Tu Lan Cave Expedition Tour

Tu Lan Cave Expedition 6 Days 5 Nights is a fabulous journey hard to resist in exploring unique caves and underground rivers and is the place with great scenes in the movie Kong: Skull Island. The exploration journey is ranked at level “Hard” – Highly challenging and is second only to the Son Doong expedition tour and Hang Ba Deep JungleN Expedition, which are currently ranked the highest in difficulty level.

By booking the Tu Lan Cave Expedition, you will experience the longest adventure tour that takes you to explore all 8 of the most beautiful dry and water caves of the Tu Lan cave system – Quang Binh. These are Secret Cave, Ken Cave, Tu Lan Cave, Hung Ton Cave, Kim Cave, Tien Cave 1 and Tien Cave 2.

Tu Lan expedition tour includes a series of exciting experiences such as trekking through the forest, wading streams, swimming in water caves, and abseiling inside the caves. Plus, exploring the largest dry cave in the system – Tien Cave, etc.

In addition, we also provide a variety of the best Phong Nha cave tours and private limousine transfers to your other desired destinations, such as

• Hang Pygmy Exploration – 336 USD/ pax.
• Hung Thoong Exploration – 510 USD/ pax.
• Tiger Cave Series Adventure – 532 USD/ pax.
• Kong Collapse Top Adventure – 1522 USD/ pax.
• Phong Nha To Dong Hoi Limousine – 89 USD/ Limousine.
• Dong Hoi To Hue Limousine – 172 USD/ Limousine.
• Dong Hoi To Da Nang Limousine – 362 USD/ Limousine.
• Dong Hoi To Hoi An Limousine – 362 USD/ Limousine.

TU LAN CAVE EXPEDITION TOUR 6 DAYS 5 NIGHTS

Highlights Of The Tu Lan Expedition Tour:

Swim in the underground rivers inside the caves

You will swim in the clear and cool water inside the Tu Lan cave system. In case you don’t want to swim for a specific reason, you can trek up the mountains.

Explore many majestic caves

This is a Vietnam adventure tour with 8 different unique caves that you can explore. From underground caves with streams flowing through, dry caves with streams flowing inside, or dry caves located halfway up the mountain. Each cave has a distinct beauty: the dry cave has magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, the water cave has a unique underground river and jade water lakes inside, or unique stalactite curtains on the ceiling.

Camping in the primeval forest

Tourists will have 3 nights camping at Tu Lan camping sites in the forest. The campsites are all located in the most beautiful locations, with waterfalls and natural swimming pools amidst vast primeval forests.

Become a real cave explorer

You will receive basic training on how to use safety equipment to abseil down the 15m deep into the darkest passage of the cave. Or use safety equipment to experience crossing the underground river inside the cave using the flying fox system.

Local culture experience

At the end of the jungle trek, you will enjoy dinner at a local home in Tan Hoa. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about the living conditions and cultural beauty of the Nguon people (considered a minority group) in the mountainous areas. Simultaneously, you will understand more about how tourism activities have positively changed their daily lives. Further, you will also have the opportunity to cycle to explore the peaceful, rustic beauty of Tan Hoa village.

Unique accommodation before and after the tour

You will stay 1 night at Chay Lap Farmstay before departure and 1 night at Tu Lan Lodge right in Tan Hoa after the end of the trip. These are accommodation areas built to adapt to the region’s annual flood environment in September and October. The rooms are built on hillsides or floating house architecture so that when the flood waters rise, the house will float.

More Information About Tu Lan Cave System

The Tu Lan cave system was discovered by a local resident named Dinh Hong Nham in 2009. During fishing trips, he discovered 3 caves: Tu Lan, Big To Mo and Small To Mo in this area.

The cave system was then searched and surveyed by Mr. Howard Limbert and the Anglo-Vietnamese cave expedition team. Currently, The Tu Lan area has more than 25 large and small caves. The Tu Lan cave system is 112km from Dong Hoi and 70km from Phong Nha.

The Tu Lan cave system was introduced by National Geographic in 2011 along with Hang Son Doong Cave – the world’s largest cave. The photo of Ken Cave by photographer Carsten Peter won a very high award from National Geographic the same year.

TU LAN CAVE EXPEDITION TOUR DETAILED ITINERARY

• The Tu Lan Expedition tour itinerary can flexibly change due to weather conditions. Besides, the path can be quite muddy and slippery when it rains.
• All group members must wear life jackets when swimming in underground rivers in the caves. If you wouldn’t like to swim for a specific reason, a safety assistant will guide you by an alternative path to the campsites.

Day 1: Arrival Time – Chay Lap Farmstay

Our private car will pick you up at Dong Hoi Hotel/ Airport or Dong Hoi train station and transfer you to Chay Lap Farmstay for check-in procedures.

You can experience free activities at Chay Lap Farmstay, including kayaking on the Chay river and cycling on rustic village roads. In the evening, Chay Lap restaurant serves delicious local dishes. You can have dinner here (at your own expense) and relax to prepare for the next day’s itinerary.

Day 2: Chay Lap Farmstay – Secret Cave – Tu Lan Campsite

8:00 am: Our private car driver will pick you up at Chay Lap Farmstay and move to the headquarters in Tan Hoa. Here, you will hear about safety regulations and instructions, brief the tour itinerary, and sign the Release Form. After that, you will receive safety equipment and begin your Tu Lan expedition.

First, we will pass through fields and green lawns to reach the Tu Lan cave system in Quang Binh. After wading across the river, we will climb over a beautiful small hill leading to the entrance of the Secret Cave.

Although Secret Cave is a small cave, it is many years old and has many unique stalactite shapes. Moreover, it has many cave pearls on the cave floor, and you need to follow the ribbon that marks the path. Then, we will return to the cave entrance for lunch.

After lunch, we will trek through the forest and over the hills to reach the campsite in Tu Lan Valley. Here, we will explore and swim in Ken Cave. Ken Cave is one of the most beautiful water caves in the Tu Lan cave system.

After finishing exploring the Ken cave, we will return to the campsite to set up the tents and swim freely. Next, enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by local chefs with many options, including dishes for vegetarians. After dinner, you can enjoy talking to guides and porters or relax and enjoy watching the stars in the dark sky.

The Tu Lan campsite is fully equipped with clean and hygienic composting toilets, changing rooms, tents, and mattresses. Plus, there are sleeping bags and pillows to make you comfortable sleeping overnight in the pristine nature.

Day 3: Tu Lan Cave – Kim Cave – Hung Ton Cave – Hung Dung Campsite

The third day starts with exploring the 3 stunning caves of Tu Lan Cave, Kim Cave, and Hung Ton Cave. After breakfast, the guide and safety assistants will instruct you on how to use the abseil equipment.

After the training session, we will trek from the campsite to explore Tu Lan Cave via a dry cave entrance. Next, you must complete the adventurous 15m abseil from the dry passage to the river passage of Tu Lan Cave, one by one. The reaching position is on an inflatable raft.

Once everyone finishes the abseil, we will paddle out of Tu Lan River Cave, and before the cave entrance is the stunning natural scenery of jungle, river and mountain. After Tu Lan Cave, we will continue to explore and swim through Kim Cave. You will explore a 300m dry passage and see the natural light shining from the cave sinkhole into the cave.

Then, we leave Hang Kim cave into the picturesque To Mo Valley with waterfalls and a turquoise lake in the middle of majestic mountains and forests. Hence, you can swim in the lake and relax while waiting for lunch to be served.

After lunch, we will explore Hung Ton Cave. The cave entrance is next to the waterfall flowing into the To Mo Valley. Thus, you can swim about 100m to reach a dry cave passage. Afterward, climb a ladder using specialized safety equipment to leave the cave. 

Then, we will climb a hill called “Lom Com” to reach La Ken Valley. After trekking through La Ken Valley and climbing another mountain pass, we will reach Hung Dung campsite, where we will camp overnight. It is next to a crystal clear river surrounded by primeval forests.

Day 4: Hung Dung Campsite – Hung Nhai – Hang Tien Campsite

On the fourth day of the Tu Lan expedition tour, you will mainly trek through the forest, wade across streams and climb over the hills.

From Hung Dung Valley, you will trek to Hung Nhai Valley, crossing steep hills, forests and streams to reach Hang Tien campsite. This is one of the most beautiful campsites on this Tu Lan cave tour. The day’s trek is roughly 8 km, and the elevation gain is around 350m.

The campsite is located right next to the stream and a natural lake with clear and jade water, also called the “infinity swimming pool” by travelers. Therefore, you can swim in the lake or paddle a SUP on the Rao Nan River in front of the campsite.

Then, you will enjoy dinner at the Hang Tien campsite and rest for the journey of exploring the next day.

Day 5: Hang Tien 1 Cave – Hang Tien 2 Cave- Tu Lan Lodge

Wake up for breakfast and then explore Hang Tien 1 – the largest dry cave of the Tu Lan cave system. Nature has carved Tien Cave into enigmatic and astonishing shapes and patterns. We continue along the rocky passage, climbing a 10m ladder with a safety rope to reach the exit of Hang Tien 1.

From the cave exit, we will enter a large primary jungle with huge trees and beautiful flora. Next, we trek through the forest to reach Hang Tien 2. The cave entrance is relatively small and quite breezy.

Notably, the wind carries cool air from inside the cave to make the entrance feel like a natural air conditioner. Thus, we can rest here for a while before exploring the cave. The Hang Tien 2 is renowned for its unique rock patterns along the cave wall, with numerous gour pools forming layers. Each one is lower than the previous like terraced fields.

After exploring Tien Cave 2, we will return to the cave entrance and start trekking up the rocky mountains with an elevation gain of about 200m. Hence, we will have lunch in the valley along the way.

From the top of the mountains, we descend the forest path leading down to the road, where we will enjoy cold drinks. Next, we will award your group members the Tu Lan Expedition medal for successfully conquering an adventure tour of a lifetime.

Then, our car and driver will transfer you back to the headquarters and check in at the Tu Lan Lodge to shower and rest.

5:30 pm: We will cycle to a local house for dinner and learn more about their daily life. After dinner, you will cycle back to Tu Lan Lodge.

Day 6: Tan Hoa Village – Dong Hoi Airport/ Train Station Drop-Off

In the early morning, you can enjoy the sunrise moment over the beautiful Tan Hoa rice fields or cycle to explore Tan Hoa Village. You will enjoy breakfast cooked by the chef at the Tu Lan Lodge.

Optional: For travelers still very passionate about adventure, you can book an ATV tour (All Terrain Vehicle) directly at the Tu Lan Lodge. There are 2 options, including exploring Tan Hoa fields by ATV in 30 minutes and exploring King Kong’s House tour by ATV for 2 hours. 

ATV tour is a sports tourism with many exciting activities, such as riding the ATV upon slopes, fording streams, crossing green fields, and especially passing through the man-made cave, King Kong’s home.

Please inform us of the departure time of your plane, train, or car at least one day in advance so that we can conveniently arrange the transfer. Hotel check-out time will be 12:00 at noon. 

After all, we transfer you to Dong Hoi Airport/ railway station or Dong Hoi hotel. Your Tu Lan Cave Expedition tour ends. Phong Nha Cave Tours wishes you the most experience with the Tu Lan cave system, Quang Binh in central Vietnam.

Travel Guides

• The physical fitness requirements for the Tu Lan Expedition tour are the same as the Hang Tien Cave Endeavor tour 3 days and 2 nights.

Things you should bring

• Passport, power banks
• 2-3 quick-dry, bright, long-sleeved T-shirts, swimwear, underwear
• 2-3 quick-dry trekking pants
• 1 waterproof jacket (in winter)
• 1 pair of trekking shoes with good drainage
• 3-4 pairs of calf-length, densely-woven socks
• 2 campsite clothing sets, 1-3 towels
• 1 pair of sandals/slides for the campsite
• Mosquito repellent, sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, and mini fan
• Nature-friendly shampoo & soap, personal hygiene items

Price

• 18,000,000 VND/ pax

Inclusion

• VAT, entrance fee, sightseeing fee, forest environmental service fee, and management fee.
• Pick up and drop off at Dong Hoi airport/train or bus station.
• 1 tour guide, 2 safety assistants, 1 chef, and 8 porters (2 camp guards).
• Food, drinking water, tea, and coffee during the journey (not including extra requirements). Dishes are based on fixed menus; vegetarian and vegan menus will be provided upon your request in advance. Please inform us of any food allergies.
• The first night at Chay Lap Farmstay, 3 nights camping in the jungle, and the last night at Tu Lan Lodge.
• Camping gear and safety equipment, such as tents, helmets, harnesses, headlights, gloves, etc.
• Travel insurance with a maximum of 10,000,000 VND/ case.

Exclusion

• Personal expenses, tips
• ATV tour 

Children’s policies

• Only those 16 years old and upward can join the tour.