Start the Year with a Bidoup Nui Ba Tour with Tổ Ong Adventure
This spring, experience a wilder side of Lam Dong in the Bidoup Nui Ba forest. What does one of Vietnam’s four biodiversity centers look like at the beginning of the year? Trek Bidoup Nui Ba with Tổ Ong to find out.
1. Spring Travel: Trekking Bidoup Nui Ba
As part of the Kon Chu Rang conservation area, Bidoup Nui Ba is located in Lac Duong District, Lam Dong. It is also called the “Roof of the Central Highlands” thanks to Bidoup peak’s elevation of 2,287m. With a total area of up to 6,800 hectares, trekkers can fully immerse themselves in the natural world.About 50km by road from Da Lat, following Provincial Road 727, you can reach Bidoup. The Bidoup trek takes 2 days and 1 night to complete. It is a 27km forest journey to conquer the lofty Bidoup summit.The dry season, from August to April, is the best time to explore this mountain. You can discover an ancient, mysterious forest with a highly diverse ecosystem. Mild, chilly weather, less rain, and drier trails make the route easier for trekkers. Bidoup’s scenery during this period is especially beautiful and can easily captivate anyone.
2. What Does Bidoup Offer at the Start of the Year?
Mist in the Chilly Air
Lam Dong’s temperature during this period ranges from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. Bidoup Nui Ba is no exception. It can even be colder here because of the elevation. Occasional rain raises the humidity, and mist covers the great forest, creating a hazy, enchanting scene. Especially at sunrise, you may see a sea of clouds from higher ground. The moment does not last long, as the clouds gradually dissolve when the sun rises, which makes it even more precious.
Open Spaces Covered in Fresh Green
A Vibrant Primary Forest
The spirit of spring brings new vitality to a forest that is often quiet and ancient. The forest becomes livelier than ever with birdsong. From time to time, you may spot squirrels darting between branches or a family of wild boars behind the bushes.The bright colors of countless flowers also decorate the Bidoup forest: the soft pink of peach blossoms announcing spring, the yellow of wild daisies, and many forest orchids in different shapes and colors. High humidity also creates favorable conditions for mushrooms to grow, so you may see many unusual species. It is no exaggeration to call Bidoup Nui Ba a kingdom of mushrooms.
The Gentle Da Nhim River
The Da Nhim River also becomes gentler. This river has sustained life in the forest for many years. On the Bidoup Nui Ba tour, you will experience the challenge of crossing the Da Nhim River. Without engines or machines, you use your own strength to move the wooden ferry.
The More Than 1,300-Year-Old Pơmu Tree
After trekking about 8km, you will encounter the famous ancient Pơmu tree in Bidoup Nui Ba. This year, the tree gains another growth ring. Its trunk measures about 13.5m in circumference, and it stands more than 40m tall. For thousands of years, it has remained tall and imposing like a guardian spirit of the forest. This spring, young shoots full of life continue to unfold, adding tender green color.
Visiting K’ho Stilt Houses
On the way down the mountain, you will see stilt houses of the K’ho people. These houses connect generations and reflect a distinct cultural identity. The small wooden homes nestle among the forest, standing as evidence of a way of life that is friendly and harmonious with nature.
