Guide to Luang Prabang, Laos

Last Updated December 2022

Luang Prabang, Laos is probably my favorite city in Southeast Asia (so far). After spending about a month there, I decided to put together the ultimate guide to Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang is one of the most popular destinations in all of Laos and is often considered the spiritual center of the entire nation. Once the royal capital, it’s now a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Site begging to be explored.

NEED TO KNOW LUANG PRABANG

⋙ LOCATION: Luang Prabang is in the central, northern part of Laos. It’s surrounded by mountains and bordered by both the Mekong + Nam Khan rivers.
⋙ WHEN TO VISIT: There are two basic seasons in Luang Prabang: wet + dry. Wet season is April – October. I’ve been there in both seasons and each has its perks. Dry season is hotter + a bit more crowded, but it’s dry and you can easily cross the river. Wet season is cooler, beautifully lush + a bit less crowded, but there’s rain. If you go on the fringes (April + October) there’s typically a lot less rain. October/November was my favorite.
⋙ BE RESPECTFUL: Although Luang Prabang is no stranger to tourism, the local culture is still quite conservative. Be respectful when observing the morning almsgiving, this has been a big point of contention with tourists in the city. Also, be sure to dress with modesty (especially in temples).
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GUIDE TO LUANG PRABANG – GETTING THERE

A lot of the decision of how to get to Luang Prabang depends on where you’re coming from. Of course, there are also pros and cons to each option.

⋙ SLOW BOAT: Taking the slow boat is only possible from the Thai border. This is a two day journey along the Mekong and it’s absolutely stunning. I’ve heard that this can be a bit of the luck of the draw, though, because your experience relies on your fellow passengers (ya know, there is a bar on board). I’ve heard that this option will only be around for a few more years until they put in a dam on the Mekong. Read the ultimate guide to this journey here.
⋙ PLANE: There is a small airport in Luang Prabang. I’ve never flown in or out of here, but it’s a decently popular airport. However, I have heard that popup storms can make it anxiety-inducing if you’re a nervous flyer, like me.
⋙ BUS/MINIVAN: I’ve done this three times. Twice on a night bus, the other was a mini van. It takes you through the mountains and is a gorgeous ride. Be mindful, however, if there has been a lot of rain, this region is susceptible to landslides. This is the cheapest option to get to other cities like Vang Vieng or Vientiane.

GUIDE TO LUANG PRABANG – BEST THINGS TO SEE

Luang Prabang has several wonderful draws. It’s isn’t a big party destination like many other SE Asia destinations – which is a big part of what we love about it. Instead, it is a beautiful destination that’s rich in culture. Plus, the lack of party scene makes it one of the most pleasant + peaceful destinations to visit in the region.

VISIT THE BUDDHIST TEMPLES – There are dozens and dozens of temples in Luang Prabang, with a large number of them being protected by UNESCO. Theravada Buddhism tradition is incredibly rich in Luang Prabang and this is one of the most beautiful draws for this city. Each temple is uniquely decorated and you can find art, meditation, chanting, music and/or festivals happening all throughout the year.

KUANG SI FALLS – This is hands-down one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever seen. The water that flows here is a vivid turquoise that falls over a series of cascades. This is beautiful in any season, but spectacular in rainy season! Learn more in our guide to these falls. Don’t want to hunt down a tuktuk to get there? This private tour of Kuang Si Falls includes a scenic coffee stop, lunch, a visit to a local village with it!

CLIMB MOUNT PHOUSI – Mount is a bit of a stretch, but this is a steep hill that overlooks the rivers, the town and surrounding mountains. This is the perfect spot for sunrise or sunset. If you want to come for sunset, get there early enough to get a spot. In addition to the views, there is a stupa and a cave temple to visit on Mount Phousi. For even more info about Mount Phousi, click here.
TAKE A YOGA OR MEDITATION CLASS – Luang Prabang Yoga is a yoga co-op that operates in a studio above Sena. We took yoga + meditation classes at each location and I can’t recommend it enough. Check their class schedules on their website. When we were there, these classes were also available at Utopia, at this moment Utopia is temporarily closed.
SHOP OR EAT IN THE NIGHT MARKET – Night markets are incredibly popular across Southeast Asia. That being said, many are filled with cheap knickknacks shipped in. Luang Prabang’s night market has some of those things, but they have even more handmade goods and beautiful art than cheap souvenirs. Speaking of eating in the night market, this tour takes you around town at night to eat some of the best food in the city!

TAKE A TOUR WITH SAFFRON COFFEE (AND VISIT THEIR CAFE) – Saffron Coffee is a sustainable coffee company who prides itself on working with local farmers to give them opportunities to earn a living wage in a legal manner, replacing what used to be opium fields. This delicious, organic + sustainable coffee can be enjoyed at their cafe in town. Want to learn more? Take one of their coffee tours! It’s so interesting and makes you appreciate the product even more! Don’t love coffee? They have delicious pastries and breakfasts as well that shouldn’t be missed.
UXO LAOS VISITOR CENTER – This is the Unexploded Ordnance Visitor Center and it teaches you all about the past landmines + bombs that have gone off in rural Laos, as well as the efforts being taken to find other UXO across the country. I think this is something that every person who travels in SE Asia (especially Cambodia, Laos or Vietnam) should visit. It’s a part of history I knew nothing about before coming to Southeast Asia the first time in 2015.

WATCH THE DAILY ALMSGIVING – This is actually one of the things that made Luang Prabang the destination that it is. Every single morning hundreds and hundreds of monks come out just before sunrise to receive alms from devotees along the streets. Although this is one of the most famous things, I list it so low on the list because the tourism that has surrounded it has threatened this tradition. Never follow the monks, observe from a distance (use zoom lens + no flash, if you want to photograph) and if you want to participate only buy rice from the morning market and do so dressed appropriately and with respect. Worried you might not know what’s considered respectful? Check out this Buddhism tour that starts with the almsgiving and continues with tours of temples with a local guide.

PAC OU CAVES – Pac Ou Caves are a relatively short boat ride down the Mekong. It’s two caves that house thousands of Buddha figures that have been removed from temples in the area. While it’s a very interesting day tour to take if you’re in Luang Prabang for an extended period of time. I wouldn’t prioritize it on a short (less than 3 days) trip. Although, this tour bundles it with a visit to Kuang Si Fall, which I cannot recommend enough.

WHAT NOT TO DO IN LUANG PRABANG

Like any other destination, there are things that are popular that aren’t necessarily good or ethical. Hence, this part of our guide to Luang Prabang. We want to help you have experiences you can feel good about!

DON’T RIDE AN ELEPHANT – Riding an elephant seems like a beautiful moment of connection with these beautiful animals, but it’s anything but. It requires mental and physical torture to be able to ride an elephant. I made many mistakes while traveling in SE Asia the first time, one of those being riding an elephant bareback in Thailand. Afterward, I learned more and more and it’s one of my biggest travel regrets. Read more about the ethics of animal tourism here.
DON’T BE AN ASSHOLE DURING ALMSGIVING OR AT TEMPLES – I touched base on this a bit in my recommendation for almsgiving, but it deserves reiteration. My gut ached watching tourists follow monks down the roads, getting in their faces, touching them and blinding them with their flashes, while the monks were just trying to do a very basic part of their life + day. Also, I saw so many tourists do rude things at temples, totally obliviously. One man climbed up on the stupa atop Mount Phousi to get a perfect sunset shot. Then he ignored the local man who was pleaded with him to get down. Matt eventually poked him with his tripod and explained that he was climbing on a sacred site for a photo and he finally got down. Don’t know much about experiencing Buddhism respectfully? Read more about it in this post to educate yourself.

EATING IN LUANG PRABANG

Luang Prabang has some fabulous eateries. Laos was colonized by the French, so there is still signs of that in their cuisine. In addition to that this is a great place to fulfill many different Western cravings if you’re hankering for a pizza, Mexican food, a milkshake or even a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Looking for Lao food? You did come all that way, after all. That’s there too! No guide to Luang Prabang would be complete without giving you a few amazing options for each meal.

BEST PLACES FOR BREAKFAST – Saffron Cafe has delicious pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and the best coffee in town. JOMA has giant cinnamon rolls.
BEST PLACES FOR LUNCH – Utopia has some tasty foods including pizza and toasties for lunch or dinner. Back to JOMA, they have super tasty sandwiches + the best strawberry milkshakes (among other flavors). Bamboo Garden served up the best veggie + chicken friend rice we’ve ever had. That’s one of Matt’s favorite foods and he demanded we eat here almost daily for the three weeks we were here. Utopia is temporarily closed according to Google. I’ve messaged them on Facebook for more information, but I’m hopeful they will re-open.
BEST PLACES FOR DINNER – The lunch options work for dinner as well. Plus, there are a couple of other amazing places to try. Amigo’s has the closest thing to Mexican food you’ll find in Laos. They have delicious queso and legit sweet tea. Plus, the owners are fantastic! The Vegetarian Buffet at the night market has loads of options and is unbelievably cheap. The food is tasty and it’s the perfect way to try a lot of things at one time. Amigo’s is temporarily closed according to Google. I’ve messaged them on Facebook for more information.

GUIDE TO LUANG PRABANG – WHERE TO STAY

There are many, many options of places to stay in Luang Prabang. Since we’re traveling as a couple, and I had just broken my arm when we were here, we opted for places with private bathrooms, therefore, they weren’t the most intensely budget friendly options – you can find places for as little as $3/night.


VILLA MAHASOK– This was Matt’s favorite place we stayed. He loved how comfortable the bed was and the amazingness of our shower head here. I agree that the comforts here were much better. The welcomed us with a fruit salad and fruit shakes upon arrival. Plus, do you see that cozy area to chill? I also loved that they gave us a free bottle of water each day – that’s huge in SE Asia.

FIND THE PERFECT DEAL FOR YOUR OWN LUANG PRABANG ADVENTURE

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ONE DAY GUIDE TO LUANG PRABANG

Only have one full day in Luang Prabang? Here’s my 24-hour guide of where to go, what to see and where to eat in Luang Prabang so you can make the most out of your day.

SUNRISE – Get up just before sunrise to respectfully witness the almsgiving. It’s a wonderful thing to witness.
MORNING – Get to Kaung Si Falls. Going early is the best because you beat the crowds. Pop over to Saffron Cafe for coffee and pastries to go. Then, hop in a tuktuk to Kuang Si Falls. Negotiate how much time they’ll give you, but give yourself around 2 hours.
AFTERNOON – Get back to Luang Prabang’s Old Town in time for lunch. I recommend Bamboo Garden. It’s quick, cheap and amazingly delicious! Next, I would go to the UXO Visitor Center because it’s near by. Then start temple hopping from there. I highly recommend Wat Visounnarath and Wat Aham next door. Then, make your way down the peninsula to visit Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham, which is near the base of Mount Phousi and the largest temple in Luang Prabang. You’ll find many monks in this area who are willing to talk with you and show you their temple.
EVENING – Climb Mount Phousi and watch the sunset. I recommend going up the Nam Khan side and going down on the Mekong side after the sun sets. You’ll end at the bottom just in time for the night market to pop up! Explore, shop and enjoy. Pick up snacks, shakes, etc. to hold you over until you can grab dinner. Want amazing Western food? JOMA. Want a chill, boho atmosphere and perhaps a drink? Utopia.

Luang Prabang is a town that has a surprising amount of things to explore in the city. You can easily spend 3 weeks or 1 day here and thoroughly enjoy yourself. Food, nature, spirituality, history, culture – Luang Prabang has it all.

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Last Updated December 2022