LAOS – Luang Prabang – Self-Guided Hike from Ban Long Lao to Kuang Sy Waterfalls

Description

After an early morning drive, traveling through mountains, valleys and local villages, the ethnic Hmong village of Ban Long Lao will appear. After visiting the village, the GPS-activated directions and points of interest will lead the way on an 8-kilometer hike through vegetable gardens, rice fields and forested areas under the shade of hard wood trees, all the way to the multi-tiered turquoise waterfalls of Kuang Sy. Upon arrival at the falls there will be a chance to relax, bathe, enjoy lunch, and visit the bear rescue center before meeting the driver and heading back towards Luang Prabang. On the way back there will be a quick stop for a buffalo-milk ice cream at the Buffalo Dairy – a delicious reward after a very active morning!

Selling points

• A self-guided journey along the best short hiking route in the surroundings of Luang Prabang.
• It is a unique and amazing way to arrive at the famous Kuang Sy Waterfalls.
• It provides an opportunity to discover an ethnic village of the Hmong community.
• An easy to moderate level walk with beautiful and diverse landscapes on the way
• An application with a GPS route, directions, and points of interests for travelers to explore the countryside on their own.
• Possible to combine with other self-guided tours in Laos to create a self-guided itinerary.

Time And Transportation

Duration

• The average duration based on previous groups is around 3-4 hours, though it completely depends on the travelers and their walking speed and how often they stop.

Min pax

1

Max pax

10

How to sell it

• Best included in a self-guided tour program to Laos or combined with other destinations.
• Good to include if travelers have time to themselves and want to try something new.
• This is the best short hike we offer close to Luang Prabang – it is an amazing way to arrive at Kuang Sy Waterfalls.
• This can be sold as a standalone activity (think expats when the borders reopen), included in a hybrid guided/SGT tour, or as one of the components of the 4D3N or 7D6N SGT modules.

Why this activity

• Developed as one of the first products in our self-guided project.

Good to combine with

Other self-guided products in Luang Prabang:

• LAOS – Luang Prabang – Luang Prabang Self-Guided City Tour (HD option)
• LAOS – Luang Prabang – Luang Prabang Self-Guided City Tour (FD option including The Pilgrim’s Path)
• LAOS – Luang Prabang – Self-Guided Food Tour

If travelers include Vang Vieng in their self-guided itinerary we suggest including:

• LAOS – Vang Vieng – Vang Vieng Self-Guided Hiking

If travelers include Vientiane in their self-guided itinerary we suggest including:

• LAOS – Vientiane – Vientiane Self-Guided City Tour

If travelers include Hinboun in their self-guided itinerary we suggest including:

• LAOS – Hinboun – Self-Guided Tour in Hinboun 3D2N

If travelers include Nong Khiaw in their self-guided itinerary we suggest including:

• LAOS – Nong Khiaw – Self-Guided Tour in Nong Khiaw & Muang Ngoi 3D2N

Do not combine with

• The same hike but with a guide – LAOS – Luang Prabang – Hike to Kuang Sy Waterfalls
• The other hike to Kuang Sy – LAOS – Luang Prabang – Easy Hike from Ban Nong Heo to Kuang Sy Waterfalls

Market suggestion

Competitor comparison

• No competitors currently offer self-guided tours.

Pros

• Easia Signature
• Cheaper to sell than a conventional hike to Kuang Sy as there is no guide and no active supplement to pay.
• It puts Easia ahead of our competitors and shows that we are innovators as nobody else sells this type of tour in Laos.
• Easy to operate as travelers basically take care of themselves.

Cons

• Travelers need to have a basic knowledge of technology.
• There is no guide to assist with on-spot issues such as finding the driver at Kuang Sy.

Information

• The hike is approximately 8 kilometers with an accumulated ascent of around 230 meters and an accumulated descent of around 430 meters.
• The hike should take between 3 and 4 hours at a leisurely pace.
• We recommend pick up from the hotel no later than 08:00

Alerts

• The path is easy to follow but there are two sections which are a little bit rocky and where travelers should take extra care.
• It is not possible in the rainy season – too muddy and too many leeches!
• On this tour travelers will be responsible for paying for their own entrance fees, meals, snacks, and drinks.

Price range

$$

Quotation guideline

Roadbook Template Trip

• https://protracer.mhikes.com/5f8865f28aabe9.86390725/travels/template/5048/details

ERP module

• Tour Classification: S41-Easia Active
• Language: English
• Tour Type: FIT
• Tour Name: SGT – Luang Prabang – Self-Guided Hike from Ban Long Lao to Kuang Sy – 1D – ENG
• Tour Code: 210224030907

Sales should add the SIM card and internet package if necessary.

On this tour travelers will be responsible for paying for their own entrance fees. The costs they will have to pay will be as follows:

• Kuang Sy Waterfall Entrance Fee – 20,000kip/person
• Cave at the source of the river (optional) – 10,000kip/person

Inclusion

• Self-guided program downloadable to the Roadbook app on the travelers’ phones.
• Transportation Luang Prabang – Ban Long Lao and Kuang Sy – Luang Prabang

Exclusion

• Entrance fees.
• Meals and drinks.
• Ice cream at the Buffalo Dairy.

Important notes

• The driver will meet the travelers at about 08:00 at their hotel and take them to Ban Long Lao. He will then drive to pick them up at Kuang Sy.
• Please tell the driver to give his phone number to the travelers and to tell them to take his photo and a photo of the car to make it easier for them to find him later. If they call him when they are at Kuang Sy he should go meet them by the ticket office.

Different Choice

• If travelers are not really adventurous or are worried they can’t navigate by themselves, it’s possible to do this module with a guide!
• The same hike but with a guide – LAOS – Luang Prabang – Hike to Kuang Sy Waterfalls
• An easier guided hike to Kuang Sy – LAOS – Luang Prabang – Easy Hike from Ban Nong Heo to Kuang Sy Waterfalls

English

Self-Guided Hike from Ban Long Lao to Kuang Sy Waterfalls
Meet your driver in the reception area at 08:00 and travel into the mountains, through the valleys and passing local villages along the way. After reaching the Hmong ethnic community of Ban Long Lao, open the App and start the Hike to Kuang Sy activity. Start your walk and follow the GPS-activated directions to the famous Kuang Sy waterfalls, walking through the village, the vegetable gardens, rice fields and forests under the shade of hardwood trees, such as rosewood and ebony. Just before arriving at the waterfalls you’ll come across the source of the river and a small restaurant, a great place for an early lunch! After another 30 minutes you’ll arrive at the Kuang Sy waterfalls where you can rest, swim, have lunch if you didn’t already have it, and visit the bear sanctuary before finding your driver (give him a call if you need to and he can go meet you at the ticket office) and heading back towards Luang Prabang. On the way back, the driver will stop by the roadside at the Buffalo Dairy Farm, a social enterprise which rents female buffaloes from local farmers to milk them while providing the locals with a regular source of income.  Here you’ll be able to buy an ice cream made from buffalo milk – it’s delicious and a great reward after a long hike!

Distance and duration of the hike: 8 kilometers – about 3h 30min
Transportation: Luang Prabang to Ban Long Lao, 25 kilometers – 1 hour; Kuang Sy to Luang Prabang, 30 kilometers – 45 minutes

Notes: We suggest taking a photo of the car number plate and driver as well as getting his phone number to make locating him at Kuang Sy easier. 

French

Randonnée auto-guidée de Ban Long Lao aux chutes d’eau de Kuang Sy

Retrouvez votre chauffeur à la réception à 8h00 et partez dans les montagnes, à travers les vallées et en passant par les villages locaux en cours de route. Après avoir atteint la communauté ethnique Hmong de Ban Long Lao, ouvrez l’application et commencez la randonnée vers Kuang Sy. Commencez votre marche et suivez les indications du GPS jusqu’aux célèbres cascades de Kuang Sy, en traversant le village, les jardins potagers, les rizières et les forêts à l’ombre des arbres à bois dur, comme le bois de rose et l’ébène. Juste avant d’arriver aux chutes d’eau, vous rencontrerez la source de la rivière et un petit restaurant, un endroit idéal pour un déjeuner précoce ! Après 30 minutes supplémentaires, vous arriverez aux chutes d’eau de Kuang Sy où vous pourrez vous reposer, vous baigner, déjeuner si vous ne l’avez pas déjà fait, et visiter le sanctuaire des ours avant de retrouver votre chauffeur (appelez-le si nécessaire et il pourra aller vous chercher au guichet) et de repartir vers Luang Prabang. Sur le chemin du retour, le chauffeur s’arrêtera au bord de la route à la Buffalo Dairy Farm, une entreprise sociale qui loue des bufflonnes aux fermiers locaux pour les traire tout en fournissant aux habitants une source de revenus régulière.  Ici, vous pourrez acheter une crème glacée à base de lait de bufflonne – c’est délicieux et une excellente récompense après une longue randonnée !

Distance et durée de la randonnée : 8 kilomètres – environ 3h 30min
Transport : Luang Prabang à Ban Long Lao, 25 kilomètres – 1 heure ; Kuang Sy à Luang Prabang, 30 kilomètres – 45 minutes.

Notes : Nous vous suggérons de prendre une photo de la plaque d’immatriculation de la voiture et du conducteur ainsi que d’obtenir son numéro de téléphone pour pouvoir le localiser plus facilement à Kuang Sy. 

Spanish

Excursión autoguiada desde Ban Long Lao a las cascadas de Kuang Sy

Reúnase con su conductor en la recepción a las 08:00 y viaje hacia las montañas, a través de los valles y pasando por las aldeas locales en el camino. Después de llegar a la comunidad étnica Hmong de Ban Long Lao, abra la App y comience la actividad de la Caminata a Kuang Sy. Inicie la caminata y siga las indicaciones activadas por el GPS hacia las famosas cascadas de Kuang Sy, atravesando el pueblo, los huertos, los campos de arroz y los bosques bajo la sombra de árboles de madera dura, como el palo de rosa y el ébano. Justo antes de llegar a las cascadas se encontrará con el nacimiento del río y un pequeño restaurante, ¡un lugar ideal para almorzar temprano! Después de otros 30 minutos llegará a las cascadas de Kuang Sy, donde podrá descansar, nadar, almorzar si no lo ha hecho ya y visitar el santuario de osos antes de encontrar a su conductor (llámele si lo necesita y podrá ir a buscarle a la taquilla) y volver a Luang Prabang. En el camino de vuelta, el conductor se detendrá junto a la carretera en la Granja Lechera de Búfalos, una empresa social que alquila búfalos hembra a los granjeros locales para que los ordeñen, al tiempo que proporciona a los lugareños una fuente de ingresos regular.  Aquí podrá comprar un helado hecho con leche de búfala: ¡es delicioso y una gran recompensa después de una larga caminata!

Distancia y duración de la caminata 8 kilómetros – unas 3h 30min
Transporte: Luang Prabang a Ban Long Lao, 25 kilómetros – 1 hora; Kuang Sy a Luang Prabang, 30 kilómetros – 45 minutos

Notas: Sugerimos tomar una foto de la matrícula del coche y del conductor, así como conseguir su número de teléfono para facilitar su localización en Kuang Sy. 

Italian

Escursione autogestita da Ban Long Lao alle cascate di Kuang Sy

Incontrate il vostro autista nell’area della reception alle 08:00 e viaggiate verso le montagne, attraversando le valli e i villaggi locali lungo il percorso. Dopo aver raggiunto la comunità etnica Hmong di Ban Long Lao, aprite l’app e iniziate l’attività di escursione a Kuang Sy. Iniziate la vostra passeggiata e seguite le indicazioni attivate dal GPS per raggiungere le famose cascate di Kuang Sy, attraversando il villaggio, gli orti, le risaie e le foreste all’ombra di alberi di legno duro, come il palissandro e l’ebano. Poco prima di arrivare alle cascate, incontrerete la sorgente del fiume e un piccolo ristorante, un ottimo posto per un pranzo anticipato! Dopo altri 30 minuti arriverete alle cascate di Kuang Sy, dove potrete riposare, nuotare, pranzare se non l’avete già fatto e visitare il santuario degli orsi prima di ritrovare il vostro autista (chiamatelo se ne avete bisogno e vi raggiungerà alla biglietteria) e tornare verso Luang Prabang. Sulla via del ritorno, l’autista si fermerà sul ciglio della strada alla Buffalo Dairy Farm, un’impresa sociale che affitta le femmine di bufalo dagli allevatori locali per mungerle e fornire ai locali una fonte di reddito regolare.  Qui potrete acquistare un gelato fatto con il latte di bufala: è delizioso e rappresenta un’ottima ricompensa dopo una lunga escursione!

Distanza e durata dell’escursione: 8 chilometri – circa 3h 30min
Trasporto: Da Luang Prabang a Ban Long Lao, 25 chilometri – 1 ora; da Kuang Sy a Luang Prabang, 30 chilometri – 45 minuti.

Note: Si consiglia di fotografare la targa dell’auto e l’autista e di prendere il suo numero di telefono per poterlo rintracciare più facilmente a Kuang Sy. 

German

Selbstgeführte Wanderung von Ban Long Lao zu den Kuang Sy Wasserfällen

Treffen Sie Ihren Fahrer um 08:00 Uhr an der Rezeption und fahren Sie in die Berge, durch die Täler und vorbei an lokalen Dörfern. Nachdem Sie die ethnische Gemeinschaft der Hmong in Ban Long Lao erreicht haben, öffnen Sie die App und beginnen die Wanderung zu den Kuang Sy Wasserfällen. Beginnen Sie Ihre Wanderung und folgen Sie der GPS-aktivierten Wegbeschreibung zu den berühmten Kuang Sy-Wasserfällen. Sie wandern durch das Dorf, die Gemüsegärten, Reisfelder und Wälder im Schatten von Hartholzbäumen wie Rosenholz und Ebenholz. Kurz vor den Wasserfällen stoßen Sie auf die Quelle des Flusses und ein kleines Restaurant, ein idealer Ort für ein frühes Mittagessen! Nach weiteren 30 Minuten erreichen Sie die Kuang-Sy-Wasserfälle, wo Sie sich ausruhen, schwimmen, zu Mittag essen und das Bärenschutzgebiet besuchen können, bevor Sie Ihren Fahrer finden (rufen Sie ihn bei Bedarf an, damit er Sie am Ticketschalter abholt) und zurück nach Luang Prabang fahren. Auf dem Rückweg hält der Fahrer am Straßenrand bei der Buffalo Dairy Farm, einem sozialen Unternehmen, das weibliche Büffel von örtlichen Bauern zum Melken mietet und den Einheimischen damit eine regelmäßige Einnahmequelle bietet.  Hier können Sie ein Eis aus Büffelmilch kaufen – es ist köstlich und eine tolle Belohnung nach einer langen Wanderung!

Entfernung und Dauer der Wanderung: 8 Kilometer – ca. 3 Stunden und 30 Minuten
Transport: Luang Prabang bis Ban Long Lao, 25 Kilometer – 1 Stunde; Kuang Sy bis Luang Prabang, 30 Kilometer – 45 Minuten

Anmerkungen: Wir empfehlen, ein Foto des Nummernschilds und des Fahrers zu machen und sich seine Telefonnummer zu notieren, um ihn in Kuang Sy leichter ausfindig machen zu können. 

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