Tu Lan Family Adventure Tour
This is a family adventure tour for children and parents to connect with and enjoy the wild Tu Lan landscape. Creating opportunities for children to gain confidence, and explore new challenges such as trekking through the jungle, wading streams, swimming (with life jackets), exploring caves and camping overnight in the middle of the mysterious jungle. A trip to the wild with your child will create lifelong memories.
The Tu Lan Cave Family Adventure 2-day tour, has been designed to provide an easy and safe introduction to trekking and caving. The route is safe and quite easy with activities such as: river crossing, climbing/scrambling a small hill, and crossing 2 scenic valleys of the Tu Lan area. Families are accompanied at all times by a Tour Guide and Safety Assistants.
- Trekking adventure through lush mountains: As a kid-friendly trekking tour in Quang Binh, this journey offers a fun and safe outdoor experience in the Tân Hoá mountains. The trail is easy and safe, featuring activities like stream crossing, gentle hill climbing, and hiking across two beautiful valleys in the Tu Lan area.
- Explore stunning caves with diverse stalactite formations: Visit incredible caves such as Secret Cave, Hung Ton Cave (dry branch), Rat Cave, and Little Rat Cave - each with spectacular structures like high-vaulted ceilings and grand stalactite columns. These caves look like natural stone castles, offering a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to learn more about caves that have formed over millions of years.
- Enjoy swimming in fresh, cool streams: At Hung Ton Valley, dive into refreshing, crystal-clear waters and float along the peaceful stream surrounded by untouched nature. Parents and kids can join fun games together, making it a memorable family bonding experience.
- Enjoy tasty meals surrounded by nature: After a day of exploring and swimming, visitors will enjoy two lunches and a delicious dinner cooked by local chefs. Meals are served right at beautiful spots and the campsite, with many famous local dishes to try.
- A journey that transforms lives: Beyond the natural splendor, your presence contributes to a powerful story of community resilience and growth. Sustainable tourism has played a key role in transforming Tan Hoa, driving the poverty rate down from 85.7% in 2010 to just 2% in 2024. This expedition supports vital initiatives, including the construction of floating houses and septic toilets to improve local living standards. Furthermore, Oxalis is committed to future generations, sponsoring free open swimming and safety training to over 300 children in Tan Hoa and along the Rao Nan River every year.
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. Lifejackets must be worn when swimming.
Download the itineraryPhong Nha – Tan Hoa – Secret Cave – Hung Ton Cave (dry branch) – Jungle Campsite
Your family adventure begins with a pickup in Phong Nha between 07:30 and 08:00 AM for the journey to the remote village of Tan Hoa. Upon arrival at the Oxalis office, you’ll meet your expert guide for a safety briefing tailored specifically for families and children. Once gear is checked and bags are packed, the real journey begins.
We start with a gentle 2.5km trek through vibrant green fields, leading us to the banks of the Rao Nan River. From here, the group will conquer "Baby Hill"—a manageable 60-meter climb that offers a fun challenge for kids and adults alike—bringing us to the entrance of the mysterious Secret Cave.
After a well-deserved lunch at the cave entrance, we venture inside to discover the untouched beauty of Secret Cave. Following our exploration and a short rest, we hike down into Hung Ton Valley to explore the magnificent dry branch of Hung Ton Cave.
As the afternoon winds down, we arrive at our jungle campsite. This is where the family bonding truly happens! You’ll work together to set up tents and join our local chefs for a hands-on cooking class. The day concludes with a hearty dinner and relaxation under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle.
Note: Our tour departs promptly in the morning! Please plan your travel to reach Phong Nha before 07:00 AM. If you are traveling by train to Dong Hoi, the SE3 (from the North) and SE8 (from the South) are the best options. Don't worry if you arrive very early on tour departure date – we offer free use of our dorm beds so you can rest and freshen up before the adventure starts. Please book this in advance.
Hung Ton Valley – Rat Cave – Tan Hoa
Awake to the sounds of the jungle! The morning begins leisurely with a hot breakfast and fresh coffee at the campsite, giving everyone time to relax and recharge. Once energized, we start our trek toward Baby Hill, followed by a short, fun ascent up "Cow Hill". This path leads us into the scenic Laken Valley, a perfect spot for family photos.
Upon reaching the entrance of Little Rat Cave, your guide will provide a safety briefing and help everyone gear up. We’ll first explore the charming Little Rat Cave before continuing on to the impressive Rat Cave. Here, you’ll marvel at the massive formations and the sheer scale of the cave entrance.
After the cave exploration, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at the magnificent exit of Rat Cave, overlooking the valley. The final leg of the adventure involves crossing the Rao Nan River and a gentle trek back across the fields to the Tan Hoa Office.
Back at the office, you’ll have time to rest, enjoy a refreshing shower, and change into clean clothes. Finally, our driver will be waiting to transfer the group back to your hotel in Phong Nha, marking the end of an unforgettable family adventure.
Suggested itinerary before and after the tour:
To ensure the best preparation before your journey or to relax after the expedition, Oxalis suggests staying at Chay Lap Farmstay if you wish to combine exploring Phong Nha with experiencing a peaceful countryside atmosphere, or Blue Diamond Retreat if you prefer to immerse yourself in nature and enjoy relaxing moments amidst the mountains and forests. Special discounted rates exclusively for Oxalis guests are 1,100,000 VND/room/night at Chay Lap Farmstay and 1,600,000 VND/room/night at Blue Diamond Retreat.
During your time in Phong Nha, the Phong Nha Caves Exploration Museum (open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, free admission) is a must-visit destination. Here, you can experience the Son Doong 5D VR technology for 500,000 VND per ticket. All proceeds from this activity are contributed to the Oxalis Foundation to support local community projects, making your journey even more meaningful.
Photo
Difficulty Level and Physical Fitness Requirements
Difficulty Level: Easy
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.
Suitable for: Suitable for almost everyone.
Tours with the same Difficulty 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).
Terrains
The tour takes place in remote areas with complex terrains. Customers must be physically fit. Please carefully read the tour itinerary and honestly fill out the booking information yourself, especially your experience and health condition.
- Easy to moderate trekking
- 13km of trekking including up to 660m of caving
- 120m elevation gain
- Swims and river crossings
- Terrain on tour: Soft trekking experience, 6m ladder in cave, safe for children
For more information on the necessary physical activities for a successful trip, please refer to: /getting-ready-oxalis-tour/index.html.
Safety on the tour
This is always the top priority of Oxalis Adventure to ensure the safety of both visitors and Oxalis’ staff on any trip, including multi day adventures. We only use high-quality equipment meeting international standards, mainly imported from France, the UK, and Switzerland. The tour guides must undergo professional training and be tested for skills regularly. Only qualified guides may lead an Oxalis tour. Visitors can learn about the "safety management" and " safety equipment" that Oxalis uses here.
By signing the Release Form, visitors agree to follow all tour safety regulations and the instructions of the cave experts and guides throughout the expedition. To ensure the safety of the entire group, the safety experts and guides have the authority to require any guest to end the expedition if they fail to comply with the safety regulations explained during the briefing.
Items to bring on tour
The Tu Lan Family Adventure Tour involves different terrains and weather conditions, so guests need to be well prepared. They will be asked to have appropriate clothing for safety reasons, good for moving in the jungle, river crossing, or exploring the cave as well as avoiding dangers and risks from sharp rocks, snakes, insects, or poison ivy. Long trousers and long sleeved shirts should be worn for trekking. Trekking shoes play a very important role in trekking tours with your family. Visitors must choose a good and well fitting pair of shoes for rocky paths. Please test your shoes before the trek. The Oxalis tour consultant will give you helpful advice before joining the Tu Lan Family Adventure Tour.
You need to prepare
Essential clothing
- Trekking clothes:
- 1-2 quick-dry, bright, long-sleeved shirts
- 1-2 pairs of quick-dry and long trekking pants
- 1 waterproof jacket (winter months from December to March) - Campsite clothing sets:
- Warm clothes for winter from December to March
- Shorts and T-shirts for summer from April to August - 1 pair of good gripping trekking/approach closed shoes. Heavyweight trekking boots are not necessary
- 2 pairs of calf-length, thick socks
- 1 pair of sandals/slides for campsite
- Personal dry bag/box for electronic devices
- Swimwear using at the campsite
- Clothes to change after the trek
Personal items
- Mosquito repellent
- Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen
- Hand fan for summer (April to August)
- 1 medium towel
- Underwear
- Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, nature-friendly shampoo & soap, …)
- Power banks
- Personal medication
- Antifungal foot powder
- Passport
Provided by Oxalis
- Camping equipment: tent, mattresses, pillow, sleeping bags
- Caving and safety gears: helmet, headlight, gloves, …
- 1 PVC backpack (25L) to carry helmet, dry box, water and things you need during the trek.
- Basic trekking shoes are available to borrow from Oxalis (sizes 36-44). If you use Oxalis shoes, please bring thick socks and two pairs of insoles to help prevent blisters. A VND 50,000 cleaning fee applies.
- Water bottle (1L)
- Water purifier
- Compost toilet, toilet paper, hand cleaner
- Semi-dry bag (15L) for campsite clothing sets and personal items
- First-aid kit and medical rescue equipment
Optional
- Arm cover if wearing short-sleeved T-shirts
- Camera & Tripod
- Ear plugs
- Bandana or headband
- Rehydration tablets
- Blister prevention tape
Food and drinks in the tour
Although the expedition takes place deep in the primary forest and inside the cave, you will be provided with three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oxalis has a dedicated team of cooks who prepare fresh ingredients brought directly to the expedition route, ensuring you receive the nutrition you need throughout the long days of trekking.
For your health and safety, all drinking water served during the expedition is treated through a specialized water filtration system and thoroughly boiled at the campsites to meet strict safe drinking-water standards. Hot drinks such as tea and coffee are also available.
The menu offers a variety of options, including standard, vegetarian, and special-diet meals. If you have specific dietary requirements or food allergies, please note them on your booking form so the Oxalis team can make the necessary preparations in advance.
Camping, Showers and Hygiene During the Expedition
The campsite for the Tu Lan Family Adventure is located on the river bank, so customers can have a swim in the river. All swimming activities are supervised by safety assistants. Soap and shampoo cannot be used in rivers and pools. For conservation reasons, visitors are encouraged to use bio-shampoos and soaps. Washing should be done at the campsite and not in the river.
Tents: At each campsite, you will stay in tents specially designed by Oxalis. Each tent offers enough space for one or two people to sleep comfortably, and is set on a sturdy raised platform 30 cm above the ground, helping minimise moisture and insects. The tent walls are made of breathable mesh, with a fan provided inside to keep the space cool while allowing you to stay connected with the surrounding natural environment. Each tent is also equipped with a mattress, pillow, and sleeping bag, all thoroughly cleaned before every expedition to ensure a comfortable night’s sleep.
Toilets and water facilities: Each campsite is equipped with modern toilets and convenient shower facilities. All water used for washing and other daily needs is carefully treated through a filtration system to ensure safe use throughout the expedition.
Waste management and environmental protection: To help preserve the cave ecosystem, 100% of solid waste generated during the expedition is carried out of the cave. For wastewater and toilet waste, Oxalis uses portable septic tanks combined with an advanced filtration system to ensure that discharged water meets Vietnam’s strict environmental standards.
Tour booking process
This is a tour that requires careful logistical preparation from both guests and Oxalis. Reading the tour information thoroughly will help you make an informed decision before booking. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, please chat with an Oxalis adventure consultant using the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen, or contact us via hotline at +84 919 900 357 for assistance. The booking process is as follows:
Step 1: Learn about the tour
Visit oxalisadventure.com to learn more about the itinerary, highlights, adventure level, tour price, and most importantly, the health and fitness requirements.
Step 2: Choose your departure date
Click “Book Now” on the tour page to view the available departure dates. Available dates will be shown on the calendar. Select your preferred date and enter the number of participants.
Step 3: Provide your information
Complete your contact details accurately, especially your email address and phone number. You must provide truthful information about:
- Your health condition and any medications you are currently taking;
- Allergies or special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian meals or food allergies;
- Trekking experience;
- Exercise frequency and level of physical activity.
Important: Oxalis reserves the right to cancel your booking without a refund if any information provided is found to be false or incomplete, particularly information related to your health and physical fitness.
Step 4: Complete your booking request
Select any additional services you may require, such as transfers or accommodation at Chay Lap Farmstay and Oxalis Home.
Read and agree to the booking terms and conditions, then click “Submit Booking Request.” The system will send a booking code to your email address.
Step 5: Consultation and information confirmation
Within 48 working hours, an Oxalis travel consultant will contact you by email or phone to:
- Provide detailed information about the expedition;
- Confirm your booking details;
- Assist with arranging any additional services you have requested.
Step 6: Payment
Once your information has been confirmed, Oxalis will send you an invoice and payment instructions.
You must complete the payment within 24 hours of receiving the payment instructions. After this period, your booking request may be automatically cancelled.
Step 7: Booking confirmation
Once Oxalis receives your payment, you will receive an official booking confirmation by email.
From this point, you can begin preparing your clothing, equipment, and fitness for the expedition.
Terms of tour cancellation
To confirm your booking, you will be required to pay the tour deposit after completing the booking process. Guests may cancel the trip 7 days prior to the departure date and receive a full refund. For cancellations after 7 days, no refund will be given. See more details in “Terms of tour cancellation”.
Tour prices and availability
For departures starting November 15, 2026, the Tu Lan Family Adventure Tour will be priced at 7,500,000 VND (~US$283)/pax.
- Season: Tours operate from mid-November to mid-September every year.
- Group Size: Limited to 12 guests per tour for safety and conservation.
- Tour Types: Fixed departure dates for individuals; private tours available for special groups or film crews.
- Exclusive Offer: Enjoy a 10% discount for UOB cardholders and Xiều Oxalis (returning guests).
- Last-Minute Booking Notice: Online bookings close at 19:00 (7:00 PM) the day before departure. For bookings after 19:00, please contact our Adventure Team via chat box or Hotline at +84 919 900 357 (Call/WhatsApp) for immediate assistance and slot availability.
Useful Information Must read
Tu Lan Family Adventure Tour
Duration: 2 days 1 night
Difficulty Level: Easy
Age 8-70 years old
Group size: 12 customers (Join-in)
Operation: mid-Nov to mid-Sep
~USD 271 • VND 7,200,000/pax
Book nowWhether 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.
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