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

Dalat’s best countryside day is not just about waterfalls. For $22, you move from pine forests and rushing water to silk making, weasel coffee, cricket farming, and the huge Lady Buddha at Linh An Pagoda. I like the wide mix of local stops and the way guides such as Su, Phat, Vinh, and Quy turn a packed schedule into an easy introduction to life around Dalat.

I also like that the tour gives you a proper look at Pongour Waterfall, often the day’s highlight, instead of sticking only to attractions near town. The catch is simple: this is a fast, full day, with stairs and walking at some waterfalls, a short lunch break, and extra costs for Datanla, lunch, and optional coffee or shopping.

Six things to know before booking

• Pongour is the scenic prize: Its seven cascading levels give it a broader, more natural feel than the other stops.
• Datanla adds a thrill: The alpine coaster is optional and costs extra, but it is a popular part of the morning.
• Elephant Waterfall is currently closed: You can still see it from nearby Linh An Pagoda.
• The farms make the tour worthwhile: Silk, coffee, and crickets show how local businesses work, not just what Dalat looks like.
• Expect a full eight hours: The route covers a lot of ground and suits you best if you want variety rather than a slow day.
• The price is strong value: Transport, guide, drinking water, rice wine, cricket tasting, and most entrance fees are covered for $22.

Why this Dalat day tour works

Dalat is easy to enjoy from the center, but its most interesting sights sit outside town. This trip takes you south and southwest through the surrounding countryside, where waterfalls share the bill with flower growing, silk weaving, coffee production, and small-scale food businesses.

That mix matters. A waterfall is beautiful for half an hour. A visit to a silk workshop or cricket farm gives you something to talk about later and helps explain how people earn a living in the region.

You travel by van, with hotel pickup in Dalat and an English-speaking guide. The guide contacts you before pickup, and you should wait in your hotel lobby about 10 minutes early. The day lasts about eight hours, though the exact finish depends on the road, weather, and how well the group keeps time.

The strongest part of the experience is the guiding. Su is often praised for his clear English, humor, and storytelling. Phat is described as attentive, cheerful, and good at keeping the day moving. Vinh and Quy are also noted for taking photos, explaining local customs, and including everyone in the group.

That personal touch helps because the schedule is dense. A good guide does more than point at a waterfall. He explains what you are seeing, answers questions about Vietnam, helps with optional tickets, and keeps lunch and departure times from slipping.

Van Thanh Flower Village starts the countryside route

The first listed stop is Van Thanh Flower Village, about 30 minutes into the outing, with around half an hour for a guided visit. Dalat is closely linked with flower growing, so this is a useful first look at one of the area’s main industries.

The stop is more about seeing local cultivation than spending a long time taking photographs. If you love flowers, you may want to linger, but the schedule does not allow a leisurely garden visit.

One practical note comes from the nature of the day: not every stop will appeal equally to every person. Some people consider the flower village less memorable than the waterfalls or farms. I would treat it as a brief cultural introduction rather than the main event.

Datanla Waterfall and the optional alpine coaster

Datanla Waterfall sits in the pine-covered Prenn Pass area, about 5 kilometers south of Dalat’s center. You get roughly 30 minutes here for a photo stop and walk, but the waterfall visit can become longer if you choose the ride.

The main attraction is the alpine coaster through the forest. It is promoted as the longest ride in Asia, and you control the pace of your descent. The ride is not included in the tour price. The stated Datanla entrance fee is 80,000 Vietnamese dong, or 250,000 dong when using the alpine coaster.

I like the choice. You can keep the cost down and simply enjoy the trees, flowers, and waterfall, or pay extra for a more playful experience. Several people consider the coaster worth the additional money, describing it as exciting without being too frightening.

Datanla is also the stop most likely to feel busy. If crowds are heavy, the guide may change the order of stops to reduce waiting. That flexibility has helped make the day run more smoothly for past groups.

Wear shoes that are comfortable on steps and uneven paths. You receive 500 milliliters of purified water for the day, but bringing extra water is sensible, especially if you dislike buying drinks at attraction stops.

Cuong Hoan Silk shows an old production method

After Datanla, the route turns to Cuong Hoan silk, where a guided visit lasts about 30 minutes. This is not a polished museum display. The appeal is seeing the production process from cocoon to cloth.

The cocoons are placed in hot water, allowing the delicate thread to be found and wound onto a machine. The thread is then put onto reels and used on a large loom to create patterned fabric.

The important detail is the old method. This factory is described as the only one in Vietnam still maintaining this traditional way of removing silk from cocoons. You can see the work rather than simply buying a finished scarf with no explanation.

This stop gives the day some substance. You learn how a local product is made, and you have a chance to buy a souvenir if you want one. As with many production visits, shopping may be part of the experience, so set your budget before the van arrives.

Pongour Waterfall is the day’s main scenic stop

Pongour lies in Duc Trong district, about 50 kilometers south of Dalat along National Highway 20. The drive is part of the reason this tour works: you get out into the countryside rather than circling only the city’s nearby attractions.

The waterfall is also known as the seven-cascade waterfall. Water spreads over several rock levels, creating a wide view that feels different from Datanla’s more compact setting. You have about 40 minutes here for a guided visit, photographs, and a walk.

I would save your best camera time for Pongour. It is frequently singled out as the most beautiful of the three, and the broad cascade gives you more to look at than a single drop of water.

Conditions matter. The supplied information records a temporary closure from November 20 through November 24, 2025, due to a storm. Waterfalls can also change greatly with weather and season, so confirm the current operating status when you book close to your travel date.

The paths and steps mean you should expect some exercise. The day is not presented as a difficult hike, but it is not a purely drive-up sightseeing trip either. Take care on wet surfaces and keep your water close.

Me Linh Coffee Garden explains Dalat’s coffee culture

Me Linh Coffee Garden sits about 23 kilometers southwest of Dalat, reached by the winding Ta Nung Pass. The route itself gives you countryside views, while the stop focuses on coffee production and tasting.

The coffee is associated with weasel coffee, also called civet coffee. A cup is self-paid, so it is not part of the $22 cost. This is one place where prices can feel high compared with ordinary coffee, so ask the price before ordering if you are watching expenses.

Still, the stop can be worthwhile even if you skip the drink. You can see how coffee fits into the local economy, hear the guide explain the process, and enjoy a break after the waterfalls.

The coffee garden is also one of the places where the tour feels less like a checklist of famous sights. You are looking at an active local product and a working countryside business. If you are curious about food and farming, this may be more memorable than another photo stop.

A short local lunch keeps the schedule moving

Lunch takes about 30 minutes at a local restaurant. It is not included, and the meal is paid separately.

The short timing tells you what kind of day this is. You are stopping for a practical meal, not sitting down for a long restaurant experience. Food quality can vary, so keep expectations sensible. Some meals have been described as tasty and fairly priced, while one recent account found the food disappointing.

I would carry a small snack in case you eat lightly or prefer not to rush. The lunch stop is still useful because it breaks up the driving and gives you a chance to sit before the afternoon visits.

Linh An Pagoda and the huge Lady Buddha

Linh An Pagoda is about 33 kilometers from Dalat and is one of the most striking cultural stops on the route. The main draw is the very large Lady Buddha statue, described as the biggest in Vietnam.

The pagoda also provides the best available view of Elephant Waterfall while the waterfall itself remains temporarily closed because of an operational problem. This is an important change to understand before booking. You are not walking down to explore Elephant Waterfall at present. You are seeing it from a nearby viewpoint at the pagoda.

That limitation does not make the stop pointless. The statue and pagoda offer a calm change of pace after the roads and waterfalls, and the view lets you appreciate Elephant’s power from a safe distance. If your main reason for booking is to stand beside all three falls, this tour currently cannot deliver that exact experience.

Some groups have also spotted monkeys in the area. Do not book on the assumption that you will see them, but keep your eyes open around the pagoda grounds.

Thien An Cricket Farm is the most unusual stop

At Thien An Cricket Farm, the owner explains how crickets are raised, cared for, and bred. The visit lasts about 30 minutes and includes a cricket tasting, which is covered in the tour price.

This is the stop that can turn a standard sightseeing day into a story worth telling. You see a small food business, learn how the insects are managed, and then decide if you are brave enough to try one.

Fried crickets are served as a local specialty. The guide may encourage you, but you do not need to treat the tasting as a test of courage. If you are willing, it is a low-risk way to try something new. Rice wine is also included, with one cup provided.

For families, this may be either great fun or the one stop children reject immediately. The farm is educational, but the food element is not for everyone. Tell the guide if you would rather watch than taste.

What the $22 price really covers

At $22 per person, this is a strong-value day if you want to see several parts of Dalat in one outing. The price includes the van, English-speaking guide, purified drinking water, a cup of rice wine, cricket tasting, and entrance fees other than Datanla.

You still pay for:

• Datanla entrance, 80,000 dong
• Datanla entrance with alpine coaster, 250,000 dong
• Lunch
• Coffee at Me Linh Coffee Garden
• Personal purchases at the silk and other stops

The extra charges are reasonable to expect, but they change the final total. If you want the coaster, lunch, coffee, and souvenirs, your day will cost more than the advertised $22.

The value comes from the distance covered and the number of guided stops. Hiring separate transport to Pongour, Me Linh, and the other countryside sites could cost more and would require your own planning. The tradeoff is time. You pay with an energetic schedule rather than with a quiet, flexible day.

Who should book this full Dalat outing

I recommend it if you have only one day in Dalat and want a broad sample of the area. It is especially good for you if waterfalls, food, farming, craft production, and local culture all sound appealing.

It also suits solo visitors and couples who want an easy social day. The guide-led format makes it simple to meet other people, and the repeated praise for guides such as Su, Phat, Vinh, Quy, and Andy suggests that the human side of the trip is a major strength.

Families can enjoy it too, but check the child ticket rules carefully. Children under 90 centimeters use an infant ticket for free. Children from 90 to 110 centimeters receive the child fare, and children above 110 centimeters use an adult ticket.

I would hesitate if you want long walks, quiet time at each waterfall, or a careful photography schedule. The 30 to 40 minute stops are enough for a look and photos, but not for slow exploration. People who dislike production visits or optional shopping may also find parts of the route less appealing.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Arrive in the hotel lobby 10 minutes before pickup and watch for the guide’s message. Wear shoes suitable for steps and bring extra water beyond the included 500 milliliters.

Keep cash available for lunch, Datanla, the alpine coaster, coffee, and purchases. The coaster is optional, so you can decide on the spot after seeing the queue and weather.

Ask your guide about the order of stops if Datanla is crowded. Guides have adjusted the schedule to avoid waiting, and that can make a noticeable difference at this popular attraction.

Finally, check the status of Pongour and Elephant before departure. Pongour had a storm-related closure in November 2025, while Elephant is temporarily closed because of an operational issue. The route can still include views of Elephant from Linh An Pagoda, but conditions may change.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want maximum variety for a low base price and do not mind a brisk pace. The waterfalls are the headline, but the silk factory, coffee garden, cricket farm, and Linh An Pagoda are what give the day its character.

Skip it if you want a slow nature outing or need all three waterfalls open for close-up visits. For most people with limited time in Dalat, though, the combination of scenery, local industries, good English-speaking guides, and optional alpine-coaster fun makes this one of the more useful day trips beyond town.

FAQ

How long does the Dalat waterfalls tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours, with pickup and return in Dalat. The day may finish around 5:30 p.m., depending on traffic and the timing of the stops.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

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

Is the Datanla alpine coaster included?

No. Datanla entrance is not included. The stated fee is 80,000 Vietnamese dong without the coaster or 250,000 dong when using the alpine coaster.

Can I visit Elephant Waterfall?

Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue. You can still enjoy a view of the waterfall from Linh An Pagoda, which is nearby.

What happens if Pongour Waterfall is closed?

Pongour had a temporary storm-related closure from November 20 through November 24, 2025. Check its current status before booking or departure because waterfall access can change.

Are children charged adult prices?

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