If you have a plan to visit Laos and enjoy your travel itinerary there, we recommend you extend your Laos travel journey to another spectacular destination, Luangwa Prabang. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Luanga Prabang is a destination located in northern Laos where visitors are going to enjoy a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history and vibrant local cultures.
While you step into Luanga Prabang there are a number of beautiful Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture and lush forest surroundings are waiting to welcome you. We came with an article today that explains much more beauty and insights about Luang Prabang. A most magical city in the Southeast Asia region, making it the most peaceful retreat along with numerous things to do and activities.
Related Search: Things You Should Know Before Going to Hanoi, Vietnam.
Top 10 Things to Do in Luang Prabang
1. Visit Kuanga Si Falls
No matter what destination you pointed out during the Luang Prabang journey, exploring Kunanga Si Falls is a first and foremost thing you need to do. Such a brilliant natural beauty known for its multi-tiered waterfalls with turquoise pools, ideal for swimming and picnicking. One of the natural wonders in Laos, it always captivates the minds of visitors from its milky blue ish white pale water, cascade tumble, limestone edges and curving styles.
If you are so curious about why Kuanga Si Falls are so unique, there are multiple things that make fall vibrant and must visit, such as its color of water- shimmering water passing through limestone rocks that concentrate calcium carbonate. So, rock and calcium carbonate makes the water colour a pearlescent whitish blue. However, falls and foliage are another reason why it is so popular. Water drops above 60 meters that creates coloured tropical foliage and that also water generates major sources for surrounding lush forest coverage’s. Despite these, fall is even ideal for hiking and a perfect place to spend time with nature, so don’t miss it.
2. Take a Hike to Mount Phousi
Mount Phousi is a hilltop temple where visitors need to take moderate hikes to reach its top. Rising 100m above the peninsula where visitors have to find 300 stairs to reach its top to get perfect scenic, most photographic and epic views of the surrounding regions including Luang Prabang and its countryside. Today Mount Phousi is a heart for spirituality and geography centres once powerful Naga deities are worshiped.
Despite being Naga, there are a number of beautiful little temples and golden stupa spotted in each part of the mountain top. While you reach its top you’ll be very fortunate to enjoy the most panoramic view of Luang Prabang, however, stunning views of the calm river, surrounding lush forest coverages and eye-catching sunset views. Hike to Mount Phousi has some entry fee, visitors need to pay 20,000 kip or $2.50 during their halfway. Entries to climb Mount Phousi start daily from 5:30 am to 6:00 pm, if you are going during sunset time it is crucial to bring a camera along with you to get perfect photos of the city and surrounding landscapes.
3. Visit the Royal Palace Museum and Haw Phra Bang
The Royal Palace Museum is once a Lao’s royal residence where travelers can learn the history of the Laotian monarchy, French style and many beautiful artifacts. Built in 1904, the Royal Palace Museum was built by King Sisavang Vong and his family members during the French colonial period. Often called Golden Hall, within its palace compound, Royal Barge Shelter, conference hall, pavilion houses and Haw Pha Bang are exist. The palace is built so luxurious and we can see many reception rooms, council rooms, and living and collections rooms inside. Do not forget to take a look at lovely garden where trees, lotus ponds and a bronze statue of King Sisavang Vong are located.
Haw Phra Bang or Royal temple located on the grounds of the Royal Palace Museum making it one of the most attractive monuments in the museum. Built in the 2006 (actual structure of the temple started during 1963) according to the traditional Laos style, where visitors can closely observe its extensive glass and gold decoration from its raised platforms. If you went inside of this Royal temple you’ll be much fortunate to see multi-tiered roof ceilings with Naga finials and “Dok so faa” ornamental elements at the center top of the roof. And each of these ornamentals holds 17 unique spires. Do not miss to see the Phra Bang Buddha image that was added inside this temple.
4. Try to Be Part of the Alms Giving Ceremony
Luang Prabang is a place where we can see or even to be a part of the Alms Giving Ceremony. This ceremony is all about a traditional daily ritual where monks receive alms from the locals and tourists during sunrise. Everyday morning you’ll see Buddhists monks who are wearing orange clad attires passing so silently in the streets of the old town, and during their walking periods they will collect offerings/things from the people/tourists who wish to give. Ceremony held every morning between 5:30 am to 6:30 am.
But there are some things you need to observe before going to be a part of the Alms giving ceremony. They kept walking so silently and they didn’t speak too much and avoided getting a picture with travellers, so if you have a plan to take a picture with them please cancel today itself. If you closely observe what the visitors/people are going to offer is also very important. Usually rice is a major part of the items that are offered even from Luang Prabang’s age old tradition. So, if you want to be part of this giving ceremony try to give rice or rice items. Alms giving ceremony is a beautiful and relaxing experience to a visitor where visitors can be its part without paying a single penny.
5. Visit and Enjoy Wat Xieng Thong Architectures
Wat Xieng Thong temple is the greatest symbol of the epic Lao architecture built during 1561 by king Setthathirath. If we talk about temple architecture it is very simple to explain, it represents classic Luang Prabang architectural styles with sweeping 2 tiered roof and ornate intricate mosaics including an epic tree of life glass montage. Today temple stand as the epic Buddhist architecture in Laos with masterpiece of mosaics and traditional carved wood style.
Located on the northern side of the Mekong River, Wat Xieng Thong temple building monastery explains some stories like the flame of the forest trees of life, Sin Sai of Lao story and Jataka stories. While you step inside of the temple, immediately beautiful stencil gold art work is facing against you, covering the walls inside the sim explaining about the story of King Chanthaphanith. The temple’s doubled tiered roofs, decorated gold designs, rich lacquer like black, Buddha statue and 12 meter tall funeral carriage are some of the most recommended things to explore both inside and outside of this temple architecture.
The temple’s congregation hall (standing as the sweeping roofs on three levels) represents daily life of Buddhas, Jataka tales, scenes of animals, and floral motifs. Make sure that entry fees of 20,000 kip per person is mandatory to pay before entering between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. And if you respect culture and temple principles, then it is a good idea to wear an ethical dress code.
6. Explore City’s Night Market
The City’s Night Market is an ideal place to spend our night time. Wanderer in City’s Night Market could be a fantastic place to spot nightlifes, handicraft stalls and restaurants/cafeterias. Visitors are very blessed even to find textiles, paintings, ceramics, rare spice stuff, antiques and even delicious street food shops. Located in the Sisavangvong Street, closer to Royal Palace Museum, where approximately 300 suppliers are selling handicraft items made by the local peoples.
Perhaps items are exhibiting in City’s Night Market rarest in the world, things are unable to be found not only in Asia but also in the world. Prices are very little and also items we can buy at very reasonable cost, sometimes you’ll even get items at a very low price despite its actual price only if you are good at bargaining.
Not just to stop your stroll just to purchase or see market items, it is very important to continue to visit restaurants where we can enjoy delicious noodles, juice, ice creams, baked cuisines, buffets and sweet items. Despite markets’ vibrant stalls and items, we need to understand how this place is friendlier to stroll under its quite compact ambiance.
7. Enjoy Boat Trip on Mekong River
If you wish to try different things to do or enjoy surrounding beauties, a boat trip here in Luang Prabang Mekong River is brilliant option to you. Taking a boat trip on the Mekong River has multiple advantages, firstly it offers more scenic beauty of surrounding lush landscapes, traditional villages and stunning limestone mountain ranges. So, keeping a camera is very important since most of these things are eye-catching as well as offer serene picturesque beauties.
While you are going by boat we suggest you take a stop near cultural sites where visitors are eligible to spot and learn Laos’s customs, traditional and daily lifestyles. Some boat trips such as Mekong Kingdoms and Mekong River Cruises even help us to reach some of the region’s historical sites like Pak Ou Caves, where thousands of Buddha statues are located. If you are going with a camera then we insist you take perfect photos of birds flying above your head and Irrawaddy dolphins under the water.
Despite its attractions, enjoying a more relaxing feeling is also very important, since it is flowing with the gentle pace of the water. Backpackers could experience relaxing and calm ambiances, making it a perfect gateway from the hustle and bustle of everyday busy life.
8. Take a Guided City Tour
Learning Laos’s city’s rich history is very important and it must be done from your early travel journey. The city Luanga Prabang is filled with a rich history and culture where visitors are going to learn plenty of new things like architecture, culture and local traditions. During the walking journey we are very blessed to visit and explore places like Morning Market, Wat Xiengthong, Wat Sensoukharam and Mount Phousi.
Your guide will help you understand what are the major historical places you need to cover and he also need to explains why it is popular. Suppose if you are visiting Wat Mai Suwannaphuaham, your guide will help you to understand that it is the largest and most important place of worship in Luang Prabang. However, Wat Visoun and Wat Wisunalat are often the oldest temples which add a more historical vibe to your trip. Try to book at Luanga Prabang-Laos, offers professional guide service according to your budget and conveniences.
Here visitors can choose which language guide they want ranging from French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean at a very affordable cost. Prices include $50 for English guides, $55 for French and $70 for German and $90 for Italian, it goes on increasing when the languages are changing.
9. Enjoy Lao Cooking Class
Trying to be a part of Lao’s cooking class is a fantastic way to make close relationships with local culture and customs. As we know that every region, country and destination has its own unique style of cuisine options and also contains a unique style of making. So, trying to learn its style of cooking is very important while we enter that land. So, in the same sense Luang Prabang is yet another landmark that helps us to take this activity.
There are a lot of fresh herbs such as sticky rice, spicy jeow and some French cuisines are available for us to learn. Tamarind Cooking School is one of the classical cooking classes that offers some cooking learning platforms where few tricks and recipes visitors get, including local ingredients and techniques of authentic food. However, Jaew Mak Lin is another popular dish which we can try in our home, made by the simple spicy tomato dip and grilled with ingredients directly in open flames. Ingredients include sticky rice, steamed meat or fish and barbecued foods.
10. Drink Coffee at the Happy Cat Luangprabang (Cat Cafe)
“The Happy Cat Luangprabang” is a unique and popular place in Luang Prabang where visitors can enjoy vegetarian/ vegan food, different coffee options and smoothies with beautiful rescued cats. Conveniently located where visitors easily reach by walking from the night market. Cats are a prime attraction in cafe and we can see cats roaming within this cafe that are rescued.
Food that we eat here that are purely made by the plant based including even your sandwiches and fresh juices. Even coffee is locally roasted made by the fair trade organic beans from Laos. Cafes strictly follow plastic free initiatives so don’t expect any plastic related items or things. Since cafes follow animal welfare efforts so seriously, cats retreat to a private area and a portion of the cafe profit goes to the cat’s welfare.
Which is the Best Time to Visit Luang Prabang?
If you are looking for which is the ideal time to visit Luang Prabang, simply we can say visit between Novembers to April. During these months the place runs dry season which helps visitors take some activities very seriously. Since the temperature ranges around 25℃, visitors are going to enjoy more mild and feel good vibe to leisure.
If you are an enthusiastic backpacker then it is very important to take hiking to Mount Phousi, visit Kuanga Si Falls and explore the city night market and take guided tours, especially in this season, thanks to perfect temperature. Clear skies, long daytime and scenic beauties makes even the season a paradise for photographers too.
Despite the dry season, April to May and June to October are not such friendly seasons to visit. June to October are months witnessing heavy rainfall and it is impossible to take any trekking, walking and even sightseeing. Whereas April to May is even filled by the acrid smog and heavy dust wherever you go. So, plan your trip during the dry season and make it a fully enjoyable one.
5 Best Luang Prabang Hotels
Staying in hotels that are very convenient to your destinations and upcoming landmarks is a crucial task to your trip. It is not just enough to plan a trip to Luang Prabang, but booking your stay in the right hotels is also a brilliant task. So let us discuss which the best hotels we can choose are are;
1. Amantaka
Amantaka is a 19th century French building that today stands as a luxury resort offering spacious villas in a very close location of Luang Prabang. Staying in Amantaka is a feel good stay since its cool and calm ambiance with colonial touches and luxury of charming town. Amantaks boasts total of 24 suites with private pools, large verandas, entertainment rooms and dining areas in each one.
In the heart of the hotel guests can see a large shimmering pool, gym and Aman spa (where we can take sauna, treatment and massage services). The hotel includes 2 dining options from authentic Lao cuisine to international fare including Lounge Bar. Guests can taste makkam and laojito which are popular and loved cuisines served by Amanataka. However, hotels are located where guests can easily access top attractions like Wat Siphoutthabath temple and Buddhist Learning Centre.
2. Sofitel Luang Prabang
Nestled within the grand colonial mansion, Sofitel Luang Prabang is another popular accommodation option near Prabang, home as one of the oldest gems in the Sofitel collection. Like Amanatka, Sofitel was once the residence of a French governor, today reflecting rich heritage and comfort to visitors in each moment of their stay.
The hotel boasts a total of 25 clay roofed suites with the range from 46 to 120 square meters. Each suite contains a private garden, oversized bathtubs, private pool, hand woven textiles, and shuttered window services. Laos’s cooking class is held by the Sofitel Luang Prabang through talented chefs. Guests can try to be part of cooking class and have a deep understanding of Laos’s cuisine. Besides that, the hotel contains a fitness center, swimming pool, Kaipen Meeting Space and Sunset cruises.
3. Belmond La Residence Phou Vao
Positioned on a hillside, Belmond La Residence Phou Vao is a type of hotel that offers memorable stays under stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Currently the hotel boasts 34 suites with corner bathtubs and balconies where guests can get wonderful views over the surrounding rural countryside. However its large windows flood rooms with light help us to enjoy more breathtaking views of the landscapes.
Home to Tam Nan, where visitors catch up most of Laptian culinary methods, slow cooking class and Tuk Tuk Bar. The hotel is even blessed with award winning Mekong Spa service which offers Laotian oriented therapies with locally sourced botanical features. Since it is nestled in a tranquil hills, guests can either host or attend mesmerising venues of weddings, official meetings and celebrations.
4. Burasari Heritage
Burasari Heritage located on a tranquil riverside lane, blends classic French colonial influences with traditional Lao teakwood houses. Offers gorgeous views such as historic town, temples, night markets and French style sidewalk cafes from the property’s riverside lounge and dec. The hotel boasts a total of 19 beautiful well designed rooms, ranging from entry level superior rooms to standard room options. Room’s options include 20 to 24 square meters of space to 25 to 30 square meters.
Visitors can try traditional Thai and Lao recipes with delicious local wine options here. The hotel caters creative royal recipes and traditional home cooked dishes with earthy flavors. Wellness and retreats are more common things which are loved by most visitors here, using skillful ancient healing techniques and modern body remedies. Guests can choose private treatment rooms that serve epic wellness services through overlooking the Nam Khan River.
5. The Grand Luang Prabang
The Grand Luang Prabang is the most picturesque resort in the entire Luang Prabang. Built in the 1920, the hotel has a most historic character offering elegant decorated rooms, beautiful gardens areas and proximity to major attractions. The hotel consists of 8 buildings with 75 rooms and suites where guests will enjoy the sleepy surrounding of beautiful mountains and tranquil beauty of the Mekong River.
The Grand currently boasts 2 popular restaurants such as Xiengkeo and Le Bistrot Lounge, serving from light dishes to international cuisine options. Hotel even home to many constant events and occasional celebrations, where guest can attend or host all kind of events ranging from business to personal.
