Elephant Cave and Ma Da Valley jungle trek: 3 caves in one day

Three cave systems in a single jungle day, with swimming and cliff jumping between them

A full-day jungle trek through Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park that strings together three cave systems (the 60-meter-high Elephant Cave, a swim and cliff jump in Ma Da Lake, and a 600-meter underwater passage through Tra Ang Cave) with hotel pickup, guide, porter support and BBQ lunch included. The trek starts with a steep 20-minute climb and continues through river crossings and jungle trail. You'll need moderate fitness and a willingness to get wet. Travel insurance and all park entrance fees are covered.

Step-by-step itinerary

Jungle trek to caves and swimming

• Pick up at hotel at 8:00 am
• Team meeting at 8:30 am
• Depart for Elephant Cave at 8:45 am
• Arrive trek start around 10:00 am
• Trek to Elephant Cave
• Explore Elephant Cave 10:00-11:00 am
• Reach Ma Da Lake at 12:00 pm
• Swim in Ma Da crystal lake
• Enjoy BBQ lunch at 12:45 pm
• Trek to Tra Ang Cave at 14:00 pm
• Arrive Tra Ang Cave at 15:00 pm
• Swim and explore Tra Ang Cave at 15:45 pm
• Trek back to Ho Chi Minh road at 16:30 pm
• Arrive Ho Chi Minh road at 17:00 pm, enjoy cold drink
• Drive back to Phong Nha and hotels at 17:30 pm

The experience

The day starts with pickup at your hotel in Phong Nha at 8 am and a short drive to Jungle Boss Homestay for a team briefing. By 8:45 am you're heading into the jungle by van toward the trek departure point. The hardest stretch comes first: a 20-minute uphill push through dense forest that opens onto Elephant Cave, a cavern 60 meters high and 300 meters long. You'll spend an hour exploring inside before dropping back down through jungle trail and river crossings into Ma Da Valley.

Around midday you reach Ma Da Lake, a crystal-clear pool where you swim and do cliff jumping before a BBQ lunch prepared by your porter team. The afternoon takes you on another trek to Tra Ang Cave, where you swim 600 meters into the cave system itself to explore the passage. By late afternoon you're back at the main road with a cold drink, then driven back to your hotel by 5:30 pm. The full day runs about nine hours from pickup to drop-off.

Your guide speaks English and stays with you throughout. A porter team handles the lunch setup and provides cave-exploring and safety equipment. Bring trekking boots, long pants and sleeves to guard against leeches, a swimsuit, and a waterproof bag for your phone. The trek is not recommended for pregnant travelers or anyone with poor cardiovascular health, but anyone with moderate fitness who wants actual jungle and water, not just a guided walk, will find the three caves and the lake worth the climb.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Phong Nha.
• English-speaking guide and porter support team.
• cave exploring and safety equipment.
• entrance fees to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park.
• BBQ lunch at Ma Da Lake.
• bottled water.
• travel insurance.
• all taxes and fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (9 to 70 years) · Under 9: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 19 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Phong Nha Locals Travel & Transport

Is this one for you?This trek suits small groups or solo travelers with moderate fitness who want to move through jungle and water rather than walk a marked path. The three caves and the lake swim are what set it apart from a shorter cave tour, and the full day is what fits them all in, but it means an early start, a steep opening climb, and a willingness to be wet and muddy by the end.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How steep is the hike to Elephant Cave?

The first 20 minutes to reach Elephant Cave is the most difficult part of the trek, climbing uphill through jungle. Once you reach the cave entrance, the rest of the day involves hiking through flatter jungle trail and river crossings, with swimming breaks at Ma Da Lake and inside Tra Ang Cave.

What is Elephant Cave like inside?

Elephant Cave is 60 meters high and 300 meters long, and you'll spend about an hour exploring it after the initial climb. The cave sits deep in the jungle and is the first major stop after leaving the trailhead.

Do I swim in the caves or just hike past them?

You explore Elephant Cave on foot, but at Ma Da Lake you swim in the crystal water and do cliff jumping before lunch. Later, you swim 600 meters into Tra Ang Cave to explore the underwater passage, so bring a swimsuit and be prepared to get wet.

What's included in the lunch?

A BBQ lunch is prepared by the porter team and served at Ma Da Lake around 12:45 pm, after your swim. The meal is included in the tour price.

What time does the tour end and how do I get back to my hotel?

The tour ends around 5:30 pm when you're driven back to your hotel in Phong Nha. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the driver meets you at the main road with a cold drink before the return drive.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to avoid leeches and irritating plants, plus trekking boots or shoes that can get wet. Bring a swimsuit, a travel towel, waterproof bag for your phone and camera, mosquito repellent, hat and sunglasses. Calf-length densely woven socks (not ankle socks) are recommended.