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From Pleiku, the main city of Gia Lai province, after traveling over 80km to An Khe town, we continued for another 30km to Kbang district. After another 60km of winding mountain roads with vast green landscapes on both sides, we finally arrived at the Kon Chu Rang Conservation Area. The conservation area is located within Farm 4 of Gia Lai province.
The path is difficult not because people are afraid of difficulties.
After registering with the nature reserve, the group was guided to the waterfall by two rangers. Ahead of us lay a distance of over 12km, still by motorbike, traversing dizzyingly steep slopes. Even a light rain could easily cause us to fall. We had only just begun, but we could already feel the dangers and hardships of the journey to explore K50 waterfall.
After more than an hour of riding motorbikes through the forest, the group finally arrived at the Cattle Farm area. It was a vast grassland chosen by the locals as a place to build their farmhouses. Parking their motorbikes there, they began their conquest of the waterfall on foot, a journey shared by those passionate about pristine nature. This also marked the starting point for a trekking, forest-crossing, and stream-wading adventure through the Kon Chư Răng nature reserve.
We visited the waterfall in March, the most beautiful time of year here, with warm sunshine and little rain. The stream wasn't very high at this time, but everyone still grabbed a branch to use as a walking stick for safety. We trudged through the stream for over two hours, some sections muddy up to our knees, others waist-deep, and slippery rocks that almost caused me to fall. Despite feeling tired, our legs wouldn't give up, because ahead lay the magical, magnificent beauty of the waterfall.
Emotions overwhelmed me as a waterfall, continuously cascading and roaring, appeared before my eyes, its white foam splashing everywhere. At the foot of the falls were strangely shaped rocks, stacked upon one another.
We stood silently for a long time, admiring the K50 waterfall from afar, like a shimmering silver ribbon, sparkling and sparkling amidst the mountains and forests. The entire area around the waterfall looked magnificent, poetic, and mystical. It seemed as if all the essence of the earth and nature had converged in this place, a paradise on earth. To me, the K50 waterfall is even more beautiful than a painting, for it is a work of art created by nature, a gift that Mother Nature has generously bestowed upon this pristine wilderness located in the northeast of Gia Lai province.
A watercolor painting amidst the mountains and forests.
The group decided to set up camp at the foot of the waterfall. We were quite lucky to have two experienced and enthusiastic forest rangers as guides. Hung and especially Rot, a member of the Ba Na ethnic group, were very familiar with the terrain and extremely professional when trekking through the forest.
Afterward, everyone split up: some gathered dry branches to make a fire and cook rice in bamboo tubes, others cast nets to catch fish, and still others searched for snails and gathered vegetables. And we had a truly wild dinner, an experience not everyone gets to have in their lifetime. In the tranquil night, by the flickering campfire, nothing was more delightful than hearing the sound of the waterfall echoing through the air, a joy that seemed enough to erase all the fatigue of a hard day's trekking.
The next morning, the group packed up camp and continued their journey to conquer the waterfall. After a night of recuperation, we were strong enough to make our way to the source of the waterfall. In reality, even a short stretch of less than 500 meters was quite strenuous, as we had to climb slopes with inclines of nearly 60 degrees. The path was quite damp and there were many leeches. Because this was the headwaters area in the old-growth forest with thick, mossy vegetation, there were countless leaf leeches. These are a type of leech that lives on trees, and their bites are not easily recognizable.
The dawn of a new day seemed to energize the entire group as they ventured between the cliffs. Then, descending the mountain slope fueled their excitement as the sound of the waterfall grew closer. Finally, the overwhelming emotion erupted upon witnessing this masterpiece of nature. The roaring waterfall, cascading from a height of 50 meters like a flowing stream, was skillfully adorned with moss-covered rocks. It's difficult to fully express the astonishment and admiration for this harmonious arrangement of nature.
Standing at the top of the waterfall, we were free to enjoy the majestic and pristine natural scenery of the mountains and forests. Letting our souls be carried away by the dance of nature and the cool air, what could be more wonderful than that unforgettable moment!
Returning to the Cattle Camp, we decided to change our route, instead of wading through the stream, we trekked through the forest. Trekking up steep slopes, we occasionally had to sit down to catch our breath. Under the canopy of huge trees, their leaves so densely packed that not a single ray of sunlight could penetrate, the group felt small but also exhilarated. Everyone felt like a member of an expedition in some jungle adventure film. And thanks to that feeling, we forgot about the constant sweat and the numbness in our calves from the challenging jungle trail. For this section, the whole group just kept going, not daring to rest because there were so many leeches. In addition, the heat felt like it was draining everyone's energy.
If you're a nature lover and aren't afraid of challenging trekking adventures, I recommend planning a trip to explore K50 Waterfall this summer. Don't forget to prepare your fitness and essential equipment for the adventure that awaits you. This "fairyland" of Gia Lai province remains hidden, challenging trekkers to discover it. And remember, be responsible trekkers and join hands to protect the pristine beauty of this unspoiled waterfall!
Additional information:
+ Distribution:Currently, the Kon Chư Răng nature reserve has over 8 different waterfalls, but the most beautiful and majestic is K50 waterfall (also known as Hang Én waterfall). Next is K40 waterfall, also known as Ba Tầng waterfall, which is also considered a beautiful waterfall in the Central Highlands region.
+ Journey:From Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi, fly with Vietnam Airlines to Pleiku, the main city of Gia Lai province. From the center of Pleiku, follow National Highway 19 towards Quy Nhon for about 80km to An Khe town. At the intersection to Kbang, turn left and travel 30km to Kbang commune. Continue for another 60km to reach the Kon Chu Rang Conservation Area (managed by Farm 4, Gia Lai province). K50 Waterfall is located within this conservation area.
+A few things to note before going to the waterfall:
- You need to call the nature reserve in advance to register and check the weather forecast. Contact: Mr. Hung 0978 035 772
- Prepare a tent, sleeping bag, food and water for 2 days, and leech repellent because there are many leeches in the forest.
- Hiking boots or wading boots, camping gear, lightweight jacket.
+ Sightseeing:K50 Waterfall is located quite far from the center of Pleiku city, so once you're in Pleiku, in addition to exploring K50 Waterfall, you should combine it with exploring other attractions in the surrounding areas of Pleiku.
- Lake T'nưng: Locally known as Lake T'nưng, it's located about 10km from Pleiku city towards Kon Tum. The road down to Lake T'nưng is picturesque, lined with endless green pine trees. At the end of the road are stone steps leading to a charming gazebo in the middle of the lake. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views of blooming flowers, most beautiful around the end of September when Pleiku is in the season of wild sunflowers.
- Chu Dang Ya: In the J'rai language, it means "wild ginger root." This is a volcano that has been dormant for millions of years, with a distinctive funnel-shaped crater. Hidden amidst towering mountains, Chu Dang Ya volcano is quiet and serene, yet full of life and captivating. Reaching the summit, you will experience the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere of the pristine Central Highlands landscape, with a vast green plain stretching out below.
- The ancient pine tree-lined road near Bien Ho Tea Plantation: a very popular check-in spot in Pleiku today, charming with its two rows of ancient pine trees over a hundred years old, creating an incredibly romantic atmosphere for the mountain town. The ancient pine tree-lined road is located more than 5km from Bien Ho Tea Plantation in the direction of Chu Dang Ya volcano.
- Central Highlands burial grounds: On the road from Pleiku to the Yaly hydroelectric power plant, you will pass through the villages of the Ba Na people. Here, you can still find Central Highlands burial grounds. If you are lucky, you will meet elderly artisans carving tombstones.
+ Cuisine:Below are some famous specialties/food destinations in Pleiku and An Khe that tourists must try.
- The chicken is only available on Do Trac Street, Pleiku.
- Dinh Coffee & Lifestyle: 375A Quang Trung, An Khe. At Dinh Coffee, you will immerse yourself in a warm and comfortable atmosphere, enjoy incredibly delicious food, or savor the sweet taste of a cup of pure roasted coffee in your favorite seating spot.
- Cafe Thu Ha: There are many such cafes in Pleiku; you should try one to enjoy the distinctive coffee flavor of Gia Lai.
- Pho Hong Two Bowls: 22-24 Nguyen Van Troi Street, Pleiku. This place has a signature dish that no tourist visiting this land can miss: Gia Lai dry pho. Locals often give it another colloquial name, "two-bowl pho," meaning that you need two bowls to be "satisfied." The price is around 25,000 - 35,000 VND/bowl.
- My Tam Chicken Rice 2: 6 Quang Trung, Pleiku.
- Pho Bo Vien Tau Ly: 36 Tran Phu Street, Pleiku. This restaurant is so famous in Pleiku that you don't need to worry about the quality. The space isn't very large, but it's always crowded, so you should go a little early to avoid running out of seats. The price here is around 30,000 VND per bowl.
- Bun Huong: Kiosk 16, HAGL Stadium. Price: 40,000 VND/bowl.
+ Accommodation:
- Hoang Anh Gia Lai Hotel: 01 Phu Dong Street, Pleiku
- Green Bamboo – Tre Xanh Plaza Hotel: 18, Le Lai Street, Pleiku
- Se San Hotel: 89 Hung Vuong Street, Pleiku
- Pleiku Hotel: 124 Le Loi Street, Pleiku
- Khanh Linh Hotel
- An Khe Hotel: 572 Quang Trung Street, Tay Son Ward, An Khe Town.
Weather:
- The most beautiful time of year in Gia Lai is from August to January of the following year, with cool nights. From February to April is the peak of the dry season, with hot and sunny weather. From May to July is the rainy season.
- But An Khe is different because it's a place where the plateau and the plain meet. Therefore, the best time of year to visit this place is from January to June.
Text and photos: Aloha Nguyen
