An action-packed day to discover the magnificent caves of the Tu Lan cave system, including trekking, climbing, swimming and picnic lunch by a waterfall. This tour is for travelers who are short on time or don’t want to sleep in the jungle – but still want to explore the caves.
- Discover the Tu Lan caves in just one day!
- Trek over jungle hills and mountains
- Marvel at the beauty of 2 dry caves and unusual cave formations
- Swim and wade at waterfall
- Picnic lunch next to a natural stream
- One day exploring
- Tours depart every day except Friday
- Group size: 12 people maximum - Age: 16 years and above
- Distance: 8km trekking, 500m caving, 60m elevation gain
- Difficulty: Level 2 • Easy
Itinerary
Due to the weather conditions the itinerary may need to be changed at short notice. The paths can be muddy and slippery after rain.
Morning: Tan Hoa - Little Rat Cave - Rat Waterfall
07:00 - 07:30 Pick up and one-hour drive to the Oxalis Adventure office in Tan Hoa, located 70km from Phong Nha. Here you will have a tour safety briefing, sign the release form and receive the required equipment for the tour.
The trek starts after the briefing with a flat path past peanut fields and grazing buffalo and cows. A river crossing leads to a 60m rocky uphill section. Here you will visit Little Rat Cave with numerous unique challenges and opportunities to capture wonderful photos await. Pass through the cave exit and drop downhill into the Rat Waterfall, where you will have lunch, and lots of time to swim in the wilderness.
Afternoon: Rat Cave - Tan Hoa
After lunch, trek back along the river and pass over a short climb to explore Rat Cave, a small but beautiful cave. Exit Rat Cave and back over the buffalo fields to the office where a cold drink awaits. Take a shower and transfer to Phong Nha between 18:30 and 19:30.
Note
1.Guests are required to arrive in Phong Nha no later than 07:00 on the day of the booked tour departure and also recommended not to participate in any activities that might cause a delay.
2. To reach Phong Nha at a good time from the North, we recommend catching the SE3 train from Hanoi/Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi. If you’re down South, it is recommended to book a flight from HCMC/Da Nang/Hue to Dong Hoi (You are expected to arrange your own travel from Dong Hoi to Phong Nha).
3. Two complimentary dorm rooms (8-bed & 6-bed) at Oxalis Home are offered for our adventurers who arrive in Phong Nha early in the morning, a few hours ahead of their booked tour departure. You can rest here before your tour departs. Please inform us in advance if you request to stay in this room!

Tu Lan Experience 1 Day
Adventure Level 2 · Easy
Requires: Basic fitness, some sports activities
Expect: Easy trails, some rocky sections & optional swim
- 1-day tour
- Easy to moderate trekking
- 8km of trekking including up to 500m of caving
- 60m elevation gain
- Swimming and wading at the waterfall
- River crossings
- How do I get to Phong Nha?
- What is the weather like?
- What benefits will I enjoy if I book multiple tours and services with The Oxalis Group?
- Where would the excess luggage be kept and how much luggage would the porters carry on tour?
- What if I am a solo traveler, can I join a group?
- Why do I have to sign your Release Form?
- Which months of the year do you run this tour, and which are the best months to go?
Preparations
Please visit our FAQ general page to read our specific What to Bring list before departing for Vietnam and your cave expedition.
WE WILL PROVIDE
- Caving & safety gear: caving helmet, caving headlight, life jacket, gloves
- Basic canvas trekking boots (only if you do not have your own pair) sizes 36 – 46
- Meals: picnic lunch
- Professional English-speaking tour guide and safety assistants
- Porter to prepare meals and pump water
- Shared dry box for phones and small cameras (limited availability for larger cameras)
- Water filter (used only by guide and porters)
- Eco-friendly compost toilet using western toilet seat at lunch site.
- First Aid Kit and Medical Rescue Equipment (application by guides and porters only)
- Secure Storage Facility at Oxalis Headquarters to store all luggage you will not be taking on the trek
YOU WILL NEED TO BRING
- 1 long (easy to dry) pants and 1 long sleeved shirt to wear during the trek (quick dry)
- 1 pair of trekking boots/shoes – difficult terrain, good footwear necessary. Gore-Tex/waterproof boots are NOT recommended as they do not drain well (if you prefer your own comfortable pair)
- 1 backpack (15-20l) to hold personal items
- 1 change of clothes for after the tour
- 1 pair of calf length densely woven socks (not ankle socks!)
- Personal items: mosquito repellent, sunglasses, hat, camera
Pricing and availability
Please choose your departure date using the calendar below.
- The days in bold are still available
- This tour price includes: VAT, environmental service fee, entrance fees, travel insurance cost.
- 10% off for Xiều (returned customer).
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.