The Bat Cave on Pu Luong Trekking is an unforgettable journey in which breathtaking landscapes and cultural experiences await right in the heart of Pu Luong Nature Reserve. For nature and adventure lovers, this tour will fit your demand perfectly with scenic trekking paths, an opportunity to explore the ancient limestone Bat Cave, and helpful interactions with native ethnic communes. A part of our ethos on sustainable tourism, this eco-journey should not be missed and will appeal to all those who want to be fully immersed in the countryside of Vietnam. Join us on one of your most unforgettable Pu Luong Tours!
Welcome to the Bat Cave on Pu Luong Trekking tour! This is the spot where one becomes thrilled to discover one of Pu Luong Nature Reserve’s best-kept secrets, a place where the interaction of nature, history, and culture all come into play. Before the real trekking, let me now provide some informative insights about Bat Cave and its surrounding area, known as Pu Luong.
Pu Luong Nature Reserve is considered one of the most beautiful diving sites, nestled in the northwestern part of Thanh Hoa Province. The place holds a treasure of natural beauty with dense tropical forests, rice fields, and towering limestone karsts opening to a tranquil retreat into nature just a couple of hours from Hanoi. More interestingly, Pu Luong is an ecological hot spot, rich in plant and animal diversity. We will be doing some moderate trekking, but when walking along the way, you suddenly realize how forests grow alive with the sounds of birds, insects, and wildlife thriving in this sanctuary, which is so well-preserved.
The Bat Cave, also known as Hang Doi, is the most featured geographical structure of our journey and has taken more than 250 million years to attain its shape. Due to forces of nature wearing down the rest of the karst landscape in Pu Luong, a striking feature is set deep within the central core of a river system. It is the very river that carved out the cave itself, along with supporting local agriculture by providing water to the villages of Kho Muong and Ban Pon. The Bat Cave has also occupied a special place in local folklore, as it finds reflection in the stories passed down the generations among the Thai people, who reckon it to be a sacrosanct site.
The moment one enters the Bat Cave, the natural beauty of it would be something astonishing. Filling itself with impressive stalactites and stalagmites, some could even take fanciful shapes of anything from mythical creatures to high-standing figures. As it were, while we journey through it, the soft, dripping sounds of water reverberating within the cave add much to the mystical atmosphere that one happens to feel. Moreover, in this cave, there are several different species of bats, which one can sometimes see flying high up over your head. These bats form an important part in their contribution to the maintenance of ecological balance within an area, control of insect populations, and dispersing seeds.
6:00 AM – Departure from Hanoi
We start early, so our air-conditioned bus fetches you from your hotel or any meeting point in Hanoi at 6:00 AM. Soon, once out of town, you find yourself amidst typical northern Vietnam countryside. -It takes roughly about 4 hours to get there, but don’t worry the beautiful vistas of the rural landscape with rice paddies and rivers and mountains will amuse you all the way.
10:00 AM – Arrival at Ban Uoi (Starting Point of the Trek)
After a drive through the undulating countryside, we’ll arrive at Ban Uoi village, a traditional village nestled at the foot of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. It’s here that our trek will get underway! A short rest and time to rehydrate and prepare for the day’s trek. Before setting off, I do a short briefing on what our trek is going to be like, and some helpful tips on taking to the trails.
10:30 AM – Start of the Trek (2.5 Hours of Trekking)
Now, that’s when the real adventure starts! On this tour of Bat Cave on Pu Luong Trekking, we are going to take an astonishing 2.5-hour hike through the lush-greenery multi-tiered fields and simple villages surrounding Pu Luong. Along the way, I will point out a lot of things from the different species of trees to plants native in this region. Keep your eyes out for wildlife: colorful birds, butterflies; even the occasional lizard or frog can sometimes be seen.
Follow the villages and be curious enough to see how traditional stilt houses shelter the Thai and Muong people. Several short stops will be made at activity points where clients can catch glimpses of their activity profile or even chat with people about strange customs in life.
12:30 PM – Arrival at Bat Cave (Hang Doi)
By noon, we will reach the breathtakingly beautiful Bat Cave, considered to be the highlight of our trek. This is where the natural and mystical beauty of Pu Luong comes alive. After that, I will take you for a guided tour of the cave and explain to you its history and geological significance as an ancient karst. You would be astonished to see fantastic naturally formed stalactites and stalagmites inside, which took millions of years to form. It is said also to be a dwelling for the different species of bats. Let us, then, pay attention to these types of mammals, too, when going inside the cave.
Indeed, this cold, refreshing cave is certainly one of the best places to take one’s break after the morning trek. Boasting such impressive rock formations, one can shoot pictures to their heart’s content or simply enjoy the tranquil atmosphere inside.
1:00 PM – Lunch in Ban Kho Muong
Going down to the next village, Ban Kho Muong, we will have lunch with a well-deserved meal after visiting the Bat Cave. You will enjoy a special meal of local specialties: sticky rice-com lam, grilled chicken, and many different wild vegetables collected from the surrounding forests. These were fresh, full of flavor, and prepared in traditional ways. This is the taste of Pu Luong!
You can take your meal here, rest, and just enjoy the serenity of the village. People here are so friendly; they thus make you feel at home in such a beautiful environment.
2:00 PM – Return Trek (1.5 Hours of Trekking)
Afternoon: After lunch, we start trekking back with different routes for the more beautiful scenery of Pu Luong. Trekking distance: about 1.5 hours The route takes us through some more fine scenery and views of the terraced rice fields, waterfalls, and forested hills. Stop en route for panoramic views and take more photos.
3:30 PM – Departure from Pu Luong
After completing the return journey, we met with our driver and boarded the bus back to Hanoi. Little time to rest and contemplate the amazing experiences of the day as we make our way to the hotel. The drive is more scenic views of Vietnam’s countryside, quite at ease, and deems it a good time to review the photos that have been taken along the day.
7:30 PM – Arrival in Hanoi
We will be back in Hanoi at about 7:30 PM and drop you off at either the hotel or in the middle of the city. You’re supposed to go back home with unforgettable memories of Bat Cave on Pu Luong Trekking day trip after spending an entirely taken day discovering both the natural and cultural beauties of Pu Luong.
Timing is everything, and just our luck, the best time to pay a visit to the Bat Cave on Pu Luong Trekking falls between May and October. If it happens to fall in the period when rice is being harvested, well, then, it is simply magical; all the terracing turns into a sea of gold. I can assure you there is nothing quite like those endless golden waves unfolding beneath the mountain!
While Pu Luong Tours are beautiful throughout the year, the best time to go is during the rains that usually characterize the period between November and April, which may make the path slippery and hence difficult to negotiate. Therefore, conditions during the dry season are usually recommended if you want to enjoy your tour to the fullest for trekking and visibility.
Things to bring along for a full Bat Cave on Pu Luong Trekking experience:
With the above-mentioned things, you are ready to soak in all the beauty that a Pu Luong Tour can offer!
The Bat Cave on Pu Luong Trekking tour is moderately hard, and anyone holding an average fitness level is responsible. However, let me put things into light: you are about to get yourself on a full-day trek! The trail has it’s uphill and downhill, and the exploration in the cave requires some navigation over rough grounds; hence, mind that you feel comfortable with several hours of walking and climbing parts steeper.
But this does not require that one be a professional at hiking to do this. You will simply take it easy and stop wherever you may need to. You will be fine, besides the view or all that makes every step taken further worth the effort!
Here at Impress Travel, we are all about promoting sustainable tourism. We encourage responsible travel to help preserve the beauty of Pu Luong for future generations when you join the Bat Cave on a Pu Luong Trekking tour. Here are a few simple ways to do that:
By following these sustainable practices, we can all be assured of eco-friendly Pu Luong Tours and that we leave only footprints behind.
Hiking at Bat Cave on a Pu Luong Trekking is part of the experience of beautiful scenery, cultural immersion, and even thrilling ancient caves that await. The adventure and relaxation in this rare balanced combination go down the unbeaten track for the discovery of hidden gems in Vietnam. Do not let this chance pass by to explore the beauty and culture of Pu Luong! Don’t forget to regularly follow our Impress Travel for more interesting information about traveling Puluong to and to book Puluong Tours at the best prices.
Inclusion: Meals: 1 x lunch, 1 x dinner, Accommodation: Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat, private transfer, tour guide, water on van/car.
HOTELS & CRUISES IN VIETNAM SELECTED
Destination |
Room Type |
HOTEL NAME, ROOM TYPE & WEBSITE |
Pu Luong |
Deluxe |
Homestay or Resort or Retreat or Bungalows |
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
Inclusion: Meals: 1 x breakfast, 1 x lunch, 1 x dinner, Accommodation: Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat, tour guide
Inclusion: Meals: 1 x lunch, Private Transfer, Tour Guide, Water on van/car.
Pu Luong is a natural reservation in the northern land of Vietnam. It is 160 km away from Hanoi and is a 4-hour drive north-west of Hanoi. Pu Luong Reserve is located in Quan Hoa & Bac Thuoc District, Thanh Hoa Province and shares a border with Hoa Binh Province in Tan Lac, Mai Chau, and Lac Son districts, and is divided by a central valley, which contains several human settlements and a large area of agricultural land, therefore, it is not included within the nature reserve. Pù Luông is endowed with great biodiversity, its flora and fauna are closely associated with the Cúc Phương National Park 25 km south-east. Impress Travel offers travelers a tour to explore Pu Luong combined with a Mai Chau trekking tour. It is a trekking tour from Mai Chau to Pu Luong, then an overnight stay at Pu Luong Retreat – 9 comfortable bungalows, 1 traditional stilt house with 16 comfy beds, an open-air restaurant with tasty cuisine, an infinity pool and spa with rock garden, all at your disposal. Come to Pu Luong Retreat to discover the hidden magic, of a place built by hand, with meticulous attention to detail, from the ground up puluong@impresstravel.com