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

Da Lat’s best day trips do not stop at waterfalls. This one links three famous cascades with coffee, silk, crickets, bamboo work, and a giant Lady Buddha statue. At $25.30, it gives you a broad look at the countryside south and southwest of the city without arranging several separate rides.

I like the variety of stops and the guides’ easygoing style. Guides named Su, Vinh, Andy, Ace, Bao, Quy, and Tin Tin have been praised for clear English, humor, local stories, and giving people time to look around. I also like the small maximum group of 15, although a packed minibus and short visits can make this a tiring day.

The main catch is important: Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue. You may still see the surrounding area, but you should not book this tour expecting full access there. Datanla’s entrance fee and the alpine coaster are also extra.

Key points to know before you book

• Three waterfall route: Datanla, Pongour, and Elephant are the headline stops, but Elephant Waterfall is currently closed.
• More than scenery: The day includes a silk factory, cricket farm, coffee garden, pagoda, and bamboo-knitting stop.
• Strong guide element: Su, Andy, Ace, Vinh, Quy, Bao, and Tin Tin have all been praised for humor, English, local knowledge, and helpful service.
• Good value at $25.30: Transport, bottled water, guide, and most entrance fees are included.
• Expect a full day: The tour begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs about 7 to 8 hours, with many stops.
• Plan for extras: Datanla admission, the alpine coaster, coffee at Me Linh, and lunch are not included.

Why this Da Lat day trip works

This is a countryside sampler rather than a slow nature outing. You ride out from Da Lat, visit several attractions, and return with a better sense of the area’s farms and small industries. The route covers different kinds of scenery, from rushing water and forest roads to coffee plants, silk production, and rural workshops.

I would choose this tour if you have only one free day for sights outside Da Lat. It removes the need to negotiate transport to remote waterfalls, and it gives you more than a single attraction for a modest price. The trade-off is pace. You will not have hours beside each waterfall.

The tour uses an air-conditioned vehicle and offers pickup and drop-off service. The maximum group size is 15, though the vehicle may still feel tight when full. One detailed account described limited leg and shoulder room, so this is worth considering if you dislike long rides in a crowded minibus.

Datanla Waterfall and the optional alpine coaster

Datanla sits about 5 kilometers south of Da Lat, in the Prenn Pass area. It is the most convenient waterfall on the route and the one most closely tied to an amusement-style attraction. The alpine coaster is optional, and the ride fee is not included.

You can choose the coaster if you want a faster, more playful way to reach the falls. If you prefer walking, you can take the route on foot instead. One guide, Andy, was praised for walking with the group and allowing people to explore without rushing them.

The planned stop is about 40 minutes. That is enough to see the site, take photographs, and decide if you want the coaster, but it is not a long forest walk. Admission to Datanla is also separate, unlike most other stops.

Datanla is a useful first waterfall because it is close to Da Lat and offers more than a simple viewpoint. Still, you should budget extra money if the coaster is a major reason for booking. The tour price covers transport and most admission costs, not every activity at the waterfall.

Pongour Waterfall is the scenic highlight

Pongour is about 50 kilometers south of Da Lat, in Duc Trong district. It is known for a series of seven cascading sections and is often treated as the strongest nature stop of the day.

You get roughly 30 minutes here. That sounds brief, but Pongour can make a strong impression quickly because the water spreads across several rock levels rather than dropping in one narrow stream. The setting gives you space to appreciate the scale of the falls, though the short schedule limits how far you can wander.

Several comments singled out Pongour as the favorite waterfall. I can understand why. Datanla is convenient and activity-focused, while Pongour provides the broadest and most scenic waterfall view on this route.

Take care on wet surfaces and near the water. The tour is not described as a strenuous hike, but waterfalls naturally involve uneven paths and steps. Wear shoes with a good grip, and bring a light layer for the vehicle and changing weather.

Elephant Waterfall, with a major closure to note

Elephant Waterfall, or Thac Voi, is described as one of the most powerful falls near Da Lat. The original plan includes the waterfall and a windy cave beneath it, adding a more rugged feel than the other stops.

At present, the waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue. The tour can still take you to the area, but access to the main attraction may not be available. The stop is listed at about 30 minutes, and Linh An Pagoda is nearby.

This is the single biggest booking warning. If seeing all three waterfalls is your main goal, contact Viet Challenge Tours before paying to confirm the current situation. The tour remains worthwhile for Pongour and Datanla, but its name can create an expectation that is not currently realistic.

Linh An Pagoda and the giant Lady Buddha

Linh An Pagoda is about 33 kilometers from Da Lat and is included in the admission price. The main feature is a huge Lady Buddha statue, described as one of the largest in Vietnam.

You have about 30 minutes at the pagoda. That gives you time to see the main religious site and take in its position near Elephant Waterfall. This stop also adds a cultural layer to a day that could otherwise feel like a string of nature attractions.

Do not expect a long temple visit. The schedule is designed for a quick look, not extended quiet time or detailed study of the grounds. Still, the pagoda helps connect the waterfall route with local religious life, and it gives the day a useful change of pace.

From cocoons to cloth at Cuong Hoan Silk Factory

At Cuong Hoan Silk Factory, you can see the silk process from cocoon to finished fabric. The factory continues an older method of removing silk from cocoons, which makes this more instructive than a simple shop stop.

The visit lasts about 30 minutes and admission is included. You may see the working stages and learn how raw material becomes cloth. The stop is especially useful if you have not seen silk production before.

There is also a direct commercial side to this kind of visit. You may be encouraged to look at products for sale. That does not cancel out the educational value, but keep your shopping plans clear. You can enjoy the process without feeling obliged to buy fabric or clothing.

Cricket farming, including a bold tasting option

The cricket farm offers a close look at how crickets are raised, cared for, and bred. The owner explains the process, and the visit may include dishes made with crickets.

This is one of the tour’s most unusual stops. You can treat it as a short lesson in local food production, and you may have the chance to taste stir-fried crickets. Some itineraries also include rice wine at this part of the day, based on the experiences described.

The tasting is optional in spirit, even if the stop is part of the route. You can look, ask questions, and decide for yourself. If insects are not your thing, this will likely be the least comfortable part of the tour, but it is also one of the clearest examples of the day moving beyond standard sightseeing.

Me Linh Coffee Garden and weasel coffee

Me Linh Coffee Garden lies about 23 kilometers southwest of Da Lat, reached by the winding Ta Nung Pass. The garden focuses on coffee production and offers a chance to see coffee plants, including cherry, robusta, and arabica varieties.

You can sample original weasel coffee here, but the drink is self-funded. This matters because coffee at the plantation can cost around three times what you would pay for a cup in Da Lat. If you want the tasting, ask the price first and decide if the setting is worth the premium.

The visit lasts about 30 minutes. You may also see a weasel connected with the coffee process, an unusual detail that helps explain the product rather than presenting it as just another drink to purchase.

I like this stop because it gives context to a product strongly linked with the Central Highlands. I would simply keep expectations sensible. It is a short plantation visit, not a long farm walk or a full coffee workshop.

Bamboo knitting in Lam Ha District

The final listed stop is a bamboo-knitting visit in Lam Ha District. Admission is free, and you have about 30 minutes to see local craft work.

This stop fits the tour’s broader purpose: showing how the area produces more than coffee. Bamboo work is practical, handmade, and tied to rural life. It may appeal most to you if you prefer seeing everyday skills over adding another viewpoint to the schedule.

As with the silk factory, there may be items available for purchase. You can look at the work, learn how it is made, and decide for yourself if anything belongs in your luggage.

What the $25.30 price really covers

The price is strong for a 7 to 8 hour outing. You receive pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and entrance fees for the listed stops except Datanla. That is a useful package when several sites are spread across the countryside.

Lunch is not included, so plan for an additional meal expense. The alpine coaster is also optional and separate. Coffee at Me Linh is another extra, and it may cost more than a city coffee.

The value depends on what you want from the day. If you want long walks and unhurried time beside waterfalls, the tour may feel rushed. If you want to cover a lot without hiring a private car, the price is very reasonable.

The guides make the busy schedule easier

The strongest part of this experience is likely to be the guide. Su has been praised for answering questions and adding spontaneous details. Andy is noted for excellent English and for balancing information with free time. Ace is described as professional, friendly, and helpful, while Quy received praise for delivering a large amount of information in a casual way.

Other named guides include Vinh, Bao, Joan, and Tin Tin. Their styles may differ, but the useful qualities are clear: humor, local stories, good English, and a willingness to help. Tin Tin, in particular, has been associated with legends and personal enthusiasm for the Da Lat area.

Guide quality matters on a route like this. Several stops are short, and a good explanation can turn a quick visit into something meaningful. A poor guide would make the day feel like a rushed transfer between gift shops. The available guide feedback suggests the company’s people are a major reason the tour works.

Who should book this tour

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to Da Lat’s countryside. It suits couples, friends, and families who enjoy changing activities throughout the day rather than staying in one place.

It also works well if you do not want to rent a motorbike or arrange separate cars. The route reaches waterfalls and rural sites that are spread well beyond the city center.

I would be cautious if you need plenty of legroom, dislike organized schedules, or want a quiet nature day. You should also reconsider if full access to Elephant Waterfall is essential. Children are priced by height: under 90 centimeters are free, 90 to 110 centimeters receive the child rate, and children above 110 centimeters use the adult fare.

Practical details before departure

The start time is 8:30 a.m., and the full outing lasts about 7 to 8 hours. Wear comfortable shoes, carry some cash for lunch and optional purchases, and bring water even though a bottle is provided.

Weather matters. The tour can be canceled in poor conditions, with a different date or full refund offered. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants. If that number is not reached, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want maximum variety for a modest price. The combination of Pongour Waterfall, Datanla, coffee, silk, crickets, bamboo work, and Linh An Pagoda gives you a fuller picture of Da Lat than a simple waterfall transfer.

Before booking, confirm the status of Elephant Waterfall and accept that the day will move quickly. If you can handle a potentially cramped vehicle and a few commercial stops, the route offers excellent coverage. If you want a relaxed hike or guaranteed access to all three falls, choose a slower private outing instead.

FAQ

How long does the Da Lat waterfalls tour last?

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

Is Elephant Waterfall open?

Elephant Waterfall is temporarily closed because of an operational issue. You should confirm its status with Viet Challenge Tours before booking if access to this waterfall is important to you.

Are all entrance fees included?

Most entrance fees are included, including Linh An Pagoda and the other listed stops. Datanla Waterfall admission is not included.

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.

What are the child ticket rules?

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