The Best Luang Prabang Waterfalls: Including Travel Tips

Discover the best Luang Prabang waterfalls with my helpful and informative insiders travel guide. Moreover, I provide you with everything you need to know prior to visiting these waterfalls, including links to other in-depth travel guides so that you can be ultimately prepared!

The waterfalls in Luang Prabang are easily some of the most beautiful that I, myself, and, many other travellers have come upon in our lives. They are like something out of a fairytale; It’s hard to believe that they’re actually real!

Moreover, these natural masterpieces are an absolute must-visit when spending time in Luang Prabang. Besides, they provide the perfect day trip out of the city, so you can experience the beautiful nature of Laos.

Let’s dive into my guide so that you can choose the best waterfalls to visit!

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How to Get to the Waterfalls

Scooter

A great way to get to the waterfalls in Luang Prabang is to go by scooter. Moreover, this is an easy and cheap way to reach the waterfalls, especially for solo travellers.

I found the waterfalls reasonably easy to reach and a scooter gives you the opportunity to travel at your own leisure.

Finally, scooter rentals are around 70,000 – 100,000 Kip for a 24-hour hire.

Taxi

Secondly, you can make use of local taxis. However, I only advise this option if you are travelling in a group as it may become quite expensive. Therefore, try to get a few people together to save on cost.

You could be looking at around 200,000 Kip per person to go to and from one of the waterfalls.

Tour Group

Another great way to explore some of the waterfalls is to go on a group tour. Moreover, this is an excellent way to travel as you will be with a guide and everything will be organised for you.

Not to mention, this takes the stress out of worrying about transport to and from and finding your way around. It’s an easy way to travel and supports local tourism! A massive win!

So, feel free to check out some of the tours below, and have a look into what they include.

Why You Should Visit These Waterfalls in Luang Prabang

These waterfalls in Luang Prabang are easily some of the best attractions in Laos. They are stunningly beautiful and a great way to escape the city, even if it’s just for a few hours.

Not to mention, they are likely some of the best activities that you will come across in Luang Prabang. I highly recommend checking out at least two of them while spending time in the town.

The Best Luang Prabang Waterfalls

Kuang Si Waterfall

We are off to an insanely strong start with the stunningly beautiful Kuang Si Falls. Moreover, this waterfall is easily the best waterfall in Luang Prabang. So, if you only get to visit one, make it this one!

The waterfall is grand yet majestic. It truly has a special charm about it and my jaw simply dropped when I caught the first glimpse of it.

Not to mention, it’s a beautiful spot for a swim, as you can swim in the multiple blue lagoons. And, you can even hike to the top of the waterfall.

I recommend spending at least 3-4 hours here as there is loads to do and the nature is simply stunning. Finally, if you would like to learn more about the natural masterpiece, I recommend reading my blog post below for the best in-depth travel guide.

Opening Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM Daily

Tad Sae Waterfall

Another stunningly beautiful waterfall in Luang Prabang is the Tad Sae waterfall. Moreover, this waterfall is loaded with tonnes of different pools and is incredibly beautiful.

Firstly, you need to take a drive about 18km south of Luang Prabang which is nearby the Nam Khan River. Keep in mind, you will need to make use of a boat trip to get across the Nam Khan River. This will set you back around 10,000 Kip for a return ticket.

Moreover, you should only visit this waterfall during the rainy season as it tends to dry up over the dry season. Nonetheless, there are loads of awesome pools to swim in, and lots of decking space to relax on.

Finally, this waterfall is gorgeous and is a top sight in Luang Prabang.

Opening Hours: 8 AM – 5:30 PM Daily

Tad Thong Waterfall

Tad Thong waterfall is only a short 6km drive from Luang Prabang but is an excellent way to escape the city for a little while. Moreover, you’ll forget you’re nearby the town when you trek 45 minutes into the stunning Laotian jungle, ready to reach the waterfall.

Not to worry, the pathway is paved and is clear to identify as you wander through the jungle. And, upon arrival at the waterfall, you will get to enjoy the most stunningly beautiful blue pools for a swim!

Keep in mind, you will need to hike for about 30 minutes through the jungle and you will cross over a bamboo bridge to get to the other side of the river. This is one of the more off-the-beaten-path waterfalls as there are much fewer facilities provided.

Finally, feel free to make use of the directions here to reach the waterfall. They are in-depth and give you everything you need to know in terms of reaching the waterfall safely.

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

What to Bring

There are a few things that you should consider bringing to the Luang Prabang waterfalls. Besides, it’s highly likely that you’ll be out for a days worth of exploring, so it’s best to be prepared and pack the things you need.

Let’s discuss some important things to pack with you:

Bug spray: You will be heading into some rainforest and jungle areas. So, packing a bug spray like this one is crucial to ensure you don’t cop some nasty bites!
Hat: Keep the sun off your face and protect your skin.
Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen liberally and try to use a reef-friendly sunscreen like this one. We want to keep nasty chemicals out of the pristine waters!
Comfortable shoes: Be sure to wear sturdy shoes to avoid injuring your foot or rolling your ankle.
Travel towel: A travel towel is an essential item, especially if you plan to go swimming. Check out this handy travel towel that can be used for many different things.
Water bottle: Be sure to pack plenty of water for you so that you can hydrate yourself throughout the intense Laotian heat.

If you want to learn more about the GRAYL Geopress travel water bottle, I highly recommend clicking the link below. Besides, it’s the best travel companion to filter safe drinking water anywhere in the world.

Additional Activities in Luang Prabang

There are loads of things you can do while spending time in Luang Prabang, however, these are some of the activities that I recommend:

Luang Prabang Night Market
Phousi Hill
Mekong River sunset cruise
Bar hopping
Visit Wat Xieng Thong

If you would like to learn more, feel free to read my travel advice blog post linked below where I give you twenty fun activities and loads of information!

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, these are the best Luang Prabang waterfalls and the ultimate day trips out of the town. Seriously, these waterfalls will absolutely blow your mind over just how stunning they are!

If you can, try to visit at least two of them to experience the insane beauty and enjoy the stunning nature of the jungle. It’s such an incredible thing to witness and I’m so glad I got to see them.

Nonetheless, save this post for later so that you can look back on and feel free to use the social links above to share with a friend.

Finally, if you want to learn more about Laos, I recommend checking out this section of my blog where I frequently upload new and fresh travel content. I do my best to keep it updated to provide travellers with the latest and greatest information. Happy reading!