Ancient Luang Prabang & LaosDenise Heywood
About this place
Ancient Luang Prabang & Laos
Denise Heywood · 2014
An illustrated guide to Luang Prabang's temples and history, the town most Kuang Si visitors stay in.
Laos · Luang Prabang
Tat Sae Waterfalls
The Tat Sae Waterfalls, also referred to as the Tad Sae Waterfalls are waterfalls located along a tributary of the Nam Khan River in Luang Prabang province, Laos. They are located about 18 kilometres southeast of Luang Prabang and about 2 kilometres from the village of Bak En.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Tat Sae Waterfalls drops over a series of steps on the Nam Khan River. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Luang Prabang, Laos. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Tat Sae Waterfalls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Luang Prabang are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Wet-season fed: fullest from August to December; by March and April many falls here are a trickle.
Getting there
- Base town Luang Prabang, Laos
- Country Laos
- Region Luang Prabang, Southeast Asia, Asia
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Tat Sae Waterfalls
Laos
Height—Width—
Most similar
Hogenakkal Falls
India
Height20 mWidth—
Also a cascade waterfall and in India
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
20 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Hogenakkal FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
We don't have a reliable crest width for Tat Sae Waterfalls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
The Rough Guide to LaosRough Guides
Guidebook
The Rough Guide to Laos
Rough Guides · 2024
More recent than the Lonely Planet Laos, useful for current transport between Luang Prabang, Pakse and the 4000 Islands.
The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a BudgetRough Guides
Guidebook
The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget
Rough Guides · 2024
For a multi-country trip, one book covering the overland routes between the Southeast Asian falls on this site.
Lonely Planet LaosLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Laos
Lonely Planet · 2020
Covers Luang Prabang, the Bolaven Plateau and Si Phan Don, the three bases for the Lao falls on this site.
On the map
19.84375, 102.22047
Quick answers
Where is Tat Sae Waterfalls?
Tat Sae Waterfalls is in Laos (Luang Prabang). The nearest base is Luang Prabang, Laos. Its coordinates are 19.8438, 102.2205.
When is the best time to visit Tat Sae Waterfalls?
Peak flow is August to December. Wet-season fed: fullest from August to December; by March and April many falls here are a trickle.
What can you do at Tat Sae Waterfalls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Tat Sae Waterfalls?
The usual base is Luang Prabang, Laos. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
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