Hike around the Kuang Si Waterfalls

Today, I was supposed to head out early to the Kuang Si Waterfalls. I had set my alarm for 6:30 AM, and it rang, but a glance out the window confirmed that it had rained overnight and it still looked a bit uncomfortable, so I turned over again and the plan to be the first at breakfast by 7:00 AM got canceled. I ended up riding my scooter around 8:30 AM after a quick breakfast and sped again toward the Kuang Si Waterfalls with an estimated driving time of about an hour. The travel was done with great consideration of the local road and path situation, which wasn't much different from yesterday's excursion. However, the landscape was once again amazing, and there was something to observe everywhere; dodging potholes and hairpin bends occasionally provided a certain fun factor... I had brought a towel and swim trunks just in case, but ultimately they weren't needed due to the rather chilly temperatures.

After over an hour of riding, I arrived at the desired destination point. After paying for parking and admission, I got into a sort of golf cart and drove about 10 minutes up the winding mountain road to the starting point of the trail. Even at the end of the dry season, the Kuang Si Waterfalls flow with impressive water volumes, cascading over 30-meter-high levels and then meandering with numerous small streams through countless turquoise pools. I took some time to explore the area. The anticipated tourist crowds were quite manageable. There are a few shorter and longer routes in the area, which I kept in mind. I realized that I wanted to stay here for several more hours, so I briefly contacted my scooter rental guy from about 30 km away in Luang to see if I could return my vehicle later. He agreed. I then strolled over an abundance of steps to the viewpoint overlooking the area. After paying the small entrance fee, I sneaked up the tower, where I reached an area of large tree houses and platforms connected by rope bridges. With the time gained, I settled down here comfortably with a coffee and enjoyed the view for a bit. From there, I began a little hiking or strolling loop. In the background, one could increasingly hear the distant sound of the waterfall...

On the grounds of the waterfall is also the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre. The center is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of Asian black bears, which often fall victim to illegal wildlife trade and the bear bile industry. The center provides the animals with a safe and somewhat natural environment where they can move freely. I also took a look at that, and eventually, the bears did come out of the thicket to play and lounge around.

Then I drove back through fields and meadows to Luang Prabang, returned my trusty vehicle to the renter, and strolled a bit on the last evening in the city, especially in search of food, where I even found a place that not only served delicious food and drinks but also had tolerable background music...