THE trick pool OF KUANG SI waterfall

Last Updated: 03/17/20 | March 17th, 2020 (Original Post: 1/11/2016)

NOTE: This pool no longer available as well as you shouldn’t go there.

“Do you want to join us to see the waterfall tomorrow?” the women across the table asked.

“Tak určitě!” Odpověděl jsem.

And, just like that, I was heading off to Luang Prabang’s well-known Kuang Si waterfalls with three strangers I satisfied at dinner.

Walk around Luang Prabang for much more than two seconds as well as lots of tuk-tuk chauffeurs will ask if you want to go to the waterfall.

And they imply only one: Kuang Si.

The waterfall was noted in my guidebook as a “must-do,” as well as every traveler I talked to before going to the city told me I would be crazy not to see falls.

Normally, when so numerous people talk so enthusiastically about a place, I ended up being skeptical. This is going to be a traveler trap, I think. It’s going to be one of those lovely locations so overwhelmed by crowds jostling for the ideal selfie, I won’t be able to getaway for a moment of serenity.

Waking up early the next morning, I waited at the suitable satisfying area for my new friends. We had to make plans with one of the numerous tuk-tuk chauffeurs waiting to take tourists like us.

One approached me as well as we began a dance as old as time: we haggled, joked, threw up our arms in frustration, walked away, as well as then concerned a cost he feigned was as well low as well as I understood was still somewhat as well high.

My good friends as well as I boarded our shared taxi with a few other strangers as well as drove the hour outside town to the waterfalls. The air cooled as we passed with small, dirty towns, past institutions where youngsters played as well as screamed outside, as well as lovely Buddha statues, rice fields, as well as verdant mountains in the distance.

It was my very first genuine look at Laos because I landed the night before. There was a simple, unspoiled charm to it.

After showing up as well as paying our 20,000 LAK ($2.50 USD) entrance fee, we very first stopped at the well-known bear sanctuary. Asiatic black bears, or moon bears, are an endangered species, as their bile is utilized in Chinese medicine to “relieve interior heat” (it’s likewise prescribed for anything from hangovers to cancer as well as is discovered in typical bath products).

This sanctuary rescues them as well as homes 23 bears that are now enabled to roam as well as delight in life outside a cage. It made me want a bear. They were so adorable as well as furry.

We viewed them climb up as well as down trees, play with each other, as well as drink water. A collective “awwww” swept the onlookers each time a bear came into close view.

With the ogling over, we continued toward the waterfalls, excited for a swim.

Kuang Si is a huge waterfall that flows with the limestone-rich jungle as well as empties out into a series of three carefully cascading pools. From the lowest one, each pool seems like a step on your method as much as a holy temple.

Legend has it that a smart old guy summoned the water by digging into the earth. then a golden deer made its house under a rock extending from under the new waters. That’s where the name Kuang Si comes from: “kuang” implies deer, as well as “si” implies dig.

We started at the lowest pool as well as wandered toward the waterfall. As you walk with as well as around each pool, you feel as if you’ve discovered yourself in a fairy tale, with water streaming over white limestone rocks into aquamarine pools surrounded by tropical trees that let in just the best amount of light.

The better you get to the waterfall, the much more groups of people I saw, swimming under the falls, walking on the rocks, as well as taking unlimited pictures.

Gazing up with the crowds as well as quietly cursing in really hopes that they would get out of the pictures I was trying to take, I couldn’t assist however marvel at exactly how lovely the scene was. everybody was right: this location was a must-see.

Gazing at the turquoise water as it fell over the rocks’ edges, with the light casting an ethereal glow on the scene, the crowds as well as noise couldn’t take away from this place’s beauty.

“Should we opt for a swim or hike some more?” I asked the girls.

“Let’s hike some more.”

We continued on, marveling at each pool up until lastly reaching the waterfall. As the water cascaded down in a torrent of sound, we gazed with dropped jaws. What a lovely sight to behold! This waterfall cut with the jungle like a razor. I couldn’t get over exactly how intense as well as fantastic it looked.

From the best side of the falls, we climbed a muddy, unkempt, used path that commonly needed a bit of mountaineering skills. Our prize was the top as well as its spectacular views of the valley.

We wandered around the top of the fenced-in waterfall, wading with pools as well as crossing rickety walkways. I was struck at exactly how few people there were compared with below. though the pools below were full of people, barely a fraction of them came as much as delight in the view.

At the edge, we took in the large area of Laos. I let out an audible “wow.” I had no concept exactly how eco-friendly Laos was. We stood there as well as stared.

As we were about to descend, a good friend of the women came up as well as asked if they had discovered the entrance to the trick pool.

“What trick pool?” we asked in unison. Our voices shooting up in excitement. There’s nothing much more interesting to a traveler than something off the beaten path.

He told us that even more down, along the path we’d climbed already, was a hidden entrance to a mid-level pool that was practically empty. He hadn’t been able to area it as well as desired our help. The women wished to join, as well as though I hemmed as well as hawed, I agreed, as well as we backtracked down the method we concerned look for this hidden entrance.

As we descended, we spied what appeared like one more little path in the forest.

We climbed with the very first one barrier as well as then one more to walk along a path. Within a minute, we concerned the trick pool. before me was an aquamarine basin below a cascading waterfall lit up with the setting sun of the day. Rays of light eked with dense trees as well as produced an even much more fairy-like atmosphere than the one below.

Surrounded by jungle, it was like we had the world to ourselves. No touts, no crowds, nobody taking photos — it was just us few enjoying this gift from nature.

But the trick pool wasn’t completely a secret. A handful of other intrepid backpackers were already swimming around.

“No matter,” I thought. I needed to great down after my long hike in the hot sun. After a long, hot day of hiking, the water, though cold, was refreshing. The water was deep sufficient to swim around, as well as we played in the pool as well as went over to the edge, where we discovered a bit shelf to sit on, look down, as well as spy on the tourists below, who didn’t seem conscious of this special location best above them.

After playing for what seemed like minutes however was truly hours, we made our method back with just sufficient time to eat at one of the stalls that line the road before our trip arrived. We feasted on BBQ chicken, sticky rice, as well as som tam (spicy papaya salad). The poultry was cooked to perfection, with the skin just the best amount of crispy, as well as the sticky rice soaked up the completely sweetened som tam.

It was the ideal end to a ideal day.

How to get to the Kuang Si Waterfalls

Getting to Kuang Si is easy. just pick up a tuk-tuk (called “songtaews” here) from the center of town in Luang Prabang. They depart anytime you want as well as expense around 50,000 LAK ($6 USD) for a shared trip (usually 5-6 people). The trip will take around 45 minutes.

If you have a mid-size group of people you can lease a personal van (with AC) for around 250,000 LAK ($30 USD) which can be much more cost-effective (and much much more comfortable) if you have people to label along s.

The finest time to see is from December to may because the monsoon season will have ended as well as the pools will be settled.

The entrance charge for Kuang Si falls is 20,000 LAK ($2.50 USD).

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