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Tad Lo is a small village with big waterfalls. Located in Salavan province in Laos, Tad Lo is a popular stop for those doing a motorbike tour around the Bolaven Plateau. Its call to fame is its namesake waterfalls which seems to drape the whole town in the most stunning way.

We arrived in Tad Lo hoping to have a relaxing and cozy stay in one of the many bamboo bungalows set along the waterfalls. However, most of them don't have any basic facilities hence the price of about $5/night. The bungalows don’t have running water or electricity except in the shared areas such as the bathrooms. They're just small, flimsily-built shacks with a bed and a mosquito net, that’s it.

My idea of chilling in a shack was completely shattered so we searched for another type of accommodation. There were a few hotel/guesthouse type rooms (with water & electricity) but we didn't think they were worth the price. Other better-equipped and very nice (including complete bathroom) bamboo shacks had no vacancy and the higher-end luxury log cabins were way out of our budget.

We realized that everything was more expensive around the waterfalls so we decided to stay in the concrete and character-ridden Chitphanya Guesthouse on the main road. The clean room including a private bathroom and hot water was about 90,000 kip per night (US$10).

Accommodation and a handful of restaurants are all conveniently located on the same dirt road which leads to the waterfalls. The main road is at the intersection of this hub and is only a 5-minute walk to the waterfalls so we were very happy with the location.

We had taken a songthaew from Paksong which dropped us off at less than 2 kilometers from the Tad Lo waterfalls. Unless you come across a tuk-tuk (of which there aren't many) or a friendly motorcyclist willing to take you for a small fee then expect to walk.

We decided to rent a motorbike because we wanted to visit a few surrounding villages and nearby towns. At the time we were in Tad Lo, there was only one place to rent motorbikes so I suggest reserving one as soon as you arrive. If you plan on just hanging around (or doing yoga or reading or doing some blissful farniente) by the waterfalls then you don't need a motorbike because, as mentioned previously, the village only consists of one dirt road.

If ever you go to Tad Lo, it's best to arrive before noon especially if you're on a budget (or picky) as accommodation can fill up quickly. Those arriving later didn't have as much choice and ended up paying way more than they wanted to or staying in a less-than-desirable room.

There aren't any convenience stores in Tad Lo village but there are one or two in the main town (where the songthaew or bus will drop you off). There's also a local market where you can buy some fruits or to just wander around to take in the local atmosphere (because markets are the best place to do exactly that).

Of course, the waterfalls are the main attraction and rightly so. Many villagers live around the waterfalls which serve as a sort of lifeline for bathing, washing clothes and cooking. But the villagers aren't the only ones enjoying the waterfalls. At the end of the day just before sunset you can watch some elephants taking their bath or rather being washed.

At first I thought this sounded absolutely adorable and I really wanted to see the elephants take their daily bath but then my heart broke when we encountered one of them chained to a pole weirdly swinging its trunk. It seemed so sad. I could barely look at this poor elephant (and I wanted to tell others to stop taking pictures of it!).

That's when I realized these were captured elephants used to carry tourists who want to indulge themselves just for the sake of entertainment (and possibly bragging rights). My desire to see the elephants bathe quickly deflated and I actually avoided going to the waterfalls at that time.

A few foot bridges were built to cross over the waterfalls making for a wonderful walk taking you all the way to the other side of Tad Lo village (where we saw the chained elephant).

Tad Lo village only consists of a few bamboo houses (complete with satellites no less) and a small Buddhist temple but it's a nice place to spend a few days in to relax and re-energize. Unfortunately, it was unusually cold (scarf & jacket kind of cold) when we were there in February so we couldn't enjoy the waterfalls as much as we would've liked.

Tad Lo seems to have a hold on some of its visitors. We met an older man who has been going to Tad Lo for years for months at a time. I understood why. After all, a small village with big waterfalls is quite appealing.

READ MORE ON LAOS:

• Visiting the Pak Ou Caves in Laos
• The Waterfalls of Paksong
• Kuang Si Waterfalls: The Most Beautiful in Laos
• Vientiane: The Capital City People Love to Hate
• Indulging in Sweet Nothingness on Don Det Island
• The Day Luang Prabang Cast a Spell on Me
• Riding Through the Countryside in Vang Vieng
• Monks, Wats, Shopping, Eating & Sweating in Luang Prabang
• Xieng Khuan: The Weird and Wonderful Buddha Park in Laos

TRAVEL RESOURCES

• Verify visa requirements for Laos on the official website
• Book flights to Laos via Skyscanner
• Compare hotel prices in Laos on Booking.com & Agoda
• Check hostel prices on HostelWorld
• Stay connected using an Airalo E-sim for Laos
• Search for tours & excursions in Laos
• Shop for affordable travel insurance with SafetWing
• Save on conversion fees while traveling with Wise

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Lydia

I’m the founder and creator of Life Untraveled. I quit my corporate job, sold everything I owned and have been traveling full-time since 2018. I hope to inspire you to travel differently on a budget.

More about me here.