Kuang Si Waterfalls: Of Secret Turquoise Pools and Magical Nature near Luang Prabang

During our travels, we come across many places that are truly magical in nature and that we would return to in a heart beat. Kuang Si waterfalls near Laos’s heritage city of Luang Prabang is one such place. It’s shallow turquoise blue pools, a 3 tiered waterfall, a lush green environment and a rural setting creates magic and offers the perfect avenue to unwind, relax and have some fun.



It’s proximity to heritage city Luang Prabang is just icing on the cake. All you have to do is rent a motorbike, pack your swim wear, sunglasses and camera, have an early breakfast at your Luang Prabang hotel or hostel and then head towards Kuang Si waterfall while exploring and experiencing the simple beauty of rural Laos. Pretty little villages, lush paddy fields and forests greet you during your ride to the waterfalls.



And once you reach the waterfall, you will become trigger happy as every part of the waterfall arena will look photogenic to you with its turquoise pools. Once your trigger mania fades, you can head to the waterfall for a natural waterfall shower and then slowly walk around the place to look for your own secret pool for a delightfully relaxing soak. The warm weather, the pristine environment and the mild water will ensure that you drift off to sleep while wallowing in the shallow pools. Such is the natural aura of this place. A magical waterfall holiday in the fabulous country of Laos.



How to reach here:

Kuang Si waterfalls is about 31 kms from Luang Prabang. It is best to hire your own motorcycle or car to go on a relaxed drive through rural Laos. That way, you not only get to enjoy a relaxed day at the waterfall, you can also get to spend a day driving through rural Laos.

The nearest airport is Luang Prabang.



Nearby tourist attractions:

1) The UNESCO world heritage city of Luang Prabang

2) Kuang Si Bear Conservation Center

3) Rural sights of Laos

4) Mekong river cruise

5) Ting cave

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Travel Photo: Wooden Buddha Statues from Luang Prabang

The UNESCO World heritage area of Luang Prabang is straight out of a fairy tale. The Mekong river front, the French colonial buildings, the absolutely stunning golden temples, the rich aura of Buddhism, the beautiful street markets in the evening and the hill top views all give this place an unbelievable look. If you are walking on this stretch of heritage area, there will hardly be a moment when you are not left spellbound.


One of the most beautiful temples in this UNESCO World heritage area is Wat Xieng Thong. Its architecture, its golden colours, its intricate design and rich history make for a great visit. This is one of my favorite temples of Luang Prabang. What is your favorite temple of Luang Prabang?

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Travel Photo: Kuang Xi Waterfall near Luang Prabang, Laos

This place is blessed with a stunning setting. Perfectly green and perfectly tropical. And its best attribute is that it is really close to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang in serene Laos For those who want a break from temples, French colonial setting, shopping and the Mekong river and wish for a rural experience by cycling or motor-biking through the countryside, then the Kuang Xi waterfall at 30 kms away from Luang Prabang provides that ideal avenue.


The natural swimming pools at the foot of this waterfall are a great way to laze around and cool off in this tropical part of the world. This rugged terrain offers small treks for those willing to sweat it out and once you have sweat it out, you can again go for a dip in this turquoise pool. For families with kids, there is a bear conservation center close by (it is called the Kuang Xi Bear conservation center) that will offer a knowledgeable session about the sun bears of Laos and also makes for great scenes. In my head, it is the perfect day trip from Luang Prabang. Have you explored this place as yet?

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Travel Photo: Yellow Scooter at Luang Prabang, Laos

I was walking through the UNESCO World Heritage old town of Luang Prabang and had just visited the very beautiful Wat Xieng Thong, the temple of the golden city. I was walking through lanes of French colonial buildings when I saw this beautiful yellow scooter that stood contrasting against the dull green doors of a colonial building.


And to add to it was the red tiles of the flooring. This setting make a very colorful frame tempting me to photograph it. You can see a lot of similar scooters in Luang Prabang, but this was the one with the bright yellow color.

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Tamnak Lao Restaurant: Best for Lao Food!!

Unlike Thai, Malaysian or Vietnamese Food, Lao food is not that popular the world over. But, that is not because the food is not good, but that there is hardly anyone who is taking Lao food to the masses. It is only when you get to Laos and taste the food that you know it can be a cuisine on its own in an international kitchen. One such restaurant, which is a good exponent of this tasty cuisine is Tamnak Lao. Tamnak Lao is located in Luang Prabang and Vientiane where it is not too far away from the most popular sights in these respective cities.


This restaurant, which doubles up as a cooking school dishes out a great variety of Lao food and its specialties include the Lao Fish Larp, steamed Lao fish in banana leaf, Lao Salad, Bamboo Salad and more. In Vientiane, they are only open during the evenings, while at Luang Prabang, they are open both for lunch and dinner. The restaurant staff speak decent English and will ensure that you have a great dining experience. In fact, this is one of their better selling points. The food here is slightly on the expensive side, but once you get a taste of their food, you are bound to return many times in spite of it putting a strain on your wallet. In addition to their great food, they have dedicated menus for vegetarians and diabetics, which augurs well for those with special needs too.

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