Tad Sae Waterfall

Tad Sae is built the same way as Kuang Si - calcium-rich water depositing travertine into a staircase of shallow basins - but it is wider, shallower and much closer to town. When the river is up, the terraces run across a broad front with water pouring over every lip, and the pools are the pale blue-green that mineral-laden water produces. When the river is down, most of the basins are dry rock. That difference is the single most important thing to know before making the trip.

What you actually see

• The terraces - a wide staircase of travertine basins rather than one drop.
• The pool colour - the pale turquoise that comes from dissolved limestone.
• The river crossing - a short boat over the Nam Khan to reach the site.
• The zipline - a cable course rigged over the falls, run seasonally.

When to go

August to November, after the rains, is when the falls actually flow. From roughly February to May the water can disappear almost entirely and the site sometimes closes. Weekends bring local families out from town.

Honest expectations

Out of season this is a walk to some empty rock, and plenty of people have made the trip and been disappointed. Kuang Si holds water far more reliably and is the better bet if you can only do one. Elephant rides have operated here in the past; check what an operator is actually selling before booking.

Nearby

Luang Prabang is about half an hour away, and Kuang Si falls are on the other side of the town.