Waterfalls Tat Kuang Si Luang Prabang Laos. LuangPrabang

Very beautiful kuang Si Waterfall (Kuang Si) located near the city of Luang Prabang in the north of Laos. When I sitting in ours planned, honestly, I generally thought to exclude Luang Prabang from the route. Too much, there were no ambiguous reviews about this city, and it's not so easy to get there: or two days on the boat on Mekongu with Huaysai or bus through Vientiane 🙂 But: Seeing the photos of the Kuang Si Waterfall I decided that this waterfall for me is MUST See in Laos and left in our route. I must say that Luang Prabang from all visited places we liked most! But I didn't get praised by many at all in the soul, we did not understand this second "🙂

Laos: Kuang Si Waterfall near Luang Prabanga

Kuang Si waterfall: where is and how to get

Cuang Si waterfall is located in Tat Kuang Si Park 30 km from Luang Prabang (accurate park coordinates on the map at the bottom of the article).

Entrance to Kuang Si Park

You can get to the waterfall in one of the following ways:

On bike

Rent a bike to Luang Prabanga is still not checked, but every year the bike lease offers more and more prices. Now remove the bike with a box of automatic in Luang Prabanga can be in 120,000 kips (~ 15 dollars) + a couple of dollars on gasoline. The road is normal almost to the waterfall, only the last small cut of the path is primer. We wanted to go to the waterfall exactly this way, even went to rent a bike, but saw another, more tempting offer How to get to the Kuang Si waterfall.

The point in the one that the day in Luang Prabang was very cold, and Lesha had a little sick after. We almost didn't have warm things, we also dressed all that I could 🙂 as I presented that I had to go on a bike in the cold wind, then I was already breaking to the waterfall, but I wanted to go to the warm coffee shop with delicious cakes 🙂

At miniva

And here in that office, where we wanted to rent a bike, I saw a proposal for a trip to the Minivan to the waterfall in just 45,000 kip (~ 5.5 dollars) with a person back and forth. Near the waterfall Minivan is waiting for brought tourists for 3 hours and delivers back straight to the hotel. The decision I accepted quickly: I send Lesha home to the hotel to be treated, and myself go to the waterfall in a warm shuttle company 🙂

Minisses to the Cuang Si waterfall from different tour of the companies go several times a day. I have seen the minivan to the waterfall at 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00. It is possible that there is a flight and later. I left at 12:00. When the minibus arrived at the office of the company's tour, tourists were already sitting there (ten people), so we took only me and immediately went towards the waterfall. We drove 40 minutes and sitting in warmth I was glad that I chose this way to get to the Kuang Si waterfall.

Tuk-Tuka

Tuk-Tuk in Luang Prabanga does not differ from Tuk-Tuka in, in appearance as Songtao B and on. The passage of Tuk-Tuka from Luang Prabang to the waterfall and back will cost 150,000 - 200,000 kip (~ 18-25 dollars) for the entire Tuk-Tuk. If a small company is scored at least 4 people, then go to Tuk-Tuka will be inexpensive 🙂 But: Tuk-Tuk outdoor and winter, in the cold, in it is very cold and windy! I drove past numerous Tuk-Tukov sitting in a warm mini basque, looked at the freezing European tourists who trembled from the cold and hung up into a thin palatine. Well, no one expected that in the winter in Laos can be so coldly!

This is what Tuk-Tuk looks like in Luang Prabang

The cost of visiting the waterfall Kuang C

Cost of visiting Cuang C waterfall - 20,000 kip (~ 2.5 dollars)

Park work time

Tat Kuang Si can be visited from 8:00 to 17:30

Park Cassa: ticket costs and work hours

Plan Park Scheme

Bears in Kuang Si Park

Before I tell about the waterfall itself in detail, which in my ranking of waterfalls stands almost in the first place, at one stage with a waterfall in and waterfalls in the park Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, I can not not tell a few words about the popular bears 🙂

Bears in the park 🙂

On the way to the waterfall, almost immediately near the entrance to the park, black Asian bears live! As it turned out, here in Kuang Si Park, there is a center for the salvation and protection of bears. Live bears on a huge territory in the forest. We have repeatedly obviously observed such black bears in, in, in, but still I could not pass past these cute animals and depended on them for half an hour! And no waterfall is no longer needed! 🙂

Beauty - Black Asian Bear 🙂

Asian black bears in Kuang Si Park. VIDEO

The effort of will had to tear themselves from contemplation of bears and will go on, to the waterfall of Cuang Si.

Kuang SI waterfall

The path through the forest very soon brought me to the waterfall. Water here is bright turquoise color due to limestone impurities. I saw such a blue water only in c.

Water in the waterfall Kuang Si bright blue

I even liked the walk along the path through the forest: it's not hard for me to go to the mountain, you don't need to go to the mountain, we stroll slowly, stop in beautiful places for photographing. There is even a pretty species restaurant, but I did not have time to go into it.

Good go through the woods and enjoy the species 🙂
Waterfall in the jungle of Laos 🙂
Trees grow straight out of the water
Species restaurant in which I did not have time to run

Very soon I went out to the organized place for swimming. Oh, how I dreamed of swimming in this turquoise water! But the weather prevented my plans to be cold and cold in Luang Prabander in December. Only the most courageous few tourists dared to climb into the water!

Brought a group of tourists who were not afraid to climb into the water 🙂

Near the waterfall is equipped with a picnic and rest space, as well as a toilet and locker rooms.

Places for recreation are equipped all over the way along the waterfall of Cuang Si

Another five minutes and I went out to the upper level of the Cuang CO) waterfall! There is already much crowded, some crowds of organized tourists and many local on cars (!).

Near the main waterfall noisy and crowded

The power and power of the Cuang Si waterfall are amazed, water splashes spray several meters.

Water splashes from waterfall scatter for several meters

After installing a little and enjoying the beauty and power of the Cuang Si waterfall, I decide to rise even higher, to the source of the waterfall, to the very top of the mountain. You can go there on both sides of the waterfall, I, like most tourists, went on the right.

The lifting is very heavy, a strong bias, a narrow path, steps serve the roots of trees, not for what, climbing up on four paws 🙂 The situation was complicated by the fact that I was alone, I was in an uncomfortable long skirt (well, even in sneakers. Yes, I am here in Asia completely and wear sneakers with a skirt 🙁 Well, nothing, I am waiting for me 100 pairs of shoes 🙂) and with a heavy bag with cameras and camera. In the middle of the way, I already regretted that I went and wanted to even go back. But when I looked down, I was even worse and I decided to crawl up.

Here on such a path I climb up
Top up to top to the right of the waterfall

Somehow I hardly got to the top. It was hard, but warmed up! Even the scarf shot 🙂 here I am on top of the waterfall.

I am at the very top of the waterfall Kuang Si

And then I had another test: to go out and go through slippery stones in ice water! But I did it and proud 🙂

At the top of the waterfall had to go out and move in slippery bridges and stones
It is necessary to go very accurately: the bridges are slippery and unstable
Here is such a beauty to a waterfall Kuang Si
And this kind of top down 🙂 There is a bulk of tourists below

In general, according to a good, it would be necessary to go down on the other side, but first, I did not know what a trail there, and secondly, I left my shoes and warm socks before entering the water from the other side with which it was raised. I decided to go back to the Kuang Xi waterfall as well as rose.

The descent is usually passed easier, but not for me (because of the knee, it's more painful for me, what to go up). The rise took 15 minutes, the descent of 20 minutes.

And some more photos of the waterfall

Kuang Si waterfall. VIDEO

• If you want to make good photos of the waterfall, then come to the park before lunch. I was in the park from 13:00 to 16:00 and at this time the sun shone due to the waterfall, i.e. Right into the lens.
• In warm weather, take a bathing facilities with you, it would be very cool to swim in such beautiful water!
• Be sure to raise at the very top! This is one of the most unforgettable impressions, even despite the difficult lifting and ice water.
• Take more water with you. A small bottle of water near the waterfall costs as much as 1.5 liter in the city (P.S. near a lot of cafes, the hungry will not be left 🙂).

You will be in Laos - be sure to visit the waterfall Kuang Si near Luang Prabang!

30 km south of the city, passing through the filler fields and the pile villages of the Hmong tribes and Khma, where the children of all ages play their national games on the wasteland, you find yourself on Cuang Si waterfalls. It is best to watch them in the winter, after the rainy season, and not during the drought period. Along the path around the waterfalls, you can climb the mountain through raw mysterious jungle. Kuang C is also a big natural park, it is better to plan for this trip for a whole day.

Laos argue that swimming in a waterfall contributes to the strengthening of men's strength and brings good luck in love affairs. Scientists are invarious - water contains radon. It is best to watch waterfalls in winter, after the rainy season, and not during the drought period. Along the path around the waterfalls, you can climb the mountain through raw mysterious jungle. Next to the waterfalls, locals sell their crafts from bamboo. A trip to the waterfalls in the body "Tuk-Tuka" will cost no more than 5 dollars. Per person, even cheaper to rent a motorcycle (but the road is not very good).

CE Waterfall (Tat SE)

Located closer to the city than Kuan Si. The difference and value of the waterfall in its width. Let the water do not fall from a high height like Kuang Si, but the width of the flow allows you to form a big shallow pools, the water in which he managed to warm up a little bit. Missed it seems that the water flows out of the forest - very beautiful.
In May-June, the waterfall almost dries.

Pak Cave (Pak OU)

Pak caves (Pak Ou), 25 km from LuangPrabang on Mekong, in the sign of the Nama River (Nam Ou). Boats depart from the pier near the National Museum.
Even before the appearance of Buddhism in two karst caves at the foot of the hill, the locals worshiped the spirits. In the lower (Tham Ting) and the top (Tham Phum) caves are stored about four thousand buddha sculptures, ranging from 10 cm to three meters. Entrance to both caves 8000 kip.

Pak Caves are very highly shrines. During the Lao New Year's New Year, Pea May (Phi Mai) residents of the city at boats make 25 km of pilgrimage up the Mekong to the caves to wash the images of the Buddha. On the other coast of Mekong opposite the caves there is a village of Ban Sanghai. Although during the century, residents of the village earn the production of ceramic vessels, but not so long ago, it became known to produce a particularly strong alcoholic beverage, called Lao-Lao manufactured from fermented adhesive rice. Most boats, aroused tourists to the caves of Pak y, have stopped at the "Village of Whiskey", you can have a snack in a cafe and walk around the local market.

Valley of stone vessels (Plain of Jars)

In the northeastern part of Laos, on an extensive plateau 15 km from the city of Prsavan, the only testimony of the vital activity of an ancient person is located in Indochita - gigantic stone vessels created in the Stone Age of the local residents. Whole fields, dyed with pots of size, more human growth and weighing about a ton of each, remain the most little-known megalithic structure in the world.

The jugs, which have more than 250 pieces, are considered to have age 2000, although there is little evidence of the exact date of their creation. In the 30s, Western researchers discovered a human figure from stone in one of the vessels, but it did not advance the decision of the riddle of the one for what purpose and who these dozens of giant pots were made, the weight of some of them reaches one ton. Theories vary from the shape of sarcophagus to large vessels for storing wine or rice. A popular legend says that in the 6th century, King Khun Zhuraz from South China arrived here and defeated the local military team Chao Engka. After this battle, he organized a large feast, during which hundreds of giant jugs with rice wine "Lao Lao" were used. There are three hundred jugs, which are scattered on flat plains about today's Foncavan.

Tad Kuang Si Waterfall is our first waterfall in Luang Prabang and one of the most unusual from us visited in Laos. The article presents a description of the Kuang Si waterfall, photo, prices, card, ways to get, to pass for free, how to find a cave and not be confused by bears.

It so happened that we went to the waterfall, and got into a bear the lair. Immediately after the presentation of the ticket, we found themselves in a fenced area, according to which dark brown animals were clumsy. As it turned out, there is a center for the rescue of Himalayan bears. The administration is proud that the beasts are not contained in close cells, but live in spacious enclosures in a natural environment (well, at least in the forest among trees). We can look at the bears from specially equipped glazed rooms or from sightseeing sites.

Each bear has a stand with a photo, name and description of yourself who is beloved in the first person.

Next to sell appropriate souvenirs.

Hello, bear!

Prices for about ten minutes on bears, we went to the main goal today - Kuang Xi Waterfall Waterfall.

BathingK.uang.S.i Falls.

I even had a thought that you need to take a swimsuit with you. Waterfall near Luang Prabang is of great popularity for water entertainment. Well, what, in Laos, there is no access to the sea, and swimming in a fresh waterfall, and even with clean water turquoise color - a great way to refresh yourself. In the country, as in many other countries of Southeast Asia, the locals bathe in clothes. Lao most often resting on another waterfall in the vicinity - Tad SAE, and here the barkpeckers and other travelers were mainly formed (from our observations). So feel glasses of bathing suits, replaceable clothes, towels, snack and go from Luang Prabang to Cuang Si waterfall for a whole day.

There are locker rooms, benches, spots for a picnic, albeit modest (most importantly, take on time 🙂).

Here you can jump into ice water, make a massage under the flowing water streams, and just swim in the turquoise lagoon.

We were firmly confident that the basic delights of the waterfall Tad Kuang Si had already seen, but from curiosity went on.

Upper Cascade of Cucan Cascade CO and Lookout

The beauty of the cascades and the pools that we saw upstream are not amenable to the description. Turquoise water color is due to limestone content. There are similar waterfalls in Thailand (Eravan, for example).

There are also equipped areas for recreation and picnic areas.

As it turned out, and that's not all! Here he is the largest 54-meter cascade of waterfall Tad Cuang Si, the most beautiful in Luang Prabang, and maybe in all Laos. 🙂

I advise you to climb the observation platform at the top of the waterfall. You can get there on the left, and to the right of Kuang Si. We overcame the mountain on the right (if you face a facing waterfall), the rise was very cool and hard. Left it seems like better, but we did not check it, because They went to look for a cave, and after the battalist went to the parking lot.

From the observation deck we opened a wonderful view of a wonderful Lao nature. But the most impressionable is a special reverent feeling when you are at the top of the waterfall.

View

If at the bottom of all equipped places for rest are busy, then you can try happiness upstairs, next to the observation platform.

Cave

On the map, we drew attention to the path aside from the observation and decided to go into intelligence. First, the route ran along the path, then we went to the dirt road. On the way they saw the pointer "The Way to Phalaesi Cave of Spring Water" and made sure that it makes sense to go further.

A kilometer through three we were at the entrance to the cave. Only she was already closed. Apparently, it was too late, since it was about it was to smother. That inside an interesting, never found out. Judging by the name, there should be a source.

How to get to the waterfall from Luang Prabang, how much is the map

Kuang SI waterfall on the mapLuang Prabanga (Laos):

Decoding metters on the map:

• Blue - Kuang Si Falls Waterfall.
• Blue - bathing at the waterfall.
• Red - Phalesi Cave of Spring Water Cave.
• Red line - the road to the cave from the village.
• Yellow - Cashier and parking.
• Green - turn to the cave from the village.
• Orange - a turn on a path between expensive to a cave and a look at the waterfall.
• Orange line - a path from a waterfall on the road towards the cave.
• Purple - fork on the road to the cave, we stick to the left (i.e. right).
• Brown - the city of Luang Prabang.

CoordinatesGPS.:

• Waterfall Kuang Si Waterfall - 19.7488, 101.99132.
• Cave - 19.736705, 102.00488.

How to get: The path to Cuang C is about 30 km along a picturesque road. From Luang Prabanga on the waterfall independently usually go to:

• Tuk Tuka - from 150.000-200.000 ($ 19-25) per group of up to 6-8 people. (with a substantial trading).
• Miniva - from 50.000 ($ 6.25) of Lao Kip per person. In the center of the city, drivers themselves are looking for tourists who want to go to the waterfall.
• Rented motorbike - from 120,000 kip ($ 15) per semi-automatic, from 160.000 ($ 20) Kip per bike machine, plus the cost of fuel (about $ 1). We wrote more about prices and conditions of hire of motorcycle in Laos.
• Bicycle (Much less often).

AT cave You can get in two ways:

• On the bike (bike, on foot) - In the village of Tapene, without reaching 150 meters to the box office, you need to turn left (see the photo below and the red route on the map above). Approximately 2 km will be a fork, we continue to move directly (i.e. on the left road) 1 km more.
• On foot - From the observation of the waterfall Tad Kuangsi in the signs (the route is indicated on the map of the orange line). First, along the path about 1 km, then right to the dirt road. After 300 m, the main road will go right, we need to stay straight. Somewhere after one kilometer there will be a cave.

Turn from the village to the cave and a secret trail to the waterfall

At the entrance you can eat and buy souvenirs.

Phones: (856-071) 212068, 254031.

Working hours: Daily 8.00 - 17.30. Secret trails can be passed to the Kuang Si waterfall at any time. At the end of the article I will write about it.

The cost of visiting:

• Entrance to the park is 20,000 kip ($ 2.5).
• Children under 8 years old - free.
• Motorcycle parking - 2.000 Kip (0.25 $).
• Car parking - 5,000 kip (0.625 $).
• The entrance to the cave is paid, the price is not known to us.

You can penetrate I. is free (I am not very approve of such ways, but there are different situations). If Tapene is from the village of Tapene to the left without reaching 150 m to the entrance to the waterfall area (the road towards the cave), somewhere after 1.5 km on the right there will be a path (coordinates: 19.744316, 101.998455, an orange mark on the map above). There are about 1 km along the path, until it is from above the waterfall on the viewing. From there go down, relax, bathe. You can exit through the main entrance. On maps.me maps, the necessary paths are indicated by dotted line.

Visited Kuang Si waterfall in Laos

Marina and Konstantin Samorosenko

I disassembled photos and stumbled upon undeservedly forgotten LuangPrabang waterfalls. I fix it: the waterfalls are really very beautiful and undoubtedly worthy of attention. There is Kuang Si Park 30 kilometers from Luang Prabang and there is very pleasant to go to get acquainted with the nature of the Laos North ...

Mineral water in Cuang Si will be lowered from a sheer cliff and small cascades and streams spread through a fairly large area. In some places, the flows are laughed in themselves with water with water unrealistic blue. Such a shade of water acquires from the minerals contained in it.

In general, all this national park is very reminded. True, unlike the latter, the water here is ice! I, though I took a swimsuit, did not dare to plunge. The air temperature in February is also not particularly bathing. The sun, however, figured very brightly - all shots grooved.

So, go to the park. At the entrance to the aviary, there is some kind of saved from poachers and does not want to be photographed by a sad bear.

Immediately - information shield with a traditional cart about local unfortunate bear and visual allowance. Prev!

We start climbing upstairs, from the lower cascades to the highest waterfall:

There is no special excitement on waterfalls, there are few people.

Europeans flew from their French and Norwegian winners with might and main in the natural ice basins. But we, we already spoiled by all sorts of crabs, zyabko riding flirts. And pictures look so warm! \u003d))

Walking through such permeated streams jungle is very exciting - every turn of the path opens a new sparkling waterfall in the sun or another deep azure pond.

Finally, we get to the main waterfall. The end of winter is the dry season, so it looks not particularly impressive. In the photos taken in the rainy season, Cuang Si is quite Grezden.

The sun is traditionally shrine directly because of the waterfall itself:

On the right and to the left of the stream on a slippery clay almost with a sheer wall (as we love, in short) can be climbed to the very top. And it is worth it - at the top you can bring to the very edge of the cliff and watch how water falls down, in the lower tiers of the pools.

And this is the flow of the main waterfall.

Circle - Again the baths, only with the purest water, in which no one had time to swim.

In connection with the impossibility of renting a bike in LuangPrabang, for a trip to Kuang Si had to use the services of the Gadsk Tuk Tukers. Their gang has fixed prices for all standard routes: to go to the waterfalls worth 200,000 kips ($ 25) for the entire Tuk-Tuk, which is mildly too much. In general, at first, they did not want to go anywhere for that kind of money, but then the dudes of dude from - on four came to the dudes. At the same time, our carpet found somewhere on the road one more sacrifice and tried to contemporary another 50 thousand from above. In general, the French were completely spoiled by the French!