Laos zipline serves coffee at 300 meters high

Located in the Dong Hua Sao National Park on the Bolaven Plateau in Champasak Province, the twin Tad Fane Waterfall is a haven for adventure lovers. Cascading from a height of about 120 meters into the valley below, the falls create a majestic scene.

The twin Tad Fane Waterfall viewed from above. Photo courtesy of Ngo Tran Hai An

Arriving at Tad Fane in early October, travel blogger Ngo Tran Hai An remarked how different this experience was from his usual impression of Laos as a peaceful and historic land. Tad Fane was raw, and challenging, making him feel "captivated" despite his many trips to Laos.

The Tad Fane zipline, the highest and longest in Laos, stretches 470 meters and towers 300 meters above the water below. It consists of four lanes with four stations, where visitors can choose to elevate their excitement by relaxing on a hammock in the sky or sipping coffee on a suspended table and chairs – an experience An described as "not for the faint-hearted".

For anyone with health concerns, it’s advisable to consider before embarking on this adventure. For those willing to try, the reward is a view of "natural scenery all around," An said.

For the coffee experience, the staff set up a small wooden table and two chairs on the zipline, allowing two people to face each other mid-air. Each guest is equipped with safety gear.

"Moving out into the middle of the air makes your heart race. At times, we screamed, then fell silent, almost fainting," An recounted.

After a few minutes of shock when first on the zipline, visitors gradually adapt, with fear easing into excitement. After about 15–20 minutes, An was pulled back to the landing.

Beyond coffee, guests can also lie back on a hammock in the middle of the zipline, immersing in the surroundings of Tad Fane Waterfall, whether at sunrise or sunset, with the sky awash in shades of purple, pink, and orange. An recommends bringing a camera because "the scenery is irresistible."

The zipline experience costs $35, with the coffee or hammock option raising the price to $60 per person.

To reach Tad Fane, visitors can fly to Pakse, the nearest airport. Direct flights are available from Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane, with travel times of 1.5 hours and 1 hour 15 minutes, respectively.

From Pakse, it is a 45-minute journey by taxi, bus, or motorbike to Tad Fane. The ideal time to visit is during the rainy season, from May to November, when the falls are at their fullest.