About 30 kilometers South of Luang Prabang are the Kuang Si falls, a beautiful 50 meter high waterfall and a group of turquoise pools set in the tropical rain forest. The falls, locally called Tat Kuang Si are well visited by tourists and locals alike.
The trip from Luang Prabang to the falls is a very scenic ride passing rice paddies, local villages and green hills. At the entrance to the falls are stalls selling food, snacks and drinks as well as a few souvenir shops.
From here, well maintained walkways and bridges lead into the tropical forest. After a short hike you will get to a group of shallow pools, filled with turquoise waters.
Shallow pools filled with turquoise waters
The pools are open to swimmers; the water is chilly providing a good chance to cool off from the heat of the country side. Children will enjoy swinging from a rope attached to a tree diving into the water. Near the pools are small changing rooms to change into swimming wear. A beautiful hike upstream through the jungle leads to the main waterfall which is about 50 meters high. To the left of it is a trail to the top, which can be slippery after rain. Swimming at the bottom of the falls is not allowed; swim in the pools downstream instead.
Turquoise pools