Tad Fane: twin cascades over the Bolaven Plateau gorge
Published on 09/04/2026 at 08:11 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
High above the lowlands around Pakse in southern Laos, Tad Fane drops in two parallel streams from the edge of the Bolaven Plateau into a deep, forested gorge. The waterfall lies in Champasak Province within a protected upland of rainforest and plantations, where rivers cut into volcanic rock and disappear into a canyon far below the viewpoint.
Tad Fane on the Bolaven Plateau
Tad Fane stands on the western side of the Bolaven Plateau, an elevated region east of Pakse known for coffee and tea plantations and remnant rainforest. The waterfall is formed where two rivers flowing off the plateau join at the cliff edge and fall together into the gorge, creating a pair of parallel cascades that drop well over 100 m (328 ft) from the lip to the unseen river below.Champee and Pak Koot rivers meet at this point and combine in the fall, and the site sits within the Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area, a designated conservation landscape of forest and river valleys.Dong Hua Sao National Park The plateau itself rises above the Mekong valley and carries a cooler climate than the lowlands, with mist and cloud often hanging in the gorge despite clear conditions on the surrounding farmland.
The waterfall viewpoint lies near the kilometre marker known locally as KM 38 on the road between Pakse and Paksong, where a side road leads towards a small resort and viewing platforms along the cliff edge.KM 38 turnoff From here, visitors look across the gorge rather than down from directly above the fall, with the twin streams framed by dense forest on both sides. On clear days the parallel ribbons of water stand out sharply against the dark rock and green vegetation; in humid weather they disappear behind drifting mist and cloud that rise from the canyon.
The twin waterfall and surrounding landscape
Seen from the main viewing area, Tad Fane appears as a pair of vertical white lines dropping from the plateau rim into a narrow cleft, with their base hidden by distance and vegetation. Various guides place the height of the fall at around 120 m (394 ft), making it one of the taller waterfalls in Laos in terms of uninterrupted drop.twin waterfall cascading over 120 meters The gorge itself is steep-sided and densely forested, with trees clinging to the slopes and low cloud frequently obscuring parts of the canyon.
The surrounding Bolaven Plateau landscape combines protected forest and cultivated land, and the area around KM 38 includes other waterfalls such as Tad Champee and Tad Yuang which drop from different points on the plateau rim.Bolaven Plateau waterfalls Coffee and tea have been grown on the plateau for decades, and plantations stretch across the uplands between remaining rainforest patches. At Tad Fane itself, paths lead through vegetation from the parking area to the resort buildings and viewpoints, with the canyon opening suddenly beyond the last trees.
Viewing Tad Fane and nearby experiences
Tad Fane is not approached from the base but viewed from across the gorge, either from a restaurant terrace at the small resort or from a separate viewing platform positioned nearer the edge.view from restaurant and platform The main experience is therefore the panorama of the gorge and the parallel falls rather than direct contact with the river. The canyon walls, forest canopy and occasional low cloud form a wide scene, with the waterfalls providing the vertical focal point within it.
In addition to static viewpoints, managed activities in the area include guided treks along trails in the surrounding forest and, at times, zipline routes that cross the gorge above the waterfall.zipline over this waterfall These activities are organised from facilities near the viewpoint and take place within the broader protected landscape of Dong Hua Sao, where river valleys and upland forest provide varied terrain. Tad Fane therefore forms one stop within the wider Bolaven Plateau loop, a circuit that links several waterfalls, plateau villages and plantation areas east of Pakse.
Visiting Tad Fane: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Tad Fane lies east of Pakse on the Bolaven Plateau near the small town of Paksong, with access from the main road at the KM 38 marker towards a minor road and parking area.
- The terrain at the viewpoint includes a short walk on earth and gravel paths from the parking area through vegetation, with sections that can be slick underfoot after rain and exposed edges guarded by barriers.
- The official language is Lao and the currency is the Lao kip.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Tad Fane
Where is Tad Fane located?
Tad Fane is located in Champasak Province on Laos’ Bolaven Plateau, east of Pakse near the town of Paksong and the KM 38 marker on the main road.
What should visitors expect on a visit to Tad Fane?
Visitors can expect a viewpoint across a deep forested gorge with twin waterfalls dropping from the plateau rim, reached by short paths from a parking area and small resort buildings.
What makes Tad Fane distinctive among waterfalls in Laos?
Tad Fane is distinctive for its paired cascades formed by two rivers falling side by side into a single gorge, its considerable height and its setting within a protected plateau landscape of forest and plantations.
