The Kuang Si Falls

The Kuang Si Falls, a short trip from Luang Prabang, are among the most beautiful waterfalls in Southeast Asia, a spectacular multi-tiered cascade that tumbles over white limestone terraces into a series of pools of an almost impossibly vivid turquoise. Set in lush jungle and reached through a bear rescue sanctuary at the entrance, the falls invite visitors to admire the main drop, swim in the cool, clear turquoise pools, and hike up beside the cascade to the quieter top.

What you actually see

• The turquoise pools - the vivid blue-green pools for swimming.
• The main waterfall - the tall main cascade over limestone.
• The bear sanctuary - the rescued moon bears at the entrance.
• The upper falls - the hike beside the cascade to the top.

When to go

November to April, the dry season, when the water is at its clearest and most vividly turquoise; heavy rain in the wet season can cloud the pools brown, though the falls run fuller. Go early to enjoy the pools before the tour crowds arrive.

Honest expectations

It is very popular, so the pools get busy with day-trippers by mid-morning; go early for the turquoise pools in peace. The water is refreshingly cold. The famous turquoise colour is clearest in the dry season and can turn muddy after heavy rain. The bear sanctuary at the entrance is a genuine rescue centre worth supporting. It is an easy, rewarding half-day trip.

Nearby

Luang Prabang and the Mekong villages are within reach.