Tiếng Việt
The Ta Dung Peak trekking tour is a familiar choice for adventurous travelers and backpacking enthusiasts exploring the Dak Nong region in the Central Highlands. However, the following account of a unique 4-day cross-forest expedition, pioneering new routes from Lam Dong to Dak Nong and surveying uncharted destinations, promises an even more novel and extraordinary experience.
In 2020, I had the fortunate opportunity to join a survey team, including a television crew and fellow adventure travel enthusiasts, to explore new potential trekking routes connecting Lam Dong and Dak Nong. This concise 4-day journey allowed me to discover numerous captivating destinations: volcanic caves, majestic waterfalls, expansive natural lakes, and gain valuable geological insights. Despite moments of exhaustion, this trip was truly rewarding and worthwhile.
Discovering Chu Bluk Volcano Caves & Nam Kar Volcano
The first day of my cross-forest journey from Lam Dong to Dak Nong began gently with hiking trails from the edge of the Dray Sap special-use forest, leading to the exploration of the Chu Bluk volcano caves – the longest volcanic cave system in Southeast Asia.
Chu Bluk Cave (also known as Bat Cave), located in Buon Choah commune, Krong No district, Dak Nong province, stretches approximately 25km and is recognized as the longest volcanic cave in Southeast Asia. The accessible areas for exploration are Caves C3 and C4, which are interconnected.
To reach the Chu Bluk volcano caves, I trekked through a section of primeval forest within the volcanic area. The geology of this path consists of basalt soil formed from cooled volcanic lava magma. My trip took place during the dry season, making the trek relatively easy. However, those traveling during the rainy season should anticipate a more challenging journey through this terrain.
The trek to the entrance of Chu Bluk Volcano Cave C3 takes just over 30 minutes. Cave C3 stretches 594.4 meters in length, and as you venture deeper, you’ll immediately sense a distinct change from the outside environment. The atmosphere becomes humid and refreshingly cool, with an abundance of low-lying vegetation. The cooled lava rocks, in various sizes, exhibit a rough, dull gray texture. Combined with the whistling wind and the trickling sound of water from above, it creates an impressive and unique spectacle.
Caves C3 and C4 are interconnected. Our entire group followed the guide single file, each equipped with a flashlight and carefully watching our steps to avoid scrapes from the lava rocks. After traversing Caves C3 and C4, we continued a short distance to reach an expansive lava field.
This lava field spans hundreds of hectares, surrounded by extinct volcanoes that have been dormant for millions of years. In the distance lies the majestic Krong No River. The overall view is a soothing and truly beautiful natural panorama.
In the afternoon, the group continued to explore the crater of Nam Kar Volcano (located in Quang Phu commune, Krong No district, Dak Nong). This volcano is part of the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark and was active between 5.3 and 1.8 million years ago. From a distance, Nam Kar Volcano appears as a truncated cone with a funnel-shaped depression in the center, marking the site of past lava eruptions.
Today, visitors will readily observe Nam Kar Volcano adorned with the green patches of local farms and terraced fields, a stark contrast to a barren, lifeless volcanic landscape. The ascent to the volcano’s crater around midday can be quite challenging due to the lack of large trees providing shade. The trail follows the volcano’s slope, which inclines at a steep 35-45 degrees. Scattered across the crater are layers of brittle, porous, and loosely bound lava rock and soil, making it easy to slip and fall, so caution is advised.
At the end of the day, our group traveled to a Dao ethnic village by “xe cong nong” (a type of agricultural vehicle) to set up camp, freshen up, and spend the night. This marked the end of a relatively easy first day, serving as a gentle warm-up for the more demanding stages of the journey ahead.
Discovering the Majestic and Untamed Phi Lieng Waterfall Amidst the Forests of Lam Dong
The second day of our cross-forest expedition from Lam Dong to Dak Nong saw our group moving under the guidance and support of forest rangers, embarking on a several-kilometer trek through the woods to reach Phi Lieng Waterfall, a majestic and pristine cascade nestled in Lam Dong.
We began our journey along a previously cleared path, traversing low hills stretching from Dak Nong towards Lam Dong. This uphill trek was relatively easy and presented few obstacles. These hills were largely covered with mature pine trees planted sparsely, although some hills were barren, revealing only layers of low shrubs.
Continuing our journey towards Phi Lieng Waterfall, we ventured into a deeper section of the forest, where the trail became more challenging. Steep inclines and sections with large tree roots obstructing the path required us to proceed slowly, hold firmly, and exercise extreme caution to avoid falls. From a distance, we could already glimpse the top tier of Phi Lieng Waterfall and hear the resounding roar of the cascading water.
To descend to the base of the waterfall, we continued to grip onto the exposed tree roots as we navigated a steep, 70-degree incline – a hazardous, slippery slope where falls were a significant risk. After carefully maneuvering along large tree trunks to reach the first tier of the falls, our group used ropes to slowly descend the remaining approximately 200-meter slope to the base. It was midday, and the sun was intense and glaring. Each person moved cautiously downwards, as the loose soil and rocks were prone to erosion and could easily cause scrapes if they hit someone.
Phi Lieng Waterfall is truly beautiful and magnificent. Standing at its base, one feels dwarfed by the grandeur of nature. The waterfall plunges approximately 70 meters, and this is only the fifth tier out of a total of seven, which explains why Phi Lieng Waterfall is also known as Thac Bay Tang (Seven-Tier Waterfall).
At the foot of Phi Lieng Waterfall, our entire group rested, had lunch, swam in the natural pool, and savored the beauty of this incredible cascade. The water in the pool directly beneath Phi Lieng Waterfall was particularly refreshing – after a tiring trek, a swim in the waterfall was an unparalleled reward!
Conquering Vertical Cliffs – Camping at the Gold Mining Site
After reveling in the magnificence of Phi Lieng Waterfall, our group continued trekking for another 5 kilometers to reach our designated camping spot, striving to navigate safely before nightfall.
The descending slope, though only a few hundred meters long, posed a significant hazard with an incline of up to 70 degrees. To get down, each member of the group had to move slowly, carefully selecting flat footholds, gripping tightly onto the climbing plant roots, and descending gradually.
Some sections of the slope were bare, offering no vegetation to hold onto. In these areas, we had to face inwards and firmly grip onto small rock outcroppings along the way down. The combination of loose soil, rocks, and fallen decaying leaves created an unstable surface, making it very easy to slip. The numerous thorny vines and low bushes in this area caused many scratches as we held onto them for support.
At the bottom of these steep slopes were large boulders; a fall would undoubtedly result in injury, so everyone moved with extreme caution!
Besides the fear of heights and the slippery terrain that made it easy to lose footing, another danger loomed: falling rocks. Rocks precariously perched on the ground could easily be dislodged and sent tumbling down onto those below as multiple people stepped on them during the descent. Our group experienced this firsthand when a rock rolled down from above, fortunately only hitting a member’s thigh. Had it struck a head or abdomen, it could have easily caused a fatal fall from the steep height.
After over an hour of descending the near-vertical 70-degree cliff, our entire group safely reached the bottom, where another small yet beautiful waterfall awaited us. This was the lower tier of Phi Lieng Waterfall, one of the seven cascades of the Seven-Tier Waterfall mentioned earlier.
Exhausted from the steep descent, we still had to trek another approximately 2 kilometers along a small stream, with a path primarily composed of sharp gravel and rocks, to reach the gold mining site. It was here that we could finally set up camp and spend the night in the forest.
Upon reaching the campsite near the long-abandoned illegal gold mining area, the forest rangers began preparing dinner for the entire group.
According to the rangers, this gold mining site is situated between the provinces of Dak Nong and Lam Dong. It was previously an illegal gold mining operation, and after its dismantling, the area was left vacant. However, the stream still contains traces of mercury, making the water unsafe for bathing or cooking. Water for our use would be piped down from a higher stream.
Weary and exhausted after a full day in the forest, our group now savored the experience of camping in the wilderness. We enjoyed a meal together by the warm campfire, replenishing our spirits and energy for the most challenging leg of our journey tomorrow.
Cross-Forest Trekking Adventure from Lam Dong to Dak Nong
Day three began with a simple yet incredibly delicious and rare breakfast of sticky rice balls, prepared by the forest rangers who had risen early. This humble meal was especially appreciated amidst the wilderness.
After assessing the terrain, the forest rangers decided to forge a path through the forest, heading upwards towards a hilltop. This was a solitary trail originally created by local ethnic communities to travel down to the foot of the mountains to trade for salt and food supplies. The path had been unused for a long time, allowing dense vegetation to grow and almost completely obscure it.
The primary direction of travel involved ascending gentle slopes of around 20-30 degrees. However, the real challenge lay in the dense and incredibly sharp thickets of thorny bushes, bamboo, and reeds. Notably, as we were forging a new route, there were no established trails, making it easy for members of the group to become separated. Therefore, we divided ourselves into smaller teams to provide mutual support, moving slowly to keep each other in sight, leaving markers on branches, and calling out to ensure those behind could follow.
This third day of our cross-forest journey from Lam Dong to Dak Nong proved to be the most arduous leg. This section of the trek involved traversing diverse terrains, from sharp bamboo thickets to barren but steep hills under the intense sun, which significantly drained the energy of everyone in the group. Even as someone with extensive experience in challenging treks, I found myself feeling exhausted on this particular stretch.
After more than half a day of traversing hill after hill, our entire group was overjoyed to finally reach a Dao ethnic village to ask for drinking water. Despite the villagers’ own arduous efforts to obtain these precious containers of water, they were kind enough to share with our entire đoàn.
The continuous movement over the past three days, navigating challenging terrains in harsh weather conditions, had taken its toll. Many members of the group were now unable to continue trekking. Therefore, the entire đoàn received support to travel down to the base of Ta Dung mountain, to the campsite, by “xe cong nong” instead of proceeding on foot as initially planned.
Thus concluded day three, filled with a wide range of emotions – a day of immense hardship that also created lasting memories. This was a time for the members to rest and recover, preparing for the trek to the summit of Ta Dung at 1982 meters on day four, the final day of our cross-forest journey from Lam Dong to Dak Nong.
Trekking to the Summit of Ta Dung (1982m)
Ta Dung National Park encompasses a total area of 21,307 hectares, situated within the administrative boundaries of Dak Som commune, Dak G’long district, Dak Nong province. This area belongs to the South Central Highlands biogeographical zone, located between the Dak Nong and Di Linh plateaus. Ta Dung Peak stands as the highest mountain in the area, reaching an altitude of 1982 meters.
Ta Dung National Park is renowned for its extensive natural forest cover and diverse ecosystems, including evergreen broad-leaved forests, semi-deciduous broad-leaved forests, coniferous forests, natural bamboo and reed forests, and mixed forests of timber, bamboo, and reeds. Among these, the evergreen broad-leaved forest ecosystem is dominant, covering 8416.2 hectares, which accounts for nearly 45% of the entire national park’s area.
To trek to the summit of Ta Dung, our entire group began our ascent at 6:00 AM. Starting early allowed us to take advantage of the cooler temperatures at the beginning of the day. While trekking during the dry season offers significantly more convenient trails compared to the rainy season, the heat can quickly lead to fatigue, exhaustion, and dehydration. Furthermore, navigating dense, overgrown forest sections with a large group simultaneously can easily cause suffocation due to a lack of oxygen. Therefore, dividing the trekking route into smaller segments for rest and recovery is absolutely essential.
After approximately half a day, we finally reached the summit of Ta Dung at 1982 meters. At that time, the peak offered a few boulders serving as check-in points, surrounded by towering ancient trees that obscured the view and lacked a proper observation point. However, since then, a path has been cleared leading to a viewpoint, allowing visitors to now enjoy panoramic vistas of the stunning Dak Nong mountains and forests from the summit of Ta Dung.
Well past noon, our group bid farewell to the forest rangers and began our descent back down the mountain, marking the end of our Dak Nong exploration journey. The 4-day trekking expedition to conquer Ta Dung Peak (1982m) officially concluded around 5:00 PM after we exited the Ta Dung forest and were transported back to our meeting point by “xe cong nong” for the return journey home.
The moment of parting with the forest rangers was filled with emotion and nostalgia. They were incredibly kind and provided invaluable support, ensuring our safe passage throughout the four days and providing us with ample food and provisions. This journey was so memorable that even years later, upon returning, the rangers still recognized me and fondly reminisced about the trip as if it had just happened yesterday.
As an avid enthusiast of backpacking and experiential travel, I’ve participated in numerous challenging trekking expeditions. However, this cross-forest journey from Lam Dong to Dak Nong has left me with the most profound emotions and unforgettable experiences. Enduring continuous travel over several days across diverse and challenging terrains, pioneering new paths through the forest to witness the stunning and majestic beauty of the Lam Dong and Dak Nong regions, coupled with gaining valuable geological knowledge from the experts in our group – for me, experiences that combine adventure with learning are infinitely more meaningful.
I sincerely hope that this type of tour will have the opportunity to develop, allowing me to embark on it once more. I’m certain that if this cross-forest expedition from Lam Dong to Dak Nong were offered as a tour, it would attract many fellow trekking enthusiasts due to its demanding nature, captivating allure, novelty, and the sheer thrill it offers.
I’ve shared my cross-forest journey from Lam Dong to Dak Nong on my Facebook page, Phúc Nguyễn, and my YouTube & TikTok channels, Đi cùng Tiêu Dao Tử. This is both to preserve the memories of these trips and for fellow enthusiasts of adventure travel and exploration!
