• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • About
  • World Map
  • Work With Us
  • Disclosure/Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Budget Travel Talk

Road Trips Caravan Camping Australia & World on a Budget

  • Home
  • Our Blog
  • Destinations
    • Australia Travel Blog
      • New South Wales
      • Queensland
        • Cairns
        • Sunshine Coast
        • Townsville
      • Tasmania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Americas
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Europe
      • Bosnia and Hercegovina
      • Croatia
      • Italy
      • Montenegro
      • Portugal
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
        • Istanbul
    • Africa
      • Morocco
    • New Zealand / Pacific
  • Journey
    • Road Trips
    • Trains
    • Boat Trips
  • Travel Tips
    • Reviews
    • Destination Guides
    • Itineraries
    • Self Guided Walking Tours
    • Travel Resources
    • Budget Tips
    • Buying Guides
    • Interviews
  • Accommodation
    • Airbnb
    • Caravan Parks
    • Free Camping
    • Hotels
    • Housesitting
  • Experience
    • Food to Love
    • Festivals
    • Markets
    • Palaces and Castles
    • Ruins
    • Short Walks
    • Street Art
    • Bike Rides
  • Search
  • Home
  • Our Blog
  • Destinations
    • Australia Travel Blog
      • New South Wales
      • Queensland
        • Cairns
        • Sunshine Coast
        • Townsville
      • Tasmania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Americas
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Europe
      • Bosnia and Hercegovina
      • Croatia
      • Italy
      • Montenegro
      • Portugal
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
        • Istanbul
    • Africa
      • Morocco
    • New Zealand / Pacific
  • Journey
    • Road Trips
    • Trains
    • Boat Trips
  • Travel Tips
    • Reviews
    • Destination Guides
    • Itineraries
    • Self Guided Walking Tours
    • Travel Resources
    • Budget Tips
    • Buying Guides
    • Interviews
  • Accommodation
    • Airbnb
    • Caravan Parks
    • Free Camping
    • Hotels
    • Housesitting
  • Experience
    • Food to Love
    • Festivals
    • Markets
    • Palaces and Castles
    • Ruins
    • Short Walks
    • Street Art
    • Bike Rides
  • Search

Go See Kuang Si Waterfall and help Free the Bears Laos

October 29, 2019 By Jan Robinson 6 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.


Kuang Si waterfall near Luang Prabang in Northern Laos is set in lush forest 30 km south of Luang Prabang, Laos.

Confusingly the name can also be spelt Kouang Si waterfall  (seen written on signs locally) Kuang Xi or Tat Kuang Si.

The temperature in Luang Prabang during our visit in early April was 42 degrees celsius, so an opportunity to get wet and cool was high on the agenda.

Arrive early to avoid crowds and make sure you have enough time to do the walk to the top of the falls. Four hours is a reasonable amount of time at Kuang Si waterfall. If it’s photos you are after take photos first before a lot of people arrive. Work your way to the top falls taking photos as you go, then relax and swim. You can grab something to eat from the stalls outside when you leave.

These photos were taken in late dry season.

The walk to the top of the falls does become impassable in the wet season.

 

What is Kuang Si Waterfall Luang Prabang like?

Kuang Si is really a waterfall park.

Deliciously cool milky blue/turquoise water flows over multi-tiered limestone formations into a series of tempting pools.

The pools are framed by lush green trees, ferns and clambering vines and there is even a rope to swing on Tarzan style.

Some pools are not accessible for swimming.

 

Who visits Kuang Si Waterfalls

Travellers weren’t the only ones looking forward to a swim. The local population, including the Luang Prabang monks and visiting monks, love it here too.

 

Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre

An added bonus of visiting Kuang Si, is the opportunity to see rescued moon bears on the Free the Bears Bear Discovery Trail.

Free the bears a charity set up by Australian Mary Hutton in 1993 saves Sun Bears and Moon Bears.

The bears here at Kuang Si are Moon Bears.

 

Although 20,000 kip is charged to enter the park, none of this money goes toward the free the bears charity.

Due to the generosity of patrons in the past the enclosures for rescued bears have increased dramatically.

You can donate on the above link and/or buy from a range of gifts with the money going directly to helping the bears.

 

Tuk tuks waiting for the return of their passengers.

Look for distinguishing characteristics so you can find your tuk tuk and driver on your return.

Drivers do not enter the waterfall area.

 

There were plenty of food and drink stalls outside the gates.

 

This water wheel, which is supposedly used to remove the husks from rice, added charm to the already picture perfect setting.

 

 

How to get to Kuang Si Waterfall

Hire a Tuk Tuk on the street anywhere in Luang Prabang.

Kuang Si waterfall is a refreshing destination on a hot day in Luang Prabang. Consider hiring a Songtaew or Tuk Tuk for the whole day so you can stay as long as you like. Expect to pay 250,000 kip of $40 AUD for the whole day.

Alternatively you can book a shared mini bus here.

 

How long does it take to get to Kuang Si Waterfall

Kuang Si is about 45 minutes/1 hour from Luang Prabang. It’s a relatively relaxing country drive beside rice paddies and small dusty towns and villages. Remember it was dry season during our village, but all the time in the background were greener mountains.

Add Kuang Si waterfall to your Laos Itinerary and you will not be sorry for one minute. It is one of the best things to do in Luang Prabang.

 

 

More from my site

  • Pelorus Island and Orpheus Island Fishing Snorkelling InformationPelorus Island and Orpheus Island Fishing Snorkelling Information
  • Tuesday in Townsville – Outriggers and Stingers on The StrandTuesday in Townsville – Outriggers and Stingers on The Strand
  • The Church on the hill in Trebinje BiHThe Church on the hill in Trebinje BiH
  • Tuesday in Townsville – Strand Beach or Japanese Zen GardenTuesday in Townsville – Strand Beach or Japanese Zen Garden
  • Central Park, NYC – First ImpressionCentral Park, NYC – First Impression
  • Fun things to do in Hobart plus bonus Eating Out TipsFun things to do in Hobart plus bonus Eating Out Tips

Filed Under: Laos

About Jan Robinson

Jan Robinson writes about travel on her Budget Travel Talk blog. A solo traveller in her teens, for the last 40 years Jan has travelled through Australia, Asia, Europe, Turkey and New Zealand with her husband. They specialise in road trips, caravanning and Independent travel without spending a fortune. Her favourite destination is Turkey and she is currently dreaming of Myanmar and Mexico.

Previous Post: «Natural Rock Swimming Pool at Cedar Creek Falls near Airlie Beach Whitsundays on a Budget – What to do in Airlie Beach beyond Whitsunday Islands
Next Post: A day in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland – Road Trips from Brisbane View of Glass House Mountains from One Tree Hill»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jenny@atasteoftravel

    December 31, 2011 at 1:51 pm

    What a stunning spot and as you mention a cool respite from the heat of the city. I’d go just to see the bears and support the charity. Since seeing bears mistreated in India, I’d support any one trying to save them.

    Reply
    • Jan

      December 31, 2011 at 2:10 pm

      Agreed Jenny, As most things in Laos are laid back, so are the Moon Bears. They love sitting in their swinging chairs. I believe they are like that in the wild as well.

      Reply
  2. Lisa Wood

    January 1, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    Gosh Jan those photos are amazing – I love the water falls and the bears are so incredible…are they enclosed away from everyone, or do they walk amongst the people?
    I so would love to feel the water, see the monks, give money to help the bears, and buy at the stalls just outside! What an amazing experience 😉
    Thanks for sharing – when we lived in Mackay (many years ago) we used to have a wet season. It would rain for 6 weeks straight but it was warm rain so we were able to play outside with our boys! is it a warm wet season over there?
    Cheers
    Lisa

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 2, 2012 at 10:30 am

      Hi Lisa, I am loving looking back at our time in Luang Prabang. My brother had spent a lot of time working in L.P. and had told me how special it was. I spent a lot of years dreaming before I actually got there. The bears are in one big enclosure with plenty of room. They are lazy bears and enjoy just lounging in their chairs and sitting in the water. L.P. has a huge monk population and they are out and about in the community all the time. The water has a soft feel to it. It gets that colour from the limestone. It didn’t rain while we were there, but it has warm rain like N.Q.

      Reply
      • Lisa wood

        January 5, 2012 at 2:54 pm

        That is one experience you will always remember 🙂

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Australia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Townsville Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Bosnia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Cambodia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Canada Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Croatia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Italy Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Laos Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Montenegro Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Morocco Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to New Zealand Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Slovenia Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Spain Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Turkey Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to the United States of America Budget Travel Talk's posts relating to Vietnam

Pinterest

Visit Budgettraveltalk's profile on Pinterest.

Top Australian and New Zealand Blogger for 2017

Im-a-Top-Australian-and-New-Zealand-Travel-Blogger-for-2017-Medium-Rectangle-300x250px (1)

Mature Bloggers Australia

Mature Bloggers Australia

Footer

Most Popular Posts

Whitsundays on a Budget – How to Get to Whitehaven Beach

Romantic Things for Couples to do in Rome including Valentines Day

Things to Do in Huskisson and Jervis Bay

Hobart to Bruny Island: Tours from Hobart or Self Drive Bruny Island?

Ferry to Eyup Istanbul for Pierre Loti views and Eyup Sultan Istanbul Mosque 2018

About Jan & Marty

We are Jan and Marty and we love travel.

The best thing about being in our 60’s is that our travel budget is flexible, allowing us to enjoy great experiences, good food and fun people. As with most things in life, it’s all about priorities.

Copyright © 2025 Budget Travel Talk - Journey. Destination. Experience.