You are enveloped in a world of stillness the moment you step into the portals of the ancient city of Luang Prabang in Northern Laos. Blending Asian mysticism with European charm the Old Quarter is a UNESCO Heritage Site with 33 Buddhist temples and monasteries embellished with gold.
Luang Prabang literally means “Royal Buddha Image” and it takes its name from the Phra Bang or the Prabang Buddha golden statue enshrined inside the Royal Palace Museum. Located on the confluence of the Mekong River and Nam Khan (Khan River) the town is a cultural haven with gilded palaces, charming villas, traditional houses, interesting museums, atmospheric cafes and restaurants.
You can feel the essence of Zen in the air as you transform into a slow and mindful traveller. Explore the jungles, hike to the waterfalls and caves, head to arts and crafts villages, meet the various tribes, lose yourself in colourful markets and sample delicious fusion food. Luang Prabang is more than just a temple town and has more to offer in terms of culture, adventure and nature. Get inspired by the list of best things to do in Luang Prabang for your next sojourn in Asia.
Best time to visit Luang Prabang
Most tourists throng Luang Prabang from October to March when the weather is pleasant with cooler temperatures and less rain. Summer reigns from April to September while the rains lash from June to September resulting in fewer crowds.
However, you can also plan your trip to Luang Prabang if you would like to experience the festivals — Lao New Year or Pi Mai ( Songkran) is celebrated in mid-April while the fun Lao Rocket Festival or Boun Bung Fai is celebrated from May to July depending on the villages and tribes.
Boat races, pageants and floats are held in October as a part of the Boun Awk Phansa celebrated at the end of the Buddhist Lent period. The Festival of Light also called the Boun Lai Heua Fai is celebrated in the same month as a continuation of the festivities.
Best free thing to do
Get a dose of history at the UXO Lao Visitors Centre
Start your experience in Luang Prabang with a moving war museum in this educational centre. It was quite a shock to learn that the serene country had been the most bombed country per capita, during the Second Indo-China War.
Statistics say that Laos was bombed almost every eight minutes with 580,000 bombing missions and even today there are about 80 million “bombies” or unexploded ordnance (UXO) scattered all over Laos, causing death and destruction.
You can see these “bombies” that failed to detonate on display and you can watch a heartbreaking documentary with several survivor stories. The centre is located in Wat Naviengkham village behind the Souphanouvong Monument and is about a short tuk-tuk ride from the main city centre.
Best fun thing to do in Luang Prabang
Get high at the Whiskey Village
Say cheers or Tham Keo in the Whiskey Village as you take a shot of lao-lao, the rice whiskey, handcrafted by the locals. Ban Xang Hai, a Mekong village located near the Pak Ou Caves is usually visited by tourists on a cruise and the locals will show you in their “factories” the traditional methods of preparing their potent “firewater.”
However, some of the bottles may contain parts of animals like bears and tigers and it is not recommended to buy them. Stroll around the village, visit old temples, explore the markets, relax by the river, buy some silk scarves from the locals and try your hand at weaving. While the Whiskey Village is a part of the longer Mekong River cruise to Pak Ou Caves, you can also come here by road which is about 20 km from Luang Prabang.
Best thing to do in Luang Prabang with family and kids
Visit the Kuang Si Butterfly Park
Lose yourself in a colourful world of flitting butterflies as you take a guided tour inside the verdant Kuang Si Butterfly Park. Located barely 300 metres from the enchanting Kuang Si Waterfalls, the park, run by volunteers is managed by a Dutch couple who wanted to create a breeding sanctuary for the local species and you can see over 30 of them.
As you stroll around the gardens, you will find several caterpillars and chrysalises, while fragile colourful wings flutter around the flowers. Enjoy the delicious cookies and cakes at the cafe while getting your feet massaged at the foot spa before leaving this lush sanctuary.
Book your stay at Sofitel Luang Prabang via Booking.com
Book your stay at Sofitel Luang Prabang via Agoda.com
Best thing to do in Luang Prabang for couples
Swim under the mighty Kuang Si Waterfall
Step into an enchanted tropical forest with wooded trails leading to a three-tiered waterfall cascading from a height of 50 metres over limestone rocks to form turquoise pools where you can enjoy a swim. Lose yourself in the dense canopy of woods where you can secret cascades and secluded pools or hike across the rocks to the summit of the Kuang Si Waterfalls.
Legends say that a wise old man summoned the water by digging a hole in the ground. The sweet water attracted a golden deer that lived apparently under one of the rocks, giving the name Kuang meaning deer and Si referring to dig. You may not see deer but you can spot bears at the Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre here. Located 30 km from Luang Prabang, plan a day trip to the waterfalls and add the Butterfly Centre and a traditional Hmong Village to your itinerary.
Best thing to do in Luang Prabang for nature lovers
Cruise along the Mekong River
While sunset cruises along the Mekong River are romantic, there are several voyages that will take you on full-day or half-day tours to the Kuang Si Waterfalls Pak Ou Caves and other villages around Luang Prabang. But if you are looking for some adventure, then go on a five-day cruise to riverside towns like Huay Xai or to the capital Vientiane sailing past scenic landscapes of dense forests and rugged mountains and stopping by attractions. Some of the cruises include Mekong Pearl Cruises, Mekong Kingdoms, RV Mekong Sun Cruise, Luang Say Mekong Cruises, and others offering you a variety of destinations and duration to choose from.
Best cultural things to do in Luang Prabang
Meditate in the ancient Buddhist temples in Luang Prabang
You are in the heartland of Buddhism, with over 30 ancient shrines dotting the UNESCO Heritage Site but if you are running out of time, then visit these three temples, starting with the 16th century Wat Xieng Thong built by King Setthathirath in his royal capital. Meditate in the Golden City Monastery, shimmering in glass and tiles and admire the Tree of Life mosaic.
The ordination hall houses precious relics while there are several stupas and shrines with Buddha statues. Head to Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham with its wooden ordination halls, built in traditional architectural style with golden reliefs depicting scenes from Buddha’s life beside Ramayana. The Royal Palace Temple or the Wat Haw Pha Bang houses the Phra Bang, the statue of Buddha that gave the city its name. And while you are here, explore the Royal Palace and the museum.
Book your stay at Rosewood Luang Prabang via Booking.com
Book your stay at Rosewood Luang Prabang via Agoda.com
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Best thing to do in Luang Prabang for adventure
Explore Pak Ou Caves
Take a river cruise to Ban Pak Ou where there is a confluence of the rivers Mekong and Ou and get ready for some cave exploration. Set amidst rugged limestone cliffs, are two caves, protected by the spirits of the river and are replete with 4000 carvings of Buddha in different poses.
The lower cave or Tham Ting is easier to access but the upper cave or Tham Theung, carved right in the rock face is a vertical steep ascent and you will need a torch to see the Buddhist icons. Located 25 km from Luang Prabang, the caves are religious sites and are flooded with locals and tourists during the festivals. Most cruises include visits to the Ban Xang Hai or the Whiskey Village.
Best thing to do at night in Luang Prabang
Shop and dine at the Night Market
When the night market started in 2002 in the heart of Luang Prabang, there was no electricity and artists and artisans sold their crafts under candlelight. Today the night market is an iconic experience in Luang Prabang as over a hundred vendors, craftsmen and women gather in the evening to showcase their arts and crafts.
You can buy handmade souvenirs here including colourful embroidered fabrics, silk scarves, paintings, bags, Buddha sculptures, woodwork, artefacts, ceramics, trinkets local tea, spices and other ingredients and support local artisans. Enjoy the delicious flavours by sampling local street food and get high on Beer Lao or the Lao Lao whiskey The night market opens every evening at sunset and it is open till 10 pm.
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Best thing to do in summer
Learn about the living traditions of the tribes at TAEC
Step into the world of diverse cultures as you learn more about the ethnic tribes at TAEC – The Traditional Arts and Ethnography Centre located in a 1920s colonial mansion. While there is a slew of exhibitions on display, the centre showcases the living traditions of the four main tribes — Akha, (H)mong, Tai Dam and Khmu.
Shop for handmade crafts and fabrics, meet the artisans, attend events, go for a tour and participate in workshops where you can try your hand at bamboo weaving and embroidery. Luang Prabang also has several arts and crafts villages and weaving centres like Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre where you can interact with the craftsmen and women and support their work.
Best thing to do in winter
Watch the sunset from Mount Phou Si
As temperatures cool down, climb 330 steep steps and hike the tallest hill, Mount Phou Si which towers at 100 metres (328 feet) above the city. The views of the city surrounded by the rivers Mekong and Nam Kham are absolutely priceless. especially at sunrise and sunset when there is a divine rosy hue. At the summit of this sacred hill, is a golden-topped stupa, That Chomsi while there are temples on the way up the hill — Wat Pa Huak with 19th-century murals and Wat Siphoutthabath, which enshrines the footprints of Lord Buddha.
Book your stay at La Résidence Phou Vao, A Belmond Hotel, Luang Prabang via Booking.com
Book your stay at La Résidence Phou Vao, A Belmond Hotel, Luang Prabang via Agoda.com
(Hero and feature image credit: Tortoon/Shutterstock)
Related: These Are the 10 Best Cities in Asia for 2023
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What are the best shopping places in Luang Prabang and what are the best things to shop for in Luang Prabang?
The markets are the best place to shop in Luang Prabang and there are several of them — from morning and night markets to Phosi Market, Dara Market, and Na Vieng Kham Market. You can also shop in some of the handicraft and weaving centres and boutiques as well. You can buy handicrafts, silk scarves, embroidered textiles, sarongs, bamboo and wooden handmade products.
– What are the best cultural places to visit in Luang Prabang?
Luang Prabang is the former royal capital and it has over 30 Buddhist temples, the most important being Wat Xieng Thong. You can also visit the Royal Temple, Palace and Museum. Another cultural experience is at The Traditional Arts and Ethnography Centre.
– What are the festivals celebrated in Luang Prabang?
The Lao New Year or the Boun Pi Mai Lao is one of the most important festivals in Luang Prabang and it is celebrated in April. In May The Rocket Festival or Boun Bang Fai is celebrated. Buddhist Lent or Boun Khao Phansa begins in July and it ends with Boun Awk Phansa with pageants and floats celebrated in October. One of the biggest festivals is in September and it is the Boat Racing Festival or Boun Suang Huea and it is followed by a Market Fair as well. The Festival of Lights or Boun Lai Heua Fai is celebrated in October. There are several temple festivals held throughout the year as well.
– Is there a dress code in Luang Prabang?
You need to dress appropriately while visiting the temples, palaces and sacred sites and while attending festivals. It is recommended to cover your arms and legs and avoid shorts, sleeveless tops and skirts.
– What are some of the adventurous activities in Luang Prabang?
You can hike in the jungles and head to some of the remote villages and meet the local tribes, explore caves, trek around waterfalls, cruise on the Mekong and even go kayaking as well.
Written By
Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi is passionate about everything that is local — from cultural traditions to art and architecture and believes that people make places. A slow and mindful traveller from India, you will often find her listening to stories of people or just sitting in a cafe and watching life pass by. Travelling is a way of life for this former media professional ..Read More
