What To Prepare For The Adventure Tour With Oxalis

Equipment on tours provided by Oxalis

• Filming lights to support photography in Son Doong Cave: Oxalis will provide 3 high-powered LED lights (43,000 lumens) to assist guests in taking photos inside the cave. These are very bright rechargeable lights, capable of illuminating the large passages of Son Doong Cave. The lights will be operated by the safety team, to enable you to take the best photographs. The lights will only be on for a short time, to minimise the impact on life inside the cave.
• Headlight: For cave exploration and camping, Oxalis will provide a special headlight from Hope Technology-UK (a brightness of 1500 lumens and several backup batteries, each lasting about 6 hours or more), a Petzl headlight (a brightness of 300 lumens and backup batteries lasting around 3 to 4 hours), and red light mode for Hang Ba Deep Jungle Expedition to avoid disturbing wildlife.
• Safety equipment: Helmets, safety harnesses, gloves, safety devices such auto-locking devices (gri-gri); safety harness (seat harness and chest harness) used during climbing down the cave entrance and up the Great Wall of Vietnam in Son Doong, or climbing up and down the ladder, abseiling in Tu Lan (operated by the cave expert and safety assistants).
• Floating bag: Oxalis will provide 20 litres of floating bag for each customer on Hang Ba, Hang Va and tours in Tu Lan area. This bag is not a waterproof bag but floats when swimming in caves.
• Semi-dry bag (15L): Oxalis provides a 15-liter semi-dry bag for guests to store their campsite clothing sets. Our porters will carry this bag, with a maximum weight of 7kg, to the campsite in advance.
• Dry-box: Oxalis will provide dry-boxes. This box is a waterproof box, for customers' personal items during the trek or when swimming in caves. Customers will have to carry this box by themselves.
• Camping equipment: Oxalis will provide tents (single or double based on request). Inside these tents will be a sleeping bag, 2 layers of mattresses with a cover and pillow for each person.
• Drinking water: Guests are provided with a 1L water bottle before departure if required. Please fill this at your hotel before departure. There will be a water filter carried by the safety assistant team to provide more water along the way. At the campsites, there is always a specialised WATTS filter system (imported from the US) to provide water for cooking and drinking as well as brushing teeth.
• First aid kit: The tour guide will carry a comprehensive first aid kit. This is for any emergencies occurring on the tour. Any medicines, plasters, bandages that you need for any existing injuries or conditions should be provided by yourself.
• Satellite phone: The tour guide will carry a satellite phone during the expedition to contact the operations team in case of an emergency. To use the satellite phone, the staff needs to move outside the cave for a signal. This device is used by Oxalis Safety Expert and Tour Guide only.
• Oxalis composting toilet: All Oxalis tours are equipped with environmentally friendly composting toilets, featuring safe and comfortable seating. These toilets use rice husk to cover and eliminate odors, followed by microbial composting, ultimately transforming waste into natural fertilizer beneficial for the forest. All waste generated during the tour is brought out to designated composting pits in the jungle for decomposition. Toilet paper and hand sanitizer are also provided.

What should guests prepare for the adventure tour? (Required)

Preparing for Oxalis Tours: Guests are advised to bring lightweight portable items which can be easily packed in the dry bag provided.

Necessary items: Trekking clothes, camping clothes, trekking shoes, camp shoes, trekking socks, basic toiletries, necessary items such as medication, backpack.

• Trekking clothes : Depending on the days of the tours you will need to prepare different amounts of sets of long-sleeved shirts and long pants, which are light, quick-drying, stretchy and not too thin. (Oxalis suggest guest to reuse the clothes from the day before during the trek).
• Camping clothes: 1-2 sets of shorts and t-shirts to wear at the campsite. It is recommended to bring long-sleeved t-shirts, long trousers, a thin jacket and a light sweater to wear in the cold months (December to March).
• Trekking shoes: The shoes play a very important role in the safety of the trip. Guests are required to prepare a pair of trekking shoes (with rugged soles), designed for rough mountain terrain. Footwear should drain easily rather than be waterproof (Gore Tex) because the trekking trail will consist of multiple river crossing, both inside and outside the cave. They must cover the entire foot for protection against rocks and sharp objects, to prevent insect bites as well as provide support.
• Trekking socks: Prepare 4-5 pairs of socks (at least mid calf height), closely woven to wear during the trip to prevent insect bites or other types of poison ivy.
• Personal items: Each guest needs to prepare items such as: a sun hat, a pair of sandals (to wear at the campsite), a medium sized towel (thin), toiletries (wet tissue, dry shampoo, toothpaste...), camping headlight, 1.5L water bottle (if you do not want to use Oxalis’ items), underwear, hand fan for summer (April to September). Personal items for women such as: feminine hygienic products, sanitary napkins / tampons / menstrual cups (please bring even just in case).
• Necessary items: rehydration electrolyte tablets, personal medicines, insect spray, sunscreen, sunglasses, foot powder (a foot-drying powder, used after arriving at the campsite and swimming) and other personal items.
• Backpack: In case you do not want to borrow an Oxalis floating bag. Guests should prepare a medium sized (trekking type and waterproof) backpack of 20-30 litres to carry a helmet, caving light, water bottles, phones and personal items for use along the way. Note that helmets and caving lights are required to be carried inside the backpack. This should be a trekking backpack, not a fashion backpack.

Important Note:

• Guest's signed luggage: Any luggage not required during the tour will be left at the hotel or our office and returned when coming back or checking into the hotel after the trip. Items for use at the campsite (Example: clothes, toiletries, book, minigame…) will be packed into a personal dry bag (with Oxalis packing list attached) provided by Oxalis (not more than 7kg per Guest) and carried daily by the porters, Guests will only receive this bag at the campsite.
• In a small town like Phong Nha or Tan Hoa there are not many trekking shops available. Therefore, you should prepare everything you need for the tours before coming to Phong Nha.
• Oxalis does not allow guests to bring dresses, Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress), bikini or other clothes that are not suitable for this type of adventure tour.

Recommended but not required items

• Waterproof bag in case of rain (to store camera, phone, electronic devices, clothes or other personal items).
• Tripod: If you are a photographer and want to take nice photos in the cave, bring a lightweight and portable tripod.
• Backup battery for phone and camera, ear-plugs (if you have trouble sleeping).
• Gloves: Oxalis provides new stretchy gloves but only one size. If you have small hands or prefer to use your own, please bring them with you.
• Swimwear (only for use at Hang En campsite).
• A headband/sweatband, used to stop sweat from rolling into the eyes. Sometimes it helps with the comfort of the helmet.

* Oxalis has suitable trekking clothes for sale, if you haven’t prepared for the Oxalis Expedition yet, visit us directly at Oxalis Phong Nha Office or order online at Oxalis Gear Shop.

Hopefully, with the equipment listed in this article, you will have the best gear preparation for an adventure tour with Oxalis. Additionally, you can conveniently review the comprehensive list of items to bring in the "What to bring" section on each specific tour page of Oxalis. Besides essential packing, it's important to prepare yourself physically for the optimal experience on Oxalis cave tours. If you have any other questions, please contact the tour consultant for assistance. Wishing you a great experience with Oxalis Adventure.

The Oxalis Experience.

FAQs

• What To Prepare For Son Doong Expedition?

  Guests need to prepare personal items for a duration of 4 days 3 nights in the forest and cave. Suitable clothing for jungle trekking, river crossing, for Son Doong Cave camping or caving as well as protecting yourself from snakes, insect bites or poison ivy along the way. Backpack, medicine…Trekking shoes are very important for the Son Doong Expedition. Guests need to choose the right type for mixed terrains such as trekking, climbing, swimming, river crossing.

• What To Prepare For Tu Lan tour?

  The items that needed to prepare for Tu Lan includes:
  - 2-3 long pants (suitable for trekking in long distance, lightweight and quick dry).
  - 2-3 long sleeves shirts (suitable for trekking in long distance, lightweight and quick dry).
  - 2-3 t-shirts for the camp.
  - 1 trekking shoes, NON - Waterproof.
  - Swimming suits, towers and other necessary toiletries.
  - 1 flip-flop or sandals for the camp.
  - 2-3 pair of shocks.

• What To Prepare For Hang Ba Deep Jungle Expedition?

  Clothing should be good for trekking in the jungle, river crossings, or exploring the cave as well as avoiding dangers and risks from sharp rocks, snakes, insects, or poison ivy. Trekking shoes are very important for Hang Ba tour, therefore, visitors need to choose a good, well-fitting pair of shoes for steep rocky terrain and they should not be waterproof, as during river crossings they will hold water inside. Besides, they also need to prepare personal items for 4 days and 3 nights camping in the jungle and in the cave.

• What should be prepared for Hang Tien?

  Depending on the amount of day tour you booked. The items that needed to prepare for Hang Tien includes:
  - 2-3 long pants (suitable for trekking in long distance, lightweight and quick dry).
  - 2-3 long sleeves shirts (suitable for trekking in long distance, lightweight and quick dry).
  - 2-3 t-shirts for the camp.
  - 1 trekking shoes, NON - Waterproof.
  - Swimming suits, towers and other necessary toiletries.
  - 1 flip-flop or sandals for the camp.
  - 2-3 pair of shocks.