It’s a challenging bike ride (or come by songthaews, lazypants) to Kaeng Nyui Waterfall on a hot day, with lots of rocks and hardly any shade along the route. But at the end you’re greeted with three cascades, including Kaeng Nyui itself with a 34-metre drop, and a pleasant swimming hole at the base of Kenlon falls. All of this is almost bone dry in dry season and not worth the trip during this time.
A 10,000 kip admission is collected by the village who maintains the forest trail between falls and cleans up the rubbish. Drinks and snacks are also available here and you can dine and relax in huts along the river.
To get here, on Route 13, at the top of the old airstrip turn right at the sign. It’s four kilometres to Ban Naduang (you can refill on drinks here), then another 1,400 metres to the junction, turn right and follow the track another kilometre to the parking lot. Songthaews charge 140,000 to 160,000 kip round-trip.
To make it a loop, return to the junction and continue on in a counter clockwise direction. The path continues on quiet dirt road surrounded by hills, passing Ban Nakhe before eventually joining Route 13 at Km 161, five kilometres north of town. All this is shown on the Hobo Map. Perhaps stop at Vang Vieng Organic Farm for a meal or a refreshing mulberry juice on your way back.
