--- okf_version: "0.2" type: "Article" title: "Falling for Tat Kuang Si Waterfall" description: "Justine Tyerman had to take a tricky decision – chill-out by the pool in Luang Prabang, or get up early, to see the waterfall Tat Kuang Si." resource: "https://travelmemo.com/laos/tat-kuang-si-waterfall" language: en author: "Justine Tyerman" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 9 tags: ["Landscape", "Nature", "Waterfalls", "Laos"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/laos" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/singapore" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/new-zealand" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/itinerary" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/scuba-diving" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/wildlife-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj", at: 2026-07-04T14:28:35+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: tat-kuang-si-waterfall.md#photos title: "Original photography by Justine Tyerman" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj" last_modified: 2017-06-22 timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:28:35+00:00 --- # Falling for Tat Kuang Si Waterfall > Tat Kuang Si is a spectacular multi-tiered waterfall near Luang Prabang, Laos, featuring turquoise limestone pools, a bear rescue centre, and an elephant sanctuary along the way. ## Destination Tat Kuang Si Waterfall, approximately 45 minutes' drive from Luang Prabang, Laos. ## Getting there Singapore Airlines flies from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch to Singapore. SilkAir operates flights from Singapore to Luang Prabang three times weekly. From Luang Prabang, the waterfall is about a 45-minute drive followed by a 20–30 minute uphill hike. ## When to go The article does not specify an ideal season, though the visit takes place in tropical heat. ## Why visit The waterfall is a breathtaking series of travertine terraces and natural swimming pools in a rainforest setting, with additional highlights including a bear rescue centre and elephant sanctuary en route. ## What to see - **Tat Kuang Si Waterfall** — A 60m many-tiered waterfall cascading down limestone terraces into natural pools ranging from milky-green to deep turquoise. - **Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre** — A large enclosure housing nearly 40 Asiatic black bears rescued from illegal wildlife trade, run by Free the Bears. - **Luang Prabang Elephant Camp** — A sanctuary for elephants rescued from logging camps, including a baby elephant named Sang Noi Kiddu. - **Kuang Si Butterfly Park** — Located en route to the waterfall and rated highly, though the author did not have time to visit. ## What to do - **Swimming in the natural pools** — Multiple turquoise pools along the terraces are open for swimming; some visitors swing on vines and dive from rocks. - **Hiking the rainforest trail** — A well-trodden path leads through rainforest past a succession of smaller falls up to the main waterfall. - **Elephant encounters** — Visitors can pat and feed elephants, ride them, help bathe them in the river, or take a mahout course. - **Cotton weaving visit** — A local artisan named Pan weaves scarves, table runners, and throws by hand from cotton grown on her property near the waterfall. ## Good to know The Lao currency is the kip. Accommodation option in Luang Prabang mentioned in the article is Parasol Blanc. Tours can be arranged through Innovative Travel, a Christchurch-based boutique operator. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Sang-Noi-Kiddu-elephant-Luang-Prabang-Laos.jpg" caption: "Sang Noi Kiddu, naughty baby elephant at Luang Prabang Elephant Camp" keywords: ["Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Tat Kuang Si", "elephant", "waterfall"] captured: 2017-06-22 geo: {latitude: 19.7877, longitude: 101.9797} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Pan-Tat-Kuang-Si-Luang-Prabang-Laos.jpg" caption: "Pan runs a little cotton weaving business from her home near Tat Kuang Si Waterfall, 45 minutes’ drive from Luang Prabang" keywords: ["Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Tat Kuang Si", "waterfall"] captured: 2017-06-22 - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Asiatic-black-bear-Tat-Kuang-Si-Luang-Prabang-Laos.jpg" caption: "An Asiatic black bear snoozing in a hammock after feasting on bamboo at Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre" keywords: ["Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Tat Kuang Si", "black bear", "waterfall"] captured: 2017-06-22 - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/travertine-terraces-waterfall-Tat-Kuang-Si-Luang-Prabang-Laos.jpg" caption: "The travertine terraces at Tat Kuang Si Waterfall" keywords: ["Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Tat Kuang Si", "waterfall"] captured: 2017-06-22 geo: {latitude: 19.7492, longitude: 101.9917} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/waterfall-Tat-Kuang-Si-Luang-Prabang-Laos-2.jpg" caption: "One of a series of waterfalls at Tat Kuang Si" keywords: ["Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Tat Kuang Si", "waterfall"] captured: 2017-06-22 geo: {latitude: 19.75, longitude: 101.9926} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/waterfall-Tat-Kuang-Si-Luang-Prabang-Laos-4.jpg" caption: "The steps create the most beautiful natural swimming pools ranging in colour from milky-green and powder-blue to deep turquoise" keywords: ["Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Tat Kuang Si", "waterfall"] captured: 2017-06-22 geo: {latitude: 19.7501, longitude: 101.9925} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/jumper-waterfall-Tat-Kuang-Si-Luang-Prabang-Laos.jpg" caption: "There were swimmers soaking in each pool and a few guys diving off rocks" keywords: ["Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Tat Kuang Si", "waterfall"] captured: 2017-06-22 geo: {latitude: 19.7492, longitude: 101.9917} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/waterfall-Tat-Kuang-Si-Luang-Prabang-Laos-3.jpg" caption: "The magnificent many-tiered main waterfall at Tat Kuang Si" keywords: ["Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Tat Kuang Si", "waterfall"] captured: 2017-06-22 geo: {latitude: 19.7492, longitude: 101.9917} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Justine-Tyerman-pool-waterfall-Tat-Kuang-Si-Luang-Prabang-Laos.jpg" caption: "Justine immersed in the cool water of a pool at Tat Kuang Si" keywords: ["Justine Tyerman", "Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Tat Kuang Si", "waterfall"] captured: 2017-06-22 geo: {latitude: 19.7501, longitude: 101.993} ```