This publish could comprise affilliate hyperlinks. It signifies that when you purchase one thing by means of certainly one of these hyperlinks, we’d get a small fee at no additional price to you. Affiliate fee helps us maintain this journey weblog working.
On this article, I’ll share with you the perfect issues to do in Luang Prabang, Laos. It doesn’t matter in case you are solely planning your journey to Laos otherwise you’re already there; listed here are 18 superb issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang.
Issues it’s essential know earlier than the journey to Luang Prabang
Earlier than we begin with the perfect issues to do in Luang Prabang, I’d wish to reply some incessantly requested questions concerning the metropolis.
Tips on how to get to Luang Prabang?
One of the vital questions is learn how to get to Luang Prabang. The simplest means of getting there’s by aircraft. You possibly can fly there immediately from Bangkok, Chiang Could and Hanoi (maybe, a number of different areas as effectively, however not as incessantly). When you’re flying to Vientiane first, you may also take a pace practice, which takes round 4 hours; nevertheless, shopping for tickets is considerably problematic, as there is no such thing as a means to purchase the tickets on-line, and the gross sales solely open 2 days earlier than the journey date. You too can take an in a single day bus from Hanoi or Vientiane. You too can get there by ferry, but it surely would possibly take a few days!
Test the costs and availability of flights to Luang Prabang right here >
Is Luang Prabang secure?
When you’re questioning whether or not Luang Prabang is secure or not, I can guarantee you that it’s very secure. Luang Prabang is a tiny metropolis, and the locals are genuinely pleasant. After all, I’ve a perspective or a vacationer – somebody, who spent lower than per week in Luang Prabang, however the one crime I’ve heard of there was the motorcycle theft rip-off, the place the individuals, who you lease the bike from, discover the bike and steal it from the road after which ask you to pay them a full worth of the “stolen bike”. Thus, I solely suggest renting bikes from trusted firms with many constructive critiques.
Is Luang Prabang costly? How costly is Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang may be each very reasonably priced and fairly costly. It’s an idyllic city, so there are a number of ultra-luxurious motels like Belmond, Rosewood and AMAN. Abnormal resorts are additionally not too low cost; you’ll be able to put together to pay £120-130 per night time. Nonetheless, if you wish to keep on a funds, there are many very low cost hostels round.
Meals may be very low cost in Luang Prabang – you’ll be able to eat effectively for lower than £10 per day for 3 meals. When you eat avenue meals, you’ll be able to maybe survive with simply £5 a day.
Excursions and excursions can be fairly reasonably priced except you purchase them from motels and tour businesses. The most affordable solution to do sightseeing is by both renting a bike (you may get a pleasant one for lower than $5 a day) or hiring a taxi and sharing it with a number of individuals. Taxi drivers cost $20-30 for a visit to the waterfalls & some landmarks on the way in which, so when you cut up it between 4 individuals, that’s simply $5-$7 per individual.
General, Luang Prabang was one of the vital reasonably priced locations we’ve visited in the previous couple of years!
How lengthy ought to I keep in Luang Prabang?
Lots of people come to Luang Prabang to work remotely, and why wouldn’t they? The climate is nice, all the pieces is reasonably priced, the surroundings is superb, and the web is nice. Nonetheless, when you’re coming as a vacationer, what number of days could be sufficient? I’d say in 3 days; it is possible for you to to see a lot of the issues round Luang Prabang and inside the town. Nonetheless, if you wish to take it sluggish and relaxation, I’d say that possibly 4-5 days could be even higher.
When you don’t have an excessive amount of time, then 2 days would even be okay. Nonetheless, these 2 days must be fairly busy.
The place to remain in Luang Prabang?
Lastly, let’s focus on lodging and the place to remain in Luang Prabang. We stayed on the Bel Air Resort with gorgeous river views. Nonetheless, the placement wasn’t the perfect as a result of each time we wanted to go someplace (all of the locations apart from the airport had been throughout the river), we needed to cross a really scary bridge. Not the beautiful Bamboo bridge, however the Outdated French Bridge that regarded prefer it was on the breaking point, with lacking wood planks and nails protruding all over the place. Not like the Bamboo bridge, this bridge was very excessive within the air, and any fall would have been deadly.
As an alternative, I like to recommend staying on the following locations:
Luxurious resorts: If cash just isn’t an issue, these resorts could be a tremendous possibility: Burasari Heritage, Rosewood, 3 Nagas
Mid-range motels and resorts: The Belle Rive, Angsana Maison
Very reasonably priced however fairly good place to remain in Luang Prabang: Villa Ouis
With out additional ado, let’s get began!
18 superb issues to do in Luang Prabang:
Take a sundown cruise alongside the Mekong River
My absolute favorite factor to do in Luang Prabang was taking a sundown cruise alongside the Mekong River. When you can solely do one factor, that will be the factor I like to recommend doing in Laos. There are many cruise choices – from some actually fancy cruises that embrace a 3-course dinner to some quite simple boats. You don’t must e book prematurely, simply head to Khem Khong Avenue, and lots of boat homeowners’ll strategy you. We discovered a flyer promoting a sundown cruise for $5.5 per individual from Svan Mekong Cruises (that’s the spelling) in one of many companies (I believe you should buy it from Mekong Eden Home) and had been extraordinarily fortunate – there have been no different vacationers that day and we had been the one ones on this cruise!
The boat was additionally beautiful – it had bean baggage and cosy seats, and we might additionally purchase beers and wine there (for an additional charge, but it surely was very reasonably priced as effectively).
It will get fairly chilly at night time, particularly in December/January, however we had been provided blankets, which was very considerate and superb.
When you’re fascinated about a dinner cruise, you’ll be able to verify this cruise on-line right here.
Stroll the Unesco Heritage protected a part of Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang grew to become a UNESCO world heritage web site in 1994, and that was completely deserved – Luang Prabang may be very fairly. Among the best issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang is to put on comfy footwear and for for a stroll or a motorcycle trip across the Outdated City – there are many lovely streets!
Go to the night time market on Sisavangvong Street
Sisavangvong Street is probably the most well-known, busy and standard avenue in Luang Prabang. It will get particularly crowded within the night, round 6pm, when the night time market opens. The night time market in Luang Prabang has loads of stalls promoting garments, souvenirs and artwork. I’d say it’s primarily aimed toward vacationers, but it surely’s a must-visit attraction anyway.
Strive native avenue meals
Proper at the beginning of the Evening Market, there’s a everlasting avenue meals market in Luang Prabang. Most stalls open round 6pm and are in full swing by 7pm and 8pm. Nonetheless, when you come later, at 9pm or 10pm, you’ll nonetheless be capable of discover some open stalls at this market.
Avenue meals in Laos may be very distinctive – you’ll be able to both strive a number of small dishes from the stalls (e.g. all types of skewers) or get correct dishes within the restaurant stalls on the opposite facet of the market (subsequent to the large display screen). The preferred dish in Laos is Laap – a meat or fish salad, which is scrumptious however very spicy. Truly, most dishes in Laos are very, very spicy! Even Jose couldn’t eat a number of the dishes – and he was born and raised in Mexico, a rustic with lots of spicy meals and folks snacking on chillies.
If you’re uninterested in spicy meals, think about asking for a soup. Soups in Laos are usually not spicy!
Go to the Kuang Si waterfall
One of many foremost sights of Luang Prabang is positioned exterior the town, circa 45 minutes away. You possibly can both get there by motorcycle, purchase a tour or rent a taxi that can watch for you there for 3-4 hours for $20 for a day. Alternatively, you may get there by boat when you purchase a tour (that mixes Kuang Si Waterfalls and Pak Ou caves, for instance) – you’ll be able to e book a tour on-line right here.
Entrance to Kuang Si prices round $2.5 per individual, and you may swim in a number of the swimming pools there. Nonetheless, it will get very busy! There isn’t a lot mountaineering/strolling close to Kuang Si. Nonetheless, additionally, you will go to a tiny village subsequent to the waterfall, which is gorgeous & very genuine. When you’re hungry, don’t fear, there will likely be lots of meals choices within the village proper on the entrance to the waterfall.
General, when you’re not planning to swim, you’ll be able to go to the waterfall and the village in about 45 minutes to 1 hour. On this case, when you employed a taxi, similar to we did, you may also ask your taxi driver to cease on the buffalo farm or on the rice farm proper exterior Luang Prabang.
Trip a bike
One other of the 15+ superb issues to do in Luang Prabang is using a motorcycle. When you’ve by no means pushed one earlier than, think about taking the teachings. You too can rent an electrical motorcycle that’s not so quick & harmful. It’s actually enjoyable to drive round Luang Prabang on a bike, and also you’ll be capable of entry lots of sights simply!
Stroll the bamboo bridge
One of many sights of Luang Prabang is the Bamboo Bridge throughout the Nam Khan River. It’s solely open 6 months a 12 months and will get rebuilt yearly because it will get destroyed as soon as the water ranges rise. You should pay 10,000 kips ($0.6) per individual to cross the bridge, but it surely’s value it. When you’re visiting exterior the wet season, you must positively attempt to cross it not less than as soon as!
Go to the Buffalo farm
A few the expats opened a buffalo farm exterior Luang Prabang a number of years in the past, and ever because it grew to become an attraction. You possibly can come to the farm to strive a number of cheeses fabricated from buffalo milk and buffalo ice cream. You too can take a tour across the farm (I believe it prices round $10 per individual) and study extra concerning the farm and even feed child buffalos from a bottle.
Learn to harvest rice at Dwelling Lang Farm
One other thrilling factor to do in Luang Prabang is go to a rice farm positioned simply exterior Luang Prabang, close to the Pullman Lodge. You possibly can even stroll there from the city centre. It’s referred to as Dwelling Land Farm. You possibly can take part in planting and harvesting rice and, basically, study extra about rising rice and the significance of rice in Laos. You possibly can study extra on their web site right here.
Go to the MandaLao elephant sanctuary
You too can go to the MandaLao elephant sanctuary, the place you’ll be able to have a non-riding expertise (trek subsequent to them) with elephants, study extra about elephants in Laos and assist elephant conservation. You possibly can study extra concerning the expertise right here.
Climb the Mount Phou Si
One of many must-visit locations in Luang Prabang is Mount Phou Si – positioned proper within the coronary heart of the town; this mountain has a gorgeous temple on the highest of it. There are many stairs to climb. Nonetheless, the views from there are effectively value it. The ticket to enter the higher a part of Mount Phou Si prices circa $1 per individual.
Have a therapeutic massage
When you really feel burdened or simply need to calm down, Luang Prabang is a superb place to have a therapeutic massage! There are many therapeutic massage parlours throughout Luang Prabang, and most of them are very reasonably priced! After all, there are luxurious therapeutic massage parlours as effectively, so you will have loads of choices for any funds.
See probably the most lovely temples in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang has so many gorgeous temples, monasteries and stupas. Probably the most lovely is undoubtedly Haw Pha Bang, positioned proper on the backside of Mount Phou Si. There may be additionally Wat Wisunarat, which is extra religious and means much less touristy and Wat Sen. There are such a lot of temples within the Outdated City that it’s most likely unattainable to go to all of them!
Go to the morning market
Luang Prabang has many markets! After the night time market, the second most well-known market could be the morning market, the place you will discover lots of native produce & groceries. It opens day-after-day at 5am and closes at 10am. You will discover it subsequent to the Ananta Villa Lodge.
Observe the Alm Giving ceremony with the Buddhist monks
When you’re an early chicken and also you want to observe a really distinctive, lovely ceremony that is essential to locals, head to the Outdated City round 5:30am. It’s a ceremony the place native Buddhists supply alms (home made sticky rice) to the monks. Nonetheless, except you’re a Buddhist, you shouldn’t take part. As an alternative, you’ll be able to quietly observe the ceremony. You too can take photographs (and not using a flash), however ensure you’re not in the way in which and never obstructing anybody.
Pak Ou Caves
Pak Ou Caves are sometimes visited as a part of a tour. It’s a major web site for locals, particularly Buddhists, and they’re completely filled with hundreds of Buddha photographs. Guests usually mix Pak Ou Caves with Kuang Si Waterfalls, e.g. this tour visits each landmarks!
Go trekking
When you’re into sports activities and would take pleasure in one thing that features shifting and exquisite sceneries, then you must positively go trekking exterior Luang Prabang! You possibly can both analysis the routes your self after which head there utilizing taxis or purchase a trekking tour like this one. Both means, you’ll positively take pleasure in trekking in such gorgeous surroundings.
Go to the Pottery village
Lastly, you may also go to the pottery village positioned in Ban Chan, very near Luang Prabang (simply on the opposite facet of Mekong river), the place you’ll be able to take part in a pottery workshop and also have a eating expertise. If that seems like one thing you’ll take pleasure in, you’ll be able to study extra and e book a tour right here.
Abstract of 18 superb issues to do in Luang Prabang
I hope that on this article, you discovered some attention-grabbing locations that you just want to go to in Luang Prabang. After all, there are extra issues to do within the city and its environment, however I might solely write concerning the issues we loved probably the most / or heard from buddies that they had been superb and positively value doing or visiting.
You probably have any questions, be at liberty to DM me at @lizatripsget – I’d be capable of assist!
Another articles you would possibly like:
7-day itinerary for Vietnam: from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis to Hanoi
