In the morning we will begin our acquaintance with the city and Laotian culture.

Early in the morning, before breakfast, we will go to observe the centuries-old tradition of Laos - the procession of monks through the streets of Luang Prabang - Tak Bat. Around 6:00 every day, when the sun is still rising and the city is immersed in a light morning fog, the monks take to the streets to accept offerings of food from the townspeople. It looks like an endless parade of monks walking barefoot in their orange robes. This dawn ceremony has become iconic in Luan Prabang, while remaining a genuine religious rite and not becoming a show for tourists. You can also buy some sticky rice from the vendors to take part in this ritual and feed the monks.

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Next, we will climb Mount Phou Si to admire the magnificent panoramic views of Luang Prabang and the Mekong with Khan. On one side, the hills of mountains will stretch in front of you, and between them the city, with its ancient streets, low houses, temples, stupas and rivers. On the other side - majestic river Mekong. Mount Pu Xi, also referred to as the Sacred Hill or Temple Mount, is one of the central attractions of Luan Prabang. At the top of the temple there are several religious buildings that form the Chom Si religious complex. On sacred mountain lies a golden Buddha, and not just one, but seven - according to the days of the week. The poses of these Buddhas are not accidental, they symbolize the stages of him, the Buddha, life path. In addition to sacred statues, on the mountain you can find dilapidated temples, stupas, and Russian artillery pieces. At the entrance to the mountain they sell birds in cages. It is believed that by releasing the bird, you receive purification.

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After breakfast we will visit National Museum, located in the former Royal Palace Museum, which houses a huge collection of items belonging to the former rulers of Laos.

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Next we head to the crown jewel of the former royal capital, the ancient 1560 Buddhist temple of Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs built low to the ground that represent classical Laotian architecture. This is one of the most revered monasteries in the city and the oldest surviving building, the site of the coronation of Laotian kings and state ceremonial events.

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After lunch at one of the many restaurants in the city, we will take a minibus to the most picturesque waterfall South-East Asia- Kuang Si, located on the territory of the same name national park. The waterfall consists of a main cascade 54 meters high and a series of cascades of lower height. Along the path around the waterfalls you can climb the mountain through the damp, mysterious jungle. Between the cascades there are several pools with water of a rich turquoise hue - eroded rocks containing limestone color its waters in amazing shades. Here you will have the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent nature, swim and relax.

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At the foot of the waterfall there is a rehabilitation center for Malayan bears. Enclosures in good conditions contain many bears rescued from poachers.

30 km south of the city, after driving through flood fields and stilt villages of the Hmong and Khmu tribes, where children of all ages play their national games in the wasteland, you find yourself at the Kuang Si waterfalls. It is best to watch them in winter, after the rainy season, and not during the dry season. Along the path around the waterfalls you can climb the mountain through the damp, mysterious jungle. Kuang Si is also a large natural park, so it is better to plan your trip for the whole day.

Laotians claim that swimming in the waterfall helps strengthen male strength and brings good luck in love affairs. Scientists echo - water contains radon. The best time to view the waterfalls is in winter, after the rainy season, rather than during dry periods. Along the path around the waterfalls you can climb the mountain through the damp, mysterious jungle. Near the waterfalls local residents sell their bamboo crafts. A trip to the waterfalls in the back of a tuk-tuk will cost no more than $5 per person, and it’s even cheaper to rent a motorcycle (but the road is not very good).

Se Waterfall (Tat Se)

Located closer to the city than Kuan Si. The difference and value of the waterfall is its width. Let the water not fall from high altitude, like Kuan Xi, but the width of the stream allows the formation of large shallow pools, the water in which has time to warm up a little. From a distance it looks like water is flowing out of the forest - very beautiful.
In May-June the waterfall almost dries up.

Pak Ou Caves

Pak Ou Caves, 25 km from Luang Prabang along the Mekong, at the confluence of the Nam Ou River. Boats depart from the pier near the National Museum.
Even before the advent of Buddhism in two karst caves At the foot of the hill, local residents worshiped spirits. The lower (Tham Ting) and upper (Tham Phum) caves contain about four thousand Buddha sculptures, ranging in size from 10 cm to three meters. Entrance to both caves 8000 kip.

Pak U Caves are very highly revered sanctuaries. During the Laotian New Year of Phi Mai, residents of the city make a 25 km pilgrimage by boat up the Mekong to the caves to wash the Buddha images. On the other side of the Mekong opposite the caves is the village of Ban Sanghai. Although the village has made its living by producing ceramic vessels for centuries, it has recently become famous for its production of a particularly strong liquor called lao lao, made from fermented glutinous rice. Most boatmen taking tourists to the Pak U Caves make a stop at the Whiskey Village, where you can have a snack in a cafe and stroll through the local market.

Valley of the Stone Vessels (Plain of Jars)

In the northeastern part of Laos, on a vast plateau 15 km from the city of Ponsavan, the only evidence of life in Indochina is located ancient man- giant stone vessels created in the Stone Age by the local inhabitants. Entire fields littered with pots larger than a man's height and weighing around a ton each remain the world's least known megalithic structure.

The jars, of which there are more than 250, are believed to be 2,000 years old, although there is little evidence for the exact date of their creation. In the 30s, Western researchers discovered a human figure made of stone in one of the vessels, but this did not advance the solution to the mystery of for what purpose and by whom these dozens of giant pots were made, some of them weighing up to one ton. Theories range from the shape of a sarcophagus to large vessels for storing wine or rice. Popular legend has it that in the 6th century, King Khun Juam of Southern China arrived here and defeated the local warlord Chao Angka. After this battle, he organized a large feast, during which hundreds of giant jars of Lao Lao rice wine were used. Their remains are believed to be three hundred jars that are scattered on the flat plains near today's Phonsavan.

I was sorting through the photos and came across the undeservedly forgotten Luang Prabang waterfalls. I stand corrected: the waterfalls are indeed very beautiful and undoubtedly worthy of attention. Kuang Si Park is located 30 kilometers from Luang Prabang and it’s very nice to go there to get acquainted with the nature of the Laotian north...

Mineral water in Kuang Si falls from a steep cliff and spreads in small cascades and streams over a fairly large area. In some places, streams created entire pools of incredibly blue water. Water acquires this color due to the minerals it contains.

In general, all this national park very reminiscent. True, unlike the latter, the water here is icy! Even though I took a swimsuit, I still didn’t dare to take a dip. The air temperature in February was also not particularly conducive to swimming. The sun, however, was very bright - all the frames were overexposed.

So, let's go to the park. At the entrance to the enclosure there lives a sad bear who was rescued from poachers and does not want to be photographed.

There is also an information board with a traditional cart about local unfortunate bears and a visual aid. Preved!

We begin to climb upward, from the lower cascades to the highest waterfall:

There is no particular excitement at the waterfalls, there are not many people.

Europeans arriving from their French and Norwegian winters are splashing around in the natural ice pools. But we, already spoiled by all sorts of Crabs, are chilly wrapped in fleece. And the pictures look so warm! =))

Walking through such a jungle permeated with streams is very exciting - every turn of the path reveals a new waterfall sparkling in the sun or another deep azure pond.

Finally, we get to the main waterfall. Late winter is the driest season, so it doesn't look particularly impressive. In photographs taken during the rainy season, Kuang Si is quite formidable.

The sun traditionally shines right from behind the waterfall itself:

To the right and left of the stream, along a slippery clay almost vertical wall (as we like, in short) you can climb to the very top. And it’s worth it - at the top you can crawl to the very edge of the cliff and watch how the water falls down into the pools located on the lower tiers.

And this is the flow of the main waterfall.

There are baths all around, again, only with the purest water, in which no one has had time to swim yet.

Due to the impossibility of renting a bike in Luang Prabang, I had to use the services of crappy tuk-tukers to travel to Kuang Si. Their gang has fixed prices for all standard routes: a trip to the waterfalls costs 200,000 kip ($25) for the entire tuk-tuk, which is a bit much, to put it mildly. In general, at first we didn’t want to go anywhere for that kind of money, but then we succumbed to the persuasion of the dudes from - it worked out divinely for four of us. At the same time, our driver found another victim somewhere along the road and tried to rip off another 50 thousand from her. In general, the French have completely spoiled the poor Laotians!

Tad Kuang Si Waterfall is our first waterfall in Luang Prabang and one of the most unusual we visited in Laos. The article provides a description of the Kuang Si waterfall, photos, prices, map, ways to get there, free access, how to find the cave and not be torn to pieces by bears.

It so happened that we were driving to a waterfall and ended up in a bear’s den. Immediately after presenting our ticket, we found ourselves in a fenced area where dark brown animals were clumsily walking around. As it turns out, there is a center for rescuing Himalayan bears here. The administration is proud that the animals are not kept in cramped cages, but live in spacious enclosures in a natural environment (well, at least in the forest among the trees). You can watch the bears from specially equipped glass rooms or from observation platforms.

Each bear has a stand with a photo, name and description of their loved one in the first person.

The corresponding souvenirs are sold nearby.


Hello bear!

After staring at the bears for about ten minutes, we went to our main goal for today – the Kuang Xi Waterfall.

BathKuangSi falls

It didn’t even occur to me that I needed to take a swimsuit with me. The waterfall near Luang Prabang is very popular for water activities. Well, in Laos there is no access to the sea, but swimming in a fresh waterfall, and even with clean water turquoise color is a great way to freshen up. In the country, as in many other countries in Southeast Asia, local residents swim in clothes. Laotians often relax at another waterfall in the vicinity - Tad Sae, and here a crowd of backpackers and other travelers has mainly formed (from our observations). So feel free to take your swimsuits, a change of clothes, towels, and a snack and head out from Luang Prabang to Kuang Si Waterfall for the whole day.

There are changing rooms, benches, and picnic areas, albeit modest ones (the main thing is to take them on time 🙂).

Here you can jump into the icy water, have a massage under the flow of falling water, and just swim in the turquoise-colored lagoon.

We were firmly convinced that we had already seen the main delights of the Tad Kuang Si waterfall, but out of curiosity we went further.

Upper cascade of Kuang Si waterfall and observation deck

The beauty of the cascades and pools that we saw upstream defies description. The turquoise color of the water is due to the limestone content in the soil. There are similar waterfalls in Thailand (Erawan, for example).

There are also equipped areas for recreation and picnics.

As it turns out, that’s not all! Here it is - the largest 54-meter cascade of the Tad Kuang Si waterfall, the most beautiful in Luang Prabang, and perhaps in all of Laos. 🙂

I recommend going up to the observation deck at the top of the waterfall. You can get there both to the left and to the right of Kuang Si. We crossed the mountain on the right (if you are facing the waterfall), the climb was very steep and difficult. The one on the left seems to be better, but we didn’t check it because... We went to look for a cave, and then went to the parking lot along a completely different road.

From the observation deck we had a wonderful view of the wonderful Laotian nature. But the most impressive thing is that special thrilling feeling when you are at the top of a waterfall.


View from the observation deck

If all the equipped rest areas below are occupied, then you can try your luck at the top, next to the observation deck.

Cave

On the map we noticed a path away from the lookout and decided to go exploring. At first the route ran along a path, then we came out onto a dirt road. Along the way we saw a sign “The way to phalaesi cave of spring water” and were convinced that it made sense to go further.

About three kilometers later we found ourselves at the entrance to the cave. Only it was already closed. Apparently they arrived late, as it was about to get dark. What was interesting inside was never found out. Judging by the name, there must be a source there.

How to get to the waterfall from Luang Prabang, how much it costs, map

Kuang Si Waterfall on the map Luang Prabang (Laos):

Decoding marks on the map:

  • Blue – Kuang Si falls.
  • Blue – swimming pool by the waterfall.
  • Red – Phalesi cave of spring water.
  • The red line is the road to the cave from the village.
  • Yellow – ticket office and parking.
  • Green – turn to the cave from the village.
  • Orange – turn onto the path between the road to the cave and the lookout to the waterfall.
  • The orange line is the path from the waterfall to the road towards the cave.
  • Purple is a fork on the road to the cave, we should stick to the left (i.e. straight).
  • Brown - Luang Prabang city.

CoordinatesGPS:

  • Kuang Si Waterfall – 19.7488, 101.99132.
  • Cave – 19.736705, 102.00488.

How to get there: The path to Kuang Si is about 30 km along a picturesque road. From Luang Prabang to the waterfall you usually travel on your own by:

  • Knock knock – from 150,000-200,000 ($19-25) per group of up to 6-8 people. (with significant bargaining).
  • Minivan – from 50,000 ($6.25) Laotian kip per person. In the city center, drivers themselves look for tourists who want to go to the waterfall.
  • Rented motorbike – from 120,000 kip ($15) for a semi-automatic, from 160,000 ($20) kip for a bike automatic, plus the cost of fuel (about $1). We wrote more about prices and conditions for motorcycle rental in Laos.
  • Bicycle (much less often).

IN cave you can get there in two ways:

  • On a bike (bicycle, on foot) – in the village of Thapene, before reaching the ticket office 150 meters, you need to turn left (see photo below and the red route on the map above). After approximately 2 km there will be a fork; we should continue driving straight (i.e. on the left road) for another 1 km.
  • On foot – from the observation point at the Tad Kuangsi waterfall, following the signs (the route is indicated on the map with an orange line). First follow the path for about 1 km, then turn right onto a dirt road. After 300 m the main road will go to the right, we need to keep straight. After about one kilometer there will be a cave.

Turning from the village to the cave and secret path to the waterfall

At the entrance you can have a snack and buy souvenirs.

Phones: (856-071) 212068, 254031.

Working hours: daily 8.00 – 17.30. Secret trails can be used to reach Kuang Si Waterfall at any time. I will write about this at the end of the article.


Cost of visit:

  • Entrance to the park is 20,000 kip ($2.5).
  • Children under 8 years old are free.
  • Motorcycle parking – 2,000 kip ($0.25).
  • Car parking – 5,000 kip ($0.625).
  • Entrance to the cave is paid, the price is not known to us.

You can penetrate and for free(I don’t really approve of such methods, but situations are different). If you turn left from the village of Thapene before reaching 150 m to the entrance to the waterfall territory (the road towards the cave), after about 1.5 km there will be a path on the right (coordinates: 19.744316, 101.998455, orange mark on the map above). Follow the path for about 1 km until you find yourself at the top of the waterfall at the observation point. From there you go down, relax, and swim. You can exit through main entrance. On the maps.me maps, the necessary paths are indicated by dotted lines.

Visited Kuang Si waterfall in Laos

Marina and Konstantin Samorosenko

We decided to start our second trip to Laos with Luang Prabang.

Our route passed through the cities: Luang Prabang - Phonsavan - Vang Vieng - Vientiane - 10 days ()


Travel duration: 4d/3n

How to get there: by plane from Bangkok AirAsia flights - 1490THB (44 USD), or by bus from Vientiane. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from the Russian Federation, only with a transfer in Bangkok, please note - arrivals from the Russian Federation usually take place in Suvarnabhumi airport(Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)), and departure to Luang Prabang from Don Mueang Airport International Airport(DMK), goes between terminals free bus, travel time 40 minutes.

Visa to Laos: When visiting Laos for up to 15 days, Russian citizens do not require a visa

Luang Prabang route: The first day- review of Luang Prabang: Temples Of Luang Prabang, Royal Palace(Royal Palace Museum), Temple complex Phou Si, Luang Prabang Night market;

Second day- excursion to Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls.

Currency: 10000LAK (Laotian kip) = 1 USD, there are ATMs - withdrawal fee, depending on the bank - 20,000 LAK or 3% of the amount.

general information

The capital of the first kingdom on the territory of Laos - Lan Xang - “The Kingdom of Millions of Elephants and White Umbrellas”, and indeed Laos itself in the past, as well as the center of Buddhism throughout Indochina - Luang Prabang. In 1995 it was included in the facilities World Heritage UNESCO as an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional Laotian architecture with the French colonial era. What makes it unique is that the cityscape is so well preserved that it reflects the union of these two different cultures.


It is also very noticeable that Laotians are still actively studying French culture. In addition to culinary schools, there are also French institutes.


The city of Luang Prabang is located on a peninsula formed by the confluence of two rivers, the Mekong and Nam Khan. A mountain ranges, surrounding it on all sides, immerse the entire city in “greenery”.

Map

We got to Luang Prabang by plane from Bangkok, AirAsia, ticket price 1490THB = 44USD/person. The flight takes approximately 1.5 hours. AirAsia is one of our favorite companies, they do everything accurately and on time, the only thing is that sometimes the air conditioning on planes is turned on very loudly, we specially take sweaters with us for this case. So keep that in mind. You can also get there by bus from Vientiane 190000 LAK(23 USD).


There is a TAXI counter right at the airport - the cost of a taxi to the city is 50,000 LAK = 5USD/per car takes you to the hotel, the drive is about 15 minutes.

The trip to Luang Prabang was designed for 3 full days and 2 nights. We booked the guest house again through BOOKING.COM, cost per day 14 USD. Like everywhere else in Laos, the room was clean, with air conditioning and working WIFI every now and then. In general, when booking rooms here, problems cannot arise in principle - there is accommodation here at every turn. You can book online or on site immediately. After checking into the guest house, we decided to take a walk and enjoy the special charm of Luang Prabang.

General idea of ​​the city

The first thing we noticed for ourselves was the view of the Mekong that opened when leaving our guest house.


As Vladimir Semenovich Vysotsky sang: “ Better than the mountains there can only be mountains.”

There are also a bunch of cafes along the Mekong where you can have breakfast or dinner while admiring the scenery.


I must say that the streets here are very clean. A public transport mostly tuk-tuk, like almost everywhere else in Asia.



Our route:

Our plan for exploring Luang Prabang was as follows. We decided to devote the first day to a review of Luang Prabang - with its numerous Temples,Royal Palace (Haw Kham Royal Palace Museum), Temple Mount Phousi (Phou Si). It is physically impossible to visit all the temples in one day, so we limited ourselves to a few that were the most remarkable in our opinion.

Pak Ou Caves And

Excursion cost Pak Ou Caves +

We recommend purchasing excursions from this company - All Lao Co. We walked all over Luang Prabang and compared prices everywhere. The cheapest prices for excursions were found here. And the assortment is quite large.

Map

The first day. Temples.

Even after the capital of Laos was moved to Vientiane, Luang Prabang remained the center of Buddhism throughout Indochina. Today there are 33 temples in Luang Prabang. Most ancient temple built all the way back in 1512! Interactive map of all Luang Prang temples below.

Map

There are really a lot of temples and it will take at least two days to see them all completely and leisurely. Therefore, we, a little limited in time, decided to visit the most remarkable temples. They are marked with an asterisk on the map.

Wat Sene Suk Haram (Wat Senesoukharam)

The first temple we visited is called Wat Sene Suk Haram (Wat Senesoukharam - one of the most the most beautiful temples in Luang Prabang. The name of the temple translates to “Temple of 100,000 Treasures.” Built in 1718 by King Kitsarat.

Entrance to the temple is free.



Temple Wat Ho Xiang Varavian(Wat Hosian Voravihane)

We chose the temple next to visit Wat Hosian Voravihane. The temple was built in 1705. During its history, the temple was reconstructed numerous times. Octagonal columns were added already in 1952, after another reconstruction. The entrance is free.


Externally, this temple is not much different from others, right? But there is one undoubted difference that really attracted our attention. These are frescoes with illustrations from the life of Buddha, as well as other various illustrations from Buddhist mythology on the side and front facades of the temple.

The first photo shows illustrations of the torment of sinners. After what I saw, I really don’t want to sin. From our experience, I can say that such illustrations are not uncommon in temples in Southeast Asia.

Wat Mahathat Temple

We wandered into this temple by accident. Wat Mahathat or "Temple of the Great Stupa" was built in 1548 by King Sayettathirath. The entrance is free.


The originality of the temple lies in its design - the presence of statues and other elements from Buddhist mythology. For example, the central staircase is surrounded by 7 mythological Naga snakes. Along the phalanxes of the same staircase are two statues of the Earth goddess Phra Mae Thorani. According to legend, the Earth goddess squeezed moisture from her long hair to drown the demons Maru, who were trying to prevent Buddha from meditating and achieving enlightenment.

Why "Great Stupa Temple"? Behind the temple itself is a large stupa founded in the 16th century.


There are also many small stupas located on the premises.


Wat Mai Temple

The impressive Wat Mai Temple is one of the largest and most ornate temples in Luang Prabang. Meaning "New Temple", it was built around 1780 by King Annurath. Entrance fee to the temple is 10000 LAK = 1USD.


Its five-tiered roof, extending almost to the base, is decorated with golden nagal posters. The facades of the temple contain intricate bas-reliefs made in the 1960s. The reliefs depict scenes from the Ramayana and daily life in Luang Prabang with temples, animals, houses, festivals and dances.

After much of Luang Prabang and its temples were destroyed by Chinese invaders in 1887, Wat Mai, which was saved, became the new home of the Phra Bang Buddha image. Phra Bang, the most revered Buddha image in Laos, remained there until the mid-20th century, and was later moved to the Royal Museum.

Ha Pha Bang Temple on the grounds of the Royal Palace (Wat Haw Pha Bang)

And finally, we reached the territory of the Royal Palace. The cost of entering the territory together with a visit to the temple and palace is 10,000 LAK = 1 USD. Opening hours from 8:30 to 16:30 with a lunch break.

The first thing that catches your eye is this Ha Pha Bang Temple (Wat Haw Pha Bang). Unlike all other temples, its historical significance is still felt here, and it is visible to the naked eye.


The structure is based on a multi-level raised platform. And on the facades are carved Buddhist images in green and gold tones.

The whole significance of this temple lies in the following. The temple was built to house the most significant Buddha image in Laos - Phra Bang.

Royal Palace Museum

The Royal Palace was built in 1904 by King Sisavang Wong. The site for the construction of the palace was chosen so that official visitors to Luang Prabang could land right in front of the palace.


PHOTO – 19 – Royal Palace Museum in Luang Prabang/Royal Palace in Luang Prabang, Lao

In the center of the palace is the throne room. Its red walls are decorated with glass mosaics, and in the middle there is the throne itself, the seat of which is mounted on the back of an elephant.

Also in the museum you can see images of Buddha made in the 15th-16th centuries.

Around the palace grounds there are several more buildings: the royal stables, the royal theater, which today hosts traditional Laotian performances. There is a small pond in the Palace gardens, as well as a statue of Sisavang Phulivong, King of Laos until 1959.


In general, it must be said that the palace grounds are very well-groomed with decent landscape design.


Phousi Temple Complex (PhouSi)

One of the most popular attractions in Luang Prabang is Mount Phousi.

Mount Phusi represents small mountain in the center of Luang Prabang, with the Wat Chom Si temple ( Wat Chom Si) on its top. Entry fee 20000 LAK = 2 USD.


The height of the mountain is about 100 meters. But I must say that the climb is not difficult. And the higher you go, the landscape around you becomes more and more beautiful.

But the most impressive view is still at the top...



At the top there is the golden Chom Si Pagoda and the temple of the same name nearby.


Second day.

On the second day we decided to visit Pak Ou Caves And Kuang Si Falls. To visit these two attractions you must purchase a tour.

Excursion cost Pak Ou Caves + Kuang Si Falls 130000LAK = 13 USD, The excursion lasts the whole day - from 9 am to 6 pm.

The price of the excursion includes a transfer, which will pick you up from your hotel/guest and take you to the pier at 8:00 - 8:15.


The boats are 8-10 meters long and only 1 meter high, so you can only fit there by sitting down.

The swim to the cave takes about 2 hours. During this time we managed to enjoy the surrounding nature and also sleep, it was morning after all =)

Somewhere in the middle of the journey there will be a stop in the village “Whiskey” (Wiskey village). In this village, local residents sell rice vodka after arranging a tasting of their drinks. It tastes like our Russian moonshine.

And here is the entrance to Pak Ou Caves. Masterpiece! The entrance is located in a vertical cliff, in the middle of the jungle - impressive! The captain of the “ship” announces a stop for 30 minutes.


In addition to paying for the excursion, you will also need to pay for the entrance to the caves themselves. 20000 LAK = 2USD.

Well, there are only two caves. The first one is located immediately after the first staircase.


The cave is small, inside there are a lot of Buddha statues of different sizes. There are approximately 4,000 of them in total, representing the Buddha in all his shapes and sizes.

It takes 10 minutes to explore the cave.

The passage to the second cave is to the left of the first cave. You need to climb a little stairs - and here it is the second Pak U cave.



The inspection will also take about 10 minutes.

The return journey was much faster, since we were already moving along the Mekong River.

The scenery on the Mekong is amazing!


We returned to the pier around 12:30. A trip to the Kuang Si waterfall, departure should be at 14-00 from the parking lot where the transfer brought us in the morning. The parking lot is located on the Mekong embankment, within walking distance. In general, I must say that getting around Luang Prabang is not difficult.

After lunch (I’ll tell you about “eating” a little later, but I’ll say right away - where, where, and in Luang Prabang you definitely won’t have any problems with this!), We arrived at the stop where we were put on a mini-bus.

The drive from the parking lot to the waterfalls is about 30 minutes. We arrived at 15:00, departure back to Luang Prabang at 16:30. 1.5 hours is enough to visit the waterfall.

Map

On the territory of the waterfall there are a large number of all kinds of tents with clothes and several cafes.

Ticket prices for the waterfalls are 20000 LAK= 2 USD. The ticket office is next to the entrance.


The first thing you will come across on the way to the waterfalls is Asian bear rescue center, which houses several dozen animals rescued from poachers. Bears are located behind fences where there are many trees and various entertainments for them. There is also a pavement Observation deck and you can watch the bears from above.

And so the spectacle begins!




This is something incredible! The cascades here can reach up to 5 meters, there are many of them, but there are only 3 levels. And almost everyone has a pool with cool, clean mountain water. It's tempting to dive..! But the most important thing is yet to come.

All these levels lead to a 50-meter waterfall. And this entire waterfall spills over azure pools.


Very beautiful! Naturally, we took a swim - the water was refreshing, just right after a hot day. And it relieves fatigue as if by hand.

Night Market

Returning to Luang Prabang, we decided to stroll through the Night Market and have dinner at the same time. It is located on main street Luang Prabang - Sisavangvong road, by the way, on the same street there is the Royal Palace and one of the climbs to Mount Phousi. The market opens at 17:00 and ends at 22:00-22:30.


The night market here is many times better than in Vientiane. You can buy everything - dresses, jewelry, handicrafts, coffee, shoes, paintings - everything, everything, everything. Moreover, some things are quite attractive and unusual. And you definitely need to bargain - Laotians are always ready to reduce the price.

As for food - as mentioned above - there are many cafes in Luang Prabang and for different tastes. You can dine both on the Mekong embankment and on the main street of Luang Prabang.

But in addition to all the equipped cafes and restaurants, there is one more place that will pleasantly surprise you.

Here on the main street there is a so-called buffet, where for 15000 LAK you can help yourself to as much food as will fit on your plate, sit down at a table and eat. This is a whole street that you need to turn onto from the main street Sisavangving Road. It works the same way as the Night market - from 17:00 to 22:00-22:30.