Traveling to Son Doong Cave is a renowned destination that attracts many explorers to Quang Binh. However, currently, Son Doong does not allow for free exploration but requires following a tour led by experienced experts. What is so special about Son Doong Cave that draws so many visitors? Let's find out.
1. Overview of Son Doong Cave
Son Doong Cave is part of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang cave complex, located in Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province. Son Doong is considered the largest natural cave in the world, boasting incredibly impressive dimensions. The cave is nearly 9km long, with a total volume of approximately 38.5 million cubic meters, and the highest ceiling reaching up to 200m in height and 150m in width.
Experts believe that Son Doong Cave was formed between 2 to 5 million years ago. Following sediment traces, Son Doong could have been formed by the flow of a river across a limestone area that eroded and created this giant cave.
To date, Son Doong has achieved some very special world records:
- It is the first and only landmark to receive 3 world records from 3 organizations: Guinness World Records (UK), World Record Association (Hong Kong), and World Records Union (USA and India).
- Ranked first in the list of the 15 most majestic caves in the world according to Bored Panda.
- Ranked 8th out of 52 must-visit places in 2014.
The unreal natural beauty of Son Doong Cave
2. Ideal Time to Visit Son Doong Cave
The ideal time to travel to Son Doong Cave is from January to August. From September to December, due to rainy, windy weather, and floods, Son Doong tours will not accept visitors during this period.
Each season, Son Doong Cave wears a unique beauty and temperature:
- January to March: This is the season when flowers bloom, trees sprout, and the air is cool and comfortable, making your exploration journey more comfortable and less exhausting.
- April to May: This time is a transitional period, so there is light sunshine and little rain along the way.
- June to August: At this time, Phong Nha experiences quite high temperatures and harsh sunshine, but thanks to trekking through the forest, the path to Son Doong is not too hot.
3. How to Get to Son Doong Cave, Quang Binh
To get to Son Doong Cave, you first need to travel to Quang Binh. There are 3 ways to get there:
- Airplane: This is the fastest means of transportation. Upon arrival, you can rest before starting your exploration of Son Doong Cave. To make your Son Doong travel experience more comfortable and enjoyable, you can hunt for cheap flight tickets to Quang Binh and enjoy many great deals from Vietjet HERE.
- Coach: This is also a suitable option for those from the North and Central regions. Moreover, this means of transport is very affordable, ranging from 150,000 VND to 250,000 VND/one way.
- Train: If you want to move and have time to enjoy nature, the train will be an ideal choice for you and your family. However, this means of transport takes quite a long time, so consider it carefully.
4. Discovering the Miniature World Inside Son Doong Cave
Entering Son Doong Cave feels like stepping into a miniature fairy-tale world, where the interplay of darkness, light, and vegetation creates an unforgettable dreamlike beauty.
4.1 Unique Flora
From the outside, with its towering rock walls, few know that inside the cave exists a "fairy-tale garden". Thanks to the collapse of the cave's roof thousands of years ago allowing light to enter, combined with underground watercourses nourishing, the flora is incredibly beautiful and rich.
Son Doong contains an extremely unique flora
4.2 Underground river system
Inside Son Doong cave there is a large underground river system and a few small waterfalls flowing continuously. The water here is very clear and sweet. During the day, when the sunlight passes through the cave ceiling, illuminating the river, creating an illusory beauty that makes anyone who sees it fascinated.
4.3 Majestic stalagmite system
Son Doong Cave has a majestic stalagmite system with many unusual shapes. These stalagmites are hundreds of millions of years old, some are more than 70m high, creating overwhelming and magnificent beauty.
4.4 The world's largest cave pearls
Cave pearls (speleothems) are not uncommon in caves. However, typically, speleothems are about 1cm in diameter. However, in Son Doong, the pearls are the size of baseballs and are recognized as the largest cave pearls in the world.
4.5 Special weather conditions
Son Doong is like a miniature world and also has unique weather conditions compared to the outside. Entering Son Doong cave, you will feel extremely relaxed and comfortable thanks to the fresh, cool air and mist that always surrounds the area.
There is always a mist in the cave and the temperature is cold
5. What's interesting in Son Doong Cave?
Visiting Son Doong you will participate in unique and interesting experiences:
5.1 Natural water bath:
Son Doong Cave has many lakes and underground rivers so you can immerse yourself in the cool, clear water to wash away the fatigue of the journey. However, in some areas with strong currents, do not stray from the group and always follow the guide's instructions.
You can soak in the cool water to relax after a tiring journey
5.2 Camping
Camping in a surreal cave like Son Doong is the dream of many people. On clear nights, you can see a peaceful starry night sky, which is hard to find in a light-polluted city.
5.3 Hunting for photos of sunlight and fog
When the sun rises, sunlight penetrates through the sinkholes, illuminating the water surface and vegetation inside, clearly seeing the fog in the cave. So don't miss the opportunity to check-in and capture this beauty.
6. How to travel to Son Doong Cave safely?
To ensure safety, the Quang Binh government does not allow free travel to Son Doong. Currently, all exploration activities in Son Doong are operated exclusively by Oxalis Adventure, a company specializing in organizing adventure tours.
Each trip to Son Doong lasts 4 days and 3 nights, with a cost of 3,000 USD/person (about 70 million VND). To participate in the tour, you must be in good health and fully equipped with knowledge and experience in trekking.
Above are the details of exploring and traveling to Son Doong cave. Hopefully this information will help you prepare for your exciting and exciting adventure in Son Doong!
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