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

Da Lat’s waterfalls are only half the story here. This full-day outing links Datanla, Elephant, and Pongour with a silk workshop, cricket farm, coffee plantation, bamboo handicrafts, and Linh An Pagoda. It is a useful way to see the countryside south and southwest of town without arranging several separate rides.

I like the mix of big natural sights and working local businesses, especially the chance to see silk made from cocoons and coffee grown near Da Lat. I also like the guides’ role: names praised in the tour details include Su, Ace, Andy, Bao, Vinh, Quy, Tin Tin, and Joan, with English commentary, jokes, and time to wander. The drawback is the pace. Eight stops in seven to eight hours can feel tight, and Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue.

Key points to know before booking

• Three waterfalls in one day: Datanla, Pongour, and Elephant form the main route, with Pongour often the most impressive for its broad, seven-step cascade.
• More than a waterfall trip: You also visit Linh An Pagoda, a silk factory, a cricket farm, a coffee garden, and a bamboo-knitting workshop.
• Optional alpine coaster: Datanla’s coaster costs extra, while walking to the waterfall is the no-cost alternative.
• Good value at $25.30: Pickup, drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, an English-speaking guide, and most entrance fees are included.
• Small maximum group: The vehicle is limited to 15 people, though one report found the minibus cramped.
• Plan around the closure: Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed, so confirm what access is available before you set out.

Why this Da Lat day trip works

Da Lat is known for cool highland air, pine-covered passes, farms, and waterfalls outside the city. Reaching those places on your own is possible, but the distances add up quickly. Datanla is about 5 kilometers south of the center, Pongour is about 50 kilometers south, and Linh An Pagoda is about 33 kilometers away. Me Linh Coffee Garden lies about 23 kilometers southwest, beyond the winding Ta Nung Pass.

For $25.30 per person, I see the main value in the transport and route planning. You get a driver, an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off service, and an English-speaking guide who fills in the gaps between stops. Entrance fees are included at most places, though Datanla is excluded and the alpine coaster is optional.

The schedule begins at 8:30 a.m. and lasts about seven to eight hours. That sounds generous, but the tour includes long drives and eight stops. You are not getting a slow, private day with an hour at every waterfall. You are getting a well-packed sampler of Da Lat’s southern countryside.

The group limit is 15 people. That is smaller than a large coach tour, but do not expect a roomy private car. One positive account also pointed out that the minibus had limited leg and shoulder room. If you are tall, carrying a large day bag, or dislike shared transport, this is worth considering.

Datanla Waterfall and the optional coaster

Datanla is the first waterfall, reached on Prenn Pass, roughly 5 kilometers from central Da Lat. The visit is scheduled for about 40 minutes, and the entrance fee is not included.

The attraction here is not only the water. Datanla offers an alpine coaster, which lets you ride through the forest toward the falls. The coaster is optional and costs extra. You can instead walk to the waterfall, as some people on the tour chose to do. If you want the ride, bring extra money and allow for the possibility of a queue, although no waiting time is specified.

Forty minutes is enough for a look and perhaps a ride, but not much more. One useful tip is to decide before arrival if the coaster matters to you. If half the group rides and the rest walks, the guide may need to manage two small flows of people within the same stop.

Pongour, the waterfall to save your energy for

Pongour Waterfall is about 50 kilometers south of Da Lat in Duc Trong District. The visit lasts around 30 minutes and admission is free.

This is likely the main visual payoff. Pongour is known as a seven-cascading waterfall, with water spreading across a wide rock face rather than dropping in one narrow plunge. An account from the tour described Pongour as the best of the three, and another called it the largest in southern Vietnam. Those descriptions help set expectations: this is the stop where you will want to take in the whole scene, not just stand beside one viewpoint.

Thirty minutes is still a short visit. Wear shoes you can walk in and do not spend the full stop taking photos from the first easy spot. If the guide gives you free time, use it. One of the strongest guide comments praised Andy for sharing plenty of information while allowing time to wander alone.

Water levels and the look of any waterfall can change with weather and season. The tour requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund. The supplied information does not promise a particular water volume, so keep your expectations tied to the season of your visit.

Elephant Waterfall and Linh An Pagoda

Elephant Waterfall, or Thac Voi, is known as one of Da Lat’s more forceful falls. The original stop includes a chance to see the windy cave under the waterfall, but the site is temporarily closed because of an operational issue.

That closure matters. The itinerary still lists Elephant Waterfall, yet the wording says you can still enjoy the area, without explaining exactly what access remains. Ask the provider for a current update before booking, especially if seeing all three falls is the central reason for your trip. Do not pay expecting the full cave and waterfall visit unless access has been confirmed.

Linh An Pagoda follows as a separate 30-minute stop. It is about 33 kilometers from Da Lat and is known for its very large Lady Buddha statue. The pagoda adds a cultural pause after the waterfalls, though you should not expect a long temple visit. One account described the temple as pleasant but less special than the falls, while other comments enjoyed the Buddha site and its setting.

Dress and behave respectfully at the pagoda. The tour information does not set out a dress code, but as with any religious site, modest clothing and a quieter manner are sensible. Your guide can provide context and point out the main features, but half an hour leaves little room for a long, unhurried visit.

From cocoons to cloth at Cuong Hoan Silk Factory

The Cuong Hoan Silk Factory is one of the more worthwhile stops for anyone curious about how local goods are made. The visit lasts around 30 minutes, and admission is included.

You can see the silk process from cocoon to fabric, including the older method of removing silk from cocoons. That makes this more than a shop stop. You are shown a real production sequence, and the hands-on process gives useful context to the finished scarves and textiles you may see for sale.

There is also a less comfortable side to the visit. Silk production involves cocoons and pupae, and one account specifically disliked tasting the insect inside. You are not required to taste anything based on the supplied details, so treat any food sample as optional. If you are sensitive to animal products or dislike commercial stops, this may be the point where the tour feels less appealing.

Still, I would keep this stop on the positive side of the itinerary. It connects a local craft with the rural economy, and the short visit is enough to understand the process without spending half a day in a factory.

A cricket farm with a very direct tasting

At Thien An Cricket Farm, the owner explains how crickets are raised, cared for, and bred. The visit takes about 30 minutes and admission is included.

The unusual part is the food. You may be offered dishes made from crickets, along with rice wine. Several accounts singled this out as a memorable part of the day, while another described eating crunchy crickets with rice wine. This is not a polished tasting menu. It is a chance to try a local farm product in a direct, slightly startling setting.

You can enjoy the explanation without making yourself eat anything you do not want. The farm works best if you approach it with curiosity rather than expecting a formal attraction. For families, the stop can be fun and educational, but young children may react differently to the insects and tasting.

The guide is important here. Guides such as Su, Ace, and Tin Tin were praised for explaining local life with humor. A good guide can turn a five-minute look at a cricket tray into a useful lesson about farming and food.

Coffee at Me Linh Garden, with one clear warning

Me Linh Coffee Garden is reached by crossing the winding Ta Nung Pass. The plantation is about 23 kilometers southwest of Da Lat, and the stop lasts around 30 minutes.

You can see coffee plants and learn about the local crop. One account specifically noted three types of coffee trees: cherry, robusta, and arabica. The plantation is also associated with weasel coffee, which is available at your own expense.

This is where you should watch your spending. Coffee at the plantation has been described as roughly three times the city price. That does not make the stop poor value, but it means you are paying for the setting and the experience, not just a cheap cup. If you want to try weasel coffee, consider it a specialty purchase and ask the price first.

The coffee stop also breaks up the waterfall route. After several nature stops, a drink and a look at the plants give the day a different rhythm. You may find the visit more interesting if you ask the guide how the different coffee varieties are used, rather than treating it as only a place to buy coffee.

Bamboo knitting in Lam Ha District

The final listed stop is a bamboo-knitting visit in Lam Ha District. It lasts about 30 minutes, is free, and adds another working craft to the day.

The supplied details do not explain the exact products or demonstration, so I would keep expectations modest. You may see local bamboo work and learn how the material is shaped into useful goods. This is a short cultural stop, not a major attraction on the scale of the waterfalls or pagoda.

Its value comes from variety. In one day you see water, worship, silk, coffee, crickets, and bamboo. That range gives you a better sense of the countryside around Da Lat than a waterfall-only route, though it also contributes to the packed schedule.

The guides make or break the pace

The strongest part of this experience is the guide. Names associated with especially warm feedback include Quy, Vinh, Su, Andy, Ace, Bao, Joan, and Tin Tin. The praise is consistent in one important way: the best guides explain things casually, add local stories, answer questions, and still give you room to look around.

That balance matters. A guide who talks nonstop can make a busy tour tiring. A guide who only points at the next stop leaves you wondering why it matters. Reports about Andy, Su, Ace, and Tin Tin describe humor, strong English, local knowledge, and helpful commentary along the route.

The driver matters too, since much of the day is spent on roads between sites. One account specifically praised the driver, while another called the whole day well organized. At the same time, the small vehicle can feel cramped, so your comfort may depend partly on the group and seating arrangement.

Lunch is not included. The details indicate a restaurant stop, and one account enjoyed the meal, but the price and menu are not specified. Bring some cash for lunch, Datanla admission, the coaster, coffee, and any shopping.

Who should book this tour

I would recommend this for someone who has one full day in Da Lat and wants a broad introduction to the surrounding countryside. It suits you if you like switching between scenery, food, small farms, temples, and crafts rather than spending a whole day at one major site.

It is also a practical choice if you do not want to hire a private driver or work out several distant stops on your own. The included transport and guide make the $25.30 price quite strong, particularly because most entrance fees and bottled water are covered.

This is less suitable if you want long walks, quiet time, or complete control over the schedule. Thirty minutes at each smaller stop and a busy waterfall route will feel rushed to some people. It is also not the best fit if the temporary Elephant Waterfall closure would leave you disappointed.

Children are priced by height. A child under 90 centimeters can use the free infant ticket. From 90 to 110 centimeters, choose the child ticket at half price. Above 110 centimeters, the adult ticket applies. The tour says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed mobility information, so ask the operator if you have specific access needs.

Booking advice and final verdict

The experience is rated 4.9 from 1,840 reviews, with 99 percent recommending it, which matches the main strengths: capable guides, a varied route, and good value for a full day. The occasional complaints are practical rather than mysterious: cramped seating, commercial stops with high prices, limited time at Datanla, and one cancellation connected to an unusual transport request.

You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the 8:30 a.m. start for a full refund. Last-minute changes are not accepted, and poor weather or failure to reach the minimum group size can lead to a new date, another experience, or a refund.

I would book this tour if you want maximum variety for a modest price and are happy with a brisk shared outing. Before paying, confirm the current Elephant Waterfall arrangement, ask how pickup works at your accommodation, and decide if the optional coaster and coffee tasting fit your budget. If you do that, this is a sensible, lively way to see far more of Da Lat than the city center alone.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:30 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately seven to eight hours.

Are pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off service is included.

Which waterfalls are visited?

The route includes Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Waterfall, and Elephant Waterfall.

Is Elephant Waterfall open?

The supplied tour information says Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue. Confirm the current access arrangements with Viet Challenge Tours before booking.

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 meals included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

How are children’s tickets priced?

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