Luang Prabang is the ancient capital of Laos and this fertile valley lies in between 2 rivers, the mighty Mekong and the Nam Kham rivers. It is a UNESCO heritage site since 1995 thanks to the fusion of traditional Lao and French colonial cultures that have been preserved and are existing side by side till today. The old heritage area is one of the most charming places I have seen! Expect gilded Buddhist temples, colonial architecture, French cafes and tiny lanes with traditional houses.

Laos as a country is underrated and often overlooked by most tourists to south east Asia in favour of the more popular Vietnam and Cambodia. However, I highly recommend a visit to Luang Prabang especially for all my fellow culture lovers: you will love it there with the slow pace and relaxed vibe. Easy flight connections from Vietnam, Bangkok and Chiang Mai make a trip to Luang Prabang very much possible and you can spend a wonderful weekend there using this blog post.

HISTORY OF LUANG PRABANG

HOW TO REACH LUANG PRABANG?

1. FLIGHTS: Luang Prabang has an international airport and has direct flight connections from a few Asian cities like Bangkok, Hanoi, Chiang Mai and Siem Reap plus non direct flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. There are no direct flights from India but connections via Bangkok and Chiang Mai cities are available. It is just a 1 hour flight from these places. Flights are also available from the Lao capital, Vientiane.
2. TRAIN: If you are coming from Vientiane or Vang Vieng, the train is a great option, fast as well as reasonably priced.
3. From Vientiane: The train takes 2.5 hours. You can look up train tickets HERE. From Vang Vieng: The train takes 1-1.5 hours. You can look up train tickets HERE.
4. BUS: The bus from Vientiane takes 6 hours. You can book your bus tickets HERE.

   The bus from Vang Vieng takes 2 hours. You can book bus tickets HERE.

5. SLOW BOAT: Many backpackers coming from Chiang Mai, opt for the bus plus slow boat. The bus from Chiang Mai takes 6-7 hours to reach Chiang Khong. From there, you have to take vans to cross the Thai-Lao border to reach Huay Xai. The slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang takes 2 days and is a popular option to take a journey on the Mekong river.

WHEN TO VISIT LUANG PRABANG

As with most Asian destinations, the best time to visit is during winter from November to Febriary. The weather is pleasant, sightseeing easier and the Kuang Si pools will be brilliant turquoise. As this is peak season, expect higher prices and lots of tourists.

March to May is summer and the heat, humidity and smog makes this period unbearable.

The rainy season runs from June to October and might hamper many activities depending on your month of visit.  AVOID the months of July to mid September when the rains are at their heaviest.

In my opinion, June and October which lie at the beginning and end of the rainy season might be a good shoulder season time with okay weather, less rains and off season prices with much lower crowds.

HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD YOU SPEND IN LUANG PRABANG

I would suggest 3 days in Luang Prabang as ideal to do most of the activities listed here. Any additional time will enable you to take off on a day trip or two.  Anything less than 3 days means cutting out some of the things and rushing through the others.

WHERE TO STAY IN LUANG PRABANG

There are 3 main areas where you can stay in Luang Prabang depending on your interests: the heritage Old Town and the two riversides.

WHAT TO EAT IN LUANG PRABANG

Lao food is pretty flavourful with a combination of fresh herbs mixed with fermented meat or fish. Some of the dishes that you have to try in Luang Prabang include:

• LARP/LAAP/LARB: A meat salad with fresh herbs, sauces and Lao rice powder. It is a staple of Lao cuisine.
• OR LARM: A stew usually made with fatty pork and garnished with
• KHAO PIAK SEN: Thick hand made rice noodles in a thick soup that is flavoured with meat stock.
• JAEW: A smoky flavoured dipping sauce made with chilli peppers and some grilled vegetables that accompanies every dish.
• TAM MAK HOONG: A papaya salad where the raw and ripe papaya is shredded and pounded and then flavoured using fermented fish sauce.
• SAI OO AH: Pork sausages that are packed full of flavours using onion, green chillies, cilantro and galangal.
• KHAO JEE PA-TAY: A take on the French baguette/Sandwich.
• MOK: A banana leaf wrap of various combinations like fish, pork or herbs.

GETTING AROUND IN LUANG PRABANG

1. WALKING: This is the best way to explore the heritage area.
2. TUK TUKS: You can use one to for longer distances like Kuang Si falls, the UXO centre or if you stay outside the heritage area. You can easily flag one yourself from the road.
3. TAXI: Obviously more expensive than tuk tuks for those longer journeys. Your hotel can help call one for you.

THE ULTIMATE LUANG PRABANG ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS

DAY 1: EXPLORE THE OLD HERITAGE AREA, CATCH THE SUNSET FROM A RIVERSIDE BAR AND HAVE DINNER IN THE NIGHT MARKET

1.THE OLD HERITAGE AREA

The old heritage area is the best part of Luang Prabang and the first place you should explore on day 1 of this Luang Prabang itinerary for 3 days. It is located between the 2 rivers, Mekong and Nam Kham rivers and is very charming. Walking through these streets will give you a feel of Luang Prabang’s essence and vibe. You will come across beautiful Buddhist temples, old colonial buildings, restored mansions and the Royal palace complex along with cute French inspired cafes.

Make sure to go around and walk along both the riversides for beautiful views. The heritage area is small and compact and consists of 4 main streets making this an easy walking tour. You can do this independently without taking a guide. Just consult an online or offline map (Tip: pick up one from your hotel) Its gonna take a few hours to see most of the place and it is better to start early in the morning to escape the mid day heat.

TAK BAT CEREMONY AT DAWN

This is a traditional Buddhist alms giving ceremony dating back to the 10^th century. The locals wake up pre dawn to cook sticky rice. This is then offered as alms to the monks who come out at 5.30-6 am and walk in a silent procession across town to collect this offering. This is going to be their only meal of the day. The sight of the ceremony is something to behold, the saffron coloured monks silently accepting their alms. You have to wake up at dawn and make your way to the main street to watch Tak Bat.

The French colonisation of Laos means a lot of French influence which is very evident in the cafes and French inspired menu. The old heritage area has a lot of such cute cafes which are perfect for breakfast while you are sightseeing in the old town. Some of the ones you can try include:

• Saffron Coffee
• Novelty
• Changkham Bakery and Cafe
• Two little Birds Café
• Opera House
• Indigo Cafe

CHECK OUT WAT XIENG THONG:

The old city has more than 30 Buddhist temples and is a delight for all culture lovers. The most popular of these of these temples is ‘Wat Xieng Thong’ which is the oldest temple as well. The name of the temple means ‘temple of the Golden city’ and it was built in the 15^th century. It is known for it’s exceptionally beautiful colourful mosaic glass work in the temple walls along with the gilded roofs. Apart from the famous ones, there are many other smaller temples that are beautiful but unknow. In fact, walking around the old town is the best way to come across a small temple and explore it.

VISIT THE ROYAL PALACE COMPLEX

Built in 1904 by the French, the Royal Complex is located right in the old town centre and comprises of the Royal palace (which is now converted into the Lao national museum and the royal temple ‘Haw Pha Bang’. Inside the national museum you can see the rooms and the various collections. The one I liked the most was the Reception room where the ceremonial throne is displayed and the walls are adorned with intricate mosaic glass designs similar to that see in Wat Xieng Thong. Note: The museum has a very strict dress code. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside.

The royal temple contains the ‘Pha Bang’ Buddha statue which is the most sacred in Laos and after which the city of Luang Prabang has been named.

Entry tickets: 30,000 KIP/ 1.5 $ pp. Timings: 8-11.30 AM  and 1-5 PM.

2.LUNCH AT ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS INSIDE OLD TOWN

There are many good restaurant options inside the old town where you can pop in between all the sightseeing for lunch. Some of the well reviewed ones include:

• BOUANG ASIAN: Asian Fusion on a budget
• BELLE RIVE TERRACE: great for a special romantic meal with beautiful riverside views
• TAMARIND: authentic Lao cuisine
• YUNI YOUPON: Traditional Lao food
• MANDA DE LAO: fine dining in a beautiful setting with Unesco registered lily ponds
• POPOLO: Italian with a good selection of wines and tapa style dishes

Post lunch you can continue exploring the rest of the old town. Trust me, its gonna take the better part of day to see most of the things here. If most of your sightseeing is done, head over to the next stop.

3. UXO CENTRE:

Laos is the world’s most heavily bombed per capita (I bet you did’nt know that) In the height of the cold war from 1964-1973, the US rained around 2 million bombs on Laos in it’s secret war. They did this to cut off communist supply routes in the Ho Chi Minh trail and to wipe out Pathe Lao, a communist group. Around 30% of these bombs did not explode on impact until later when people/children picked them up or came in contact. These unexploded bombs continue to bring death and injury till today.

The UXO centre (Un Exploded Ordinance) was established to train experts to remove these bombs safely from fields and the Lao countryside and prevent future deaths. This small museum has displays of bombs and missiles that have been recovered along with posters that aim to create more awareness about this mission.

Entry: Free, Donations accepted. Timings: 8-12 and from 2-5PM

4. SUNSET DRINK BY THE RIVERSIDE

For sunset, head to Khem Khong road which has a collection of small open air bars and cafes that are located right besides the river. Order a cocktail and watch the sun go down! Some of the bars/cafes to choose include:

• Utopia
• Silk Road café
• Saffron coffee
• Sunset Mekong
• Belle Rive Terrace

There are many small barbeque spots along this road too!

5. END THE DAY WITH DINNER AT DYEN SABAI RESTAURANT

This is a popular restaurant that is located just across the Nam Kham river. To reach the restaurant, you can take the famous ‘Bamboo bridge’ to cross which charges 1$ pp and is lit up with fairy lights at night. However, during rainy season from June to September, the bridge is dismantled and you can take a boat. Dyen Sabai is known for their famous ‘Lao Fondue’ or hot pot so make sure to order that.

DAY 2 OF LUANG PRABANG ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS: EXPLORE THE BEAUTIFUL NATURE WITH KUANG SI FALLS AND A MEKONG RIVER BOAT TOUR

After spending the first day soaking in all that culture, it is time to head to the nearby mountain and jungle areas for a day in nature.

1.KUANG SI WATERFALLS

One of the major reasons I visited Luang Prabang was due to the gorgeous Kuang Si falls. Located only 25 kms from the city, these falls are renowned for their multiple tiers and turquoise coloured pools that are Instagram and Pinterest worthy! There is an easy walking trail that goes up alongside the various water levels with multiple view points. Trust me, you will be stopping many times as some of the scenes are picturesque.

The trail ends at the main falls and it is a stunning sight to behold! The entire walk to reach the top took us around an hour or so (along with so many photo stops lol) It did start drizzling by the end but that made the whole scenery even more beautiful imo.

HOW TO REACH KUANG SI FALLS:

• Taxis and Tuk tuks are easily available for the trip. The 1 hour journey costs 25$ in tuk tuks and 28$ in taxis and you can book through your hotel.
• Budget tip: to cut costs, go to the main road (Sakkaline street) and book a shared tuk tuk. You may have to wait awhile though. Or else, form your own group and book one.]
• BOOK A TOUR: Honestly, this is a very convenient way to visit Kuang Si along with some other nearby attractions. There are many different tours available and you can choose one that fits your need. For example, some tours include Kuang Si falls along with a Mekong river cruise. There are morning and afternoon tours available as well as group and private.
• Most tours allow 3 hours at Kuang Si falls, so if you need more time you should go on your own.

A Mekong River cruise is one of the highlights of a Luang Prabang trip and you have to do one. The Mekong is the 3^rd longest river in Asia and passes through 6 countries: China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The river is a lifeline for the communities who are dependent on it for sustenance and livelihood. A boat ride on the Mekong usually includes stops on the popular Pak Ou Caves and a local village.

Pak Ou caves is a religious site consisting of 2 limestone caves with 4000 Buddha statues of all shapes and sizes. These statues were placed in the caves by traders or anyone travelling on the river as a blessing for the incoming river journey. No one knows when exactly this practice started, but it dates back to a few thousand years. Today, every April during Lao new year, devotees come for blessings and to wash and clean the statues.

There are 250 steps to the upper cave and 25 steps to the lower. The place can get kinda touristy in high season with lines of people clambering up and down the stairs.

After visiting the caves, there is usually a stop in one of the local villages where you can see the local handmade way of producing certain items like textiles, paper or whiskey. Our Mekong boat tour included a stop at ‘Whiskey village’ and we really enjoyed the short visit. We were shown the various types of Lao rice wine along with a tasting as well as the more potent snake and scorpion infused whiskies which are used as local remedies.

There are a few different ways to go on a Mekong river boat ride:

• To do this truly independently minus the touristy bits, go to the riverside dock opposite Saffron coffee where a few boatmen usually sit around waiting for tourists. Talk and negotiate for a boat ride on the river. The prices are generally 400-500,000 KIP (20-25$) depending on your bargaining skills.
• Go on an organised group tour with a reputed company which will arrange everything (including lunch) and show you the popular spots. Mekong river tours can be morning or afternoon. I recommend the afternoon tour so that you get a chance to see the sunset from the river.
• Many tours offer a full day combo package with Kuang Si falls in the morning and Mekong cruise in the afternoon or vice versa like this  Tour Here. Most tourists prefer this kind of tours as it is very convenient. However, I personally opted to visit Kuang Si falls independently so as to reach early right at 8am and check out the place and take my shots without many tourists around.

3. SUNSET ON THE MEKONG

If you have’nt booked an afternoon Mekong boat tour, you can book a sunset cruise instead. There are a few sunset tours on offer and you can go on one of those. It is usually for 1 hour with some snacks onboard. Keep in mind that these sunset only tours won’t be taking you much further on the river towards Pak Ou caves or the riverside villages.

I found THIS SUNSET TOUR that is highly rated by travelers.

4. GET A TRADITIONAL LAO MASSAGE

After 2 days packed full of sightseeing and lots of walking, it is time to get a massage to give those aching legs some relief. There are plenty of massage shops all along the main street area offering various massage options in a similar price range. A traditional Lao massage for 1 hour will cost 70-80k KIP (4-5 $) pp. I found that pretty good actually and we got massages every single day!

5. SHOPPING AND DINNER AT THE NIGHT MARKET

The night market is located right outside the Royal palace and stretches till the end of the main road. It sits daily from 5-11pm and you can pick up your souvenirs from here. Shops selling postcards, paintings, magnets, organic tea/coffee, embroidered clothes, silk scarves etc. After your shopping spree, have dinner at the food market which is located right at the end of the night market. Have your pick from the stalls selling traditional Lao delicacies and street food favourites along with a vegetarian buffet.

DAY 3 OF LUANG PRABANG ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS:  SPEND THE MORNING DOING AN ACTIVITY OF YOUR CHOICE AND CATCH THE SUNSET FROM LUANG PRABANG’S HIGHEST POINT

Your last morning in this Luang Prabang itinerary for 3 days will be all about doing an activity of your choice based on your interests and I have a few options for you.

1.GO HIKING WITH EELEPHANTS AT MANDA LAO

This was what we choose to do! Laos used to be called as ‘Lan Xang’ or the ‘Land of a million elephants’ but unfortunately the few hundreds that are left today face an uncertain future. Most elephants in Laos work in the tourist/ logging industry and are over worked and abused.

Manda Lao was started as a conservation center to rescue abused elephants and help in their care. 25 elephants have been rescued/bought from their owners till date and given a huge natural jungle space (a 250 hectacres space rented from the government) to live their lives. Professional scientists train the local village boys on being caretakers. There are no riding activities here.

They offer a half day or full day experience with the elephants where you can hike (walk) with some of them in the jungle near the camp where the elephants stay. The camp itself is beautiful with it’s riverside setting and natural beauty. We choose the half day camp and it was a pretty nice experience.

NOTE: There are other elephant camps in town but be extremely careful while choosing one. Many just put the word ‘Sanctuary’ without changing anything on ground. I choose Manda Lao as it was listed on Responsible Tourism’s list of ethical elephant organisations in Laos.

Cost: Half day: 100 USD pp, Full day: 140 USD pp. Around 70% of their earnings are spent on the elephants itself. You can check out the tours HERE.

This activity is not cheap, but for me it was more like a donation that I made for a good cause and the experience itself was one of a kind. However, I understand that many people might not want to spend that amount of money, so I do have other options for you.

2. RICE FARMING

Rice is a staple in Asian cuisine and if you are interested, you can get to know more about it. Many tours offer a half day rice farming experience, where you can participate with the local villagers in the rice planting process. This is definitely a fun and unique activity to do here. You can check out THIS TOUR HERE.

3. TAKE A COOKING CLASS:

If you love learning about the local food wherever you go, this might just be the activity for you! Take a cooking class to know about some of the traditional dishes and their preparation. Most classes start with a visit to the local market to source fresh ingredients followed by the cooking process. You end up learning and eating a lot of delicious food!

This cooking class by Tamarind restaurant is very popular and well reviewed.

4. SUNSET AT MOUNT PHOUSI

For your last evening in Luang Prabang, watch the sunset from the town’s highest point. Go to Mount Phousi (one of the most sacred places in Laos) which is located just opposite to the Royal Palace and walk up 320 stairs to reach the top most point. Take a seat and watch the aerial views of Luang Prabang and see the sunset. Do not forget to check out the temple ‘Wat Chom’ at the top.

Entry fees: 20,000KIP(1$) Timings: Sunrise to sunset.

SECRET TIP: There is a different route for going down that will take you past the ‘Buddha’s footprint temple’ and lots of statues, gardens and artefacts around. This route will take you directly to the riverside where you can watch the sunset.

PIN THIS POST TO READ LATER