Chasing waterfalls in Southern Laos

January 3, 2019

Laos is known for many things – beautiful landscapes, friendly people, extremely delicious food, charming towns, and of course, waterfalls. Lots and lots of waterfalls. Among them is the popular Kuangsi waterfall in Luang Prabang that attracts thousands, if not 10s of thousands of visitors each year. While it is surely a sight for sore eyes, there are plenty of other amazing waterfalls in southern Laos worth visiting.

Now, we love chasing waterfalls. We did it in Chiang Mai and luckily for us (and you), we got the opportunity to do the same in southern Laos. Here are some of the best ones we saw that you can also check out.

Khone Phapheng

Let’s get the obvious and biggest one out of the way first. The Khone Phapeng falls, which is one of the main attractions of southern Laos. While it might not be the prettiest waterfall in the country, it is surely the mightiest one out there. It is also the largest falls in all of Southeast Asia and that is saying a lot.

The waterfall is located in the Mekong river as it flows down rapidly through Champasak province, heading towards Cambodia. The sights and sounds of the roaring rapids are incredible. The best part is that you can experience all of it while having delicious Laotian food at the View restaurant.

Walking further from the restaurant, you can actually go down and on to the rocks that jut into the river. Another incredible angle of the waterfall from here. I personally enjoyed scrambling over the rocks to get the best view.

To enter the waterfall national park, visitors must pay 30,000 kip and is open every day from 8 am – 5 pm.

Fun fact: Khone Phapheng Falls ranks third among waterfalls in the world by mean annual flow rate (11,610 m³/s).

Tad Fane

Tad Fane was probably my favorite waterfall and it wasn’t just because of its sheer beauty and massive 120-meter drop but because you can zip line across it! The thrill of going over the twin beauties and the jungle below was just amazing.

Unfortunately, when I zipped over, I started spinning around, so couldn’t really enjoy the view completely. It’s quite an experience nonetheless.

While Khone Phapeng is the largest, Tad Fane is the tallest waterfall in Laos. That’s a twofer reason to visit southern Laos I would say.

Tad Li Phi / Somphamit

Located in the western side of Don Khone (one of the 4000 islands) Tad Li Phi aka Tad Somphamit is a real treat. It starts off calm at the top as the Mekong river meanders through rocks and boulders before building up speed.

You can walk along the stretch while observing the falls getting stronger. The currents are fast and strong so be careful while taking those photos at the edges. They are signs all over to warn you as well.

Keep walking down the trail, following the “gone to the beach” sign (go figure) and you will come to a sandy bank where you can take a swim, chill in one of the sala huts or grab a beer/cocktail at the bar. There is even a pool table. Great place to rest up and refresh before heading back.

Tad Gneuang

Also spelled as Tad Yuang, is one of the more serene and awe-inspiring waterfalls that one must visit. This is one of the few we have mentioned so far that you can actually swim in but with caution as currents can sometimes be strong. It’s also a very popular waterfall to capture that perfect Instagram shot with a variety of viewpoints across the area.

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We spent quite a bit of time here because it was just so beautiful and peaceful. Above the waterfall, you’ll find picnic areas, cute bridges resembling the shire from Lord of the Rings and small pools to swim in.

Tad Hang

Nestled in the southern tip of Salavan province near Tad Lo village is one of the most surreal waterfalls I’ve seen. It’s a wide multi-tiered waterfall divided into two by a large rock in the middle. It’s so wide, I had to use a pano shot to get all of it.

Tourism Laos describes this waterfall perfectly.

“A 30-meter-wide, tree-lined waterfall crashing over a 10-meter, tiered-rock wall into a series of rapids before settling into a calmly flowing river.”

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You can also swim at Tad Hang. We even saw a local man, walking around on the rocks in the middle of the waterfall. It’s a very beautiful and peaceful spot to visit with a few guesthouses and homestays nearby to stay at. Worth a trip here especially if you plan on staying a night or two.

Which ones would you go to if you visited southern Laos? Also if you liked these pictures, do check out our panoramic shots of other amazing sites (including some of these waterfalls) in Southern Laos.

By Shayan| January 3rd, 2019|Laos, Travel|0 Comments

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Khone Phapheng

Tad Fane

Tad Li Phi / Somphamit

Tad Gneuang

Tad Hang

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Chasing waterfalls in Southern Laos

Khone Phapheng

Tad Fane

Tad Li Phi / Somphamit

Tad Gneuang

Tad Hang

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