Must Visit Kuang Si Falls. Kuang Si Falls, located near Luang Prabang in Laos are an absolute must visit location if you find yourself in this part of the world.
These series of waterfalls are some of the most incredible you will find in South East Asia and are a great way to spend part of your day in Luang Prabang.
Must Visit Kuang Si Falls
How to Get to Kuang Si Falls
There are numerous ways to get to Kuang Si Falls from Luang Prabang in Laos and depending on what method you take, it should be about 45 minutes from town.
Public or Private Tuk Tuk
I think this is probably the best and easiest way to get there both based on cost and ease of getting there. For the public or shared tuk tuk, you can pick it up on the street, but if you are on your own, you will have to wait for it to fill up with more people. So if you do decide on a shared tuk tuk, it’s best to organize a group in advance. This option should be around $6 per person.
If you don’t have a group and plan to go on your own and don’t want to bother organizing with more people, then it’s best to get a private tuk tuk. This should cost around $25 for the day and your tuk tuk will take you there and wait for you until you are ready to come back. This is the method I took, and it was really convenient to be able to explore and know that I had a tuk tuk waiting for me when I finished exploring. I would recommend arranging the private tuk tuk through your hotel or lodging so that you can get a reputable driver.
Public or Private Minivan
This is another option if you want a bit more comfort as opposed to the tuk tuk. The public minivans are one of the cheapest options at around $6 to 7, however, they are on set times. So you will need to figure out if this works well for you.
The private minivans will run you about $30 but you will need to make sure you have a group organized in advance. If you take this option, it will give you lots of flexibility with your schedule and will offer the most comfort.
Scooter or Motorcycle
If you prefer the wind in your face and going at your own speed, you can also rent a scooter or motorcycle and go to the falls on your own. Rentals cost around $20 a day and give you the freedom to explore other places after the falls. However, make sure you have proper insurance and know how to ride well before renting.
What to do at Kuangsi Falls
At Kuang Si Falls, the main draw is the beautiful falls. The blue turquoise waters will entice you and the many layers of falls will draw you in.
Hike Around – I highly recommend to walk all around the falls to the very end and see every section of this beautiful part of the world. Walking to the very end of the falls should take about 20-30 minutes and in total making the loop without much stopping should only take 45 minutes to an hour.
Go for A Swim – It’s hard to look at the various pools of water and not want to go for a dip. Thankfully, some of these pools are open to swimming. Make sure you read the signs and follow the directions for places you can and can’t swim. Please follow the rules and only swim where it is permitted.
Enjoy a picnic – Take some time out of your day and just enjoy the surroundings. Pack a lunch or buy some food while you are at the falls and enjoy it while viewing the beautiful falls.
Best Time to Visit?
The best time to visit the Kuang Si falls near Luang Prabang are after the Monsoon Season. So ideally this would be between December and May. This is when you will have the best weather and the falls should be at their calmest.
If you visit during Monsoon, because of so much rain, the falls will not look very beautiful and are riskier to visit and explore.
As for when to visit during the day, I highly recommend getting here as early as possible to avoid the crowds. I arrived pretty soon after they opened and was all by myself on the trail for quite a bit of the time. Also, the lighting in the morning is perfect for photos like the ones I took in this article. By around lunch time, tour groups start to arrive and it can get quite crowded and won’t be as fun walking around.
Where to Stay in Luang Prabang
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Luang Prabang has so many options of places to stay. From luxury 5 star resorts to budget hostels, you won’t have a hard time finding somewhere to lay your head. Below are some recommendations:
Luang Prabang River Lodge – Highly rated and located by the river. Close to local accommodations with free wifi and staff that can help you plan your trip and book you tours.
Queen’s House – Located just 300m from the central market and centrally located, this is another highly rated location with friendly staff and great rooms with wifi and air conditioning
If you want to look up other hotels, please use our search box below to look for some of the lodging options in Luang Prabang through booking.com
Other Info for Kuang Si Falls
- Entrance Fees – As of last year, the entrance fee was around $2.50. Quite reasonable for such a beautiful location.
- There is a bear rescue area that you can visit while you are at the falls. You can watch them be fed around noon time and learn more about these amazing creatures. A small entrance fee helps protect them. Learn more about the Kuang Si Bear Rescue Center.
- If you are wanting to hike to the top of the falls, it’s best to have good footwear for better traction in slippery sections.
If you want to learn more about the falls or have more specific questions, please let us know in the comments below!