Will Coldwell January 14, 2014

Take a look inside the world’s largest cave

Son Doong Cave in central Vietnam – which is so big it contains a jungle and a river – is now open for public tours. But don't expect it to become crowded: just 224 tourists will be permitted to visit each year

Cave — It's so big you could fit a 40-storey skyscraper inside, but Son Doong cave remained undiscovered until a local man found it in 1991. Even then, no one explored beyond its vast entrance until British cavers visited in 2009. All photographs: Ryan Deboodt Photograph: Ran Deboodt/Oxalis

Ropes and harness are needed to get inside the cave, and any visitors will need to rappel 80 metres to reach the cave floor. — Ropes and harness are needed to get inside Son Doong, and any visitors will need to rappel 80 metres to reach the cave floor. Photograph: Dropboxusercontent

Cave — Pilot tours took place in August, but so far only 10 people have visited. Oxalis Adventures have been working closely with the government to ensure a sustainable future for the cave: this year they are able to take 224 tourists to Son Doong. Photograph: Ran Deboodt/Oxalis

Hand of dog — The first night of the six-day tour will see visitors camp near the Hand of Dog, a giant stalagmite said to resemble a dog paw. Photograph: Dropboxusercontent

Inside the cave is a huge river - but the source of it remains unknown. In March, a team from the British Cave Research Association who first explored Son Doong will return to try and shed more light on the cave's many mysteries. Photograph: Ran Deboodt — Inside the cave is a huge river – but the source of it remains unknown. In March, a team from the British Cave Research Association, who first explored Son Doong, will return to try and shed more light on the cave's many mysteries. Photograph: Dropboxusercontent

Inside the cave is a huge river - but the source of it remains unknown. In March, a team from the British Cave Research Association who first explored Son Doong will return to try and shed more light on the cave's many mysteries. — New species of plant have been discovered by scientists within the cave's lush interior. Photograph: Dropboxusercontent

Thousands of — Thousands of "cave pearls" sit untouched in Son Doong. These natural phenomenon are formed over hundreds of years when dripping water creates layers of calcite that build up around grains of sand. Photograph: Dropboxusercontent

Son Doong contains vast caverns, which fill the 5.5 mile long interior — Son Doong contains vast caverns, which fill the 5.5 mile long interior. Photograph: Dropboxusercontent

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