Kuang Si Falls is a short drive from Luang Prabang in Laos and is one of the most amazing if not the most amazing set of waterfalls I’ve ever laid eyes on. It is the biggest waterfall in the Luang Prabang region in Laos and an awesome day trip. In this blog post, I’ll share with you everything you need to know before visiting Kuang Si Waterfall.
A GUIDE TO KUANG SI FALLS
HOW TO GET TO KUANG SI FALLS
From Luang Prabang a van or tuk-tuk will drive you to Kuang Si Falls for 30,000 kip or $4 USD. The drive takes about 40 minutes, passing small villages and winding through the hilly terrain. The Kuang Si Falls entrance fee is 20,000 Kip or $2.30 USD.
You can organize transport online by booking a round-trip seat in a reliable shared minivan that will take you to and from Luang Prabang to Kuang Si Falls. The best part is that it is a round trip for just $5.
Book your seat: 1 seat in shared mini-van roundtrip to Kuang Si Falls from Luang Prabang
BEST KUANG SI WATERFALL TOUR
There is one Kuang Si Waterfall tour that I recommend as it is quite unique to the others! The best part about this top-rated tour is that you get to visit Kuang Si Falls but the tour also includes a visit to the Whisky Village and Pak Ou Caves. It’s very reasonably priced and a great trip for a group, family, or backpackers.
Book your tour: Kuang Si Falls, Whisky Village & Pak Ou Caves
KUANG SI WATERFALL EXPERIENCE
Kuang Si Falls is much more than one waterfall. You will need half a day to explore the whole area. It begins with lots of small cascading falls that flow into pools you can swim in. It’s easy to get stuck at each spot along the way. I suggest heading all the way through to the big waterfall and then working your way back to these pools for a swim on the way back. At least that way you have seen everything there is to see and you can pick your favorite swimming spots.
The second cascades are incredibly relaxing to look at. Huge pools of water cascade down several 1-foot drops. This was a stunning natural formation I had never seen in person. You couldn’t swim at these pools but they were mesmerizing to watch.
What are my favorite pieces of gear for waterfall adventures?
There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a waterfall adventure. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! Here are my waterfall adventure essentials.
- Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket: This is my go-to rain jacket. It’s super light, folds down into a tiny ball, and protects brilliantly in a storm. This one never leaves my backpack.
- Osprey Ultralight Dry Sack: Waterfalls get wet and wild so having this ultralight dry sack for cameras, phones and valuables means you don’t have to hold back!
- Quick-Dry Towel: A quick-dry towel is a must for travelers. It hardly takes up any room and dries in seconds.
- GoPro Hero 12: The best and easiest way to capture your underwater and snorkeling adventures.
KUANG SI WATERFALL
After only 15 minutes of walking (not including our stops at the previous pools), we turned a corner and walked across a small wooden bridge. All of a sudden out of nowhere the giant Kuang Si Waterfall took center-stage and blew me away. A 50-meter drop, cascading down multiple levels against the yellow limestone stone was undeniably breathtaking. The foot-bridge keeps tourists far enough away from the falls, which I thought was a great example of high-volume sustainable tourism. It also meant that everyone gets a great photo with unobstructed views of the natural beauty before them.
From this point, you can trek up 15 minutes to the top pools. The view from here is quite good with mountains in the distance but trees seem to obstruct most of the vantage points. A chill-out area with picnic tables and a rope swing make for a great spot to have a rest and enjoy the atmosphere before making the climb back down.
There is also a butterfly park attached to the Kuang Si Falls but we decided not to visit it as we were pushed for time and preferred to spend more time mesmerized by the majestic waterfalls.
KUANG SI FALLS MAP
KUANG SI BEAR RESCUE CENTER
Before you experience the Kuang Si Falls, there is another Luang Prabang Attraction awaiting you at the entrance. The Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre is home to more than 20 Asiatic Black Bears, which have been rescued from dire circumstances. The enclosures are large and provide a positive atmosphere for the bears. As we walked past a huge bear was actually lying in a hammock and seemed quite content. The Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre doesn’t receive any of the admission fees and relies on donations and t-shirt sales.
MORE LAOS TRAVEL BLOGS
HIKING IN VANG VIENG: HIKING TO BEAUTIFUL VIEWPOINT IN VANG VIENG
BLUE LAGOON IN VANG VIENG: BLUE LAGOON VANG VIENG DAY TRIP
THE WHISKY VILLAGE: THE WHISKY VILLAGE – LUANG PRABANG
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