The Kuang Si waterfalls rest in the outskirts of Luang Prabang in northern Laos, and are simply one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.
Now, I can’t say that these waterfalls aren’t known, because they are advertised to travelers all around Laos. But it seems that Laos is extremely underrated as a backpacking destination in Southeast Asia. This leads to the waterfalls getting less press than others from more well traveled places.
It has been a few years since I have been here. So, I feel the only way to get my point across is through a brief personal account.
And here we go…
My day started like almost every other, with no clue what to do with myself. With boredom setting in, I decided to have a coffee and a few chats around my hostel.
Some time passed and some laughs were had, and eventually I was talked into going to the Kuang Si Waterfalls with another backpacker.
I didn’t know much about these mystical waterfalls, besides seeing their name plastered on all the travel agencies in Luang Prabang. So it wasn’t too difficult to be persuaded into a new adventure. I figured the worst that could happen was a touristy day, in a new place, with a new friend.
THE WAY THERE.
After a brief conversation on how to actually get there, the two of us settled on booking a shared minibus through the receptionist at our hostel. This seems to be the most common form of transportation and to be honest, just about every accommodation in Luang Prabang will set you up with this option. You can take a taxi too. But unless you get enough people to share one, you’ll end up paying more.
You can always grab a map, rent a motorbike, and have a mini road trip of your own. But alas, I had recently seen some horrifying accidents, so I opted for the larger vehicle.
We were picked up by a bus packed with other like minded travelers and driven about 45 minutes to the Falls. The drive took us through a lush jungle and actual smooth pavement. If there is one thing to know about the roads in Laos, it’s that there aren’t many. Dirt roads and plenty of bumps is the norm.
We soon arrived in a parking lot full of quick eat restaurants and souvenir shops. The whole bus agreed on a set amount of time dedicated to exploring…
The magic number we chose was 4 hours.
Not too long, but not too short. Looking back, I could have easily spent more time here.
A few minutes later we paid the entrance fee of 20,000 kip ($2.50), and headed to what was known as the lower falls.
Surprise, surprise.
The beginning of the trek starts by walking through a bear sanctuary. If you are an animal lover, you’ll enjoy watching these goofy fellas playing around. I ended up spending an hour doing just that!
FINALLY ON TO THE KUANG SI WATERFALLS.
The Kuang Si Waterfalls themselves are basically separated into three levels.
The lowest of these was filled with tourists and fellow travellers trying to get the perfect picture. Instagram models and professional photographers could spend a whole day trying to get a picture without a person in it, and still come up short. This was my least favorite level, however it was still unimaginably beautiful in person.
As I started walking up towards the second level, I noticed more and more people taking a dip in the water. In general though, there are significantly less people the higher you walk. I couldn’t take my eyes off the same turquoise color as the bottom pools. It seems like their sole purpose is to entice you to hop in.
Lastly, the third level. This was my kind of spot. The pools overall aren’t as picture worthy, however they are the most peaceful. I could feel all my worries sink away when I walked through the tranquil forest and secret pools. There is the occasional person, but it feels like you are all by yourself. You can swim under tree branches here and appreciate the shade from the forest canopy.
If you are feeling a little more adventurous, there is a trail up by the last pool that leads to a couple of small caves. The caves have plenty of spiders and the trail is full of mosquitoes, but it’s a nice little walk.
My day essentially ended with 4 hours feeling like 40 minutes.
The minibus ride back was filled with laughter and rejuvenated souls.
It’s a place that I won’t soon forget.
