Tad Sae Waterfall

Tad Sae waterfall is an impressively wide set of falls, with turquoise water gushing through the jungle over limestone rocks into a large pool where people can splash around.

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A seasonal waterfall dependent upon rainy season, Tad Sae flows around June/July until a couple of months after the rains have stopped. November/December is usually the latest it is worth visiting for the water. The rest of the dry season the falls are hardly a trickle.

The waters really are crystal. Photo taken in or around Tad Sae Waterfall, Luang Prabang, Laos by Adam Poskitt.

The waters really are crystal. Photo: Adam Poskitt

The title of Luang Prabang’s top waterfall firmly belongs to Kuang Si but if time allows, also visiting Tad Sae is justifiable as they are different, and Tad Sae requires a boat ride on the Nam Khan to reach. Families with children may also appreciate that the swimming area has a concrete ledge to form an easier to access pool, though be aware that the limestone underneath remains naturally very slick.

The big difference between the two is that Tad Sae has more touristy development. Wooden walkways lead this way and that over the water, and there’s zip-lining above (we are skeptical of the safety). There are also elephants kept here so visitors can feed them bananas and take short repetitive rides, one of the least ideal situations for domesticated elephants in captivity. The park has also been known to keep other animals like monkeys on display in cages. Overall, Tad Sae is great for photos and swimming but we find the animals put a damper on the experience.

Do not forget your camera. Photo taken in or around Tad Sae Waterfall, Luang Prabang, Laos by Cindy Fan.

Do not forget your camera. Photo: Cindy Fan

As with Kuang Si, revealing swimwear is not considered appropriate and while no one will say anything, wearing a bikini may ... please log in to read the rest of this story.