Luang Prabang in June is soaked in the blossoms of tamarind trees.
On the short tuk tuk ride to our Airbnb, we were already in love with LPB. It is the perfect destination to escape any bustling city. The streets are calm all day. The markets are captivating. The temples are well decorated. Traditional Laos slow boats scattered along the Mekong River.
This city has a different charm.
Overview
- Morning almsgiving ceremony
- Mount Phou Si
- Night Market & Food Street
- Pak Ou Caves
- Kuang Si Falls
- Bicycle Tour
- Laos Massage
- Traditional Food
- Where to Stay
- Getting Around
What to do in Luang Prabang?
Day 1: Popular Luang Prabang attractions
A day with mixed feelings about Luang Prabang – we checked off a few must-do things in the UNESCO World Heritage Site and had our honest thoughts penned down on this place.
Morning almsgiving ceremony
Children wait along the other side of the road to receive the alms by the monks ^
Probably the most notable thing to do and a longstanding tradition in Luang Prabang. Almsgiving is a beautiful and meaningful ceremony in our opinion. We looked forward to this very much but all we saw were minibuses unloading batch by batch of tourists.
These tourists give the alms strikingly different from the locals. They were given stools to sit on instead of kneeling on a mat, wore a Lao scarf provided by the tour operator and want their photos taken when giving alms to the monks.
Unless you are doing this from the bottom of your heart, please do not participate directly. Just observe the beautiful ceremony in silence and from a distance. This is not a show. They are not doing this for tourism nor to fulfil your social media needs.
This cultural practice needs to be preserved for there are children who genuinely need and benefit from the alms to get by. Please play your part for mindful travel.
The ceremony starts at about 5.30 AM along Sakkline road and continues to the main street of Sisavangvong road at about 6.00 AM.
Breakfast
My porridge versus locals’ porridge ^
After the ceremony, continue along Sisavangvong road where you will see many food vendors setting up tables along the roadside. Popular breakfast includes porridge paired with fried dough sticks.
Like many of its neighbouring countries, Laotian loves their food spicy, sour and sweet. Yes, even breakfast when your stomach just woke up. Coming from Southeast Asian roots, I personally love spicy foods but Lao chilli is on another level. Just a word of warning!
If you want a challenge, here’s a tip to eat like a Laotian: first, add 3 slices of lime, then 2 spoons of sugar followed by 3 spoons of chilli.
Price: 10,000 kip for porridge, 1,000 kip for dough stick
Super Pork Porridge
Close at 8:30 AM
Google Maps (next to Wat May Souvannapoumaram)
Morning market
The variety of ingredients in Lao cuisine is unimaginable. On some days, we have ducks sitting right outside our doorstep and on other days, we have chickens. The most shocking thing we learnt from this market is those monitor lizards in the cage are actually a local delicacy.
This market is fascinating and I would strongly recommend to drop by after the almsgiving.
Overlooking the Nam Khan River
Thought we could take a siesta here but what a disappointment! An unpopular opinion about the famous backpackers’ heaven: the branding and social media presence of this place are impressive. That ends about there.
The ugly truth is we were seated on dirty pillows. Having our drinks on an ant-infested table. Overlooking muddy riverside. Swatting mosquitoes. Pretty far from what I would imagine how a utopia would be like.
In addition, we had one of the worst food throughout our Laos trip and way above the local’s average prices. This place is customised for tourists to drink and party in addition to yoga classes that has totally nothing to do with the country’s culture.
We wouldn’t recommend going to this place. Luang Prabang itself is a beautiful place with much better restaurants and bars in the vicinity.
Mount Phou Si
A brief stroll along the Nam Khan river will bring you to the bottom of Mount Phou Si where you can start your short hike up, 355 steps to be exact for a sunset viewpoint.
Tip! Bring your mosquito repellent with you because the peak is infested with mosquitoes.
Entrance fee: 20,000 kip
For precise location, follow directions on Google Maps.
Night Market and Dinner at Food Street
From Mount Phou Si, you can descend from the other flight of stairs which will lead you directly to the middle of Sisavangvong Road where the night market is located.
Enjoy your dinner in a bustling, narrow food street where they sell tourist-friendly Laotian food including a cheap buffet, noodles, grilled fish and all sorts of fruit juices.
Price: starting from 15,000 kip
Google Maps (the alley beside Indigo Cafe)
Day 2: Day trip out of the city – Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls
Two of the best things to do in Luang Prabang are outside of the UNESCO heritage town. We efficiently arranged them in one full day to save time and some kip – spending just slightly over US$10 for transportation!
Grab a cup of morning coffee
Yet another business with marketing done well. Saffron Coffee is a great example of the many businesses in Luang Prabang that support local farmers by trading directly and provides training for the many challenges to growing good arabica beans. It is one of the best coffee we had in Laos!
Enjoy your cup of organic coffee before you jump on your slow boat heading to the caves.
Price: 20,000 for Iced Latte
Saffron Coffee
Google Maps
Pak Ou Caves
Located on the Mekong River, the caves are known to exist long before Buddhism in Laos, making it one of the must-visit attractions. Be sure to reach the ticketing office (Google Maps) before 8:00 AM to purchase tickets at the direct price of 65,000 kip. The boat will start boarding at 8:30 AM.
The boat will make a short stop at Ban Xang Hai village where you can taste the famed Lao Whiskey or shop for beautiful scarfs handmade by the village ladies at a much lower price than in the night market.
It will then continue the journey to the caves which houses more than 4,000 buddha statues deposited by devotees. The caves are divided into the lower cave (Tham Ting) and upper cave (Tham Theung) where it should take about an hour to visit both.
Entrance fee: 20,000 kip
Kuang Si Falls
We took a Minibus that is by far the most comfortable and economical option at only 40,000 kip per person. You can book it a day before at one of the tour operators along Sisavangvong Road. The one-way journey takes less than an hour and you will be given two hours in the pools before heading back to the city.
Kuang Si Falls is one of our favourite attractions in LPB and we strongly recommend it. Remember to bring your bathing suit for a dip!
Your entry ticket to the waterfalls also includes access to Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre which is located in the same area.
Entrance fee: 20,000 kip
Barbecue buffet along Mekong River
Head towards the Mekong River and get ready for a barbecue feast. The barbecue set up is very similar to the Thai Mookata and so is the dipping sauce. At a fixed price, you can enjoy free flow of meat, vegetables, finger food and dim sum.
Price: 60,000 kip/pax
Riverside Barbecue Restaurant
Google Maps
Alternatively, there are also many nice restaurants along the river that have amazing night view. For affordable Lao food, consider Tamarind Tree Restaurant. If you would like some French food, try Elephant Restaurant.
Day 3: Temple visits and relaxing traditional massage
Bicycle tour of historic temples
We rented a pretty city bicycle for the entire day to reach temples nearby. There are more than 30 temples within the Luang Prabang heritage town but you don’t have to visit them all and there’s really not enough time to do it.
Price: 20,000 kip for city bicycle rental
Anousay Motorbike Rental
Google Maps
We recommend the following route to mark the prominent ones off your list:
1. Wat Xieng Thong
We cycled directly to the northern tip of LPB where Nam Khan River meets the Mekong River and arrived at Wat Xieng Thong. One of the most representative temples of LPB and decorated with fanciful mirrored tile mosaics. The temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirath but was spared destruction during the Chinese Black Flag Army invasion of the city in 1887.
Entrance fee: 20,000 kip
2. Royal Palace
If you haven’t already been passing by the Royal Palace in the heart of the city, take the chance to visit the palace converted national museum. Built during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong, the palace is a blend of Laos and French styles. The palace was converted into a national museum and opened to the public in 1995 displaying the royal car collection, paintings and residential of the royal family.
Entrance fee: 30,000 kip
3. Haw Pha Bang
Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, Haw Pha Bang is built and designed to house Pha Bang, Laos’ most sacred Buddha image. Washing ceremony of the statue still takes place annually during the Lao New Year. The highly ornamented exterior and interior make it hard for anyone to overlook the complex.
Entrance fee: Included in the entrance fee of Royal Palace
4. Wat Manorom
There are debates on the founding date of the temple famous for housing one of the most important and oldest Buddha statue, originally six-metres high and weighing 12 tons. Despite suffering damages multiple times in the history of Laos, endless efforts were put in to restore the temple. Today, the exterior is covered with cement and gold leaf.
Entrance fee: Free
5. Wat Wisunarat
If you got your bicycle from the same rental shop, you could cycle from Wat Manorom to Wat Wisunarat via Manomai Road.
This is a Buddhist temple dating to the 16th century, known for its large, watermelon-domed stupa and the architecture represents the oldest style of Lao temple.
Price: 5,000 kip
Traditional Laos Massage
After the entire afternoon of cycling, there is no better time to enjoy a traditional Laos massage. We were immersed in the French-Laos atmosphere inside the massage parlour – wicker furniture, the floral tiles and rustic vibes. The rooms and facilities are very clean and well-maintained. We highly recommend L’Hibiscus Spa for a great massage.
Price: 60,000 onwards
L’Hibiscus Spa
Google Maps
Traditional Laos Cuisine
Many restaurants along the Mekong River serve traditional Lao food in a set meal that allows travellers to have a taste of everything. We ordered a traditional set for one person and added a bowl of hearty Or Lam, a dish strongly recommended by a local we met. Or Lam originated in LPB, is a spicy stew cooked with buffalo meat, various vegetables and herbs including gourd, eggplant, lemongrass and dill.
If you are keen on taking up a culinary class, it is also available in the restaurant.
Price: 165,000 for 2 pax
Bamboo Tree Restaurant and Cooking School
Google Maps
Where to stay
Airbnb
We can’t emphasize enough how much we loved our stay in an antique wooden house located right in the heart of the old district. Open your doors to the bustling morning market, a stone’s throw away from the Grand Palace, Mount Phou Si and the night market.
Similar to what we imagine an eco-friendly resort would offer. Each interior piece is chosen carefully to curate the beautiful stay we had. The only downside I would point out is that there is no air conditioning in the house – which was acceptable to us since we were there during the rainy season.
Did I also mention there is a loving rabbit in the yard that welcomes you home every time?
Click here to book learn more about this Airbnb. First time using Airbnb? Get US$45 Airbnb credits when you sign up via this link.
Hostel
Dorm beds in LPB are very affordable, starting as low as US$4. Most hostels’ locations are very convenient since the town is relatively small in size. For more interactions with other travellers, you could consider staying along the Nam Khan River where the travellers’ favourite Utopia is located. Chill Riverside Backpackers Hostel and Y Not Laos Hostel are some of the great options.
If you want a quieter option, consider City Central Hostel which is located near the Grand Palace.
Hotel
The city is nothing short of beautiful sanctuary for your soul.
Satri House is a French colonial style building and the childhood villa of Prince Souphanouvong, the first president of the republic. Today, it is a hotel decorated with superior wood furniture and a beautiful swimming pool.
Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao is famed for being one of the pioneers of luxury hotels in LBP as well as the location that offers spectacular views of the mountainous aspects of the city. Further away from the city centre, Belmond is the best choice for a luxury retreat.
Getting Around
Within the heritage town, it is doable by bicycle or on foot! However, if you wish to go further for a day trip, it is recommended to rent a bike or arrange transport with one of the many tour agencies in town.
By Bicycle
A day of city bicycle rental cost 20,000 kip and is one of the easiest ways to get around the heritage town, checking temple visits off your list.
By Rental Bike
If you are comfortable with riding bikes, it is a faster option and can even go long distance for a day trip. Only do so if you are experienced with biking as the road conditions in Laos could be difficult to ride on even for locals! A day of the rental starts from 70,000 kip.
By Minibus or Tuk tuk
Shared minibus or tuk tuk are very common in LPB where a group of travellers (usually 6-10 pax) share the cost of renting a transport that includes a driver. It is helpful to reach attractions slightly further from the city centre. We shared our experience on taking a minibus to Kuang Si Falls that is about an hour away above.
Three days are perfect for exploring Luang Prabang and we are thankful for the opportunity to be here before the UNESCO Heritage Town gets overcrowded with tourists. Enjoy the good vibes in this city!
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