Tour overview

PHONG NHA NATIONAL PARK 1-DAY TOUR

This is the perfect itinerary for travellers looking for an easygoing day filled with fun and memorable moments, which includes a short trek to explore a ‘wild’ cave, along with an introduction to the Phong Nha National Park, kayaking down a spectacular stretch of the iconic Chay River and unwinding at the Chay Lap Water Sports Center.

 

Our Phong Nha National Park Tour is one of our most popular add-ons for guests visiting some of the larger caves in the region, or for those with families who just want a great day out! This tour gives you a chance to surround yourself by the beauty of the Phong Nha National Park, enhanced by a touch of adventure!

On this tour, guests will be taken to the gorgeous Nuoc Nut Cave, which was officially explored in 2003. With a length of 2.2 km, this cave is a part of the Phong Nha Cave System and is hydrologically connected to the Hang Va cave and Son Doong Cave, in the Phong Nha National Park. Despite being classified as wild, this 2-million-year-old river cave can be explored with relative ease. From February to April every year, you will also have the opportunity to swim inside the cave. Guests will get to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch in the jungle as well, which is always a highlight.

Phong Nha National Park Tour promises to bring to you a unique and unforgettable experience in the legendary wilderness of Phong Nha! Guests on this tour will also get to have a wonderful experience while kayaking down the stunning Chay River. This will help you see just how spectacular the park is from a different perspective. As your paddles make gentle ripples on the river’s surface, you may spot water buffalos and the locals going about their daily lives on the riverbanks leading to the Phong Nha National Park.

This is a day not to be missed. It is no wonder that this is one of the most popular tours around, as it combines a taste of the Phong Nha National Park for one of its wild yet accessible caves, jungle trekking, and complete with some awesome kayaking. The day will end at the Chay Lap Water Sports Center, where you will have some time to grab a drink and chill by the river enjoying the last hour of sunshine before returning to your hotel.

Duration: 1 Day

Adventure Level: Easy

(basic trekking experience required)

Availability: 4 – 5 departures/ week (from February to the end of August)

Group Size: 2 – 12 pax

Minimum Age:  12 years old (for active guests)

Tour Starts: 7:00AM to 7:30AM from any local hotel in Phong Nha

Tour Ends: 4:30PM to 5:00PM at any local hotel in Phong Nha

Price:  1,650,000 VND/pax (price inclusive of VAT & National Park environment/ entrance fees )

 

Phong Nha – Nuoc Nut Cave – Kayaking on Chay River – Chay Lap Water Sport Center – Phong Nha

Our tour bus will pick you up from your hotel in Phong Nha between 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM on the departure date and take you to Oxalis Adventure headquarters located right next to gorgeous Son River. At 8:00 AM, you will attend the tour briefing and be provided with the required equipment for the journey. After signing the release form, you’ll get back into our tour bus and head out at 8:30 AM to commence your trek from the legendary KM 29 Ho Chi Minh trail at 9:30AM. Start trekking for an hour through lush green jungle and learning about the biodiversity of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, you’ll arrive at the Nuoc Nut Cave entrance begin your exploration at 10:30AM.

As you begin your adventurous venture inside, you will meet a small entrance opening up to a much larger cave inside. You will be asked to put on your provided Petzl helmets and Petzl Pixa 3 100-lumen head lamps before proceeding deeper into the cave. Once inside the low opening, the cave enlarges dramatically and there will be many of excellent photographic opportunities. This is a wonderful chance for you to witness the marvelous formations and enormous passage with an underground river. During this time, if you’re lucky enough, a natural sunbeam will be seen around this area.

After exploring the beautiful Nuoc Nut Cave for about 3 hours, you will enjoy fresh lunch prepared by our porter team at about 1PM. Once you’re done with your delicious meal and brief rest, you’ll start trekking again and our tour bus will be waiting at the trailhead to pick you up around 2:30 PM. The bus will then take you to the wonderful Chay Village. From here, you will walk through the Chay Lap suspension bridge before getting on the kayaks and start kayaking to Chay Lap Water Sports Center at 3:00 PM. This is an experience that stays with guests as some of Phong Nha’s best memories, as you beautifully make your way down the iconic Chay River and surrounded by dreamy landscapes and incredible sights of the amazing countryside of the region. This is undoubtedly one of the best kayaking experiences you’ll ever have!  A complimentary cold drink is waiting for you once you get off the kayak, relax and take in the breathtaking landscapes around you.

Our tour bus will then depart from Chay Lap at 4:30 PM and get you back to your hotel in Phong Nha. End of your Phong Nha National Park Tour.

Adventure Level

The adventure level of this tour is considered easy for everyone; kids who are physically fit and people who participate in outdoor activities regularly. Please make sure that your health is suitable for these activities with ease:

  • 5 km jungle and mountain trekking, rocky terrain
  • 2 km caving in river caves (cold water, 17 degree Celcius, knee deep)
  • Short swimming (from February to April every year)
  • Kayaking along Chay river & Chay Lap Water Sports Center
  • 1 day in jungle and cave of National Park

Oxalis Adventure staff (cave expert or guide) reserves the right to decline, accept or retain any person as a member of any party at any time without compensation or refund due to safety issue.

We will provide you with the following:

  • Caving & safety gear: caving helmet, caving headlight, gloves and life-vests.
  • 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 guide safety assistant
  • Porter team to carry all camping gear and prepare meals
  • Shared dry box for phones and small cameras (limited availability for larger cameras)
  • Water filter and purifier (used only by guide and porters)
  • First Aid Kit and Medical Rescue Equipment (application by guides and porters only)
  • Kayaks (maximum 2 people on a kayak)

Please also bring with you the following:

  • 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
  • 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