once you reach the trailhead—it features an exceptionally low carbon footprint index: 25.2 kgCO2e per person. We source our lunch ingredients locally, enforce a strict pack-it-in, pack-it-out waste policy, and continuously offset emissions through local community forestry and conservation initiatives.

Who accompanies us on the trek, and what does the assistance team do?

You are never left to figure things out on your own. Each tour with a maximum of 12 guests will have 1 guide, 2 safety assistants, 1 chef, 1 kitchen assistant. The number of team members may vary depending on the group's physical condition.

WHAT WE PROVIDE

Caving and safety gears: helmet, headlight, gloves, …
Basic jungle boots (EU size 36–44); if using Oxalis shoes, bring thick, long socks and 2 insoles to ensure comfort.
Water bottle (1L)
Water purifier
Compost toilet, toilet paper, hand cleaner
1 PVC backpack (25L) to carry helmet, dry box, water and things you need during the trek.
Shared dry box for electronic devices
First-aid kit and medical rescue equipment
Satellite phone

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

The basic physical fitness requirements for participating in the Tu Lan Experience 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.
– Climb 5 floors continuously without experiencing shortness of breath or dizziness.

Guests aged 16 to 70 are permitted to join the Tu Lan 1-day Experience 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 Experience 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.