Bidoup Summit Expedition
Two days across the roof of Lâm Đồng, 2,287 metres
About this trail
Bidoup is the highest point in the province and the heart of a UNESCO biosphere reserve — nineteen hundred plant species, two hundred and fifty orchids, forest that has never been cut. The traverse starts at the K'Long K'Lanh ranger station on the Nha Trang road, crosses the Đa Nhim on a suspension bridge, passes a pơ-mu tree that has been standing for thirteen centuries, and camps at 1,800 metres where the pine gives way to evergreen. The second morning is the summit and a long descent to Đà Nhim. Entry is by permit with a park ranger; that is arranged, paid and included.
Highlights
- Bidoup, 2,287 m — the highest point in Lâm Đồng
- Primary cloud forest, moss on every trunk and rock
- The 1,300-year-old sacred pơ-mu tree
- A night at 1,800 m at the edge of the evergreen forest
Route
The line on the map is drawn through the real features of the route, not recorded with a GPS. It is right about where the route goes and how steep it is; the exact GPX comes from your own day and is sent to you afterwards.
Day one: from K'Long K'Lanh at 1,400 m, across the Đa Nhim suspension bridge at 3.4 km, past the pơ-mu at 7.8 km, to camp at 12.1 km and 1,800 m. Day two: the summit at 15.6 km, then the long descent west, water at 22.4 km, and out at the Đà Nhim trailhead on QL27C.
Along the way
- km 0.0K'Long K'Lanh ranger stationStart1400 m
- km 3.4Đa Nhim suspension bridgeRiver crossing1620 m
- km 7.81,300-year-old pơ-mu treeViewpoint1920 m
- km 12.1High camp, 1,800 mCamp
- km 15.6Bidoup summit, 2,287 mSummit
- km 22.4Forest springWater1710 m
- km 27.0Đà Nhim trailhead, QL27CFinish1400 m
Who is it for?
Fit walkers who are ready for two days in the forest, a night under canvas at altitude and no way out in between. Technically it is not hard; it is long, wet underfoot and cold at night.
What to bring
- Boots, broken in, with ankle support
- A warm layer and a proper rain shell — the camp is below 10 °C at night
- Long socks over trouser cuffs, and repellent, for the leeches
- A head torch
- A change of dry clothes for the camp, in a dry bag
What's included
- Your guide for both days
- The national park permit, ranger and entrance ticket, arranged in advance
- Transfer from Da Lat and back
- Tent, sleeping bag and all meals on the mountain
- A porter for the group's camping load
- Photographs from the trip
- Travel insurance beyond the park's own cover
- Personal gear rental
Price
| People | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9,200,000 VND≈ $354 | 9,200,000 VND |
| 2 | 6,400,000 VND≈ $246 | 12,800,000 VND |
| 3–4 | 5,600,000 VND≈ $215 | 16,800,000 VND |
Prices are per person in Vietnamese đồng. The US dollar figure is indicative and follows the rate set in the site's settings.
Included in the price
- Bidoup–Núi Bà guided route package1,950,000 VND
- National park entrance ticket40,000 VND
- Porter for the group's camp load600,000 VND
Safety
Bidoup is permit-only country and self-guided entry is prohibited; a ranger accompanies every group, which is a safety feature rather than a formality. There is no mobile coverage. Leeches are serious here from June to October, and the K'Long K'Lanh side is the worst of it — we run this route in the dry season for that reason. The river crossing is bridged but the bridge moves.
Minimum age eighteen. Maximum four people, which is the ratio the park works to. December to April only. Permits are issued by the national park and are outside my control; if one is refused you get a full refund.
Meeting point
Hotel pick-up at 05:00; ninety minutes on QL27C to the ranger station. Back in Da Lat by early evening on day two. Book at least two weeks ahead — the park needs that long to issue the permit.
Your guide
Ivan Grigorev
I am Ivan. I have been running for twenty years and coaching runners since 2011, and I have been in the mountains since 2009 and guiding in them since 2015. Ten marathons, five ultras over 100 km, Elbrus twice. I live in Da Lat and I have spent my mornings learning where its trails actually go.
Meet your guide
