Weekend Trekking Langbiang: Bathing in 5°C Cold Waterfall

25 km from the center of Da Lat, towards the top of Langbiang, is Tam Tham waterfall, also known as An waterfall. The reason is because it is hidden deep in the forest and people rarely approach it. However, the terrain here is suitable for tourists who love to experience close to nature, camping or simply immersing themselves in the cold water of 5 degrees Celsius. If you want to experience a completely new Da Lat, don't miss this 24-hour discovery trip.

At 8am, the car will take visitors from the center of Da Lat to Lac Duong town, then transfer to a jeep through forest and stream roads to reach the trekking spot. At 10am, before departure, visitors will be equipped with trekking poles and ion-supplemented drinks.

The trekking route to Tam Tham waterfall is located behind Langbiang peak, 7 km long with hills, mountains and streams. The route to Tam Tham waterfall is not difficult so it is very suitable for those who are new to trekking. The path through the pine forest is not too dense, the most difficult is probably crossing the stream on monkey bridges made of planks or simply a tree trunk. In the rainy season, the tree trunks become slippery so visitors must be very careful.

This place is mainly coniferous forest, typical of Da Lat and some tropical forest along the stream. In the rainy season, the amount of water flowing into the waterfall will be larger, the water will be colder, the cover of the layers of vegetation will be thicker. People have a saying "golden flies, silver mosquitoes, diamond leeches", enough to see the proliferation of diverse insects when the weather is wet. There are also more mushrooms around June - August. At the beginning of the dry season, the locals will burn the vegetation layer in a controlled manner once a year, so along the way you will see some patches of dry burnt forest.

On the way to the forest edge, visitors can see the K'Ho ethnic people going into the forest to herd cattle, work on the fields, or catch fish in the streams. In addition, the people here are responsible for controlling and protecting the forest, the forest is divided among households to look after, under the supervision of the forest management unit. They are very hospitable and happy to see groups of tourists coming to visit.

On the uphill road through the pine forests, visitors will be able to hear the sound of pine trees rustling like the sound of falling rain. On the downhill, visitors will encounter small streams flowing from the cool Tam Tham waterfall, so visitors can take the opportunity to wash their faces, wash their hands or simply listen to the sound of the stream while resting.

At 12:00, visitors will approach Tam Tham waterfall. From the top of the waterfall, you can see a panoramic view of the forest. Stopping at the waterfall, visitors can take souvenir photos, bathe in the waterfall, and soak their feet until they are numb from the cold water.

During the rainy season from May to October, the amount of water flowing into the waterfall is greater, and the temperature also drops to 6-5 degrees Celsius. During the dry season from November to April, the water is cold at around 7 degrees Celsius. Soaking in cold water brings many health benefits such as increasing blood circulation and strengthening the immune system.

While tourists bathe in the waterfall and take photos, the tour guide begins to prepare a picnic lunch. At around 2:00 p.m., after lunch is over, tourists will return to the overnight campsite.

On the way back, visitors will hear the locals share about the forest plants, some of which can be used as spices, as well as edible vegetables. To serve the evening barbecue, the kitchen prepares some wild pepper which the K'Ho people call teaThis pepper has a strong but not pungent aroma. Both the seeds and leaves can be used for marinating or as a spice for dipping sauces.

At 3:00 p.m., arriving at the campsite in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, visitors will have more time to rest, bathe in the stream, change clothes and then help the kitchen prepare dinner. At 6:00 p.m., the whole group will grill meat and have dinner in the cool atmosphere of the Central Highlands mountains and forests. Next to the burning donkey stove, intimate stories will begin, all the fatigue of the city will be put aside. At around 9:00 p.m., the whole group will go to sleep in the tent to wake up early the next day to welcome the sunrise.

If you want to catch the first rays of sunshine and enjoy the fresh, cool air that is rare in the city, visitors must wake up at 5:30. This time is also suitable for cloud hunting. Breakfast starts at 6:30, with tea and coffee. After that, the whole group packs up the tents and waits for the jeep to pick them up to Lac Duong town, ending the journey in the center of Da Lat at 8:30.