Laos — Tour — Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

Nick Morris

Sep 20, 2015 — 4 min read

Visiting the lower pools

September 2015

Every so often, I visit a place, and words fail me. Occasionally, they fail me for a good reason and sometimes for a bad one. The Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos, was one of the occasions when words failed me for a good reason. The falls were stunning. I had never seen or experienced anything like it, and it was an experience that I wish I could have bottled and taken home.

I arrived at the falls early afternoon and walked from the entrance (see map below) to the top of the falls in about an hour. Admittedly, I spent a lot of time stopping and going “wow” and taking photographs.

Photo by Author — a map of the falls— Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

As usual, I did not know what to expect because I had done very little research. The walk-in was nice, but nothing great. It was enjoyable to be out in nature and experience the countryside of Laos.

Photo by Author — the walk into the Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

I saw a little stream that wasn’t flowing very fast, so I wasn’t expecting the falls to be that spectacular.

Photo by Author — a small stream on my walk to the Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

I did see what I assumed to be some unusual fungi on a tree.

Photo by Author — fungi? — Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

I then saw my first fall and a rather large pool. It looked delightful but wasn’t anything that special.

Photo by Author — the first fall and pool — Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

And the state of repair of parts of the trail was a worry.

Photo by Author — what bridge? — Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

Then I saw my next waterfall and pool and thought this could be interesting. I could be in for a real treat. The amount of water flowing down the falls and into the pools was incredible.

Photo by Author — Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

And then I realised just how impressive the falls were and how popular they were with tourists.

Photo by Author — tourists — Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

Photo by Author — enjoying the waters — Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

The falls were incredible.

I loved the way the falls moved through the jungle.

The way the trees were in the falls.

The cool, clear flowing water. The sound was magical.

And I liked the idea of a picnic table in the falls. I couldn’t help but wonder if the table had always been in the water or if the falls moved during the seasons.

Photo by Author — picnic table — Kuang Si Waterfall (ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດ ກວາງຊີ), Laos — the lower pools

Even though the falls were a popular tourist attraction, it was possible to get away from the crowds and find secluded falls and pools to sit by and listen to the water and the forest.