Kuang Si Falls, Natural waterfall cascade in Luang Prabang Province, Laos.
The multilevel system extends over 60 meters in height and consists of numerous turquoise pools flowing down limestone formations surrounded by dense rainforest, with the main basin at the base reaching about 50 meters in width and displaying natural travertine layers.
The region was inhabited by Hmong and Khmu tribes until 1975, before the Lao government introduced conservation measures that officially designated the area as a protected park in 1995 and permitted infrastructure improvements in 2013, including paved pathways and changing facilities for growing visitor numbers.
The site attracts visitors seeking respite from tropical heat who swim in its natural pools, while Buddhist monks use the area for meditation and local communities perform traditional cleansing rituals at the upper basins, particularly during religious holidays and New Year ceremonies.
The facility lies 18 miles (29 kilometers) south of Luang Prabang city and operates daily from 08:00 to 17:30 with an entrance fee of 60,000 kip (approximately $2.70 USD). Tuktuks require about one hour for the journey, while minivans depart directly from hotels and visitors should bring swimwear, towels, and slip-resistant footwear.
A bear rescue center at the entrance houses over 20 Asiatic black bears saved from bile farms and illegal wildlife trade, allowing visitors to observe rehabilitation programs run by Free the Bears Foundation since 2003 that provide education about species conservation.
Location: Luang Prabang Province
Address: Laos
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 08:00-17:00
GPS coordinates: 19.74880,101.99133
Latest update: November 27, 2025 20:53
This collection leads to places that remain outside standard tourist circuits. The selection includes natural landscapes and cultural sites that receive limited attention from international visitors. From the salt flats of Bolivia to ancient ruins in Turkish mountain terrain and the ice formations of Lake Baikal, the collection provides access to less frequented regions. Natural phenomena include the Benagil Cave along Portugal's Algarve coast, the Great Blue Hole off Belize, and the sandstone formations of The Wave in Arizona. Cultural sites such as Quinta da Regaleira near Lisbon, the abandoned nitrate town of Humberstone in Chile, and the fortified Berber village of Ait Benhaddou in Morocco show historical building methods and past ways of life. The Meteora monasteries in Greece and the Waitomo glowworm caves in New Zealand demonstrate the connection between human settlement and natural environment. The locations span all continents and climate zones. They range from tropical regions like the turquoise river at Hinatuan in the Philippines, through temperate zones like the Cinchado rock formation on Tenerife, to remote areas such as Pangong Lake in Indian Ladakh and the limestone pinnacles of Tsingy de Bemaraha in Madagascar. The collection allows travelers to experience regional characteristics without commercial tourism infrastructure.
This selection presents urban locations including historic churches, public gardens, libraries, museums, and markets. The sites range from underground salt mines to rooftop gardens, from historic bookstores to converted railway stations. Many of these places are situated away from regular tourist routes.
Hot springs form where geothermal activity or groundwater systems naturally heat water. This collection features such springs across volcanic zones, mountain ranges and remote areas on all continents. Each location has distinct mineral content and temperatures shaped by its underlying geology. In Iceland, the Blue Lagoon offers mineral-rich water in a lava field near Grindavík, while Deildartunguhver in the west produces one of Europe's most powerful hot springs. Pamukkale in Turkey's Denizli region displays terraced limestone pools formed by calcium-rich thermal water. The Széchenyi Baths in Budapest draw water exceeding 160 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius) from nearly 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) below ground. In Wyoming, Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Spring shows intense colors produced by its size and thermophilic bacteria. Japan hosts numerous onsen, including Takaragawa in Gunma Prefecture along a river and Yubatake in Kusatsu with visible high mineral output. Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano is known for macaques that bathe there. In North America, the collection spans Banff Upper Hot Springs in Alberta, Chena Hot Springs in Alaska and smaller sites such as Baker Hot Springs in Utah. Grutas Tolantongo in Hidalgo, Mexico, combines warm pools with river flows in a canyon. New Zealand's geothermal zones appear at Champagne Pool in Waiotapu and Hell's Gate Park near Rotorua.
Laos combines Buddhist temples, waterfalls and caves. The temple complexes display religious art and architecture from different periods. The natural areas include waterfalls like Kuang Si, cave systems like Tham Kong Lo and mountain ranges with views over the Mekong. The country preserves its cultural and geological features.
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