Oxalis Adventure difficulty levels

With 15 years of experience operating and running adventure tours, Oxalis Adventure has developed a system of difficulty levels for all tours to help customers evaluate and choose the tour that best suits their fitness, interests, and abilities. These levels are based on years of customer feedback, advice from cave experts, and input from the Oxalis management team. If you are still unsure which difficulty level is right for you, please contact the Oxalis Adventure consultants for dedicated assistance. For more detailed information on each tour, you can also refer to "How to choose the right Oxalis Tour".

Difficulty Level and Physical Fitness Requirements

To help customers easily choose the right adventure, Oxalis Adventure divides its tours into 3 difficulty levels: Easy, Moderate, and Hard/Challenging.

The difficulty levels of Oxalis tours are based on how strenuous the tour is, the level of adventure, and the complexity of the terrain. The requirement to use safety systems and equipment during the tour is also one of the factors used to determine the difficulty and level of adventure. This system only applies to Oxalis Adventure expeditions and should not be applied to tours or terrain operated by other companies, as conditions and organization may vary.

The difficulty levels are based on the average fitness level of participants and may not reflect the experience of long-distance runners or people who regularly participate in high-intensity sports. Those who regularly practice sports or participate in outdoor activities should be able to complete most Oxalis tours. For Moderate and Hard/Challenging tours, participants should have trekking experience, including experience with mountain trekking or similar tours in Vietnam or other countries.

Note: These difficulty criteria are based on many years of experience and advice from cave experts. However, the difficulty of a tour can change depending on weather conditions. In wet weather, the difficulty may increase due to more slippery terrain, higher water levels, and other factors. To avoid disappointment or unnecessary risks, please carefully check the difficulty level and fitness requirements of each tour and regularly monitor the weather forecast when booking. After booking, Oxalis adventure consultants will frequently contact you to guide you through the preparation steps. You can also contact the Oxalis consultants in charge of your tour if you have any questions.

Oxalis Adventure expeditions are divided into the following difficulty levels and fitness requirements:

Difficulty Level: Easy
- Suitable for: Suitable for almost everyone.
- Tour activities: Gentle jungle trekking, suitable and safe for young children, crossing some rocky sections, swimming and wading through streams, crossing valleys to explore caves, and climbing ladders using safety ropes.
- Requirements: Prior experience with walking tours or outdoor excursions. Participants must possess a baseline level of physical fitness, demonstrated by the ability to climb five flights of stairs continuously or run 3 km on flat ground within 30 minutes without experiencing signs of overexertion such as dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, or nausea. Participants must not have any medical conditions that would restrict them from engaging in mountain climbing or caving activities, as outlined in Oxalis's guidelines.
- Tours available in this level: Tu Lan Family Experience (TF1), Phong Nha: Nuoc Nut Cave Discovery (NP1), Tu Lan Experience (TL1), Tu Lan Family Adventure (TF2), Hang Tien-Tu Lan Discovery Tour (HTL), Hang Tien Cave Day Trek (HT1).
Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Suitable for: Guests with trekking experience and good physical fitness.
- Tour activities: Trekking 8 – 22 km through forests, rocky terrain, and steep hills with elevations ranging from 150 – 450 m; crossing rivers and streams with water levels ranging from knee-deep to nearly waist-deep; climbing 10 – 20 m ladders and rock faces using safety equipment; and swimming 50 – 150 m through underground rivers, under the guidance and safety supervision of a professional team.
- Requirements: Within the last 12 months, participants must have completed at least one overnight trekking tour OR one to two day-hikes (covering a minimum of 6 km per day on steep, rocky jungle terrain, with an elevation gain of at least 500 m). Participants must demonstrate a baseline level of physical fitness by either climbing five flights of stairs continuously or running 5 km on flat ground within 45 minutes, without experiencing signs of physical distress such as dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, or nausea. Participants must not have any medical conditions listed by Oxalis as contraindications for mountain trekking or caving activities.
- Tours available in this level:, Tu Lan Cave Encounter (TL2), Hang Tien Endeavour (HT2), Hang Va Expedition (HV2), Hang En Cave Camp (EC2), Wild Tu Lan Cave Explorer (TL3).
Difficulty Level: Hard/ Challenging
- These are the most challenging expeditions within Oxalis's adventure portfolio.
- Suitable for: Regular trekkers and mountaineering with excellent physical fitness.
- Tour activities: Trekking 8 – 22 km through forests, rocky terrain, and steep hills with elevations ranging from 150 – 450 m; crossing rivers and streams with water levels ranging from knee-deep to nearly waist-deep; climbing 10 – 20 m ladders and rock faces using safety equipment; and swimming 50 – 150 m in underground rivers, with the guidance and safety supervision of a professional team.
- Requirements: Participants must have completed at least one overnight trekking and camping tour in a forest or mountainous area within the last 12 months (involving a minimum daily distance of 8 km over complex, rocky terrain and an elevation gain of at least 1,000 m). A solid level of physical fitness is required, demonstrated by the ability to climb five flights of stairs continuously or run 5 km on flat ground within 45 minutes without experiencing signs of overexertion such as dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, or nausea. Participants must not have any medical conditions listed by Oxalis as contraindications for mountaineering or caving activities.
- Tours available in this level: Son Doong Cave Expedition (SD4), Hang Ba Deep Jungle Expedition (HB4).Tu Lan Expedition Tour (TL4).

How to choose the right Oxalis tour

If you have limited time but still want to experience the world of caves and enjoy outdoor activities, you can choose tours at the Easy Level, such as Tu Lan Family Experience (TF1), Phong Nha: Nuoc Nut Cave Discovery (NP1), Tu Lan Experience (TL1), Tu Lan Family Adventure (TF2), Hang Tien Cave Day Trek (HT1), or Hang Tien-Tu Lan Discovery Tour (HTL). Although these tours only last 1 to 2 days, they combine a variety of activities, including jungle trekking, swimming and wading through streams, jungle picnics, and cave exploration.

The Easy Level also includes tours that are suitable for families who want to explore nature with their children and enjoy an adventure together in the wild. The activities are balanced and manageable, giving you enough time to enjoy the beauty of the mountains, forests, and caves without missing any part of the experience. Many travelers consider these tours a "starter" or "warm-up" for discovering their passion for adventure and exploration.

If you are looking for a real adventure to the wild world of caves and jungle-covered mountains, or you want to get used to using some technical equipment, tours at Level 3 - Moderate such as Hang Va Expedition (HV2), Hang En Cave Camp (EC2), and Wild Tu Lan Cave Explorer (TL3) are the most appropriate for you. These tours offer a variety of experiences and activities. These tours are from 2 to 3 days, so you will have plenty of time to relax at campsites, admire the mountain wilderness, and explore diverse caves with spectacular formations.

If you are looking for a truly epic adventure in Vietnam or want to take on one of the world's most remarkable cave expeditions, you should not miss the Son Doong Cave Expedition (SD4) at the Hard/Challenging Level. The Son Doong expedition takes you deep underground to discover magnificent stalactite formations, underground rivers, and even a jungle inside the cave. This expedition offers an unforgettable journey that will push you beyond your limits.

At the Hard/Challenging Level, if you are looking for a special, unique, and less conventional expedition, the Hang Ba Deep Jungle Expedition (HB4) or Tu Lan Expedition (TL4) should be on your list. These tours are ideal for those who are passionate about nature, conservation, and cave exploration. In addition to exploring diverse terrain, you will have the opportunity to experience real adventurous activities such as swimming in caves, rope climbing, navigating challenging terrain, and using safety equipment to explore the spectacular world of caves and mountains.

Each tour and each difficulty level offers different experiences and opportunities to take part in unique activities. Use the difficulty level guide to choose the expedition that best suits you and create unforgettable memories.

The Oxalis Experience.

Multi-day packages

Tu Lan Cave Encounter

This tour offers a glimpse into the amazing beauty of the Tu Lan area: caves, karst mountains, jungle, and waterfalls. It is an opportunity to go deep into the rugged and untouched nature of Vietnam.

VND 7,700,000/pax

Hang Tien Endeavor

This is a challenging trek to visit Hang Tien 1 & 2 - two biggest caves of Tu Lan cave system. Hang Tien means Fairy Cave in Vietnamese as it looks otherworldly with an enormous entrance, calcite formations and rock features.

VND 8,000,000/pax

Son Doong Cave Expedition

The expedition takes you deep into Son Doong Cave, the world’s largest cave passage. Trek through vast underground spaces and marvel at the ever-changing formations of stalactites and stalagmites.

VND 80,000,000/pax

Hang Ba Deep Jungle Expedition

Those who join the Hang Ba Deep Jungle Expedition will receive a totally new experience from Oxalis Adventure. Renowned for sustainable tourism, Oxalis will now step up to actively promote conservation of biodiversity.

VND 30,000,000/pax

Hang Tien Exploration

The perfect journey to explore both most fascinating wet and dry caves, especially Hang Tien 1 and 2. They are the biggest dry caves of the system with enormous entrances, large calcite formations and unusual rock features.

VND 10,900,000/pax

Wild Tu Lan Cave Explorer

This exciting journey has some challenging sections, but with the help of the team you will explore six amazing caves. River caves where you can swim or raft and dry caves covered in outstanding calcite formations.

VND 10,500,000/pax

Tu Lan Expedition

This level 5 expedition is one of our most challenging treks. Throughout the four days you will explore numerous caves, both river caves and dry caves; swim in underground rivers.

VND 18,000,000/pax

Overnight tours

Hang Tien-Tu Lan Discovery

Explore the Tu Lan cave system and Hang Tien cave, where you can admire the majestic and magical beauty of these caves and enjoy the comfort of Tu Lan Lodge for an overnight stay.

VND 5,800,000/pax

Hang En Cave Adventure

An unforgettable adventure into one of the largest caves on Earth – Hang En, where you get a bucket list camping experience inside the cave and admire nature’s beauty like never before.

VND 9,500,000/pax

Hang Va Expedition

A true underground adventure to visit two spectacular river caves of the National Park. Nuoc Nut Cave is a large cave with both dry and river passages with clear blue pools.

VND 9,400,000/pax

Tân Hoá Village Experience

Experience the first weather adaptive tourism village in Viet Nam.

VND 6,100,000/pax

Day tours

Hang Tien Cave Day Trek

With only one day, you can still enjoy a challenging trek, a natural swimming pool and see a spectacular cave.Hang Tien, also known as Fairy Cave has an enormous entrance, large calcite formations and unusual rock features.

VND 2,200,000/pax

Tu Lan Experience

An action-packed day trek to explore the marvelous jungle and caves of the Tu Lan System - home of the Hollywood blockbuster Kong: Skull Island (2017) by Jordan Vogt-Roberts.

VND 2,000,000/pax

Phong Nha: Nuoc Nut Cave Discovery

The park covers more than 123,000 hectares of limestone mountains and forests, hiding over 450 caves, even though only 30% of the park has been explored. Many secrets await you in this mysterious land.

VND 2,150,000/pax

Family tours

Tu Lan Family Experience

An ideal family trip to explore nature and the magnificent caves of the Tu Lan cave system including trekking, swimming in natural steam, picnic lunch at the river, discovering Rat Cave, exciting mini-game.

VND 2,600,000/pax

Tu Lan Family Adventure

An ideal journey for all members of the family to explore Tu Lan's wilderness. Many enjoyable mini-games and activities for kids to join in such as trekking, swimming, painting, caving, and overnight camping.

VND 7,200,000/pax