Itinerary
Day 1: Phong Nha – Ban Doong Village – En Cave (L/D)
Morning activities:
Travel out your hotel in Phong Nha from 8.00 am and have a short transfer to the office where everyone gathers for starting the tour. At first, you will listen to the safety to collect your gear and sign in Release Form. Then you have 45 minutes drive through the National Park to reach the trailhead.
Around 10.00 am you leave the road to trek through the jungle. You will have a refreshing river at the bottom. You hike through the rich primary forest to reach Ban Doong minority village where you will receive a hot cup of tea welcome. Have a picnic lunch.
Afternoon & evening activities:
You reach Hang En around 15.00 pm and have a quick rest while the porter team sets up a camping tent on the beach within the cave.
The rest of the time with few hours you discover the cave along the way of the cave to the breathtaking exit, a scene made famous in the film Pan. You return to camp through the dry passage to the viewpoint high above camp, where 300 million years old fossils can be seen. Here you enjoy your downtime relaxing or swimming in the natural pool before a sizzling grilled dinner is served, complete with rice wine and the sounds of swifts overhead. Overnight at camping tent.
Day 2: Hang En – Phong Nha (B/L)
Morning activities:
Wake up in the cave and have breakfast. Then you pack all your luggage to departing camp at 9.00 am to leave Hang En. Take one last look at the entrance, almost hidden amongst the jungle. Have lunch en route.
Afternoon activities:
This afternoon you continue your trek for the next hour along a shady path through the river valley. And then from 2.00 – 4.00 pm, make your way up the hill to the pickup point, where our driver will be waiting to drive you back city center. You come back Phong Nha between 4.30 – 5.30 pm.
Price from $ 250/person
Inclusion
– Camping gear: tent, camp light, sleeping bag, mattresses, pillow
– Caving & safety gear: caving helmet, caving headlight, gloves
– Semi-dry bag (for clothing and personal belongings excl. electronics)
– Basic canvas trekking boots (only if you do not have your own pair) sizes 36 – 46
– Meals: picnic lunches, dinner (day 1), breakfast (day 2)
– Professional English-speaking tour guide and guide safety assistant
– Porter team to carry all camping gear and prepare all meals
– Shared dry box for phones and small cameras (limited availability for larger cameras)
– Water purifier (used only by guide and porters) and water bottle
– Basic camping facilities with eco-friendly compost toilet using western toilet seat
– First Aid Kit and Medical Rescue Equipment (application by guides and porters only)
– Secure Storage Facility at Our Headquarters to store all luggage you will not be taking on the trek
Exclusion
– Tips & Personal Expenses
– Travel/Health Insurance
– Other services not mentioned in the itinerary
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 shorts and t-shirt to wear at campsite (warmer clothes in winter)
– 1 sun hat in summer
– 1 pair of trekking boots/shoes – difficult terrain, good footwear necessary. Gore-Tex/waterproof boots are NOT recommended as they do not drain well (if you prefer your own comfortable pair)
– 1 pair of flip flops (sandals) for campsite
– 1 medium size towel and swimwear
– 1 - 2 pairs of calf-length densely woven socks (not ankle socks!)
– Medium size backpack (25 L) for your water bottle, personal belongings and provided caving helmet
– Personal items: mosquito repellent, sunglasses, hat, camera, underwear, toiletries
– If you are trekking in the colder months (December to March) please bring additional warm clothes for the evening