Fabulous Outdoor Adventures You Will Love in Dalat, Vietnam

On a visit to Dalat, in central Vietnam, I was surprised by the many outdoor adventures on the outskirts of this busy city. The pine forests surrounding the city are a gateway to thrilling outdoor adventures. There are stunning lakes, waterfalls, and mountains to explore with Dalat as a base. Be sure to allow 3 or 4 days in Dalat if you want to see the magnificent scenery of the area.

Posts may contain links to products and services I love. I may make a small commission from them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Where is Dalat?

Dalat is a picturesque historic city in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. As it is higher in elevation, the year-round temperate climate contrasts with the tropical heat of other parts of Vietnam. Dalat is known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its pleasant weather. While Dalat is a bustling city, the flower gardens and French architecture make it a beautiful destination. The Night Market and beautiful Xuan Huong Lake are popular in-town destinations. However, make sure to explore the many outdoor adventures near Dalat.

Outdoor Adventures of Dalat

Waterfalls near Dalat

Waterfalls in the Dalat countryside are incredible destinations. The most popular cascades are Datanla, Elephant, and Pongour waterfalls. Many people visit them in one day on an organized tour.

Datanla Falls

The park around Datanla Waterfall has some of the best outdoor adventures in Dalat. Datanla Falls is about six kilometers south of Dalat Center located on the top of a pass. You can take a tour of Datanla Falls. However, I wanted more time at Datanla Falls to enjoy the many Dalat outdoor adventures there. Therefore, I took a Grab ride to the waterfall park (Grab is the equivalent of Uber in Vietnam). The driver kindly offered to wait for me so I had a ride back.

The falls are a multilayer cascade. Paved paths wind around all the different whitewater chutes. You can stroll around to see the waterfalls from many vantage points. There is a small cafe with snacks and drinks.

If you are particularly adventurous you can try a canyoneering trip at Datanla Waterfall. You will rappel down both dry cliffs and wet cliffs. There are also opportunities to slide down slick water chutes. And, if you like jumping from up high, there are two cliff jumps.

The park at Datanla Falls has the longest alpine coaster in Southeast Asia. You can buy a round-trip or one-way ticket to zoom down to the falls. You control the speed of the coaster going downhill with levers. There was a long line to board the coaster at the top, so I walked down the scenic path to the falls. I practically had the path to myself. I bought a ticket at the bottom to ride the alpine coaster up the hill. You don’t get the thrill of a speedy descent, but it saves walking up the hill in the heat.

Elephant Falls

Elephant Falls is one of the impressive waterfalls in the countryside around Dalat. Currently, the main entrance to the falls is closed to the public. Visitors used to be able to walk behind the falls, but that is closed due to the instability of the waterfalls.

However, on my Easy Rider Motorbike tour, we drove to the base of the falls. I explored the bottom of the cascade on the rocks and bits of land in the river. You can also visit the neighboring Linh An Pagoda and climb up the interior of the huge Lady Buddha statue to have excellent views of Elephant Falls from the windows.

Pongour Falls

The Pongour waterfalls are the furthest from Dalat but are definitely worth a visit. The terraced falls create a circular theater in the cliffs. You can easily climb down to the falls for fabulous views. Even when the water is low, the many streams cascading over the rocks are a spectacle.

The falls are in a nature park with peaceful scenery. You don’t see the crowds you see at Dantanla Falls. Since it is an hour’s drive to get to Pongour Waterfall, it’s best to hire a car with a guide or do a tour. I visited the waterfall as part of my Easy Rider motorbike trip.

See all three waterfalls in one day on this tour of Dalat’s countryside.

Related Post -> 5 Outdoor Adventures in Hoi An, Vietnam You Will Love

Sunrise Hike

People call it cloud chasing in Dalat. You hike up to a high point in Dalat to see incredible views of clouds encasing the mountains below at sunrise. I was so enamored by the amazing sunrise hike that I did it twice while in Dalat.

The first time I went with a local guide on an Airbnb experience trip. Rocky, the guide, met me at my accommodation at 4 am and we headed to the hill on his motorbike. Transportation isn’t included in the trip cost but Rocky will help you arrange it.

We meet the other participants at the base of a pine-covered Hon Bo mountain. The hike took about a half hour. It was steep in places, but Rocky stopped enough for everyone to catch their breath.

When we arrived at the top, the orange-pink of the sunrise was developing. The awaking light illuminated the cover of clouds draping the hills below us. Rocky served local tea, coffee, and snacks on the top. We sat on the ridge enjoying the misty morning bathed in light. The fog settled around the hills below us contrasted with the changing color of the sunrise.

After relaxing on the top, including taking lots of photos, we descended the steep trail through a magnificent pine forest. The trip ended with an introduction to a traditional Vietnamese breakfast. Rocky took us to a local restaurant serving bánh căn, mini cakes cooked in round molds in a traditional clay pan.

Cloud Chasing on My Own

I decided to take my daughter and her friend on the sunrise hike. My Air BnB host, Tam, was kind enough to drive us early in the morning, as it was before the Grab drivers started. Surprisingly, he went on the hike too. Tam had never done early morning cloud chasing in all his time living in Dalat, so it was really special to have him along.

Rocky gave me directions to the trailhead. However, it was very hard in the dark to find the exact trailhead based on my memory. So we found another trail that looked like it ascended the mountain, and began the hike. Eventually, we joined the main trail to the top.

After we settled in to enjoy the show put on by the sun and the clouds, Rocky and a new group of hikers arrived. He was so proud of me for making it to the top without his guidance.

There are several hills in the Dalat area to go cloud chasing. The best way to have this amazing experience is to take a tour. Take it from my experience, it’s much easier than a DIY tour.

Related Post -> A Spectacular Trekking Adventure in Sapa, Vietnam

Easy Rider Motorbike Tour

An excellent way to see the areas surrounding Dalat is to go on an Easy Rider motorbike tour. These motorbike trips take you to interesting and beautiful sights in the Central Highlands. On my one-day tour, we rode through the pine woodlands, past the lakes and waterfalls of the area. We also stopped at fascinating Vietnamese small businesses including a mushroom farm, a cricket farm, a silk factory, a flower farm, and a coffee farm. Cultural stops included a huge lady Buddha statue and pagoda, a traditional village of the K’ho minority people, and small enclaves of Vietnamese life.

The Easy Riders are a group of licensed tour guides offering trips throughout Vietnam by motorcycle. They are passionate about introducing people to the culture and beauty of the Central Highlands and beyond. The motorbikes have a pillion, a raised seat behind the driver, so you can easily see the sites.

I also spent two days in a more remote section of the Central Highlands on an Easy Rider motorbike tour. In this related post, you can read about my outdoor adventures with the Easy Rider guides.

Outdoor Adventures near Dalat

I did a few DIY tours I created combined with select specially designed tours. The following are the tours I’d recommend if you want to see all the amazing outdoor areas near Dalat.

Logistics of Dalat Outdoor Adventures

Getting to Dalat for Outdoor Adventures

Dalat has an airport that is easy to get to from anywhere in Vietnam. Most international flights fly to Ho Chi Ming City before transferring to Dalat. It’s about a 40-minute drive from the airport to Dalat city. It’s best to book your transportation to Dalat beforehand so that when you are jetlagged, it’s all taken care of. I use Viator or  12GoAsia to book a taxi in advance. Your driver will hold a sign with your name at Arrivals for you. It’s a welcome sight in an unfamiliar place.

Dalat Accommodations

Sweet Lavender Hotel is a centrally-located hotel with a price less than $20 US per night. It’s clean and bright in a nice neighborhood with great coffee shops, local restaurants, and a bakery in the nearby alley. It is the perfect place to meet up with any tour.

Try the Le Macaron City Center Boutique Hotel for a more luxurious stay. It’s a short walk to the Night Market and Xuan Huong Lake. You will be treated like royalty in this stylish hotel.

Staying in Touch with Home in Dalat

I’ve become a fan of e-sim cards for communicating on international trips. An E-sim card can be bought online and easily installed on your phone before you travel. When you reach your destination, you simply turn on the E-sim in your settings and you have data to use when you are away from Wifi. There is certainly abundant Wifi in Vietnam, but an E-sim is essential when you are on a river or another outdoor adventure.

I use an Airalo E-sim card for all my international travels. They are significantly less expensive than my phone carrier’s international charges. Plus, it’s easy to top them off when you run low on data.

Related Post-> Easy Rider Motorbike Tour in Dalat, Vietnam

Wrap Up of Dalat Outdoor Adventures

Even though it’s technically not an outdoor adventure of Dalat, you absolutely must visit the Crazy House attraction when you are in the city. This immense whimsical structure is a cross between Dr. Seuss and Antoni Gaudi’s works. You can wander through tunnels, spiral staircases, bridges, and imaginative rooms on a fairy-tale journey through this architectural wonder. So grab a Grab ride over to the house for a self-guided tour or sign up for a guided tour to ensure entry.

However, just don’t see Crazy House. You would be remiss to visit the lovely city of Dalat without participating in some of the outstanding outdoor adventures just outside the city. There are outdoor activities for all levels of fitness and adventure-seeking. You can do anything from extreme canyoneering to a guided tour of the waterfalls.

Most of these adventures will get you off the tourist track so you can be immersed in authentic Vietnamese culture and nature.

Related post-> Best Kayaking in Hoi An, Vietnam

PIN IT!