Dalat: 3 Waterfalls Day Tour — Datanla, Pongour & Elephant

Dalat’s best day trips mix cool mountain scenery with working farms and small local businesses. This one does exactly that, taking you from three waterfalls to silk-making, coffee growing, cricket farming, and the huge Lady Buddha at Linh An Pagoda.

I like the strong mix of nature and daily life. I also like the guides, including Su, Phat, Vinh, Quy, and Andy, who are praised for clear English, humor, stories, and keeping a busy day moving. The main drawback is the pace: eight hours and many stops can leave you tired, and Elephant Waterfall is currently closed for direct access.

Key points at a glance

• Three very different waterfalls: Datanla is easy to pair with the Alpine coaster, Pongour is the grand scenic stop, and Elephant is viewed from nearby Linh An Pagoda while direct access is closed.
• Local industries, not just viewpoints: See silk pulled from cocoons, coffee production, and cricket raising.
• Excellent low price: At $22 per person, transport, a guide, water, rice wine, cricket tasting, and most entrance fees are included.
• The Alpine coaster costs extra: Datanla admission is 80,000 VND, or 250,000 VND with the coaster.
• A full but fast day: The schedule includes short visits, walking, photo stops, and a local lunch break.
• Good choice for a short Dalat stay: You cover several countryside sights in one day without arranging separate transport.

What this $22 Dalat day tour really covers

This is not a slow waterfall outing. It is a packed circuit around Dalat, designed to show you several sides of the Central Highlands in one day.

You begin with hotel pickup in Dalat, travel by van, and return to the city after roughly eight hours. Along the way, you see waterfalls, flowers, farms, a pagoda, and small-scale production sites. The point is variety. You are not simply taking photos and getting back in the van.

At $22, the value is strong. Transport, an English-speaking guide, 500 milliliters of purified water, a cup of rice wine, cricket tasting, and listed entrance fees are included. You still pay for lunch and Datanla Waterfall separately. The extra cost at Datanla is 80,000 VND for ordinary admission or 250,000 VND if you choose the Alpine coaster.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 931 reviews, and 94 percent of ratings give the transport a perfect score. That points to a well-organized operation, but you should still expect a busy day rather than a private, unhurried visit.

Van Thanh Flower Village begins the countryside run

The first scheduled stop is Van Thanh Flower Village, with about 30 minutes for a guided visit.

Dalat is known for its cool climate and flower growing, so this stop gives useful context before you head farther into the countryside. It is also a chance to see how the city’s farming economy connects with tourism.

Thirty minutes is enough for a look around and some photos, but not enough for a long farm visit. One person found the stop less important than the waterfalls and working farms later in the day. I would treat it as a pleasant opening stop, not the main reason to book.

Datanla adds nature and a thrill ride

Datanla Waterfall sits about 5 kilometers south of Dalat city center, in the pine-covered Prenn Pass area. The setting combines forest, flowers, and falling water, with the option of an Alpine coaster running through the trees.

The waterfall visit itself includes a photo stop and about 30 minutes of walking. The Alpine coaster is optional and not included in the tour price. The regular admission is 80,000 VND, while admission with the coaster is 250,000 VND.

The coaster is promoted as the longest ride in Asia, and it is clearly one of the day’s biggest fun moments. Several people specifically recommend paying for it, describing it as exciting without being too frightening. If you enjoy rides, budget for the higher ticket. If you prefer scenery and do not like thrill rides, the standard entry keeps the extra cost down.

Datanla can be busy, especially in the morning. A good guide may change the order of the stops to reduce waiting, as Andy did for one group. That flexibility matters here because the coaster can create queues.

Expect some stairs and walking during the day. Bring comfortable shoes and more water than the included bottle if you do not enjoy walking in warm weather.

Cuong Hoan Silk shows the work behind the fabric

At Cuong Hoan Silk, you get about 30 minutes with a guide. This is one of the more useful stops because you see the process rather than just a finished product.

The factory keeps an older method of removing silk from cocoons. The cocoons are placed in hot water, and the fine thread is drawn out and wound onto a machine. It is then placed on reels and used on a large loom to make patterned fabric.

The visit gives you a better sense of the labor behind a silk scarf or garment. It is also a good place to ask questions about the production process and look at possible souvenirs. The stop may feel commercial to some people, but it has real educational value and is more than a quick shop visit.

Pongour is the scenic high point

Pongour Waterfall is about 50 kilometers south of Dalat, in Duc Trong District, along National Highway 20. It is also called the Seven Cascading Waterfalls because the water spreads across a series of broad rock levels.

You have about 40 minutes here, which is longer than the scheduled time at several other stops. That gives you room to walk, take photos, and absorb the setting without racing straight back to the van.

Pongour is likely to be the waterfall that makes the longest impression. It feels larger and more open than Datanla, while the layered cascades give you several angles for photographs. Water levels can affect how dramatic it looks, so the exact view changes with weather and season.

A closure notice says Pongour was closed because of storm damage until November 24, 2025. Since conditions can change, check the current status before booking, especially during the wet season. If it is closed, the operator may need to adjust the route.

Me Linh Coffee Garden explains Dalat’s coffee culture

Me Linh Coffee Garden lies about 23 kilometers southwest of central Dalat, reached by the winding Ta Nung Pass. The route itself adds mountain scenery, but the coffee stop is the real reason to come.

You get about 40 minutes for a guided visit. The plantation offers original weasel coffee as a separate purchase, so tasting it is self-funded. This is worth knowing before you arrive. Coffee prices can feel high, and one person specifically found the coffee more expensive than expected.

Still, the stop helps explain one of the area’s key crops. You see how coffee fits into local farming and can decide for yourself if the specialty coffee is worth buying. I would enjoy the setting and the explanation even if I skipped the premium cup.

Lunch is local and separate

Lunch takes about 30 minutes at a local restaurant. It is not included, so keep cash available for the meal.

The feedback on the food is mixed. Some people found it tasty and reasonably priced, while another found the restaurant below the standard of the rest of the day. That means you should see lunch as a practical break rather than a carefully planned food experience.

The short meal period also tells you something about the tour. You are fitting a lot into one day, so lunch is designed to keep the route moving.

Linh An Pagoda has the day’s most striking statue

Linh An Pagoda is about 33 kilometers from Dalat. Its main draw is the enormous Lady Buddha statue, described as the largest of its kind in Vietnam.

The pagoda is also the best place to view Elephant Waterfall right now. Direct access to Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue, but you can still see the waterfall from the pagoda at close range.

Give this stop proper attention. The statue creates a strong visual contrast with the forest and falls, and the pagoda adds a quiet cultural element to a day otherwise built around outdoor attractions. You will have about 30 minutes with a guide, enough for the main sights but not a long religious or architectural visit.

Dress and behave respectfully at the pagoda. The tour information does not list a strict dress code, but modest clothing is the sensible choice at any active religious site.

Elephant Waterfall is a viewpoint, not a full visit

Elephant Waterfall is described as one of the most powerful waterfalls near Dalat. Under normal conditions, you would expect a closer look at the falls, but the current closure changes the experience.

The route still includes a 30-minute visit, with the view taken from Linh An Pagoda at a nearby distance. Do not book this tour expecting to walk directly around Elephant Waterfall until the operator confirms that access has reopened.

This is the clearest limitation of the experience. You still see the waterfall, but it is not the same as exploring its base or nearby paths. The pagoda helps make up for the change, but the tour description should be read carefully.

Thien An Cricket Farm brings the local flavor

The final major stop is Thien An Cricket Farm, where the owner explains how crickets are raised, cared for, and bred. You can also sample cricket dishes.

Cricket tasting is included, which makes this more than a paid food add-on. The rice wine tasting is included too, giving the stop a playful social feel. Several people enjoyed trying fried crickets, while the guides encouraged participation without being forceful.

You may find the farm more interesting than expected because it shows a small local business rather than a polished sightseeing attraction. If you are nervous about tasting insects, you can listen to the explanation and decide later. The guide can make the experience fun, but you are not required to eat anything.

The itinerary also lists bamboo knitting as seasonal. Treat that as a possible extra, not a guaranteed stop.

The guides make a busy route easier

The human side of this tour gets strong praise. Su is repeatedly described as funny, friendly, and easy to understand. Phat is praised for clear English, good stories, and keeping people on schedule. Vinh, Quy, Andy, and Ocean are also named as warm, attentive guides who explain local life and help with practical details.

You may not receive one particular guide, so do not book solely to meet Su or Phat. Still, the pattern is encouraging. The guides are expected to explain more than the next photo stop, including farming, local industries, Vietnamese culture, and life around Dalat.

Good time management matters here. Guides have shifted the order to avoid crowds, helped with tickets, taken group photos, and made sure people were included. One guide even gave a small group photo as a souvenir.

The driver matters too. The route uses winding roads and busy city streets, and the driving has received high marks. You spend a fair amount of time in the van, so calm, capable driving is a real part of the value.

Who should book this Dalat experience?

I would choose this tour if you have only one full day in Dalat and want to see the main countryside sights without arranging several separate trips.

It suits you if you like variety, guided explanations, short walks, farms, unusual food, and a full schedule. Families can enjoy the waterfalls and coaster, though parents should check the child fare rules carefully: under 90 centimeters is free, 90 to 110 centimeters receives the child rate, and above 110 centimeters uses the adult fare.

It is less suitable if you want a quiet day at one waterfall, dislike planned shopping or production stops, or need a slow pace. You should also reconsider if direct access to Elephant Waterfall is essential, since it is currently closed.

The free cancellation period is up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Pickup is included from Dalat hotels, with a request to wait in the lobby 10 minutes before pickup. The guide contacts you before arrival.

My call: strong value, with two clear conditions

I would book this tour for a first visit to Dalat, especially if I had limited time. The price is low for an eight-hour route with transport, an English-speaking guide, water, tastings, and most entrance fees.

Just budget for lunch and the Datanla ticket, and decide in advance if the Alpine coaster is worth the upgrade. Also confirm the current status of Pongour and Elephant waterfalls before departure, since storm damage and operational closures can change the route.

If you accept a quick pace and enjoy seeing how local products are made, this is one of the better ways to get beyond central Dalat. If you want a relaxed nature day, choose a shorter waterfall trip instead.

FAQ

How long does the Dalat waterfall tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours, including transport, sightseeing, lunch, and the return to Dalat.

Which waterfalls are included?

The route includes Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall, and Elephant Waterfall. Elephant Waterfall is currently viewed from Linh An Pagoda because direct access is temporarily closed.

Is the Alpine coaster included?

No. Datanla admission costs 80,000 VND, or 250,000 VND when using the Alpine coaster.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant and must be paid for separately.

What is included in the $22 price?

The price includes transportation, an English-speaking guide, 500 milliliters of purified drinking water per day per person, a cup of rice wine, cricket tasting, and listed entrance fees except Datanla Waterfall.

Is pickup included?

Yes. Pickup from Dalat is included. You should wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup, and the guide will contact you before arrival.

What languages are available?

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide.

How are children charged?

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