Da Lat: 3 Waterfalls Tour (Datanla – Elephant – Pongour)

Da Lat’s best waterfall day is not only about falling water. This packed countryside tour links Datanla, Pongour, and Elephant waterfalls with a silk workshop, cricket farm, coffee plantation, pagoda, and bamboo handicraft stop. It gives you a useful look at the farms and small businesses beyond the city.

I like the mix of big natural sights and local production, and I like that guides such as Su, Quy, Ace, Andy, and Tin Tin add stories and humor rather than simply pointing at attractions. The main drawback is pace: eight stops in 7 to 8 hours can feel rushed, and the minibus may feel tight when the group reaches its maximum of 15 people.

Key points to know before booking

• Three major waterfalls: Datanla, Pongour, and Elephant are the main reason to book, though Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue.
• More than a waterfall tour: You also visit Linh An Pagoda, a silk factory, cricket farm, coffee garden, and bamboo-knitting workshop.
• Strong guide service: Guides including Su, Quy, Vinh, Andy, Ace, Bao, Joan, and Tin Tin have been praised for clear English, humor, local knowledge, and flexibility.
• Good value at $25.30: Pickup, drop-off, air-conditioned transport, bottled water, guide service, and most entrance fees are included.
• Watch the extras: Datanla admission is not included, and the alpine coaster costs extra. Lunch and drinks at the coffee plantation are also separate.
• Plan for a full day: The tour starts at 8:30 am and suits people who want variety more than long, quiet time at one waterfall.

Why this Da Lat day is more varied than its name suggests

If you book this trip expecting only waterfalls, you may be surprised by how much of the day is devoted to rural industries. You pass through the countryside south and southwest of Da Lat, stopping at places connected with silk, coffee, bamboo, flowers, and cricket farming.

That variety is the tour’s greatest strength. A waterfall gives you scenery, but a silk factory shows how cocoons become cloth. A coffee garden explains the crop and offers a taste of weasel coffee. A cricket farm gives you an unusual look at a local food business, including the chance to try fried crickets.

The day also has a clear practical advantage. Hiring a private car to reach three waterfalls and several countryside stops would cost more and require careful planning. Here, you get a driver, an English-speaking guide, bottled water, and a ready-made route for $25.30 per person.

The tradeoff is time. Most stops are scheduled for about 30 minutes, while Datanla receives 40 minutes. That is enough to see each place, take photographs, and listen to an explanation, but not enough for a slow walk or long café stop. The route works best if you enjoy keeping moving.

Datanla Waterfall and the optional alpine coaster

Datanla is about 5 kilometers south of central Da Lat, in the Prenn Pass area. It is the most convenient waterfall on the route and the one most closely linked with the alpine coaster.

The stop is scheduled for 40 minutes, giving you a little more time than at the other falls. You can walk toward the waterfall or choose the alpine coaster, an optional ride that adds a bit of excitement to the visit. The ride is not included, and admission to Datanla itself is also separate, so keep some extra money available.

This is an important distinction when comparing the price. The base fare covers most entrance fees, but Datanla and the coaster are exceptions. If you want to keep the day inexpensive, you can skip the ride and focus on the waterfall.

You may find this stop busy and activity-focused compared with Pongour. Some people use the coaster for fun, while others prefer walking and taking in the forest. If you want a longer visit here, tell your guide early, since the schedule has several more stops ahead.

Elephant Waterfall and Linh An Pagoda

Elephant Waterfall, also called Thac Voi, is described as one of the most powerful falls near Da Lat. The usual appeal includes the force of the water and a windy cave beneath the waterfall.

At present, the waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue. The tour still includes the area, but you should not book this trip assuming you will receive the full Elephant Waterfall visit described in older plans. Conditions can change, so confirm the current access situation before setting out.

Linh An Pagoda follows or accompanies this part of the route. The pagoda is about 33 kilometers from Da Lat and is known for a very large Lady Buddha statue. You have about 30 minutes here, enough to see the main religious site and take in the setting.

This stop gives the day a welcome change of mood. After the noise and spray of a waterfall, the pagoda offers a quieter cultural pause. Dress and behave respectfully, especially around worshippers. The tour includes the entrance fee.

Pongour Waterfall, the day’s strongest natural stop

Pongour is about 50 kilometers south of Da Lat in Duc Trong District. It is known as a seven-cascade waterfall and is often considered the finest waterfall in the Central Highlands.

The water spreads across a broad series of rock shelves rather than dropping in one narrow column. That shape makes Pongour especially photogenic, and it gives you more than one angle from which to view the falls. Several people who enjoyed this route considered Pongour the highlight, so I would save your camera battery for this stop.

The scheduled visit is 30 minutes, and admission is free. That short time is the one limitation. You can see the main view, walk a little, and take photographs, but you will not have much freedom for a long trail or relaxed picnic.

The waterfall’s appearance can change with weather and water levels. In wetter conditions, it can look broad and forceful. In drier periods, the stepped rock formation may be easier to see. Either way, Pongour is the stop that best justifies the long drive south.

Silk, crickets, and the less polished side of local tourism

The Cuong Hoan Silk Factory offers a practical look at the full silk process, from cocoon to fabric. The site maintains an older method of removing silk from cocoons, making it more than a simple shop visit.

You can see how raw material becomes thread and then cloth. The process may be uncomfortable for some people, since the cocoons and pupae are part of the production. If you are sensitive to animal products, ask your guide to explain each stage before you get close.

The cricket farm is one of the tour’s more unusual stops. The farm owner explains how crickets are raised, cared for, and bred. You may also be offered cricket dishes, including stir-fried crickets. The experience is optional in spirit: you can look, listen, and decide how much you want to taste.

This is where the tour feels most different from a standard sightseeing loop. It does not present rural life as a perfect postcard. You see working production, food traditions, and small-scale businesses. At the same time, you should expect commercial elements. Some stops may encourage purchases, and the coffee plantation in particular can charge much more for a cup than cafés in central Da Lat.

Me Linh Coffee Garden and the cost of a tasting

Me Linh Coffee Garden lies about 23 kilometers southwest of Da Lat, reached by the winding Ta Nung Pass. The route itself is part of the appeal, with changing views as you leave the city behind.

At the plantation, you can learn about coffee and see several types of coffee plants, including cherry, robusta, and arabica. The stop also focuses on original weasel coffee, which is self-funded and not included in the tour price.

That wording matters. You can visit the garden without buying a coffee, but drinks and tastings cost extra. Prices may be around three times what you would pay for a cup in the city, so ask for the cost before ordering.

I would still keep this stop on the day. Coffee is central to Da Lat’s agricultural identity, and the plantation gives you a better sense of where the drink comes from. Just treat the tasting as an optional purchase, not part of the $25.30 package.

Bamboo knitting in Lam Ha District

The final rural stop is a bamboo-knitting workshop in Lam Ha District. It is a short visit, with about 30 minutes to see the craft and understand how bamboo is shaped into useful objects.

This stop is quieter than the waterfalls and less visually dramatic than the pagoda or coffee garden. Its value is cultural rather than scenic. It shows another small local trade and gives you a glimpse of skills that are easy to miss if you stay around Da Lat’s central markets.

As with the silk and coffee stops, you may encounter products for sale. You are not required to buy anything, and the short visit works best if you approach it as a chance to observe rather than as a shopping stop.

The guide can make or break this packed route

The itinerary has many moving parts, so guide quality matters. Guides named in feedback include Quy, Su, Vinh, Andy, Ace, Bao, Joan, and Tin Tin. The most praised qualities are clear English, humor, local stories, and the ability to give people some free time instead of talking constantly.

Su was singled out for being dedicated and able to answer many questions. Andy was appreciated for explaining the route while allowing time to wander independently. Ace was described as professional and friendly, while Tin Tin was known for local legends and a strong affection for the Da Lat region.

Your guide will vary, so you cannot choose a particular person unless the company confirms it. Still, the repeated pattern is useful: this is not only a transport service. The guide is expected to explain the stops, manage the timing, and help the group handle a long day.

The driver also matters. One account praised the driving, while another found the minibus cramped. The vehicle is air-conditioned, but a group of up to 15 people means limited personal space. If you are tall or dislike crowded transport, a private car would be more comfortable, though it would change the price.

What the $25.30 price really covers

At $25.30 per person, this is strong value if you want to cover a wide area without arranging transport yourself. Included are pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transportation, bottled water, and entrance fees except at Datanla.

The value comes from the number of locations. Three waterfall areas, a pagoda, silk factory, cricket farm, coffee plantation, and bamboo workshop would be difficult to connect independently in one day.

The price does not cover:

• Lunch
• Datanla admission
• Alpine coaster rides
• Coffee or weasel coffee purchases
• Other personal spending

Lunch is not included, though one account described a good restaurant stop. Since the tour lasts most of the day, bring cash for food and optional tastings. The exact restaurant and lunch cost are not specified, so do not assume a meal is part of the package.

The tour has had more than 10 bookings in the past month and is rated 4.9 from 1,840 ratings, with 99 percent recommending it. Those figures suggest steady demand, but the practical details matter more: expect a full schedule, variable waterfall access, and a shared vehicle.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you have limited time in Da Lat and want to see both nature and rural industries in one day. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families with older children, and anyone who prefers a guide and driver rather than negotiating local transport.

The child fare is based on height:

• Under 90 centimeters: free infant ticket
• From 90 to 110 centimeters: child ticket at 50 percent off
• Above 110 centimeters: adult ticket

Most people can participate, but this is not a slow, restful outing. You will enter and leave the vehicle several times, walk around waterfall areas, and spend much of the day on the road. Comfortable shoes and clothing that can handle spray or muddy ground are sensible choices.

I would skip it if your main goal is spending several peaceful hours at one waterfall. I would also think twice if you dislike factory visits, food tastings, shopping-oriented stops, or tight schedules. The route is broad, not deep.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 8:30 am start. Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum group size may lead to another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Da Lat waterfall tour?

Book it if you want maximum variety for a modest price. Pongour is the natural star, Datanla adds the optional coaster, and the silk, cricket, coffee, pagoda, and bamboo stops give the day a local angle that a waterfall-only trip would miss.

Go in with realistic expectations. Elephant Waterfall is currently closed, Datanla costs extra, the schedule is tight, and the minibus may feel cramped. If those points are acceptable, this is a practical way to see a wide slice of the Da Lat countryside in one well-organized day.

FAQ

How long does the Da Lat three-waterfall tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 7 to 8 hours and starts at 8:30 am.

Which waterfalls are included?

The route includes Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall, and Elephant Waterfall, also called Thac Voi. Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Is the alpine coaster included?

No. The alpine coaster at Datanla is optional and costs extra. Admission to Datanla Waterfall is also not included.

Are entrance fees included?

Most entrance fees are included. Datanla Waterfall is the exception. Entrance to Linh An Pagoda, the silk factory, the cricket farm, and the other listed included stops is covered.

What are the child ticket rules?

Children under 90 centimeters use a free infant ticket. Children from 90 to 110 centimeters use a child ticket at 50 percent off. Children above 110 centimeters require an adult ticket.