DARK CAVE - PHONG NHA CAVE 1 DAY TRIP

The Dark cave is an adventurous and action- packed experience. Visiting this cave includes harnessed zip lining over a turquoise river, swimming into the mouth of the cave (lifejackets included), walking through the dark with only the head torch on your mining helmet to illuminate the way, floating about in the buoyant mud baths deep in the cave, washing clean with a swim in the lake inside the cave, then kayaking back across the river to test your strength on the hanging obstacle course and open ziplines. The Dark cave is named as such because it is one of the few caves that has had no artificial lighting installed. The cave is comprised of mostly basalt, in addition to limestone. Basalt is a black, hard rock; also contributing to the cave’s name.

Phong Nha cave or the “river cave” is situated along the historic Ho Chi Minh trail and stands as a relic system of the American/Vietnam war. This cave was actively used to aid the route supporting the battleground of South Vietnam. Safe from the routine bombings, it was used as a place to hide secret floating bridges that would be brought out at night and placed over the river to help trucks get supplies to the south. It once served as a hospital, with weapons installed at the entrance. Today, this area has become the first section of the ever popular Ho Chi Minh Road, as it showcases as lush, mountainous landscape. Visiting this cave includes a 6km dragon boat ride up the turquoise Son river and into the cave where you can marvel at the cave’s magnificient structure. Drift 1km into the cave before exploring 300m on foot.

Tour Itinerary

07:30 - 08:00: You will be picked up at hotel in Dong Hoi or in Phong Nha from 08:45 - 09:00 and drive you to the Dark Cave. Participate in the many adventure activities: long zipline, swimming, kayaking, adventure course, water zipline,… The venture into the cave in the dark for cave exploring and mud bathing.

12:45 Lunch at local restaurant. Vegetarian option available.

13:30 Take a 30-minute ride up the river to Phong Nha cave via traditional dragon boat. Inside the cave, the driver will turn off the motor to admire the cave’s splendor. You will then explore 300m further into the cave on foot.

16:00 – 17:30 Tour ends and gets visitors back to hotel.

Preparations: swimsuit (women must bring bikini), towel, walking shoes.

Note: Using the long zipline requires you to be between 40kg – 90kg. No exceptions.

Tour inclusion:

• Transportation by shuttle bus/minivan
• English speaking tour guide;
• Lunch (Vietnamese dishes style);
• Entrance tickets;
• Dragon trip and electric car, equipment (head torch, helmet, kayak, paddles, harness, life jacket)
• Drinking water;
• Travel insurance.

Tour exclusion:

• VAT
• Tips
• Other personal expense

Children policy:

• Under 1m1: 200.000 VND/kid

• From 1m1 - 1.3m: 50% charge

• Over 1.3m: as adult