Recently updated on August 25th, 2022 at 02:30 pm
Luang Prabang in Laos is one of our favorite places we’ve visited on this adventure so far which you know if you’ve seen my love letter to Laos. With a population of 55,000 people, it’s not a big city by any definition, but don’t let that fool you. This is the perfect place to spend a few days… or more. We have broken down all the information you need in this travel guide for Luang Prabang from hotels and restaurants to the best way to learn about the local Buddhist monks and the history of Laos. Hopefully, we’ll have you convinced in no time to add this to your bucket list.
What is Luang Prabang Known For?
Luang Prabang is known for its beautiful Buddhist temples and the surrounding lush mountainous landscape. The downtown area blends traditional Lao structures and European colonial architecture and is extremely well-preserved. When visiting, you’ll send a blend of French and Lao cultures. Located right on the banks of the Mekong River, it’s a popular place to enjoy the peace and beauty of the northern part of Laos.
A Travel Guide for Luang Prabang
First, let’s answer some of the basic questions to help you plan your trip.
When is the Best Time to Visit Luang Prabang?
Our time here was in July. It was hot and humid during the day, but very comfortable at night. We enjoyed mornings of activities and afternoons of quiet reading time or hiding in shape of a cafe or pub and then we’d get back outside as the sun went down. The cooler months are November through February if you want to avoid the heat. For context, I live in Seattle because I hate the heat and I still found it enjoyable here.
How Long Should I Stay in Luang Prabang?
We were in town for a week. I wish we would’ve had more, but that’s mainly because we were coming off a whirlwind trip through Vietnam and Cambodia and this was the pace we were looking for. If you are pressed for time, you could see many of the highlights of the area in just a few days. It’s definitely worth a stop if you are traveling around SE Asia.
Getting To Luang Prabang
If you are flying, you can catch flights from all the neighboring countries right into Luang Prabang. The airport is new and easy to navigate. We flew in from Siem Reap, Cambodia and it was a short flight. You can also arrive from Thailand via slow boat on the Mekong River which is a popular option for many backpackers.
Getting Around Luang Prabang
Walking and biking are the easiest ways to get around. The town is not very big, so you can cover a lot in a short time. We did have an airport transfer through our hotel which I would recommend if you have luggage because the airport is a bit outside of town.
There are lots of tours and places within driving distance of Luang Prabang to explore, but we wanted to spend our few days really enjoying the town itself and the experiences we could have within walking or biking distance from our hotel. If you want to visit the Kuang Si Falls, you’ll need to hire a driver to take you.
Where to Stay in Luang Prabang
We chose My Dream Boutique because it was a budget-friendly resort. We were shocked when we checked in and they upgraded us to a beautiful suite with a living room area and a gigantic bathroom with a soaker tub. We felt extremely spoiled by the gracious staff here and would absolutely stay here again.
Book your stay at My Dream Boutique Resort here.
For something a little fancier, but not a budget-breaker, we heard great things about this Boutique hotel. And if you want a high-end option, which is still incredibly affordable compared to other destinations, grab a room at the Sofitel.
Check Out Our Rundown of Things to Know Before Traveling to Laos as well
The Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang
Visit Some Temples with Orange Robe Tours
This was a highlight of our time in Luang Prabang. This company employs former monks and novices who have recently left the temple. These young men lead two different tours that you can pair together or do separately.
The first tour allows you to understand more about the daily life of the novices and monks and get a basic understanding of Buddhism. It was fascinating to learn more about the lives of these young boys and men and be able to ask questions directly to someone that lived this life and these experiences.
The second tour was my personal favorite. We went into one of the beautiful temples in town and learned more about meditation. Our guide talked to us about the importance of meditation in Buddhism and then walked us through three different kinds of meditation. The time flew by. It was something that we will not forget.
I would recommend doing both tours (it is a total of about 2 hours) in the morning before it’s too warm. It’s such a unique experience. Plus, the tours help support these young men and the local community.
Learn more about this awesome company and book your tour here.
We were guests of Orange Robe Tours, but all opinions are our own.
A Quick Notes About Alms Giving in Luang Prabang
Many visitors come to Luang Prabang to witness the Alms Giving Ceremony, also called Tak Bat. Each morning, the local monks in their bright saffron robes quietly move through the streets collecting offerings from the devout Buddhists. The offerings are usually sticky rice and other sustenance to help them get through the day. This ritual is extremely sacred and over the years, there have been too many incidents of a tourist, sometimes unknowingly, being extremely disrespectful during this time.
If you plan to observe this daily ceremony, please make sure to educate yourself. Remain quiet, stay completely out of the way, do not photograph people using a flash, or be invasive in any way. While it has become a tourist attraction, that is not at all the intention (quite opposite in fact).
We stumbled upon the end of the ceremony when leaving our hotel one morning and decided to walk back and quietly wait. Orange Robe Tours allowed us to learn about the monks that live here. If you are interested, this is a much better opportunity to learn and understand without causing any disturbance.
Learn About the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre
Laos is the home of many different ethnic groups. You can visit this art center in town and see many kinds of traditional art, musical instruments, and clothing. Exhibits are constantly rotating, but you’ll find pieces from the four main ethnic groups that live in the Luang Prabang area. They offer some workshops as well, which would be a great rainy day activity.
Catch a Movie at L’Etranger Books & Tea
This little bookstore turned out to be such a gem. We stopped in because we love bookstores and exploring them in different cities. Seeing the top sellers in each place and the local authors featured makes my book nerd side so excited.
While exploring the shelves here, the owner gave us the schedule for the week of their movies. Every night, they use their upstairs space to show movies. We returned that evening for a showing of Gone Girl. The owner only asks that you purchase something to eat or drink to enjoy the movie for no additional cost. We were the only people there that evening and it was so comfortable and nice. The owner said it’s always a surprise for turnout – sometimes the room is full and sometimes it’s empty.
I would definitely recommend stopping in and checking out their schedule for the week and browsing the shelves a little.
Deep Dive into Some Tough (but Important) History at the UXO Museum
I would recommend a visit to the UXO museum to anyone, but especially Americans. Neither of us remembered learning anything in school about bombing Laos nonstop for the years of the Vietnam War. We learned here that from 1964 to 1973, the US military dropped 260 million cluster bombs on Laos. That is seven bombs for each human in Laos and more bombs than all of World War II. It’s the equivalent of dropping bombs every eight minutes around the clock for nine years.
This museum outlines more facts and what recent work the country has been doing to clear the rural areas of the UXOs. We took our time and watched the full informational video and were still only there for about 45 minutes – it’s very small. Make time and visit this museum while you are in Luang Prabang.
Sample the Food and Shop at the Luang Prabang Night Market
There is an amazing market every night on Main Street (also called Sisavangvong Street). It starts around sundown and goes until 10:00 PM. Sample all kinds of street food and fresh fruit juice. Shop for handmade goods and souvenirs. It’s colorful and energetic. I recommend the coconut pancakes, but the only street food I can usually eat is dessert.
Relax and Chill Out
Luang Prabang is a wonderful place to relax. The pace here is a little slower, so you should make sure you slow down as well. Enjoying an afternoon sitting outside a cafe enjoying a beer and watching the world go by should really be part of your “agenda” while in town.
Places to Walk and Explore in Luang Prabang
Climb Up Mt Phousi
Right in the middle of town is Phousi Hill. There are two paths to the top, both involve a few stairs (around 300). You pay a small fee and climb to the top. The views are amazing. You can see the mountains, rivers and surrounding towns. It’s a great view at sunrise, especially because there are not many people, but whenever you can do it – make it happen. Sunset happens to be the most popular, so if you don’t want to share your views with many others, try a different sunset spot.
The Bamboo Bridge
During the dry season, a local family builds this bridge to help you get from one part of town to the other on foot fast. When the rains come, they take it all down. If it is built when you are in town, you should definitely pay the small fee to cross it – even if you don’t have anywhere to get to on the other side. Our hotel was just across the bridge, so it was very helpful for us and we used it daily. It’s even lit up at night for safe crossing.
“Downtown” Temples & History Stroll
Did you know the entire peninsula area of the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site? The town is small enough to be able to just stroll on foot. The temples and storefronts are beautiful and you can feel the history seeping out of each block. Of the 30 temples, Wat Xieng Thong is the most visited. It was built in 1560 and the name means “Temple of the Golden City.” It’s one of the most important monasteries in Laos. Visit that one and a few of the others while you’re here.
The Mighty Mekong River
Even though we moved all over SE Asia with stops in Vietnam and Cambodia, this was our only glimpse of the mighty Mekong River. This river has so much history. On top of that, it is the home of some really amazing animals that you can’t find anywhere else. There are tons of river cruises for sunset or some other tourist highlights like the caves just north of the city. We kept our trip as cheap as possible and just enjoyed some time on the river’s edge.
Where to Eat & Drink in Luang Prabang
We were on a budget, so I cannot recommend too many food spots, but we did have a few highlights that I have to pass on.
Saffron Coffee
Located right next to the Orange Robe Tours office, this coffee place was our favorite while we were in town. They have a few pastries and food options, but their coffee was unforgettable. They are an amazing company with a great mission. Read more about their story here.
Utopia
This epic spot right on the water was a cool place to lounge and hang out during the slow, hot days. This spot has some Cauliflower “wings” that are just amazing, plus other vegetarian-friendly options. Once you add in the views and the good wifi, it makes this one of the best places to hang out for an afternoon. I have contemplated ordering one of these floor cushions since we left.
The Sports Bar
How can you resist a “sports bar” in a town in Laos? We couldn’t. We stopped to watch a little rugby (which we still don’t understand) and have a cold beer. It seemed like a hangout for expats from Europe, but the stools all look to the street and it’s a good place to just hang out and watch life roll by.
Tangor Restaurant
This spot is right on the main street and has a great menu with both Lao and Western cuisines mingling together. We had some falafel balls and a goat cheese salad. I wish we could have returned for another meal here because the food was so good and the vibes were great.
Want to see more? Check Out These Clips From Our Time in Laos
The time we spent in this town was very special to us. We met some of the most wonderful people and had some amazing experiences. I hope this inspires you to add this to your list of places to visit.
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions to add to the list. Pin this for your future travels!
