Review · DA LAT

VIP Dalat 3 waterfalls – Datanla, Elephant Pongour & Coffee Tour

★ 5.0 · 8 reviews From $65 Operated by Vietnam Backpackers Travel · Bookable on Viator
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Dalat’s best scenery lies beyond its cool city center, and this private day out links three major waterfalls with coffee country and the wonderfully odd Crazy House. You get a full taste of the region in one outing, rather than spending the day on city streets.

I like the personal format and the chance to ride behind an Easy Rider motorbike guide if you are traveling alone. I also like the flexible feel, with time for photos, countryside stops, and the optional Alpine Coaster at Datanla. The main drawback is the long day on the road, with lunch and some popular activities costing extra.

Key points at a glance

  • Three very different waterfalls: Datanla is easy to reach and activity-focused, Pongour is broad and grand, and Elephant Falls feels rougher and more dramatic.
  • Private touring: Only your group takes part, so you can ask for photo stops and local explanations along the way.
  • Motorbike option: Solo visitors can ride behind an Easy Rider and see the countryside at a slower, more open pace.
  • Coffee country included: The Ta Nung stop adds a look at local coffee production and the rural side of Dalat.
  • Crazy House adds variety: This strange, twisting building breaks up the nature stops with imaginative architecture.
  • Budget for extras: Lunch and the 4-kilometer Alpine Coaster are not included in the $65 price.

Why this private Dalat day works well

VIP Dalat 3 waterfalls - Datanla, Elephant Pongour & Coffee Tour - Why this private Dalat day works well

The appeal here is simple: you leave town and see the wider Dalat area without arranging several separate rides. In roughly 6 to 8 hours, you visit Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Falls, Elephant Falls, Ta Nung coffee country, and Crazy House.

I find the private setup especially useful in Dalat. Waterfalls are photo-heavy places, and a fixed group tour can make you rush just when the light is good. Here, your guide can help with photos and make extra roadside stops. Guides named in past bookings include Tim, Dee, Nhan, Long, and Tri, though your assigned guide will depend on availability.

The experience is also more than a waterfall checklist. Between the stops, you pass through rural areas where coffee, pepper, curry plants, and other crops grow. One guide, Dee, was praised for making extra stops and explaining what was growing along the road. That kind of local detail gives the drive a purpose.

Still, you should set your expectations correctly. This is not a quiet walk through one forested park. It is an active day with several drives, short visits, and a mix of natural sites and attractions. If you want long hikes or plenty of time at each waterfall, you may find the schedule brisk.

More Coffee and Waterfall Trips in Da Lat:

Riding through Dalat’s countryside

VIP Dalat 3 waterfalls - Datanla, Elephant Pongour & Coffee Tour - Riding through Dalat’s countryside

Transport is one of the most important choices on this tour. The package includes an air-conditioned vehicle, but it also offers a motorbike with an Easy Rider. If you are alone, you can sit behind the driver and see more of the road without dealing with navigation.

The motorbike option suits someone who wants the journey to feel like part of the trip. You get open views of the countryside and a closer sense of the road. It also makes the rural stops more memorable than simply watching fields pass behind a car window.

A car may be the better choice if you value shelter, air conditioning, or a little more personal space. The tour description does not promise a particular vehicle for every booking, so confirm your preferred arrangement when reserving.

The route connects several points around Dalat, and each stop has a different character. You will spend about an hour at each of the three main waterfalls, 30 minutes in Ta Nung, and about an hour at Crazy House. Those visit times do not include the driving between sites.

Datanla Waterfall and the optional Alpine Coaster

VIP Dalat 3 waterfalls - Datanla, Elephant Pongour & Coffee Tour - Datanla Waterfall and the optional Alpine Coaster

Datanla is the easiest introduction to the day. It sits beneath tall forest cover, with white water running over rock shelves. The setting is scenic without requiring a long expedition, making it a sensible first stop.

The waterfall is also the most activity-oriented part of the outing. You can go down through the pine forest and pass the falls, and the Alpine Coaster is available if you want an added burst of speed. The coaster covers 4 kilometers, but its ticket is not included in the tour price.

I would decide about the coaster before arriving if you are on a tight schedule. The basic waterfall visit is included, while the coaster requires an extra payment. If you want a calm morning with photos and fresh air, skip it. If you enjoy amusement rides and do not mind another charge, it adds a playful edge to the day.

Datanla is a good place to test your footwear and energy level. The tour is suitable for most people, but the route around a waterfall and any activity access may involve steps or uneven ground. The information provided does not give a detailed accessibility assessment, so ask the operator if you have mobility concerns.

Pongour Falls, the broad centerpiece

VIP Dalat 3 waterfalls - Datanla, Elephant Pongour & Coffee Tour - Pongour Falls, the broad centerpiece

Pongour is the visual centerpiece of the tour. The falls are described as about 40 meters high and more than 100 meters wide, giving them a broad, layered appearance rather than the narrow rush you may see at other waterfalls.

You get about an hour here, enough to take in the scale and photograph the falls from different points. This is the stop where the trip feels most removed from Dalat’s city streets. The setting is open and dramatic, and the size of the cascade gives it a strong sense of place.

Pongour is also why the private format has value. Your guide can help you find good photo positions and explain the setting without forcing you to move on at the exact same moment as a large group. The tour is designed for people who care about scenery and photography, and this stop rewards that interest.

Do not expect a full-day walk around the falls. The planned visit is around one hour, and the tour still has two more waterfalls, coffee country, and Crazy House to cover. You will get an excellent look, but not unlimited time.

A few more coffee tours around Da Lat worth a look

Elephant Falls and the rougher side of the region

Elephant Falls, also called Thac Voi, offers a different mood. Water pushes through granite rock, with spray rising around the falls. The description emphasizes the white mist and the force of the water, so you can expect a more rugged visual experience than at Datanla.

You spend about an hour here in the afternoon. That timing gives the day a good change of pace: the morning begins with a managed waterfall area, while Elephant Falls feels more raw and powerful.

The setting may be less comfortable than a polished attraction. Wet spray, rock, and uneven surfaces can affect how close you want to get. Bring shoes with a secure grip and protect your phone or camera if you plan to photograph near the water. The tour information does not promise swimming, so treat Elephant Falls as a viewing and photography stop.

This is also a useful place to judge how much nature you want from the day. If you prefer easy paths, cafes, and city attractions, the waterfall sequence may feel demanding. If you want Dalat beyond its central streets, Elephant Falls is one of the stronger reasons to book.

Ta Nung coffee country in 30 minutes

VIP Dalat 3 waterfalls - Datanla, Elephant Pongour & Coffee Tour - Ta Nung coffee country in 30 minutes

The Ta Nung stop is short, but it adds an important local layer. Me Linh Coffee Garden, in Ta Nung commune, is known for coffee and views across the surrounding area. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and does not carry an admission charge.

You may hear about local coffee production and see more of the plants and farms that shape the countryside. Past guide-led stops have also included coffee, pepper, curry plants, and other crops along the road. That is useful context, especially if you only know Dalat for its markets and flower gardens.

The experience is not a long plantation visit. Thirty minutes is enough for a quick look, a drink or purchase if available, and a few photographs, but not an extended farm tour. If coffee is your main reason for booking, you may want a dedicated coffee experience instead.

For this tour, though, the short stop works. It breaks up the waterfall visits and shows you why the countryside is part of Dalat’s identity. The best part is the setting and the chance to ask your guide questions while you are there.

Crazy House, Dalat’s strangest stop

Crazy House, also known as Hang Nga Villa, brings a completely different kind of sightseeing. Its rooms, stairways, and exterior forms are designed to feel like a giant piece of imaginative art rather than an ordinary building.

You have about an hour to explore. That gives you time to look around at the unusual structures and take photographs. After several natural stops, the building provides a welcome change of subject.

I like the contrast. A day made only of waterfalls can begin to blur together, especially if you are taking similar photos at each stop. Crazy House gives the final part of the tour a more playful, urban finish.

It is also the stop most likely to divide opinions. Some people love strange architecture and visual surprises. Others may find it too commercial or odd after a day outdoors. The admission ticket is included, so you can decide on the day how much attention you want to give it.

How much value do you get for $65?

At $65 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see one waterfall. It becomes better value when you use the whole package: private transport, an English-speaking guide, bottled water, entrance fees, the motorbike option, countryside driving, three waterfalls, coffee country, and Crazy House.

Lunch is not included. You can choose local dishes such as com tam with grilled pork, egg, and vegetables; chicken rice; pho; or another Vietnamese noodle dish. That arrangement gives you some choice, but you should plan for an extra meal cost.

The Alpine Coaster is also extra. It is best to treat that as an optional add-on, not as part of the advertised base value.

A private tour costs more than joining a shared vehicle, but the difference matters if you want photo help, individual attention, and the ability to ask for extra roadside stops. The strongest praise for this experience centers on the guides and drivers. Tim and Phouc were singled out for attentive service, while Nhan, Long, and Tri were praised for guiding, driving, and taking care of solo visitors.

The actual value will depend on your group. For two or more people, the private arrangement can feel quite reasonable because you are paying for a full day of transport and support rather than just entry to the falls. For a solo visitor, the motorbike option makes the package more personal, though the per-person price is harder to spread across a group.

What to bring and how to pace the day

Wear shoes that can handle damp paths and uneven surfaces. You should also carry sun protection, a small bag for personal items, and something to protect your phone near Elephant Falls.

The tour supplies one 500-milliliter bottle of drinking water. That is useful, but you may want more water for a full day outside, especially if you choose the motorbike option or spend extra time walking around the falls.

Keep your camera ready during the drives. The countryside is not just dead time between attractions. The route offers opportunities to see coffee and other crops, and your guide may point out plants or stop for photographs.

Do not schedule another major activity immediately afterward. The stated duration is 6 to 8 hours, and the day includes several stops plus road time. A flexible evening is the sensible plan.

You receive confirmation at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Who should book this Dalat waterfall tour?

I would recommend it to first-time Dalat visitors who want to see beyond the center in one day. It also suits solo visitors interested in the Easy Rider format, couples who want a private schedule, and photographers who prefer not to rush every shot.

It is a strong match if you like a mixed day: waterfalls, farms, road scenery, a strange building, and an optional thrill ride. The guide can add value by explaining plants and stopping at places you would likely pass on your own.

I would think twice if your priority is a long, quiet hike or a slow stay at one waterfall. The tour covers a lot of ground, so its strength is variety rather than extended time in one place.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an efficient private day that combines Dalat’s major waterfalls with local countryside and two very different attractions. The guides and drivers are a major part of the experience, so the personal format is worth considering over a cheaper group option.

Before paying, decide if you want the car or Easy Rider motorbike, and remember to budget for lunch and the Alpine Coaster. If you accept the active pace and several hours on the road, $65 offers a useful introduction to the wider Dalat region.

FAQ

How long does the Dalat waterfall tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 6 to 8 hours, depending on the day’s timing and stops.

Which waterfalls are included?

The tour includes Datanla Waterfall, Pongour Falls, and Elephant Falls, also called Thac Voi.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour or activity.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered, and the tour includes transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Can I ride a motorbike during the tour?

Yes. An Easy Rider motorbike is included. If you are alone, you can ride behind the motorbike driver and view the countryside from the road.

Are lunch and the Alpine Coaster included?

No. Lunch is not included, and the 4-kilometer Alpine Coaster at Datanla requires a separate ticket.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.

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