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The forests around Kuang Si Waterfall have always attracted a large number of butterflies. Now the Kuang Si Butterfly Park gives both local and foreign visitors the opportunity to view them up close and provides another attraction to see while visiting the falls and bear sanctuary.
The forests around Kuang Si Waterfall have always attracted a large number of butterflies. Now the Kuang Si Butterfly Park gives both local and foreign visitors the opportunity to view them up close and provides another attraction to see while visiting the falls and bear sanctuary.
After more than a year of work, this family-friendly attraction was opened in January 2014 by Dutch couple Ineke and Olaf. It’s located 300 metres down the road from the front gate and parking lot of Kuang Si. You can’t miss the enthusiastic display of flags and signs pointing to it.
The admission fee is 30,000 kip for adults, 15,000 kip for children and includes an optional 15-minute tour that provides information about butterflies and the local flora in the area. “How long do butterflies live?” “Why are they so colourful?” and “Why is the water at Kuang Si blue-green?” are some of the questions you can have answered.
From the entrance, follow the path through the well-designed, pretty gardens and pause to admire the streams. Eventually you will reach a netted garden full of interesting, beautiful butterflies.
Various feeder stations have been set up where the fluttery insects flock and allow for a close-up. A fun au naturel “fish spa” has also been set up. Dip your piggies and let the fishies nip at your skin.
In Laos, the concepts of conservation and preservation are in their infancy and new endeavours such as this one are admirable because they educate people on the importance of preserving and studying nature. As demonstrated by the sad stories at the Free the Bears sanctuary, respect for wildlife is a work in progress.
The Butterfly Park plans to share its studies with schoolchildren, universities in Laos and the government. It’s worth the visit if you are already at the waterfalls, one of Luang Prabang’s top tourist attractions. Here you can find something else to do with children on a visit to Luang Prabang while also escaping the crowds, learning something new, sipping a decent coffee and using the cleanest toilets you’ll find at Kuang Si.
Kuang Si Butterfly Park
- 300 metres before the entrance to Kuang Si Waterfalls, 29km from the town of Luang Prabang
- Open daily from 10:00-17:00
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