REVIEW · DA LAT
Camping and Sup/Kayak at Tuyen Lam Lake
Book on Viator →Operated by Viet Challenge Tours · Bookable on Viator
SUP and camping in Da Lat sounds simple, then it turns into a full-on reset. This two-day Tuyen Lam Lake experience blends guided SUP/kayak time, time outdoors at sunrise and sunset, and an included camping setup in a calm setting outside the city. I love that you get real instruction on rowing so you are not guessing the whole time, and you also get a local guide who helps you feel safe.
I also like the food plan: a BBQ dinner at the lake with a proper spread, plus an early-morning breakfast before you head back. It is the kind of trip where you can show up, follow the rhythm, and spend your energy on the water and views instead of logistics.
One thing to consider: the program description includes a hike component (to Samson Mountain) and possibly extra stops like a monastery and a waterfall, but the exact timing is not spelled out in the day-by-day notes. If you want a strictly easy, mostly-on-the-water weekend, you should confirm how much walking you will actually do for your departure.
In This Review
- Key reasons to go
- Tuyen Lam Lake in Da Lat: Why This SUP + Camping Combo Works
- Price and value: What $76.80 covers (and what to double-check)
- Day 1 at Tuyen Lam: Sunset SUP lessons, BBQ, and camping night
- Day 2 at 5:00 am: Misty SUP, breakfast, and packing up together
- The hiking side: Samson Mountain and optional monastery or waterfall stops
- How the guides shape the experience (Harry, Fin, Fi, Viet, Don)
- Logistics that actually affect your day
- Who should book this SUP + camping weekend
- Should you book Camping and SUP/Kayak at Tuyen Lam Lake?
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start?
- Where is the meeting point?
- How long is the experience?
- What’s included with the SUP and kayaking?
- What meals are included?
- Is the hike definitely included?
- What if the weather is bad?
- What is the cancellation window for a refund?
Key reasons to go

- Guided SUP and kayaking skills so beginners can row with confidence
- Sunset + early-morning sessions on Tuyen Lam Lake for very different vibes
- Camping gear and meals included, including BBQ and a morning breakfast
- Guide personalities matter, with multiple guides praised for humor, pacing, and photos
- Group size capped at 50, which usually keeps things from feeling chaotic
Tuyen Lam Lake in Da Lat: Why This SUP + Camping Combo Works

Tuyen Lam Lake is one of those Da Lat places that makes time feel slower. You get cool air, big sky, and a water surface that turns from glassy at sunrise to more colorful at sunset. The smart move here is that the schedule uses both ends of the day, so you do not just experience one mood.
What I like most is how the trip mixes gentle activity with recovery time. Day 1 focuses on learning your SUP/kayak basics and getting out on the lake as light fades. Day 2 starts early, when the scenery is misty and the water feels calmer. That rhythm is perfect if you are the type who likes to do one or two real things well instead of stacking your itinerary to exhaustion.
If you are camping before, you already know the win: you stop thinking about transport and just enjoy being there. If you are new to camping, the included gear and group setup help you avoid that awkward moment of realizing you forgot something important.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Da Lat.
Price and value: What $76.80 covers (and what to double-check)

At $76.80 per person, this is not a cheap lunch-and-bubbles outing. You are paying for a package that includes SUP/kayaking equipment, camping equipment, guides, water, and meals across both days. That is the key value: you are not renting gear last minute, and you are not responsible for sourcing food after a long drive.
Here is what’s included in the price based on the tour info:
- All kayaking/SUP equipment
- Camping equipment
- BBQ dinner (grilled pork, grilled chicken, corn, potatoes, vegetables, and fruit), plus coffee or tea
- Breakfast (noodles and sausage listed), plus bottled water
- Guides
Not included items to note:
- Tickets for any optional tourist sites (like the monastery mentioned in the program overview)
- Air-conditioned vehicle is listed as not included, even though the highlights mention hotel transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
So here is my practical advice: confirm whether you will be picked up from your hotel by air-conditioned car/van or if you should plan on meeting at the stated pickup point. Either way, the tour starts at 2:30 pm, with the meeting point at The Hillside Café in Da Lat, and it ends back at the meeting point.
Day 1 at Tuyen Lam: Sunset SUP lessons, BBQ, and camping night

Day 1 begins late afternoon, so you are not wasting the whole day traveling. Around 2:30–3:00 pm, your guide picks you up at the meeting point. Then you go straight into the water time at Tuyen Lam Lake, where you get taught how to row and start your own journey on the lake.
That instruction part is more important than it sounds. SUP and kayaking look easy until you are actually balancing and turning your board or craft while keeping your direction. With a guide teaching you first, you spend your energy enjoying the lake instead of fighting the basics.
As sunset approaches, you get the payoff: a calmer feel on the water and a scenic session timed for the nicer light. After rowing, the evening turns into food and atmosphere. At 5:00 pm, there is a BBQ dinner at the lake with a set menu: grilled pork and chicken plus corn, potatoes, vegetables, and fruit. Red wine is mentioned too, and the info says you can choose to cook separately in groups, which makes the meal feel less like a factory line and more like a shared camp event.
Then comes the camping night. You clean up later as a group on Day 2, which means you can relax in the evening without micromanaging your campsite. If you like the simple rhythm of “eat, talk, sleep, wake up,” this part is a big part of the charm.
Day 2 at 5:00 am: Misty SUP, breakfast, and packing up together
Day 2 starts early: 5:00 am. That early wake-up is the trade for getting that quiet lake feeling. If you have ever arrived late to a scenic viewpoint, you know how quickly the magic fades; this schedule tries to protect you from that.
After waking together, you row SUP under the mist and through beautiful Tuyen Lam scenery. The water is described as clear and blue, and there is even mention of taking a relaxing moment in the water during the journey. Breakfast comes after the morning SUP session, with noodles and sausage listed, plus coffee or tea.
One of the underrated parts of the tour is that they make the end feel organized. At 9:00 am, everyone cleans up the tent area together. Then the staff takes you back to Da Lat City, and the experience ends back at the meeting point. That group cleanup keeps the campsite from feeling abandoned or messy, and it also means you are not stuck sitting around waiting for transport.
The hiking side: Samson Mountain and optional monastery or waterfall stops
Even though the day-by-day notes focus on SUP/kayak and camping, the trip description includes a hiking component designed to pair with the kayaking adventure. You should plan for a hike of about six miles (10 km) up toward the top of Samson Mountain.
There is also mention of optional stops along the return route, including a monastery and a waterfall. The important part for you is uncertainty: the exact placement of the hike in the two-day timing is not clearly spelled out in the day-by-day section you receive.
So if you are booking with specific fitness expectations, do this: ask your guide or confirm before you go how much time is set aside for hiking on your departure. If you like hiking but want to avoid a long grind, you will want to know whether the 10 km is the core hike or if it is an optional add-on for your schedule.
How the guides shape the experience (Harry, Fin, Fi, Viet, Don)
The reviews highlight something that matters a lot on water: the guide’s energy and safety focus. Multiple people mention guides such as Harry, Fin, Fi, Viet, and Don, and the consistent theme is that they helped people feel relaxed and in control.
A few patterns you should expect:
- Guides pause at view points and help with photos in front of the mountains
- They keep the group moving at a pace that feels manageable, not rushed
- They offer instruction for first-timers and make safety feel straightforward
- They are friendly, and in some cases humorous, which helps when you are doing something new outdoors
If you are a first-time SUP user, this is exactly the kind of environment you want. You are not just handed equipment and sent out. You are coached early, then you get time on the water to enjoy yourself.
Also, because the group size is capped at 50 travelers, you generally get enough attention without the entire operation feeling like a conveyor belt.
Logistics that actually affect your day

This tour includes mobile ticketing, and you receive confirmation at booking time. It also notes that service animals are allowed and that the activity is near public transportation, which can be helpful if your hotel situation is not close to where you want to be at 2:30 pm.
The route begins and ends at the same meeting point: The Hillside Café Đà Lạt, 26 Hoàng Hoa Thám, Phường 10, Đà Lạt. That matters because it simplifies your planning. You are not trying to solve a final drop-off in the dark.
One more practical note: the tour requires good weather. If conditions are poor, you should expect a different date or a full refund. I treat weather-dependent lake trips like this as a reason to book with flexibility rather than a risk to “push through” no matter what.
Who should book this SUP + camping weekend
You will likely enjoy this trip if you want:
- A mix of guided paddling and real outdoor time at a lake
- A weekend with structure: lesson, sunset session, BBQ dinner, sunrise session, breakfast
- A group trip that still feels personal because guides are actively involved
- A value package where camping gear and meals are handled
You might think twice if:
- You strongly prefer city comforts and would rather not camp
- Early mornings (5:00 am) are not your thing
- You dislike hiking or you want to avoid any long walking, since the program mentions a 10 km hike to Samson Mountain
If you are traveling as a couple, this can be a great way to slow down. If you are with family, the guide support can help beginners manage the water portion more confidently. If you are solo, you get a built-in social structure because the meals and cleanup are group-based.
Should you book Camping and SUP/Kayak at Tuyen Lam Lake?
I would book it if you want a Da Lat experience that feels outdoorsy but not chaotic. The combination of guided SUP/kayak, camping equipment included, and solid meals makes it a good value for a two-day reset. Also, the repeated praise for guides like Harry, Fin, Fi, Viet, and Don suggests you are not just buying a time slot—you are getting support that makes the activity smoother.
Before you pay, do one quick check: confirm how the Samson Mountain hike fits your specific departure and whether any optional monastery/waterfall ticket is likely. And clarify the transport setup, since air-conditioned vehicle is listed as not included even though transfers are mentioned in the highlights.
If those two points line up with your expectations, this is an easy yes for a memorable lake-and-camping weekend in Da Lat.
FAQ
What time does the tour start?
The tour starts at 2:30 pm. Your guide picks you up at the meeting point around 2:30–3:00 pm.
Where is the meeting point?
The meeting point is The Hillside Café Đà Lạt, 26 Hoàng Hoa Thám, Phường 10, Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam.
How long is the experience?
The duration is listed as 2 days (approx.).
What’s included with the SUP and kayaking?
The tour includes all SUP/kayaking equipment and guides.
What meals are included?
You get a BBQ dinner (grilled pork, grilled chicken, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruit), plus coffee or tea. You also get breakfast (noodles and sausage listed) and bottled water.
Is the hike definitely included?
The overview says the program includes a hike of about 10 km to Samson Mountain, plus an optional monastery and waterfall stop. The day-by-day details you receive emphasize SUP/kayak and camping, so confirm timing for your departure.
What if the weather is bad?
The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.
What is the cancellation window for a refund?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel within 24 hours of the experience start time, the amount paid is not refunded.








