Take the scenic route to Kuang Si Falls, walking through villages, farmland and forested hills. Choose between the more demanding trail from Ban Long Lao and the gentler route from Ban Nong Heo, where two lunch options let you tailor the walking distance to your preference.

After your trek, enjoy the turquoise pools of Kuang Si Falls, visit Kuang Si Heritage Rice Farm and end the day with a sunset cruise on the Mekong River.

Choose Your Starting Village

Moderate Trail — Ban Long Lao

*Distance: 9km | Elevation difference: 300m *

We’ll pick you up from your hotel at around 9:00 AM and drive to Ban Long Lao, a Hmong and Khmu village southeast of Luang Prabang.

From the village, the trail passes through rice fields, orchards and farmland before climbing into the forested hills. Allow approximately 4 hours of walking, with uphill and downhill sections along the way.

The standard route includes lunch at a small, open-air restaurant run by a local Khmu family beside a natural spring. Enjoy a freshly prepared Lao meal, with a choice of dishes, in peaceful forest surroundings before continuing towards Kuang Si Falls.

Easy Trail — Ban Nong Heo

Distance: approximately 5km or 9km, depending on your lunch choice | Elevation difference: 150m

Departing at around 9:30 AM, we travel by boat and car to Ban Nong Heo, a Khmu village approximately 90 minutes from Luang Prabang.

Begin with a short village walk, passing traditional stilt houses and observing everyday rural life. We then follow a trail through countryside and forested hills towards Ban Thapene, the entrance village to Kuang Si Falls.

Choose from two options:

• Shorter walk 5km: Have lunch in Ban Thapene
• Extended walk 9km: Continue beyond Ban Thapene to the forest spring for lunch at the same Khmu family-run restaurant visited on the Ban Long Lao route. Afterwards, approach the falls from above and descend towards the main cascades.

Although the extended option is similar in distance to the Ban Long Lao trek, it involves less elevation change. Choose the shorter option if you prefer a lighter walk, or the extended option if you would like to include the forest spring and its peaceful lunch setting.

Enjoy Kuang Si Falls

Whichever route you choose, you’ll have time to explore the cascades, swim in the designated turquoise pools, relax beside the water and visit the bear rescue centre.

Visit Kuang Si Heritage Rice Farm

Continue to Kuang Si Heritage Rice Farm to see the terraced paddies and learn how water from the surrounding mountains and the Kuang Si area supports local rice farming. Enjoy freshly pressed sugarcane juice while discovering the connections between the forest, water and rural livelihoods.

Mekong Sunset Cruise

Finish the day with a relaxing sunset cruise back to Luang Prabang, arriving at around 6:30 PM.

If you prefer an earlier return, a minivan transfer is available instead of the cruise, arriving in Luang Prabang at around 5:30 PM.