Tucked between the Mekong and Nam
Khan Rivers and surrounded by a wall of mountains, the UNESCO Heritage Site
city of Luang Prabang is a beautiful destination that shouldn’t be missed. With It’s 33 UNSECO Heritage temples, turquoise
waterfalls, jungle clad mountains, and world class food, it has become one of
the most popular destinations in Laos.
The former royal capital is
devoted to its heritage. Luang Prabang
is an idyllic town of terracotta rooftops, golden stupas and laneways
frequented by saffron-robed monks strolling back to temple. It all comes
together to form a picture increasingly difficult to find anywhere in Southeast
Asia. Luang Prabang has so much going
for it that it’s hard to know where to start. Read on to find out more about
this gorgeous, laid-back city; including the top things to see and do, where to
stay, and how to get there.
What to Do in the
City
Royal Palace Museum
Built
in 1904 as the residence of King Sisavang Vong, in a fusion of French and Lao
architectural style, the palace now stands as a museum. The museum gives you a glimpse of what life
was like in the palace, as well as some insight into Lao history and culture. Apart from being a beautiful structure, the
Palace Museum also has a beautiful garden, palace temple, and the car
collection of the last king of Laos.
Cost: 20,000 LAK/2.22 USD; tour of the garden is free.
Wat Xieng Thong
Wat
Xieng Thong is one of the oldest monasteries in the city. For centuries it was considered the
ceremonial gateway to the town, with its stairs leading from Mekong River. The site encompasses a large area with many
temples gilded in gold, detailed mosaics, and elaborate wall carvings. Wat Xieng Thong is considered one of the finest
temples in all of Laos.
Cost: 20,000 LAK/2.22 USD
Kuang Si Waterfall
The Kuang
Si Waterfall is one of the most popular attractions in the area. This three-tiered waterfall is famous for its
turquoise water and jungle surrounded waterfalls. Guests are allowed to swim in all but one of
the waterfalls pools, so bring your swimsuit.
In some of the pools there are also Red Garra fish (known as the Dr./pedicure
fish), so you can experience a fish pedicure for free. On the trail leading to the falls you will
pass the Kuang Si Bear Sanctuary. Here
you can see Moon and Asian Black Bears that were saved from poachers. Kuang Si Waterfall is located about 30 minutes
outside of town so you will need to get a tuk tuk to take you there (30,000
LAK/3.33 USD).
Cost: 20,000 LAK/2.22 USD
Knife making
Blacksmithing
knives from recycled materials is an important trade in Luang Prabang. Through Backstreet Academy you can experience
the real process of making knives from scrap metal from start to finish. Accompanied by a translator, you will work
with a master blacksmith to create a knife of your own. The course costs $34 USD and includes transportation,
translator, and the materials needed to make the knife you take home. Backstreet Academy has many other experiences
in Luang Prabang as well, but this is the only one that I tried. You can check them out or make a reservation on
their website: https://www.backstreetacademy.com/47925/things-to-do-in-luang-prabang
Elephant Conservation Center
The Elephant
Conservation Center is not in the town of Luang Prabang (it’s 2 hours outside
of town), but it is where the experience starts. If you want to see what a real elephant conservation
looks like in action or want to help out, then this is the experience for you. They offer 2-7 day experiences which teach
you about the Asian Elephants and how the center acquired and takes care of
them. It also allows you to trek through
the jungle and watch the 34 elephants in their natural habitat. The experience is a bit costly, but it is an
amazing experience. You can book a tour
at their office in Luang Prabang or by visiting their website: https://www.elephantconservationcenter.com
Mount Phou Si
 |
| View of Luang Prabang from atop Mount Phou Si. |
Mount
Phousi is Luang Prabang’s highest hill and sits as a center point for the city. Atop the 328 stairs climb you will get panoramic
views over the countryside, the radiant temples, and the Mekong River. Wat Chomsi, also at the top of the mountain, dates
back to 1804. The mountain top also
offers one of the best viewpoints of the sunset. Needless to say, this also makes it a very
popular place for people to come in the evening.
Cost: 20,000 LAK/2.22 USD
Wat Visounnarath
 |
| Pathum at Wat Visounnarath |
Wat
Visounnarath was originally built in 1512, but was razed by the Black Flag Army
in 1887. It has since been rebuilt in a
new style. In front of the temple is the famous Pathum (lotus
flower) stupa. This temple is also a
repository for ancient art and objects. Visiting
this temple can also be coupled with Wat Aham, located just beside
it.
Cost: 20,000 LAK/2.22 USD
Wat
Manorom
Wat Manorom was originally built to
inter the ashes of King Samsenthai. It
is also known for housing one of Laos’ oldest Buddha images.
Heuan Chan Heritage House
A beautiful, well-preserved traditional Lao house
situated at the center of Luang Prabang. The house has a small museum inside that can
be toured. There is a nice garden on the
property where you can enjoy some snacks or drinks from the café there.
Witness the Alms Ceremony
At
dawn, the monks come down Sakkaline Road to collect alms of rice from both
villagers and tourists. You can easily locate the route for almsgiving by
looking for rows of rice baskets and stools waiting for the alms-givers. Remember that if you attend you should dress
modestly. You should also stay out of
the way of the monks and only photograph respectfully.
Night Market
Set on
the Sisavangvong Road (outside the Royal Palace), the night market has a
seemingly endless line of stalls selling souvenirs, food, and handmade goods. Many of the souvenirs and jewelry are made from
re-purposed Vietnam War Era bombs. This
is a visit if only for the street food that can be found here.
Watch the Sunset
 |
| Sunset from atop Mount Phou Si. |
Watching the sunset in Laos is a beautiful thing and there are few places better to see it than in Luang Prabang. Here there are so many amazing options for you to enjoy. Whether you climb to the top of Mount Phou Si (along with seemingly everyone else in town), enjoy it from the deck of Utopia, or watch it glistening off of one of the beautiful temples, you can't go wrong with catching the sunset in charming Luang Prabang.
Walking/Cycling Tour
 |
| Wat May Souvannapoumaram |
Besides
the above-mentioned sites, Luang Prabang has numerous other things to see and
do within the city. Luang Prabang is a
UNESCO Heritage Site with 34 protected temples.
I only listed a few above, but you should take the chance to see as many
as you can as each one is unique. The ‘Old
Town’ also has a lot of Lao and French architecture that is worth viewing
during a leisurely stroll through town.
Where to Eat
 |
| Orlam, traditional Luang Prabang specialty. |
Luang
Prabang prides itself on its food. If
you are a foody, then this is the #1 spot in Laos that you need to visit. Luang Prabang has no shortage of restaurants,
eateries, and cafes to choose from. If
you think it looks good, chances are it’s better than you think. Here you can find a number of traditional
dishes from around Laos, as well as some Luang Prabang specialties. My two
favorite dishes are sai oua and Orlam. Sai oua is a sausage from Luang
Prabang made from fatty pork, chilli, garlic, and lots of herbs. Orlam is a spicy, bittersweet
meat soup made with chilli wood, lemongrass, aubergine and dill.
 |
| Street food vegetarian buffet. |
Aside
from all of the restaurants, you should not pass up a chance (or any night) to
eat a street food buffet in the night market.
Every evening a series of stalls open up offering an array of different
foods at low-budget prices. I loved
walking down the row each night to buy a sausage or two), spring roll, and
creating a veggie stir-fry, then sitting down at one of the tables to enjoy it
all.
 |
| View of the Nam Khan River from Utopia. |
If
your looking for a cool place to get a drink in the evening then I recommend
Utopia. It is a favorite amongst the
backpacking crowd, so if you want a sit along the river then you will need to
show up early. The place has a chill bar with nice ambiance, beanie bags, and great riverside views.
Where to Stay
Like
all tourist cities, you can find a variety of hotels and hostels in every price
range. I stayed at the Mekong Sunset
Guesthouse, located just across the road from the river, and was very happy
with my stay. When booking my hotels, I
always use Agoda to find the best hotel in my location and price range.
How to Get Around
I
recommend walking while in Luang Prabang; it is by far the cheapest and easiest
way of getting around. Luang Prabang is small
enough that all the main sights and restaurants are within walking distance from
one another. A bicycle is another easy way
of exploring. Bicycle rentals start from
10,000 LAK/1.11 USD per day for a regular touring bike to 50,000 LAK/5.55 USD
per day for a mountain bike. You can speak with your hotel about a bicycle
rental and you usually will be required leave identification as a deposit.
 |
Haw Pha Bang
|
There
are also tuk tuks for in town and songthaews (truck with a covered bed) for
further away sites. You will find many
of these huddled together in the main part of town working the tourist that
pass by for shared rides, but if you search out a songthaew outside this area
you will be able to get a better price.
How to Get There
Plane
There is
an airport in Luang Prabang with both domestic and international routes if you
wish to fly there. The small Luang Prabang International Airport
(airport code LPQ) is located four kilometers from the city center. Travel from the airport (minivan only) or to
the airport (minivan or tuk tuk) costs 50,000 LAK/5.55 USD. If you are flying to Luang Prabang, I suggest
using the Skyscanner widget below to book yourself a cheap ticket.
Bus
There
are two bus stations in Luang Prabang, each serving northern and southern cities
respectively, and a third minibus station.
Each station costs 10,000 LAK/1.11 USD (double at night) to get to by
tuk tuk. The minibus is much quicker than
the local bus, but it is also more expensive and usually far more packed. You are also more likely to get car sick in a
minivan, since they take the windy roads at greater speeds. 12GO
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an easy way to book buses online.
Powered by 12Go system
Boat
If you
are traveling to/from the west and have time, there is also the option of
taking a boat up/down the Mekong River.
There are two options for boats, both a slow and fast. If you take the slow boat down river, then it
will take 2 days, with an overnight in the small town of Pakbeng, before
arriving in Luang Prabang on the afternoon of the next day. Up river will take about 3 days. The slow boat is a great option if you are
wanting to just relax and take in the surrounding views, but it can also be a
little cramped. The slow boat costs 180,000
LAK/19.98 USD.
The
other option is the speed boat. This
option is much faster than the slow boat; taking only 7 hours, with a lunch
stop in Pakbeng. It is considerably more
expensive though, with a total cost of 380,000 LAK/42.15 USD. These speed boats only have 6 passengers
aboard, so they are much more comfortable, as well as give you a lifejacket and
helmet for your safety. During dryer
seasons, these speed boats become increasingly more dangerous due to the
shallow water and high speeds.
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