A day spent checking out the Luang Prabang area. Two short trips for the day and one change of hotel.

in the morning it was a trip to Kuang Si waterfall about 45min from LP town.

The journey out is a pleasant one, easy roads with gentle twists and just a few school kids moving about. The key to the waterfall is to get there for opening time at 0800. You get to experience the nature in a quiet atmosphere before the hoards and of tourists arrive. This is especially true for Viet and Chinese new year!!

Parking is a couple of km away, where you get your entry ticket 25,000 kip for foreigners, so about US$1.25, which includes an electric cart which brings tourists to the entrance site.

The journey up from the ticket office is also nice in the morning though the local village as people move about and kids play on the way to school.

At the entry area there are tourist shops selling the standard market fare.

To walk to waterfall, you get two options one straight there or two on a walking trail. The walking trail is the best option.

That route immediately takes you to the Free The Bears rescue centre where you can see a few moon bears rescued from the barbaric bear bile trade. I didn’t see the bears on the way up but they put on a show on my way back. I will link a video here shortly.

You then pass a few small swimming areas that are created from the rapids (if that is the right word, as it is calm) downstream of the main waterfall. The water colour here is beautiful but I didn’t risk a swim as the water was freezing!

If you do want to swim you can and lockers are available. Be braver than me!

The main waterfall itself is very beautiful and a must see in this area if you visit. Words really do fail to describe it so I will just leave some photos!

I will post in the afternoon trip to Pak Ou cave which is in the opposite direction from Luang Prabang.

Adventurer