Son Doong Expedition Tour

The 6 days and 5 nights journey to conquer the world's largest cave with spectacular sceneries and terrains change everyday.

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Overview

Son Doong Expedition: A Journey to the Heart of Earth's Largest Cave

The very name "Son Doong" evokes a sense of mystery and wonder. Nestled in the heart of Quang Binh, Vietnam, the Son Doong Expedition tour offers an unparalleled adventure that began captivating intrepid souls in August 2013. Since its inauguration, the expedition has not only garnered a global reputation but has also set Vietnam as a focal point for breathtaking cave adventures.

A Magnet for Global Recognition

As soon as it was introduced, Son Doong began to make waves internationally. Adventure enthusiasts from all corners of the earth flocked to Vietnam, driven by the allure of exploring its cavernous depths. But it wasn’t just the word-of-mouth that propelled Son Doong's reputation.

In 2014, a nod from the esteemed UK National Geographic further solidified the cave's global status by naming the Son Doong Expedition as the paramount adventure tour, surpassing numerous other notable expeditions globally. This accolade was soon followed by other major recognitions. The British television channel, Dave Television, in 2019, acknowledged the significance and allure of the Son Doong Cave Tour by ranking it 5th among the 20 most compelling adventure trips worldwide. But the cave wasn't just known for its size and exploration thrills. In 2017, the British Daily Mail lauded the Son Doong Cave Expedition for possessing the world's most spectacular campsite.

Into the Depths of Son Doong

The Son Doong Expedition is not just a simple tour; it is an immersive journey into the heart of the underground world. As adventurers make their way through, they are greeted by nature's marvels that few get to witness firsthand. Towering stalactites and stalagmites reach out from the cave's floor and ceiling, creating a majestic, otherworldly ambiance. Cave pearls, a rare phenomenon, dot the cave's interior, glistening under the dim light. But what sets Son Doong apart are its underground rivers, colossal dolines, and an actual forest thriving within its vast chambers.

One of the expedition's most breathtaking moments is witnessing the giant sunbeams piercing through the cave's openings, illuminating its dark corners and revealing its ethereal beauty. Adventure-seekers also encounter the cave's unique biodiversity and face the challenge of scaling the Great Wall of Vietnam, a daunting vertical ascent reaching up to 90 meters.

The Discovery and Recognition of Son Doong

The tale of Son Doong's discovery is as fascinating as the cave itself. It was first discovered in 1990 by Mr. Ho Khanh, a local from Phong Nha. However, its true magnitude wasn't realized until much later. It wasn't until 2009-2010, when the British-Vietnamese Cave Expedition Team ventured into its depths, that the world came to know about this hidden gem.

After meticulous surveying, in 2009, the expedition team declared Son Doong to be the world's largest natural limestone cave. This claim was later validated by National Geographic Magazine in 2011, which also underscored its global significance. Subsequent assessments have established Son Doong as the most voluminous cave globally, boasting a staggering volume of 38.5 million cubic meters, a testament further endorsed by the National Geographic TV.

Son Doong is not just a cave; it's a world within a world, holding stories of Earth's ancient past and presenting nature's artistic prowess. The Son Doong Expedition offers a rare opportunity to step into this enigmatic world, making it an experience of a lifetime for those who dare to delve into its depths.

• Conquer the world’s biggest natural cave with spectacular scenery that changes every day.
• The cave is so big that an ecosystem has been formed right inside with clouds and mist.
• Explore the unique primeval forest inside the cave.
• Explore En Cave where Peter Pan - The Neverland was filmed and ABC News broadcast the Live TV show “Good Morning America” in 2015.
• The beautiful campsites are located inside the large domes of the cave but also have enough light from outside. On sunny days, Guests will have chances to contemplate the marvelous sunbeams going through the dolines down the cave, illuminating the giant passages.
• Visit Doong village, where ethnic minority Bru Van Kieu people are living in the primary forest.
• Each tour includes: 10 Guests, 1 safety expert, 1 tour guide, 6 safety assistants, 2 cooks, 17 porters carrying belongings, food, camping equipment and 1 ranger from the Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park.

Note: 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. 

To book a tour for a group, please send the tour information to them and instruct each member to complete the booking form on their own. Our booking system lets each person fill in their own information, avoiding errors or missing details when someone else does it for you.

Itinerary

Son Doong Cave Expedition is the longest and the most challenging adventure tour in Vietnam. The caving expedition contains trekking through primary forest with elevation gains from 150m to 800m, multiple river crossings (10 to 50 meters wide with knee-deep water in normal conditions) passing various terrains inside the cave such as rocky scrambling, sandbanks, up and down ladders and rope climbs. During the expedition tour, there will be no phone signal or wifi. The tour guide always brings a satellite phone to keep in touch with operation team for emergencies. 

The itinerary of the Son Doong Expedition tour may be changed due to weather conditions.

Day: 1  Phong Nha – Safety Briefing

You will be consulted and supported to plan for arrival as soon as you finish signing up for this cave exploration tour.

You should be in Dong Hoi City by 15:00 pm at the latest. You will be picked up by our staff at Dong Hoi train station / airport and taken to Son Doong Bungalow in Phong Nha. 

Around 17:30 - 18:00 pm, a tour guide and driver will come and pick you up for the safety briefing at our office where you will also meet the safety expert and other guests joining the Son Doong Cave Expedition. The safety briefing is required to make sure that each guest understands the nature of the adventure expedition. Anyone who does not attend this briefing may be refused participation in the Son Doong tour without refund. At the end of the briefing, guests are required to sign a release form and their medical declaration for the trip. Helmet and water bottles will also be provided at the briefing. 

You will be required to bring trekking shoes (trails running and non-goretex shoes) and personal backpack (size of the backpack) to the briefing for a quality and suitability check by a safety expert. 

After the safety briefing, the whole group will have a welcome dinner. Time to start getting to know each other before a long journey together. 

After dinner, you will return to the hotel, prepare your belongings (for the trek) and rest, ready for the trip tomorrow.

Day: 2 Doong Village – Hang En Cave 

After packing all belongings required for the trek into the bag provided (not more than 7 kg per Guest), please bring it to the hotel reception before 07:00 am. Our staff will receive and bring this bag directly to the campsite. You will not see these belongings until reaching the campsite. Therefore please carry with you anything you may need along the way. Guests can refer to the article “what guests should prepare for Son Doong Expedition” for the best preparation 

Make sure that you have your breakfast and make yourself ready at the reception area before departure time of 09:00 am. Luggage and valuables will be stored at our Office. 

It will take around 1 hour to get to the drop off point by bus. The Son Doong Cave Expedition starts from here with a long steep descent of around 350 meters inside Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. After reaching the bottom of the mountain, you will keep going for about half an hour through the forest with few stream crossings (knee deep) to come to Ban Doong - a small village of the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority. 

After lunch at the house of the village elder and learning about living here. The group will continue trekking about 3 hours to reach Hang En Cave for the first night’s camping - one of Vietnam's best-cave camping sites. There will be more river crossings with stunning natural scenery. Entering Hang En Cave through a small entrance, crossing the underground river and climbing a small hill you will see a spectacular campsite, full of light, located underneath a large high entrance. 

You will locate the tent with your name on it and enjoy swimming in the lake next to the campground. How relaxing after a long day of trekking. A delicious dinner will be served soon. Hopefully, you will have a good night, ready to approach Son Doong tomorrow. 

Important note: Any guest who is unable to complete the Son Doong Expedition on this day or struggles to complete the day with a lot of support from the safety assistant team, or fails to comply with safety and conservation regulations. The guest will be asked to return without refund.. The safety expert and tour guide will make the decision to allow them to continue or return. This is to ensure the safety of that guest as well as the whole group.

Day: 3 Son Doong Entrance – Campsite Doline 1 

In the morning, when exploring Hang En Cave, you will gaze at the fantastic exit, where the movie: Peter Pan – Pan and Neverland filmed, and then carry on to Son Doong Cave entrance. The journey from Hang En Exit to Son Doong follows the river with many more river crossings. A final steep hill will bring you to the entrance of Hang Son Doong.

After lunch at the entrance, you will be equipped with safety equipment for descending into the cave. A safety briefing will be given by the tour guide or safety expert to make sure that every guest knows how to use the safety harnesses, karabiners and descend safely. The safety team is always by guest’s side for support. Approaching the entrance, you will usually feel the cold air flowing out due to the difference in temperature and pressure inside the cave. Illuminated by the large filming lights, the giant cave passages with enormous formations will slowly appear in front of your eyes.

Reaching the bottom of the entrance slopes, you will continue crossing the river twice, some sandbanks and rocky slopes to see a huge stalagmite, called the Hand of Dog. Around 16:00 , you will arrive at the first campsite of Son Doong – named the Level Playing Fields, just before Doline 1. There will be toilets and changing tents here.

Another highlight not to be missed: swimming in a cold underground pool (17-22 degrees). Useful for muscle relaxation and also refreshing yourself after a hard day. You need to wear trekking shoes, long sleeved-shirts, long pants to get here and for swimming. A life-jacket is required. Another delicious dinner will be waiting for you after swimming.

Day: 4 Garden Of Edam – Campsite Doline 2 

There are steep climbs, wriggling through small parts of the cave and some ropes and ladders to reach Doline 1, called Watch out for Dinosaurs - a highlight of the journey through Son Doong.

Descending from Watch Out for Dinosaurs, you will reach the other side of Doline 1, the Green gours. A stunning scenery will reveal itself in front of your eyes. On sunny days, you may sit and contemplate the giant sunbeams shining into the cave. Lunch will be served here.

After lunch, the group continues over the calcite paths to come into the Garden of Edam at Doline 2. This area is very fragile and you must take great care. From here, you can view the entire forest and the variety of trees and plants adapted to this environment. A final steep and slippery descent will bring you to the campsite, to rest, review your photos and enjoy the amazing view. There are no bathing facilities in this campsite. You must prepare wet wipes, dry shampoo etc for this final night in the cave. Another yummy dinner will be served soon.

Note: a pair of dry socks are recommended for this day if available and it is not rainy as there is no river crossing on this day.

Day: 5 The Great Wall Of Vietnam – Son Doong Exit - Chay Lap Farmstay 

Starting your new day of a wonderful trip with a hot cup of coffee, the exciting adventure has yet to come. After breakfast, you will be equipped with safety equipment and a short safety briefing given to be ready for conquering the Great Wall of Viet Nam, one of the best caving experiences.

Then carrying on cave exploring and learning about the unique creatures that live in the darkness for millions of years such as: spiders, fishes, woodlice and centipedes. They all have the same characters: no eyes, no color. Cave pearls are also a special formation that can be found in Son Doong Cave.

On different occasions you will be able to experience the Wall differently. On a heavy rainy day, after the rain there will be a lake to the Great Wall of Vietnam, therefore you will have a chance to row a raft along the lake to the bottom of the Wall. On other days, the lake will disappear, and you will experience walking through the muddy passage, this passage is called "Passchendaele passage”. At the bottom of the wall, there is a stainless steel ladder about 18m high and you will start the climb from here. After the ladder, continue climbing ropes to ascend to a large resting place. The ascent continues with a 72 meters slope with 45 degrees. All guests will be attached to a safety line at all times, operated by the safety assistants. Safety assistants will be stationed at various points along the climb from the bottom to the top, to instruct and encourage you. Do not be nervous, this is all part of the expedition’s experience.

Unlike other hiking expeditions, this is a challenging adventure. But, as long as you have good physical fitness, you can definitely conquer the Wall with the support of the safety team. After lunch at the top of the Wall, the group will leave the cave, where a final rocky section awaits, and trek through forest to return to Ho Chi Minh Trail West. Here the Son Doong Cave Expedition ends with cool beer and soft drinks. Tour guide and driver will bring you to Chay Lap Farmstay at around 15:00 - 16:00.

Chay Lap Farmstay will warmly welcome you back with a glass of champagne and a fancy dinner. The tour guide will also confirm transfers to the Airport or train station…for you according to your plan.

Day: 6 Chay Lap Farmstay - Dong Hoi 

Following your plan, you may be picked up after breakfast (to the airport or train station in Dong Hoi City) or take time to visit some more places in Phong Nha before leaving.

There are many famous places to see around Phong Nha Town such as: Chay Lap Water Sport Center, Blue Diamond Camp, Paradise cave, Mooc Spring, etc… or you can rent a motorbike / bicycle to explore the National Park, Bong Lai Valley, Pub with Cold Beer yourself. Please make sure that you are good at driving...

If you still want some more adventure trips, We are also running tours to Hang Va, Hang Tien, and especially, Tu Lan - home of the Hollywood movie Kong: Skull Island. These exploration tours (from 1 to 6 days) will definitely bring you more great expedition experiences which are quite different from the Son Doong Expedition.

Please do not forget the check-out time is before 12:00 midday. Inform our sales staff in-advance if you want to stay longer.

Inclusions

The Son Doong Cave tour cost is US $3,000 per person, including: VAT, entrance fee and environment service (US$600), management fee and supervision from National Park (US$20) and the tour services as follows:

• Pick up and drop off at Dong Hoi airport / train station. 

• Team members: 1 cave expert, 1 tour guide, 6 safety assistants, 2 chefs, 17 porters carrying belongings for each group of 10 Guests. 

• Food and drink: Oxalis will provide food (vegetarian, vegan…), tea and coffee during the trip (not including extra requests). Meals follow a fixed menu. Please let us know your food option when booking the tour to visit Son Doong Cave. 

• Accommodation: Oxalis offers the first night at Son Doong Bungalow; 3 nights in the cave with tents and the last night at Chay Lap Farmstay. 

• Safety equipment: Oxalis will provide safety equipment such as: helmets, harnesses, headlights, gloves and others. 

• Travel Insurance: Oxalis Adventure will purchase travel insurance for travel as required by Vietnam Tourism Law. The maximum compensation per case is 50 million VND. We recommend that guests purchase their own comprehensive travel insurance.

How do you get into Son Doong cave? 

Our Office is located at Phong Nha village, Phong Nha town, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh province, Vietnam. Phong Nha is located 45 km away from Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province. After arriving in Dong Hoi, Our staff will take you to Phong Nha after a 40 minutes drive. There are many ways to get to Dong Hoi such as: by airplane, train, high quality sleeping bus.

*Visas: Vietnam provides visa exemption for citizens of ASIAN countries (30 days), and 45 days for citizens of (United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belarus, Russia).

*International airports: There are 3 main international airports for international flights: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Noi Bai International airport (HAN) and Da Nang International Airport (DAD). From Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Ha Noi, travellers can book domestic flights to Dong Hoi Airport (VDH). From Da Nang, traveler can catch a train or bus to Dong Hoi/Phong Nha.

Airplanes: There are many flights (Vietnam airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways), flying daily from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to Dong Hoi airport.

Trains: There are many SE trains, running daily from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh and stopping at Dong Hoi station.
Bus: There are many sleeper buses, depart daily from Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue to Dong Hoi or to Phong Nha directly.