Tad Sae Waterfall
Tad Sae waterfall – locating 20 kilometers away from the centre of Luang Prabang – is best to visit during the rainy season in Laos which runs from May to October. At this time of the year, the flow of water is much stronger and abundant which creates the pounding sounds against numerous levels of limestone formations. For each level of water flow, there is a large pool hole to store water which makes it fantastic to swim in.
Tad Sae waterfall’s surrounding is covered by the rainforest giving the impression of the wild nature and the cool fresh air from the shades of the green trees. The color of the water is best in August. There are many picnic spots for tourist to spend those relaxing hours to grab a bite from the small restaurant serving meals and drinks, especially Beer Lao. Changing rooms and public toilets are also available on the site. Apart from swimming, tourists can have a chance to play, ride, feed or give a bath to the local elephants. In addition, zip-lining over the waterfall is in service.
Option to travel to Tad Sae waterfall is limited, it can only be accessed tuk-tuk and then by boat. The tuk-tuk will take you to the river bank of Nam Khan River then a boat will take you to Tad Sae waterfall. The total cost of the ride takes about 50.000 Kip in which boat-ride is 10.000 Kip, approximately U.S $6.
Entrance fee is 15.000 Kip per adult, around U.S $1,81, and free entrance for children under 8 years old.
Opening hours: 8 a.m – 5:30 p.m
Kuang Si Waterfall
Kuang Si waterfall is a much larger and taller fall in Luang Prabang than Tad Sae waterfall. Traveling about 30 kilometers to the southwest of Luang Prabang, from afar, you can hear the drizzling sound of water amongst the green forest. As coming closer to the waterfall, you will be impressed by how majestic the Kuang Si waterfall is with its extraordinary multiple levels of waterfalls dropping down to large pools of bright turquoise water. Then level after level, the water gently tumbles over limestone edges. If you climb up to the deeper and larger pool, you can try swinging on the vine like in Tarzan movie and enjoy the rest of the fun.
One of the pool, however, is closed from swimming as being a sacred site, so be careful and read the signs first. There is also a small trail to climb on top of the waterfall, it can be extremely slippery in the rainy season.
On the site, there is also an Asiatic Black Bear Rescue Center, they are in the fight of rescuing Asiatic black bear, also known as moon bear, those are endangered species due to the fact that they are being hunted for their bile used in Chinese medicine. Now, people at Kuang Si waterfall and the Rescue Center are joining hands to keep them safe.
In January 2014, two Dutch men started a project to create a research centre studying and publishing about Laos butterflies and host plants to raise awareness of the beautiful and vulnerable nature of the area.
There are changing huts, public toilets and stalls selling food and drinks near the entrance of the fall.
Transportations to get to Kuang Si waterfall are many.
