What are the Kuang Si Waterfalls?
The Kuang Si waterfalls are a series of small waterfalls and is one of the best things to see in Laos. The structure of the falls resemble that of rice patios, with a series of levels and water flowing down through them. Except the rice and mud is replaced with crystal clear bright blue water, as a result of the rich natural minerals it holds. It really is breathtaking. It is quite a famous and touristy attraction, but it’s not hard to see why.
How To Get To the Waterfalls?
The Kuang Si waterfalls are located about an hour drive from Luang Prabang and are easily accessible. Depending on your preference, you can either book a tour, rent a tuktuk or drive a scooter there yourself. Some of the tours we’ve heard about only allow for a short time at the waterfalls, but we think you should spend at least a few hours here. So we’d recommend either renting your own scooter for the day or getting a tuktuk with a group of people so you can spend as long as you want there.
The Way To the Kuang Si Waterfalls
We rented a scooter for 150,000 LAK and drove to the waterfalls ourselves in the early morning. The road there is a bit windy but scenic, you’ll drive past rice fields, small villages, and forresty hills. If you do decide to rent a scooter and go yourself, just note that the road is full of deep potholes. We heard a few stories of scooter accidents along there and that’s of course the last thing you want, so take care.
The Parking Lot
The parking lot for the Kuang Si Waterfall is quite big so you won’t miss it. This parking lot is located a few kilometres down the hill from the waterfall. If you’re on a scooter there is a 12,000 LAK parking parking fee which you can pay to the workers directing you where to go.
You’re probably wondering “why would they make the parking so far away?”, which is what we thought. But it is to control the traffic in the small village next to the waterfall, as it can get very busy there. But don’t worry, you don’t have to walk the rest of the way, there is a shuttle that takes you the rest of the way.
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Where to Buy Your Ticket for the Kuang Si Waterfalls?
Next to the parking lot you’ll find the ticket booth for the waterfall. A ticket costs 20,000 kip per person. This includes the entrance fee plus the shuttle to and from waterfall. Just note that it is about a 10-15 minute walk to the actual waterfalls from where the shuttle will drop you.
Handy To Know
The gates of the Kuang Si waterfalls open at 8 am and we’d recommend getting there then to avoid the crowd. A lot of the tour busses start to arrive around 9-10am so get in before them and snag a pool to yourself. The waterfalls have multiple levels, and there will be less people the higher you go up.
Can You Swim at Kuang Si Waterfalls?
Yes you can swim at the waterfalls, but not everywhere. It is clearly shown where you can and cannot swim. In the real photogenic spot you always see on Google, you cannot swim. There is a bridge here that crosses the water that enables everyone to take the perfect photo with no tourists in there.
Only the lower levels offer swimming places. The water is quite cold but offers a nice retreat from the heat of the jungle. There is also one spot from which you can jump, namely from the tree trunk you see in the photo below. The stones surrounding the water can be very slippery, so be careful when entering or exiting the water.
Bear Rescue Sanctuary
It’s quite random but once you get off the shuttle and pass the entrance, you’ll walk through a bear rescue sanctuary. There’s quite a few sun bears but other than that there’s not much to see. We can’t comment too much on this but there’s quite a few “free the bears” signs despite there being several bears in a very small enclosure… so make of that what you will.
What to Bring
This is a short list of things that are handy to bring to the waterfall:
- Towel
- Swimsuit – there is a decent toilet and changing room next to the lower level of the waterfall, so you can change in your swimwear here.
- Bug spray – the waterfalls are in the middle of the jungle and there are many mosquitoes and other insects.
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Snacks – around the waterfall there are a heap of spots to sit, quite nice for a picnic.
Where to Go Afterwards
After the waterfall you might be craving a cold drink or lunch. On our way back we found a little cafe that’s an absolute gem. About 25 minutes away from the waterfall (back in the direction of Luang Prabang) you’ll find Nakhoun cafe. This cute place offers great views and the best seats to chill. We were here for more than 2 hours, just laying in the hammock, reading, and enjoying the views. We also had a delicious noodle soup and lemon juice. Definitely recommend!
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