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

Da Lat’s best day trips mix rushing water with the working countryside, and this one packs a lot into one circuit. You visit Datanla, Pongour, and Elephant waterfalls, then see silk pulled from cocoons, crickets raised for food, coffee grown and prepared, and bamboo shaped by hand. Pongour is the scenic prize, while Datanla adds the option of an alpine coaster.

I like two things here: the wide range of stops and the strong value at $25.30 per person. Guides such as Su, Vinh, Bao, Andy, and Ace have been praised for clear English, humor, and local stories. The main caution is pace. Eight stops in seven or eight hours means short visits, a cramped vehicle is possible, and some farm stops have costly drinks or products for sale.

Key points to know before booking

• Pongour Waterfall is the star stop: Its broad, seven-level cascade has the most impressive setting of the three.
• Elephant Waterfall is currently closed: The route may include a nearby viewpoint or changed activity, so confirm the current arrangement.
• Datanla offers a paid alpine coaster: The ride is optional, and its admission is not included.
• The tour goes beyond waterfalls: Expect a pagoda, silk production, cricket farming, coffee, and bamboo work.
• Strong guides make the long day work: Su, Vinh, Bao, Andy, Ace, and others have earned praise for humor and useful local explanations.
• The price covers the basics: Pickup, drop-off, guide, vehicle, bottled water, and most entrance fees are included, but lunch, Datanla admission, and coffee purchases are extra.

Three waterfalls, eight stops, and one full Da Lat day

This is not a quiet nature outing. It is a full loop through the countryside south and southwest of Da Lat, with waterfall stops fitted around working farms and craft sites.

The tour starts at about 8:30 a.m. and lasts roughly seven to eight hours. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a maximum group size of 15. That limit is small enough for a guide to keep the day organized, though the minibus may feel tight if it fills up.

The order can vary, but the planned stops include Datanla, Pongour, Elephant Waterfall, Linh An Pagoda, Cuong Hoan Silk Factory, a cricket farm, Me Linh Coffee Garden, and a bamboo-knitting stop in Lam Ha District.

I like this format if you want a broad introduction to the Da Lat area in one day. You see natural sights, religious art, agriculture, and small-scale production without arranging several separate rides. If your goal is long walks beside waterfalls, though, the schedule may feel rushed.

Datanla brings the first splash of adventure

Datanla Waterfall sits in Prenn Pass, about 5 kilometers south of central Da Lat. The stop is scheduled for about 40 minutes, and the waterfall area combines forest, water, and amusement rides.

The major extra is the alpine coaster. You can pay separately for the ride, which gives this first stop a playful edge. If you prefer to walk, you can skip it, though the short visit means you will not have much time for both a ride and a relaxed look around.

Datanla admission is not included in the tour price. That matters when comparing the headline cost with your final spending. Bring some cash or be ready to pay separately for the entrance and coaster.

I would treat Datanla as the quick, active opening stop rather than the day’s main natural sight. One useful tip is to decide before arrival if the coaster interests you. Waiting, riding, and taking photos can use most of the 40 minutes.

Pongour Waterfall earns the longest look

Pongour is about 50 kilometers south of Da Lat in Duc Trong District. It is often described as a seven-tier waterfall, and the wide rock shelves give the water a broad, layered appearance rather than a single narrow drop.

The scheduled stop is only 30 minutes, which is the tour’s biggest timing weakness. Pongour is the waterfall most likely to make you wish for extra time. You can see the main cascade, take photos, and walk around, but a longer visit would make it easier to enjoy the setting without watching the clock.

The route to Pongour also means a fair amount of driving. That is the tradeoff for seeing one of the area’s most impressive cascades while using Da Lat as your base. If you want to visit Pongour independently, transport may be harder to arrange, so the tour’s value improves if you would otherwise need to hire a private car.

One practical point: water flow and appearance can change with season and weather. The tour requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a refund.

Elephant Waterfall requires a current check

Elephant Waterfall, or Thac Voi, is known for powerful water and the possibility of seeing the windy cave beneath the falls. The planned stop is 30 minutes, and Linh An Pagoda is nearby.

However, the supplied tour information says Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue. That is important. Do not assume you will walk to the base or explore the cave. Ask the operator what you will see instead and how the closure affects the schedule.

Older tour descriptions and past outings included Elephant as a major highlight, so the route may have changed over time. This is the one point I would confirm before paying, especially if seeing all three waterfalls is the reason you are booking.

Even with a closure, the surrounding stop may still offer views or a chance to visit the pagoda. Just make sure your expectations match the current conditions.

Linh An Pagoda adds a cultural pause

Linh An Pagoda is about 33 kilometers from Da Lat and is known for its very large Lady Buddha statue. The visit lasts around 30 minutes, with admission included.

This stop gives the day a change of rhythm. After waterfalls and road time, you get a quiet place with Buddhist images and a large outdoor figure that is easy to spot and photograph.

The pagoda is not presented as a long guided religious visit. You will have a short window, so dress and behave respectfully, follow site rules, and allow time to look around without turning the stop into a rushed photo break.

One past assessment found the temple less memorable than the falls, which is fair. Its value depends on your interests. I would see it as a useful cultural stop rather than the central reason to choose this tour.

Silk, crickets, and bamboo show working Da Lat

The tour’s most unusual section is its collection of small production sites. At Cuong Hoan Silk Factory, you can see the process from cocoon to finished fabric. The factory keeps an older method of removing silk from cocoons, giving you a clearer view of the work than a simple shop visit.

The scheduled time is 30 minutes. You may also see pupae inside the cocoons, and tasting them is optional. If you are curious about food and local production, this is one of the day’s more memorable stops. If insects make you uneasy, you can simply watch the process.

At Thien An Cricket Farm, the owner explains how crickets are raised, cared for, and bred. The farm also serves cricket dishes. Some people may be offered fried or stir-fried crickets, along with rice wine. You do not need to make this the test of your courage, but it is a genuine glimpse of a food practice many visitors will not encounter at home.

The bamboo-knitting stop is in Lam Ha District and lasts about 30 minutes. Admission is free. The details supplied are limited, so expect a brief look at handwork rather than a long craft lesson or a major shopping center.

These stops help explain why this is more than a waterfall shuttle. You see how local products are made and how rural businesses operate. The drawback is commercial pressure. Some stops may encourage you to buy silk, coffee, or other goods, so ask prices before purchasing and do not feel obliged to buy.

Me Linh Coffee Garden is scenic but not free

Me Linh Coffee Garden lies about 23 kilometers southwest of Da Lat, reached by the winding Ta Nung Pass. The stop lasts around 30 minutes and includes the chance to see coffee plants and purchase original weasel coffee at your own expense.

The farm setting is one of the more attractive parts of the route. You can see coffee growing rather than only drinking it in a city café. The area may include several coffee types, including cherry, robusta, and arabica, as described in the tour material and past visits.

The important catch is price. Coffee tasting and purchases are not included, and one cup at the plantation was described as costing about three times city prices. I would enjoy the setting, ask for the menu first, and decide if the drink is worth the premium.

The drive through Ta Nung Pass is part of the appeal. Still, 30 minutes is enough for a brief stop, not a slow farm visit with a long tasting session.

The guide can make or break this packed schedule

The strongest part of this tour is often the guide. Su has been praised for answering questions and adding spontaneous details. Vinh, Bao, Andy, Ace, Joan, Tin Tin, and Quy have also received strong praise for English, humor, patience, and local knowledge.

That matters because the day contains a lot of road time and many short stops. A guide who explains what you are seeing, then gives you room to wander, makes the schedule feel less mechanical. Andy, in particular, was praised for walking with the group when some people chose to skip the coaster and for allowing independent time at the waterfalls.

The guide quality can vary from one departure to another, so I would not book based on a specific person unless the company confirms that guide. Still, the repeated praise for the guiding team is a good sign.

The driver also matters. The roads around Da Lat include winding passes, and the group has called out careful, capable driving. You should expect a full day in the vehicle, not a series of sites close to the city center.

What the $25.30 price really covers

At $25.30 per person, this is a strong deal if you want transportation and variety. The fee includes pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and entrance fees except for Datanla.

You also avoid arranging transport to Pongour and the more distant countryside stops. That is where much of the value lies. A low-cost waterfall outing can become expensive if you need several separate taxis or a private car.

Set aside extra money for:

• Datanla entrance
• The alpine coaster
• Lunch
• Coffee and plantation purchases
• Optional food or products at the farm and craft stops

Lunch is not included, though past outings included a restaurant stop. Do not treat that as part of the advertised price. Ask the guide about the day’s lunch plan and expect to pay separately.

The tour has a 99 percent recommendation rate and a 4.9 rating from 1,840 reviews, which supports the idea that the basic package delivers well. The one-star cancellation complaint is a reminder to confirm the vehicle and route if the operator contacts you before departure, but it appears unusual beside the much larger body of positive feedback.

Who should book this Da Lat outing

I would choose this tour if you have one free day and want to see many sides of the region without hiring a car. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families with older children, and anyone who likes combining nature with food, crafts, and local industry.

Children under 90 centimeters can join free with an infant ticket. Children from 90 to 110 centimeters receive the child rate, listed as 50 percent off. Children over 110 centimeters require an adult ticket. The day is long, though, and the short stops may be tiring for very young children.

I would hesitate if you want a quiet, slow-paced day, dislike shopping-oriented stops, or need generous legroom. One past outing described the minibus as cramped, with limited shoulder and leg space. A maximum of 15 people keeps the group manageable, but it does not guarantee a spacious ride.

The waterfalls also involve outdoor walking and uneven areas. The tour information says most people can participate, but it does not promise full accessibility at every stop. If mobility is a concern, ask the operator about the current route, especially with Elephant Waterfall closed.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is value, variety, and easy transport. You will see major waterfalls, a large Buddhist statue, silk production, coffee growing, cricket farming, and bamboo work in one long day. The best parts are Pongour, the coffee country around Ta Nung Pass, and the guides who add humor and local context.

Skip it if your ideal day means spending hours at each waterfall or avoiding commercial farm stops. The itinerary is packed, Datanla costs extra, coffee may be overpriced, and Elephant Waterfall is currently closed.

Before booking, confirm the Elephant Waterfall replacement, ask about lunch, and budget for optional rides and tastings. If those details suit you, $25.30 buys an unusually broad look at Da Lat and its surrounding countryside.

FAQ

How long does the Da Lat waterfall tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 7 to 8 hours and starts at about 8:30 a.m.

Which waterfalls are included?

The planned route includes Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall, and Elephant Waterfall. Elephant Waterfall is currently temporarily closed, so confirm the latest arrangement before booking.

Is the alpine coaster included?

No. The alpine coaster at Datanla is optional and costs extra.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Are entrance fees included?

Most entrance fees are included. Datanla Waterfall admission is specifically excluded.

Is hotel pickup offered?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off service are included.

What child ticket should I choose?

Children under 90 centimeters can use the free infant ticket. Children from 90 to 110 centimeters should use the child ticket for 50 percent off. Children above 110 centimeters require an adult ticket.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.