Tad Fane cataracts are in the Dong Hua Sao national park. The entrance is not far from Paksong, on route 23. The waterfalls are in the middle of luxuriantly spectacular nature: you have to imagine waterfalls that are more than 120 metres high (they are between 120 and 200 metres high, but no one knows the exact figure) set in the middle of a jungle.
If you want a sporty holiday then try one of the half day or full day excursions which take you much closer to the falls and even let you swim there. The trek goes through the jungle so you have the opportunity to see different species that live there as well as tea and coffee plantations. I went there in the dry season and the waterfalls were impressive but apparently in the wet season the thundering of the water is deafening.
During my trip to Laos, I left Pakse and went on a tour of the Bolovens Plateau by scooter.
The first stage took me to Tad Fane. The site is surrounded by thick jungle. And it's amazing! The highlight was the huge 200m high waterfall. It's the biggest cascade in Laos. Two smaller falls, where you can also swim, are Tad Champi and Tad Yuang; they're great picnic spots, perfect for a sunny rest before you hit the road.
For those of you who fancy a bit of exercise, Tad Fane is the departure point for numerous hikes that cross the jungle or circuit the tea and coffee plantations. On that note, the beans produced here are world-famous and you musn't leave without trying a cup of Bolovens coffee.