British journalist recounts experience sleeping overnight in Son Doong Cave

Daily Mail travel writer Lauren Sharman described sleeping in Son Doong Cave as like being in a pitch-black cocoon, and she still hopes to have the chance to return.

Lauren Sharman is a travel journalist and editor for the Daily Mail. The British journalist once explored Son Doong Cave, the world's largest cave in Vietnam . The following article, published in the Daily Mail, recounts her memorable experiences from the trip:

As the sun sank deep below the horizon, I pitched my tent on the sand. My companions were busy setting up their sleeping mats for the night. Leaving my tent door open, I lay on my sleeping bag and gazed out at the magnificent scenery surrounding me.

The group pitched their tents on a very special sandy beach, deep within Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, inside Son Doong Cave, the world's largest cave. Exploring this place makes you feel like you're strolling inside the Earth's core.

This was truly the most surreal campsite I've ever been to. Looking out from the tent, I took a deep breath as the sun cast its mesmerizing light throughout the cave's vaulted ceiling.

The distant sound of dripping water echoed like a gentle lullaby in the night, while I was surrounded by colossal limestone walls.

In the early morning, amidst the misty air, the first rays of sunlight piercing through the cave entrance made everyone think of the dense forest above. Now, after two days of climbing over rocks using ropes and ladders, I know this place much better.

The underground river in the Son Doong cave system. Photo: Oxalis

The journey began when a minibus dropped the group off at 9 a.m. at the top of the valley, and then they ventured into the dense jungle. Water seeped through their shoes as they waded through streams, but the shoes provided the necessary grip for climbing the steep slopes to the campsite at Hang Én.

As soon as I reached the cave entrance, I thought I'd been tricked into arriving at Son Doong Cave earlier than scheduled. En Cave is the third largest cave in the world, with a ceiling height of 145 meters and a width of about 200 meters. The cave's scale is impressive; the only sound I could hear was the chirping of swallows. The guide explained, "The cave is named after the bird species because they build their nests here in large numbers."

At Hang En, while the porter (who also carries luggage) prepares dinner, tourists can swim in the river. Afterwards, we recharged our energy in preparation for the next day's trek through the cave, wading through the river, and climbing slopes.

As I descended to a height of 80 meters by rappelling down, I realized that Son Doong Cave was still hidden deep within. The entrance to the enormous cave gradually became visible as I lowered myself, and the temperature immediately dropped sharply.

After numerous climbs, everyone reached the second campsite located inside the magnificent Son Doong Cave. It was the moment everyone had been waiting for, and they all shared the feeling of stepping into another world. The cave walls were so high that words couldn't describe them, and you had to crane your neck to see them.

Sunlight streamed through the cave entrance, highlighting the green of the vegetation below. The sun was shining, but not hot enough, so the sand beneath and my feet remained cool.

In this desolate setting, everyone was surprised to find toilets and changing tents already set up. Spending the night here became more comfortable, and I looked forward to a good night's sleep in this "dark cocoon."

Campsite inside Son Doong Cave. Photo: Oxalis

The next day, the group climbed the steep rock walls and squeezed through narrow crevices to reach the forest inside the cave. The quiet, cold air provided a refreshing coolness rarely found elsewhere. As we walked, we shared the faint rays of light with bats, spiders, fish, and even scorpions. But the only thing I saw was the shadows of bats as they swooped down from the cave ceiling at sunset or when disturbed by tourists' headlamps.

When the guide announced that we didn't have to cross the river anymore, I was overjoyed. I stopped to change into a pair of fresh, dry socks.

Upon emerging from the cave, I was able to watch the sunset once again, and everything was within my view. This was a beautiful moment after many days underground, but I would still trade another dark night if I could return to explore Son Doong Cave.

Son Doong is known as the largest cave, nearly 9km long, containing a dense forest, underground rivers, its own ecosystem and weather, and an estimated space large enough to accommodate a 60-story building. According to Oxalis, the cave may be larger than previously reported because it has not yet been fully explored.

Although discovered by locals in 1990, Son Doong Cave was only officially added to the tourism map in 2013 with the launch of expeditions that same year.

Only 1,000 visitors (divided into groups of 10) are allowed into Son Doong Cave each year, and only one tour operator is permitted to organize tours. Therefore, the 6-day trekking itinerary fills up very quickly.

Dan Thanh

Source: https://dulich.laodong.vn/kham-pha/nha-bao-anh-ke-trai-nghiem-ngu-dem-trong-hang-son-doong-1381413.html