Waterfalls

One thing that may come as a surprise to travellers is Iraq is not the desert wasteland depicted on TV. Actually, the Iraqi Kurdistan region is full of water. And where there is water, there are often waterfalls. Although Gali Ali Beg in the far north reigns as the most famous (it's even on the 5,000 Iraqi Dinar note), there is another set of falls that have made international headlines. In southern Kurdistan, about 1.5 hours east of Sulaymaniyah, on the Iranian border, the remote falls of Ahmed Awa will forever live in infamy. In 2009, three American hikers lost their way when visiting the falls, and ended up illegally crossing the border with Iran. They spent two years in an Iranian prison. While toying with danger might be reason enough for future travellers not to visit the falls, the fact that they are actually the best falls in the region might be enough to push the unsure to walk the Iraq/Iran tightrope.

One of the biggest tourist attractions in Jamaica is Dunn’s River Falls. It’s series of pools and cascades under shady trees which drops 180 m in total before it flows straight into the sea. It’s mega touristic with entrance fee and guides leading handholding tour groups up the waterfalls. However, it’s actually quite fun when you first start the climb, particularly if you do it yourself without a guide. Bring proper footwear for water and a dry bag.

Reach Falls is a small and peaceful waterfall with lots of cool pools and hidden holes. It’s beautiful set in the shady jungle at the foot of the Blue Mountains. As it’s too far from the tourist ghettos, the waterfall only sees a handful of tourists every day. There is an entrance fee and toilets.

On a private estate surrounded by forest lies this beautiful 8 cascades waterfall which tumbles over limestone tiers from one cool pool into another. The waterfall is very developed, almost like a theme park. There are wooden boardwalks, stairs, picnic areas, swimming pools, and ropes for swinging. For an additional fee you can zipline across the waterfall. Though the entrance fee is rather steep (17 usd), tourists from Negril and beyond still come here by the busloads. Best to come here on quiet days, when it’s easier to enjoy it.

Todoroki Waterfall is one of the most easy-to-access waterfalls on Okinawa. It's only a few steps along a boardwalk from the parking lot. There are viewing platforms and a groomed park for picnics. The actual waterfall has three steps with a total height of 43 meters. There is a pool at the base of the fall for those in need of a refreshing dip.

This 83 meters high waterfall might be Kyrgyzstan highest. We don't think it has a name, but it's popular destination for domestic tourists to Arslanbob. It's a three hours walk return from Arslanbob.

Katamtok Waterfall is the second highest waterfall in Laos. The few meters the it's lacking in height compared to the Tat Fan (the highest waterfall in Laos), is redeemed by the unspoiled setting. It is almost hidden in the jungle and though a small sign on a tree gives it away, chances are that you will have it for yourself (at least until the road is sealed). Similar to Tat Fan, it plunges out of the jungle where the Bolaven Plateau breaks off and disappears 100 m or so below in more green stuff. Very nice, very low key, very Lao.

It's worth the drive out to Kouang Si Waterfall if you are in Luang Prabang for a few days. The crowds do not make the emerald green river any less spectacular. The water is cool and refreshing on a hot day. The big falls are beautiful to sit under, and, if you are lucky, a rainbow will form in the mist. Continue on the trail to the top of the waterfall, and you will be rewarded with a wonderful view overlooking the valley. Keep in mind it is most busy midday, so for a more intimate experience, head out very early or late in the afternoon!

Bolaven is a plateau that rises to more than 1200 m and is home to the much praised and priced Lao coffee. Where the ground is flat, the plateau is covered in coffee plantations and ethnic villages, but elsewhere it is thick jungle that keeps going until it breaks off into the lowland. Highland rivers eventually find their way to the edge and plunge over the vertical drop into some impressive waterfalls. The highest of them all is the Tat Fan waterfall which drops more than 120 m into the jungle below that looks like something from Lost World. If the Thai tourists at the viewing area at the Tad Fane resort (sounds more posh than it actually is) spoil the experience, take the trail down for more adventurous viewpoints or hike some of the trails leading to the waterfall.

Tad Sae's cascading water is a great day trip from Luang Prabang. It doesn't have any tall waterfalls like Kuang Si Waterfall (also a day trip from Luang Prabang), instead the water pumps magically out of the forest, covering the jungle floor in the wet season with turquoise water that flows from one pool to the next a level below, before merging with Khan river. If elephants are your thing, you can get a ride on the back of one through the jungle and some of the lowest pools. However, if you don't want to share this natural wonderland with the other visitors, just climb a few pools further up and disappear into the jungle.