Overview of Your Guide to the Kuang Si Waterfalls
This guide to the Kuang Si Waterfalls will go over everything you need to know to take full advantage of this amazing experience. We’ll go over how to get there, the overall costs, the best time to visit, and much more! These are the prettiest waterfalls we’ve ever seen by far (and we’ve seen quite a few!). The calm, azure water flowing over the rocks into multiple small pools and never really ending is part of what makes the Kuang Si Waterfalls in Laos so special. As an added bonus your ticket to the waterfalls includes a trip to the bear sanctuary in the park, and it is conveniently located next to a Butterfly garden, which is not to be missed!
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How to Get to the Kuang Si Waterfalls
The Kuang Si Waterfalls are 50 minutes away from Luang Prabang on fairly sketchy roads. The easiest but most expensive way to get to the waterfalls is by private transport. This can be just a driver or a driver and a tour guide. You can rent a tuk tuk driver to take you there and back, but you’ll likely end up paying something similar to what an air conditioned car with a driver would cost, and you’d have a much bumpier and unpleasant ride. The cheapest way to get there is by renting a motorbike, although due to the bumpy roads filled with potholes, we don’t recommend this. Two of our friends crashed on the way and we saw another motorbike crash coming back from here.
If you’re interested in a tour that takes you on a boat ride to see the Pak Ou Caves and Laos’ own whiskey village before heading to the Kuang Si Falls, we recommend this tour. It does a great job of packing all of the activities located a bit outside Luang Prabang into one so you don’t have to do multiple tours!
Read about the best things to do in Luang Prabang!
Visiting the Kuang Si Waterfalls
As mentioned earlier, we recommend getting an early breakfast and heading to the Kuang Si Waterfalls around 7:10 am. The drive to the ticket booth takes 50 minutes from downtown Luang Prabang. After buying tickets, using the restrooms and getting any snacks you might want, you’ll be driven 5 minutes in an electric golf cart to the market just outside the true entrance to the waterfalls.
While the Bear Sanctuary will be on your right when you walk in, we suggest going straight to the waterfalls to beat (most of) the crowds. You’ll soon be met by a glimpse of what the rest of the Kuang Si Waterfalls look like. You should see one of the first designated swimming holes.
You can walk across bridges and admire some of the smaller waterfalls until you get to the biggest and most beautiful part. These waterfalls are surreal and it looks like you are watching a painting.
After you get to the biggest waterfall, you can continue across the bridge and hike 10-15 minutes up the steep mountainside to the last swimming hole. You need good footwear for this as it’s very muddy and slippery, especially on the way down. On the bright side, going up here is a great idea if the other swimming holes are very busy. There’s a swing you can play on, you can see some of the roaring waterfalls, or just relax on the rocks of these smaller waterfalls. The water is freezing up here, but refreshing on a hot Laos day!
You can also boat from here to the water source of the waterfalls which is 200 meters away and costs 10,000 kip ($0.50) a person. They also sell beer and water here at the top if you need a refreshment, but these are likely to run out towards the end of the day. To see the cave, cross the bamboo bridge, head away from the waterfall and towards the hiking trail. Unfortunately this was under construction in November of 2023, so we didn’t get to do it.
After hiking down the slippery trail, you’ll likely see more people at the big waterfall than when you first came, and you’ll be thankful you woke up early! You can stop in any of the swimming areas on the way back, and then see the bears at the sanctuary.
The Kuang Si Bear Rescue Center
The bear sanctuary is fun because you can see the bears being lazy, learn about bears from all over the world, what is being done to protect them and how you can help! The bears hang out on small platforms and hammocks and mostly just lounge, but you should see a few of them move around.
The Kuang Si Butterfly Park
We strongly recommend going to the butterfly park. The highlight is the butterfly garden, where you can learn about the stages of a butterfly’s life, learn how to identify the different species of butterflies, and you can even get a natural fish massage/pedicure.
The butterflies are absolutely everywhere, and although there are holes in the fence, there were enough butterflies there to make us think it wasn’t much of an issue!
There’s also a cool café where you can put your feet in a pond with a bunch of koi fish. The waterfall also continues through here, and while not as impressive as the other parts, it’s still pretty cool! You can either take a golf cart and ask your driver to drop you off here or just walk!
How much do the Kuang Si Waterfalls cost?
The entrance fee, which includes the bear sanctuary and the waterfalls, is only 25,000 kip or $1.25 USD. The entrance fee to the Butterfly Garden is 100,000 kip or $5 USD. The transportation can cost anywhere between $5 and $40 USD depending on your group size and mode of transportation. You can also go as part of a tour and group this with another activity!
When is the Best Time to Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls?
First of all, you should avoid Kuang Si Waterfalls during the wet season, when the torrential downpours leave the water muddy. This is between July and October. If you want to see the beautiful turquoise waters, the best time to visit is November to April/May. The shoulder seasons (November and late May/early June) are best for avoiding crowds.
We recommend getting there as close to opening time (8 am) as possible to beat the crowds. This is also the coolest time of day so the steep hike at the end will be easiest then. They close at 5 pm so you should get there at 3 pm at the absolute latest.
How Long to Spend at Kuang Si Waterfalls?
It depends on what you do. There’s obviously the 2 hours of driving, the 15 minutes at the bear sanctuary, 30 or so minutes exploring the waterfalls, and another 30 minutes to 2 hours exploring the top of the waterfall, eating a meal after this, and 30 minutes to 1.5 hours exploring the butterfly garden. It can take anywhere between 3 and 8 hours, depending on how much you choose to do. We spent about 6 hours in total at Kuang Si.
What to Bring
- Swim Suit: You always want to take a dip after a few hours in the Laos heat!
- Water: There are lots of places to buy water but make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day
- Shoes with Good Traction: The trail to the top of the waterfall is steep and can be slippery, so make sure you have a decent pair of shoes! We recommend this pair of Salomons for men and Jack Wolfskins for women.
- Bug Spray: The humidity does attract a lot of bugs so make sure to protect yourself!
- Waterproof Camera or Phone Case: The biggest waterfall may splash you and get your phone a little wet when taking pictures.
- Sunscreen: We can’t say enough good things about La Roche Posay Face Sunscreen!
Bonus: Eat With a View at Khoun Moung Keo Waterfall
This is a quick 5 minute walk right next to the ticket booth, which we think is worth doing if you have 10 minutes to spare. The restaurant here has seats right next to this beautiful waterfall, and some are directly in the splash zone!
While it is loud due to the roaring waterfall, and we haven’t had the food at this restaurant, this seems like a great place to grab a bite!
Now it’s Your Turn!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to the Kuang Si Waterfalls in Laos! All in all this is one of the most amazing experiences we’ve had in South East Asia so we can’t recommend this enough. It’s the perfect blend of nature and education that all ages can appreciate. If you’re ever in Luang Prabang, this is a must-do, so be sure to add it to your travel itinerary!
Keep Exploring Laos…
- The Ultimate Guide To The Thakhek Loop: All You Need To Know Before You Go
- Kong Lor Cave Guide: Everything You Need To Know Before Going
- Ultimate Guide to the Rock Viewpoint: The Thakhek Loop’s Most Adventurous Stop
- The Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang
- Vientiane: The Best Things to Do in Laos’ Capital
- Amazing Things to Do in Nong Khiaw
- The Best Things to Do in Vang Vieng
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