Exotic

The name of these falls, Tat Xe condures up images of the exotic, though it's probably just the use of the X in the name which assists this process. However none the less, Tat Xe are a special place. Located not far from Luang Prabang town, Lao, the water drops over a wide area in small steps between pools. On the edges of pools trees grow giving it the sphere of a flooded forest. The water is fresh and cooling, even in summer.

Getting here, means going east for 10 km, taking a track to the river, climbing aboard a boat for a 5 minute downstream boat ride. The falls are then a 2 minute walk on the other bank of the river. You pass a entry gate where a small entrance fee is required. Accommodation is not available nearby, but all-in-all it takes 45 minutes from Luang Prabang to here.
Drinks and noodles though are available and there is a flat sunning area, with steps to a larger pool. It is also a very clean area.

Many tourists visit here, but mostly at the end of the day. Come before lunch and you have the whole place to your own. It's a great place to while away your day. I have visited here a couple of times, in 2004/2005. Since then tourism has been booming in Luang Prabang and you can now probably expect a whole circus to turn up. Well not really but elephant rides now also take place to the falls.

Less exotic spelling exists Tat Se or Tat Sae, adaptions to make it easy for foreigners, the last even being the more used. You can exchange the second T for a d and still make sense.