6 of the Best Lao Waterfalls

Best Lao Waterfalls

While small and landlocked, Laos does possess a lot of mountains and indeed some 80% of this Southeast Asian nation’s surface area is said to be highland or mountainous. It therefore includes myriad waterfalls amongst its natural features so here’s a rundown on what we reckon are the best Lao waterfalls. We say ‘best’ – SEO-speak really – meaning which we’d consider to be its most picturesque, spectacular and – importantly – conveniently accessible falls. (There’s little point in indicating the most spectacular waterfall in Laos if it’s completely in the middle of nowhere and while distances aren’t usually great in a relatively small country, anyone who’s visited Laos will testify that their road infrastructure can sometimes leave a lot to be desired.)

There are of course waterfalls, cascades, rapids and cataracts the length and breadth of the country. However, and perhaps somewhat surprisingly given the rugged mountain landscapes of northern Laos’s Luang Prabang, Phongsali, Luang Nam Tha and Oudomxai Provinces, many of our best Lao waterfalls entries are in the southern reaches of the country. The south – namely Champassak Province – holds the mighty Mekong River’s most dramatic features as well as the abrupt-sided Bolaven Plateau. (Note, the country’s highest mountain, Phu Bia at 2,800 metres, is found in the northeastern Xiangkhouang Province which also includes the eponymously named Xiangkhouang Plateau – home to the UNESCO-listed Plain of Jars. However, the latter’s gentle slopes render it largely devoid of spectacular falls. Equally mountainous Attapeu and Salavan Provinces to the southeast do offer numerous waterfalls but are decidedly remote.

1. Kuang Si

Luang Prabang Province’s Kuang Si Falls are undoubtedly one of the country’s most picturesque while the popularity of World Heritage Luang Prabang Town means the Falls are also the country’s most visited. Kuang Si has a delightful forested location at the foot of a low limestone cliff around which lie a series of smaller cascades and turquoise ponds. Fortuitously the falls have year round water so any time is good although they can get very busy during high season. (Occasional monsoon seasons storms may also compel authorities to close certain of the wooden walkways if the flow is too heavy.)  Definitely worth going early to avoid the crowds. The site has the added bonus of being one of the locations for a Free the Bears refuge which is both fascinating and obviously well worth helping out with your entrance fee, merch purchases and donations.  (They have additional sites at Cat Tien in Vietnam’s national park of the same name as well as at Phnom Tamao in southern Cambodia which is featured on our Beyond Angkor tour as well as our Kep, Kampot and Takeo extension.)

Needless to say the entrance to Kuang Si includes a large collection of restaurants and coffee shops some of which are quite fancy although some are also rather overpriced. For independent travellers a return by tuk-tuk will set you back around $15-20 and if you’ve rented a scooter go carefully as certain stretches of the road aren’t in great condition. Kuang Si National Park charges a $3 fee which in theory includes the bear refuge but the latter is a costly operation and they do welcome additional donations.. Definitely a shoo-in on any best Lao waterfalls compilation but, as we said, do get there as early as possible.

Tad Sae Falls are closer to Luang Prabang  – a mere  15 kilometres east of town – but involve a short boat trip down the Khan River once you’ve reached the nearest carpark. More cascades than falls, they feature similar turquoise pools and limestone formations as Kuang Si but lack the higher central section although they also lack the crowds.

2. Tad Yuang

Another regular inclusion on any best Lao waterfall list is the Bolaven Plateau’s spectacular Tad Yuang. (Various alternative spellings include Yueang, Gneuang, Yuan.) The steep sided plateau in south Lao’s Champassak Province is home to several spectacular falls but this one is justifiably one of the best-known and most visited. The falls tumble some 40 metres over moss-covered cliffs into a large pool at the foot. (See side photo.) A path leads down to the opposite side of the pool allowing spectacular, close up views of Tad Yuang. Spray can make the path slippery and the pool is good for bathing at certain times but water volume can render it dangerous during monsoon season so take care. It’s also a conveniently accessed site and the car park at the top of the hill comes with various cafes and local eateries.

3. Tad Fane

Another Bolaven site and the highest we know of, weighing in at an impressive 120 metres. Twin columns of water fall into a huge limestone chasm, (possibly a collapsed ancient sink hole?) adding to the highly dramatic scene. As the crow flies it’s only a kilometre west of Tad Yuang although it’s accessed by a different route and you’ll need to park up in the carpark of the private Tad Fane Resort, strategically located atop the nearby cliffs. (This also makes for a good spot for lunch and or a drink.) There’s no easy access to the foot of the falls so views are from up top although apparently various hikes in the area are available.

Since our last visit they’ve added a zipline which frankly,, bearing in mind what appears to be a near bottomless chasm underneath, ought to be Lao’s most terrifying zipline. (Our mild vertigo provides us with an easy opt out!)

Not as readily accessed as Tad Yuang but, as the country’s highest, it’s got to be another shoo-in on our best Lao waterfalls list.

4. Tad Pha Suam

By now you’ll have guessed that tad means waterfall in Lao with Tad Pha Suam being another Bolaven Plateau offering. Tad Fane and Yuang have more central locations on the Plateau, near the small commercial and administrative settlement of Paksong Town, whereas Pha Suam is situated on the western slopes of Bolaven, a mere 25 kilometres or so northeast of the provincial capital Pakse.

The falls are also a different style to the two previous entries, consisting of a horseshoe-shape, 5 to 6 metre high, drop-off on the Vang Ngao River. Lacking the spectacular heights of its cousins, Tad Pha Suam is probably more reliant on water volume to impress visitors so is a good rainy season choice. Access is by way of a much-visited village of the Laven ethnic group which, while rather lacking in authenticity, does provide examples of their traditional dress and houses as well as an opportunity to pick up some handicrafts. (Tad Pha Suam is our featured image.)

Another well-known Bolaven waterfall, situated on the northeastern side of the plateau, is Tad Lo and its close neighbour Tad Hang. It’s a scenic spot, good for bathing and very popular with local visitors, particularly at weekends due to its proximity to Salavan Town. (The pair of waterfalls lie less than 30 kilometres from Salavan’s provincial capital.) However the falls are a long drive from Pakse so Bolaven Plateau day tours won’t usually stretch this far meaning the site sees relatively few foreign visitors. Apparently there is a dam upstream from which water is released from time to time meaning water levels at Tad Lo can vary considerably in volume in a short space of time . Last time we visited a warning siren was used when water was released upstream giving visitors time to seek higher ground. In the space of a few minutes, rocks that were picnic spots for families became isolated outcrops surrounded by raging torrents. To be fair, this was some time ago and we doubt the same system is still in use as it was clearly an accident waiting to happen. This curious on and off phenomenon along with the site’s remoteness means it didn’t quite make our best Lao waterfalls list.

5. Tad Somphamit or Liphi

Commonly referred to as Liphi, or Li Phi, by locals, these falls are located further south, in the Four Thousand Islands area, of Si Phan Don.  In fact as far south as you can go since the hills on the far side of the falls are on Cambodian territory. The falls are on one of the myriad channels into which the Mekong divides amid the rocks and isles of this inland archipelago with Don Khone situated on the south side of the channel and Don Daet on the north. (Yes, Don means island in Lao!) Access is from the Don Khone side which includes a coffee shop, restaurant and the inevitable zipline.

The falls are a different style again with dozens of raging torrents between huge boulders and drop-offs forming a maelstrom, of falls, whirlpools and torrents. This one you do not want to fall into!)

This is just one of the Mekong’s many channels amid the Four Thousand Islands since at this point the river is estimated to be up to 11 kilometres wide. Many are more cascades than falls with certain even being negotiable by experienced kayakers. Back in the 1860s the French Mekong Expedition got stuck here for a long time, desperately attempting to find a navigable channel. The expedition’s goal was to find a practical route for riverine transport from the Delta, Saigon and Phnom Penh to Vientiane, Luang Prabang and upper sections of the Mekong and ultimately to China. After searching in vain, their solution was to construct the famous railway across Don Khone and Don Daet with huge gantries at the foot and top of the falls  allowing goods to be loaded and off loaded on either side before continuing on their way by boat south to Kratie or north to Champassak.

Liphi represents the most westerly of these channels while the next, and final, entry on the best Lao waterfalls list, Khone Phaphaeng, is the easternmost.

6. Khone Phaphaeng

Tad Fane is the country’s highest, Khone Phaphaeng – also written Pha Phaeng, Khone Phapheng etc – is Lao’s largest. Indeed, it’s not only Lao’s biggest waterfall but in terms of water volume is one of the largest in the World – even though very few people outside of Laos have heard of it. Aside from various rapids on the Congo River, its estimated average cubic metres of water per second during the rainy season is the highest and eclipses much better known sites such as Niagara or Victoria Falls. Since statistics group the various Four Thousand Islands channels, (including Liphi etc)  together, it’s also a clear winner in the World’s widest falls, even if it’s 30 metres or so height is relatively modest. (The fact that it is overlooked on many World waterfalls lists you’ll see on the web indicates just how little known these huge falls still are.)

Traditionally, the principal viewpoint is located on the northern bank of the Mekong roughly half way between Nakasong – the small port which provides boat access to Don Daet, Don Khone etc – and the Cambodian border at Veung Kham-Don Kalor. Regrettably, Chinese investors are active in the area at present with, we understand, plans for a large resort and golf course!? This has unfortunately messed up access somewhat so for now we’re waiting until the dust has settled – literally and metaphorically. While not the most conveniently situated the huge falls still deserve inclusion on our best Lao waterfalls.

On our South Lao tours we used to programme a day-long, round trip starting with a Don Khone tour – including Liphi – which finished at the railway gantry at the island’s southern tip, From here we’d take a boat to see the Irrawaddy dolphins, before being dropped off at Veung Kham from where we’d  tuk-tuk back to Nakasong with a stop at the Khone Phapheng viewpoint. Tragically, the dolphin pod is no longer present with the result that boats are no longer available for hire either. This now means that visitors staying at resorts on Don Khone or Don Daet have to take a boat to Nakasong followed by a return drive to the viewpoint and a return boat to the islands. While a view of the falls is impressive, this proved very time consuming and impractical for a 10 minute photo stop at the viewpoint. (Much better news is that a second pod of the rare freshwater dolphins, further south in Cambodia’s Kratie Province, is flourishing with record numbers of births in the last few years.)

After a stay on the Four Thousand Islands our itineraries take us across the border into northern Cambodia so our rearranged version includes – time permitting – a stop at the Khone Phapheng viewpoint on the way to the crossing point at Don Kalor, followed by a boat trip to see the dolphins at Sambor, a short drive from our day’s final destination at Kratie. (This is quite a full day including a border crossing so we do say time permitting.)

The Bolaven Plateau and Four Thousand Islands feature on our Mekong Adventure, Laos – Far North to Far South and Thailand, Laos and Cambodia Emerald Triangle tours. A visit to Kuang Si is included on all our northern Laos itineraries while the aforementioned Far North tour includes all 6 of our best Lao waterfalls listings.