Tour operator Oxalis on June 25 launched trekking tours of Tu Lan cavesystem in the central province of Quang Binh, with offers of up to fourdays for adventure lovers.

Discovered in 2009, Tu Lan nowconsists of eight caves, and still counting more, either wet, dry, smallor big-scale, lying 70km northwest of the town of Phong Nha, nearVietnam’s border with Laos.

It spreads through four valleyscovered with pristine forests and unnamed rivers. There are manymagnificent stalagmites and stalactites inside the caves, together withsplendid waterfalls and underground rivers making Tu Lan a unique spotfor both sightseeing for adventure.

Trekkers will beaccompanied by English-speaking tour guides and local jungle men whowill take them to untouched caves, then cross shallow rivers and trek5km through dense jungle rich with butterflies and birdlife.

Ahighlight during the tour is the time spent at a campsite, listening tothe sounds of waterfall and night critters, and hearing someinteresting stories about the local ethnic people.

As safetyis absolutely paramount on all trips, they will be equipped withhelmets, life jackets, headlights, hammocks, sleeping bags, trekkingboots, among others.

Nature has bestowed a diversity ofnatural landscapes on Quang Binh with plains, mountains, lakes andcaves. It is well-known for various natural attractions, especially the‘Kingdom of Caves’, a complex of over 300 caves, found in the Phong Nha –Ke Bang National Park, which was recognised as a World Natural HeritageSite by the UNESCO last year.

Most recently,the New York Times named Quang Binh as one of the most attractivedestinations in Asia and eighth out of the world’s 52 top touristdestinations for 2014.-VNA