Waterfalls Near Da Lat by Motorbike: Datanla, Prenn, Elephant Falls and Pongour

Why see the waterfalls by motorbike

Most of Da Lat's well-known waterfalls are south and southwest of the city, along roads with pine forests, coffee farms and vegetable greenhouses. With your own bike you can stop wherever you like, arrive before the tour buses and combine two or three falls in one day at your own pace.

Datanla Waterfall — the closest one

Datanla is about 5–7 km south of the center, on the road towards Prenn Pass and Tuyen Lam Lake. It's an easy 15-minute ride, so it fits even into a half day. Besides the cascades in the forest, Datanla is famous for its alpine coaster — a small track car that runs down through the trees to the falls, popular with families. There is an entrance ticket; buy it at the gate.

Prenn Waterfall — at the foot of the pass

Further down the same main road, at the bottom of Prenn Pass (about 10–12 km from the center), is Prenn Waterfall. It's a park-style site with gardens and footpaths, and a walkway lets you go behind the curtain of water. Datanla and Prenn are on the same road, so it's natural to visit both in one morning.

Elephant Falls — wild and powerful

Elephant Falls (Thác Voi) is near Nam Ban village, about 25–30 km southwest of Da Lat. The usual route goes over the Ta Nung pass road through hills, coffee farms and flower gardens — a beautiful but winding ride. The falls are wide and loud, and much less "arranged" than Datanla: the path down is steep, with rough steps and wet rocks. Right next to the falls is Linh An Pagoda with its large Buddha statue, worth a short stop.

Pongour Waterfall — the widest

Pongour is about 45–50 km southwest of the center, past Lien Khuong Airport. It's known for water flowing over many wide rock terraces — one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Central Highlands. The ride is mostly on the main highway, so it takes around 1–1.5 hours each way. Pongour is a good choice if you have a full day and want something really big.

A one-day waterfall loop

• Morning: leave around 7:30, ride to Elephant Falls via Ta Nung, visit the falls and Linh An Pagoda.
• Midday: continue to Pongour (about 30 km), have lunch at a local eatery on the way.
• Afternoon: return to Da Lat on the highway and, if you still have energy, stop at Prenn or Datanla on the way into the city.

The whole loop is roughly 100–120 km. With less time, simply do Datanla + Prenn in a morning. More ideas are on our page What to See in Da Lat by Motorbike: 5 Routes.

Best season

The falls carry the most water in the rainy season, roughly May to October–November: loud and spectacular, but the water is often brown and the paths are slippery. In the dry season (December–April) the water is clearer and the roads are dry, though some falls get thinner. Right now, in October, they are at their fullest — go in the morning, because showers usually come in the afternoon.

Safety tips

• Wear shoes with a good grip, not flip-flops; rocks near the water are always slippery.
• Don't swim and don't climb over barriers — currents under waterfalls are strong, especially after rain.
• Keep a raincoat under the seat and leave the falls before dark.
• On the Ta Nung pass road and Prenn Pass, slow down before bends and keep to the right.
• For longer trips the Honda Air Blade 125 is the most comfortable; check fuel before leaving the city.
• No alcohol when riding, and strictly follow Vietnamese traffic law.

Renting a bike for your waterfall trip

All our bikes — Honda Vision 110, Honda Air Blade 125 and electric scooters — cost 150,000 VND per day. No cash deposit (you leave your passport or ID card), a free helmet and a phone holder on every bike; gas scooters come with 1 liter of fuel. For rentals of 2 days or more we deliver the bike free of charge to hotels in central Da Lat. Message us on WhatsApp and we'll help you plan the route.