Ha Long Bay day tour: Titop Island, caves & kayaking

Six hours on the water: swim, climb, kayak and cave-walk in one morning

A six-hour cruise from Tuan Chau Marina explores two of Ha Long Bay's most visited sites: Titop Island, where you swim on the beach or climb the peak for a panoramic view, and Surprise Cave, a large grotto filled with stalagmites and stalactites. You kayak or paddle a bamboo boat through Luon Cave's lagoon, eat Vietnamese seafood lunch aboard, and return by late afternoon with an English-speaking guide throughout.

Options for this experience

4 options

From US$ 30 to US$ 54 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Standard boat, with no ticket fees 11:30 Guide in English Please make your own way to Tuan Chau Marina by 11:30 AM to board the cruise; you will miss the cruise if you arrive later. Standard day boat: simple quality on a traditional boat. We will use Wego Cruise or Phong Hai Boat for this option, or a similar vessel. Tour without entrance tickets: you pay the entrance ticket yourself (310,000 VND or 13 USD). Duration: 6 hours. Set lunch served on board. Transfer from Hanoi available on request.

Premium boat, with no ticket fees 11:30 Guide in English Please make your own way to Tuan Chau Marina by 11:30 AM to board the cruise; you will miss the cruise if you arrive later. Premium day boat: a larger boat with higher quality, better lunch and better service. We will use the Alova Premium Cruise or a similar boat if it is unavailable. Duration: 6 hours. Tour without entrance ticket: you pay the entrance ticket yourself (310,000 VND or 13 USD). Transfer from Hanoi available on request.

Standard boat, ticket fees included 11:30 Guide in English Please make your own way to Tuan Chau Marina by 11:30 AM to board the cruise; you will miss the cruise if you arrive later. Standard day boat: simple quality on a traditional boat. We will use Wego Cruise or Phong Hai Boat for this option, or a similar vessel. Tour includes entrance tickets. Duration: 6 hours. Set lunch served on board. Transfer from Hanoi available on request.

Premium boat, ticket fees included 11:30 Guide in English Please make your own way to Tuan Chau Marina by 11:30 AM to board the cruise; you will miss the cruise if you arrive later. Premium day boat: a larger boat with higher quality, better lunch and better service. We will use the Alova Premium Cruise or a similar boat if it is unavailable. Tour includes entrance ticket. Duration: 6 hours. Transfer from Hanoi available on request.

None of these options right for you? See 4 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Halong Bay cruise and sightseeing

• Arrive at Tuan Chau Marina before noon
• Board cruise and attend safety briefing
• Enjoy 6-hour cruise through Halong Bay
• Visit Titop Island for swimming or climbing
• Explore Surprising Cave with stalagmites
• Kayak or bamboo boat in Luon Cave lagoon
• Have Vietnamese lunch on board
• Afternoon tea while cruising back
• Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina

Stops and time spent at each 3 stops

1. Ha Long Bay 5h
2. Surprise Cave 30m
3. Titop Island 30m

What’s included

• Kayaking or bamboo boat paddle through Luon Cave.
• Vietnamese and seafood lunch on the boat.
• afternoon tea during the return.
• English-speaking guide for the full six hours.
• entry to Surprise Cave and Titop Island (depending on your ticket option at checkout).

Times

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• Every day 11:30

Information

Cruise Ha Long Bay from Tuan Chau Marina for six hours, swimming at Titop Island, exploring Surprise Cave.

Group Up to 75

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 4 similar tours with pickup › See the exact address

Book up to 2h before

Ages Adult (9 and older) · Youth (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

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

Good to know

Low physical effort

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.67 ★★★★★ Excellent 3 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

You board at Tuan Chau Marina before noon and spend the next six hours on a cruise that moves between named landmarks (Cock Fighting Rock, Thumb Peak and other islets the locals named for their shapes), while the boat carries you toward Titop Island first. There you can swim on the sandy beach or take the climb up Titop Peak for a view across the bay. Most people do both, splitting the time between water and the trail. Lunch is served on the boat, Vietnamese and seafood dishes, before the afternoon leg takes you to Surprise Cave.

Surprise Cave is one of Ha Long Bay's largest grottoes, its interior dense with stalagmites and stalactites in shapes that suggest sea creatures and other forms. You walk through the cave on a marked path, then return to the boat for the final stop: Luon Cave. Here the real activity begins. You leave the cruise boat and get into a kayak or bamboo boat (your choice) to paddle into a lagoon hidden inside the cave system. The enclosed water is still and clear, ringed by limestone walls, and the paddle is short enough that even first-time paddlers find it manageable. Afternoon tea is served back on the boat as you cruise back toward Tuan Chau, with disembarkation around 5:45 PM.

The tour runs on a fixed schedule and a shared boat, so you travel with other visitors. An English-speaking guide is with the group throughout, and the operator notes the itinerary suits all fitness levels. The climb at Titop is optional, and the kayak or bamboo boat option means you can choose the pace that works for you.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 8 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

Can I swim at Titop Island, or is it just for climbing?

Titop Island has a sandy beach where swimming is the main activity for most visitors. Climbing Titop Peak is the alternative if you prefer the panoramic view over the water. You can do both if you want to split your time there.

What is Surprise Cave actually like inside?

Surprise Cave is a large grotto filled with stalagmites and stalactites in varied shapes, and you walk through on a marked path inside the cave. It is one of Ha Long Bay's most visited cave systems and one of the largest.

Is the kayaking in Luon Cave difficult?

Luon Cave kayaking is a short paddle through a lagoon enclosed by limestone walls, and the operator notes it suits all fitness levels. You can choose a kayak or a bamboo boat if you prefer not to paddle yourself.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes, Vietnamese and seafood lunch is served on the boat during the cruise. Afternoon tea is also included on the return journey. Beverages beyond tea are not included.

Operated by Local Tours HALONG. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago