Entrance fee is LAK 20.000, so 2 euro for us (p.p.)
The Kuang Si Falls, sometimes spelled Kuang Xi or known as Tat Kuang Si Waterfalls, is a three tier waterfall about 29 kilometres (18 mi) south of Luang Prabang.
I don't remember what we were charged for the excursion, but it was again arranged thru the frontdesk of the Lotus Villa hotel and a driver with a minivan picked us up as 14:00 for a fifty minute drive.
These waterfalls are a favourite side trip for tourists in Luang Prabang.
It does offer a nice opportunity to catch some rays, which for many is a welcome diversion in absence of beaches.
The falls are accessed via a trail to a left of the falls. The water collects in numerous turquoise blue pools as it flows downstream. The many cascades that result are typical of travertine waterfalls.
This is the largest pool and one can jump from that tree or use the rope to do the Tarzan (or Jane..) swing.
We hadn't realized it was a sunday and with the nice weather it had brought the locals out too...
There were far too many people around for us to really enjoy this excursion, even though you might not get the impression by my photos. But maybe our expectations had been a little bit unrealistic. |
Some seek the quiet..
... while some revel in escaping parental supervision.
And finally we come to the Kuang Si Falls.
| The falls begin in shallow pools atop a steep hillside; these lead to the main falls with a 60 metres (200 ft) drop. One apperently can climb up, but I didn't see how that would improve the experience nor could muster the required energy. We had the clock ticking for an agreed return time with our driver. |
I can see how for some the experience of these falls increase with such bikini clad young women on the sundeck.
I preferred these pools to the falls, actually. With some solitude these are quite enthralling.
I had to do without a tripod but managed to get the water 'flowing'.
These Malaysian Sun Bears were great fun, and may very well have been the best part of this excursion!
The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a bear found in tropical forest habitats of Southeast Asia.
It is classified as 'vulnerable' by IUCN, as the large-scale deforestation that has occurred throughout Southeast Asia over the past three decades has dramatically reduced suitable habitat for the sun bear. It is suspected that the global population has declined by more than 30% over the past three bear generations. |
Most of the bears arrive at the rescue centre as very young cubs having been confiscated by the Lao Government from illegal poaching and trading. It is likely that they would otherwise have been destined for a life of torture
in a 'bile farm' outside of Laos.
The sun bear is the smallest of the bears. Adults are about 120–150 cm (47–59 in) long and weigh 27–65 kg (60–140 lb). Males are 10–20% larger than females.
The sun bear's fur is jet-black, short and sleek with some under-wool. There are two whirls on the shoulders, from where the hair radiates in all directions. There is a crest on the sides of the neck and a whorl in the centre of the breast patch. There is always a more or less crescent-shaped pale patch on the breast that varies individually in colour ranging from buff, cream or dirty white to ochreous.
[Wikipedia]
The Sun Bear on the sun deck..
The bears @Tat Kuang Si Rescue Center do not profit from the entrance fee to the Kuang Si Falls park, so if you visit please do not forget to make a donation.
All photos © Ruud Leeuw
After only a short ride we stopped: we had to refuel.
Approaching our destination, a very beautiful area of the Mekong river.
