Onto a city full of adventure with new weather to boot! Time to dig down in that backpack and pull out a jacket. My afternoons were spotted with rain showers, I hope you get luckier than I did.
Arriving in Da Lat after being in the tropics of Southeast Asia is somewhat of a surreal experience. You wind along curvy, narrow, and very steep roads up the mountains until you arrive in the city. At the center of it is a small lake, almost looking like something out of Switzerland or Germany - complete with swan boats! Plus, cool weather! No more sweating from just walking outside - I actually wore pants and a jacket. A first for sure.
DAY ONE
I'm not one who generally opts for group tours, but compared to getting to all the attractions around the countryside on a motorcycle, it seemed a lot easier. With renting a motorbike and navigating yourself, navigation would have been a little tricky (still having that lack of road signs issue and no cellular data plan).
There is one tour that most travel agencies offer outside of DaLat called "Countryside and Waterfalls." And it was a day full of many, many stops to say the least. Some far better than others. If you're traveling solo, like me, I'd still recommend taking the tour, as trying to figure out how to get to so many stops seemed overwhelming. But if you're up for a bit more adventure aback a motorbike, here are the stops outside of DaLat that you can't miss.
Pongour Falls: These were absolutely stunning. Like breathtaking and should be used as a movie set. (See pic above). Well not really, because then they would have too many visitors, so be glad you heard about them here. There are signs saying that you can't climb on the falls, though that did not stop many visitors. It would also be a great swimming hole if you aren't scared off by the semi-murky water. No critters spotted though. There are also a bunch of shops and food stands along the trail from the parking lot down to the falls in case you're in need of a snack.
Elephant Falls: This is the other famous waterfalls due to the shape. It's a fun hike in and around the falls as you get sprayed by water along the route. Be prepared to get quite muddy and don't take anything with you that you don't mind getting drenched. The falls aren't the most gorgeous in the world, but it was a fun adventure.
Chicken Village: A small village nestled in the hills, this village is now famous because of the GIANT chicken statue (not thousands of chicken running around as I had hoped). It's a great opportunity to see a real local village, but use caution when taking photographs, many of the locals were unhappy about us coming and photographing the ins and outs of their village without making a purchase.
Kopi Luwak Coffee Plantation: There are quite a few plantations around run by different owners, but the premise is the same for each. Made famous by the movie, The Bucket List, this coffee is famous for being digested by possums before being processed. Gross! Some people think it has it's own unique taste, some can't tell a difference at all.
DAY TWO
Take some time to explore this little city nestled in the mountains. It's not a huge city, but is a wonderful experience to explore on foot.
Flower Park: Located on the edge of the lake, these flower gardens were like none that I have ever seen before. Sure, the grounds are massive with potentially thouands of different plants, but what really caught my eye were the carved shrubberies and animated sculptures.
Ho Xuan Huong Lake: No trip to DaLat is complete without a walk around the lake. There are also a couple of restaurants along the lake, but they are WAY overpriced.
Cable Car: Ride the cable car across the valley around DaLat to take in a view over the entire city. It's a relaxing and stunning view, plus the temple on the other end is unique. It's a great way to spend a morning exploring and taking in the mountains.
100 Roof Bar: Modeled after the Crazy House, this bar is a one of a kind experience. It's like a jungle gym for adults (but sells booze) and rivals the City Museum in St. Louis, MO for adventures. Go with a group and play hide and seek, because chances are you're going to lose somewhere with the maze here anyway.
DAY THREE
Many other travelers told me this was their absolute favorite part of their trip so far - the canyoning tour. I again booked this through my hostel (Dalat Backpackers Hostel), but there are many other options as far as tour agencies.
Find your inner adrenaline junkie! The tour includes repelling down waterfalls, cliff jumping, rock sliding, swimming under waterfalls, and more!
The tour provides wet suits, life jackets, helmets, and safety harnesses, but be sure to wear some tennis shoes that you don't mind getting wet.
