Private day trips
Forest and streams
Five forest days, easiest first
Phu Quoc is more forest than beach, and the forest is what we know best. These five days run from a short walk to a swimming pool in a stream to about 7-10 km over a ridge. They are ordered here from easiest to hardest.
- forest days
- 5
- activity levels, of 5
- 2 - 4
- Tien Son viewpoint, about
- 280 m
- steadiest trekking months
- Nov - Apr
The five, in order of difficulty
Suoi May stream day
A short, easy forest walk to Suoi May stream, swimming in rock pools and a BBQ lunch grilled in the forest by the guide team. About 08:30 - 15:30, children welcome with adults. From USD 74. The stream day.
Healing Forest: Da Ban herbal walk
2-3 km at a slow pace on forest floor and stream rocks, learning the wild medicinal plants, then a pepper or bee farm and a herbal farm. Age 6+. From USD 139 for a group of two. The herbal walk.
Night forest walk
About three hours in the evening with red-filtered torches, looking for frogs, insects, spiders and geckos. Age 10+. Quoted on request. The night walk.
Tien Son Peak, Bat Cave and Suoi Tranh
About 3 km of forest trail to the Bat Cave, about 2 km more to a viewpoint at about 280 m, then a swim at Suoi Tranh. Age 12+. From USD 101. The Tien Son trek.
Trek & Heal: Suoi Tien trek and foot soak
About 7-10 km along Suoi Tien stream and over the ridge, about 5.5 hours of real effort, then a herbal foot soak. Age 12+. From USD 149 for a group of two. The long trek.
Three of the five sit at level 2. They differ in what you do rather than how hard it is: swim and eat, learn plants, or walk after dark.
Side by side
| Walking | Terrain | Hours | Age | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suoi May | Short, easy walk to the stream | Forest path, rock pools | About 08:30 - 15:30 | Children with adults | USD 74 |
| Healing Forest | 2-3 km, slow, many stops | Forest floor and stream rocks | 07:30 - 17:30 | 6+ | USD 139 (2 people) |
| Night walk | About 3 hours on a path | Forest edge, after dark | Around 18:30 - 21:30 | 10+ | On request |
| Tien Son | About 3 km to the cave, about 2 km more to the peak | Climbing, boulder scrambling, a dark cave | About 08:00 - 16:00 | 12+ | USD 101 |
| Trek & Heal | About 7-10 km (4-5 km version possible) | Stream rock steps, ridge climb, stream crossings | 07:00 - 17:30 | 12+ | USD 149 (2 people) |
Exact distances on Trek & Heal are being GPS-logged; the measured distance and climb for your route are written into your quote.
Which one fits your legs
If you walk for an hour now and then and want a forest day without strain, Suoi May or Healing Forest. Suoi May is mostly about the water and the lunch; Healing Forest is mostly about the plants, with a long afternoon at the herbal farm. Both suit families and older travellers, as long as everyone is steady on rocks that can be wet.
If you hike at home, Tien Son. The first 3 km to the Bat Cave are forest trail; the last 2 km to the peak climb steeply, with boulders to scramble over. Headlamps are provided for the cave, and the group can skip the cave if anyone dislikes the dark or tight spaces. The day ends with a swim at Suoi Tranh, a stream with a small waterfall and pools.
If you walk regularly and want the whole forest, Trek & Heal. It is three stages: about 3-4 km along Suoi Tien stream over rock steps, about 3 km of climbing to a viewpoint over the forest and the east coast, then 1-3 km down. The herbal foot soak at the end is there for a reason. For a full guide by fitness, distance and age, see choosing a trek.
Seasons in the forest
3 = ideal, 2 = good, 1 = avoid or expect limits. Seasons shift by up to a month from year to year.
The dry season runs roughly from November or December to April or May. Trails are firm and streams lower, and it is the steadier time for Tien Son and Trek & Heal; Tien Son is planned for November to April. From December to February the purple sim (rose myrtle) flowers on the Ham Ninh ridge, on the Trek & Heal route.
The rainy season runs roughly from June to October or November. Streams are fullest and prettiest, which is why Suoi May is at its fullest then. The cost is slippery rock, possible leeches, and routes that the guide may shorten or cancel in heavy rain. On Tien Son the cave walk may be skipped if it is flooded. In the driest months, around March to May, the Suoi May pools can be shallow, and we tell you what to expect for your date before you pay. More on months on the when to go page.
Rules we keep in the forest
- Stay on the path; the guide leads. Snakes live here as in any tropical forest.
- Nobody enters a stream in heavy rain. Water can rise fast.
- Look and learn. On the herbal walk there is no picking, digging or breaking.
- Carry out everything. On Trek & Heal rubbish bags are part of the kit, and lunch is a packed lunch with no fires.
- At night: quiet voices, no touching, no flash photography on animals.
Who should not book a forest day
- Anyone unsteady on slippery rock - every forest day has stream rocks, and in the rainy season they are wet.
- People with heart conditions, weak knees or pregnancy should not book Trek & Heal or Tien Son; Suoi May is the gentler choice.
- Children under 12 on the two longer treks, and under 10 on the night walk.
- Anyone expecting big animals. Mammals are rarely seen, day or night.
- Anyone wanting an overnight trek. All five are day trips.
Plan your trip
Not sure which level you are?
A short guide to picking a trek by fitness, distance and age.
Reference prices and how quotes work are on the pricing page; the gear list is on what to pack for a jungle trek.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Which forest day is the easiest?
Suoi May: a short, easy walk to the stream, then swimming and a BBQ lunch. Healing Forest is also level 2, with 2-3 km at a slow pace.
Will we see wildlife?
Birds, insects and plants, yes. On the night walk, frogs, spiders and geckos are likely. Mammals are rarely seen and we make no promises.
Are there leeches?
They are possible in the rainy season. Long socks and closed shoes help.
Can the long trek be made shorter?
Yes. Trek & Heal has a 4-5 km version at a lower price, and in heavy rain the guide may shorten any route.
Related
Read next
Example journey
Healing Forest: Da Ban
A slow 2-3 km herbal walk at Da Ban stream, a farm visit and a herbal foot soak. Activity 2 of 5.
View this journey
Example journey
Trek & Heal: Suoi Tien
The hardest day on the site: about 7-10 km of stream and ridge, then a herbal foot soak. Activity 4 of 5.
View this journey
Example journey
Tien Son peak and Bat Cave trek
Forest trail, a headlamp cave and a 280 m peak, then a stream swim. Activity 3.5 of 5.
View this journey
Example journey
Suoi May stream day
The easy stream day: a short walk, rock-pool swimming and a BBQ lunch. Activity 2 of 5.
View this journey
Example journey
Night forest walk
An evening walk by red torchlight for small forest life. Age 10+, price on request.
View this journey
Plan - choosing
Choosing a trek
The five forest days compared by distance, climbing, age and time, plus a self-test.
View this journeyStart planning
Tell us which day you have in mind
Dates, party size and the places you care about are enough to start. You get a draft route and an indicative price, not a brochure.