Luang Prabang is a scenic town in Laos. Boasting a UNESCO World Heritage site and surrounded by spectacular nature, Luang Prabang is must visit on any South East Asia itinerary. Whether you are planning to visit for one day or a week, here are the best things to do in Luang Prabang, plus day trips near by and the best things to do in Luang Prabang at night.
Things to do in Luang Prabang town
1. Walk up Mount Phousi
The Mount Phousi walk is a must when visiting Luang Prabang. The mound sits in the centre of the town. From its peak you can see the sprawling old town, the river and greenery that surrounds it. The mountain is also home to a Buddhist temple. Look out for the buddha statues lining the path as you make your way up.
Entrance fee: 20,000 LAK
2. Wander around the old town
Luang Prabang is a lovely town just to stroll around. Walk up and down the main streets and admire the unique houses that are a mixture of traditional Laos homes and a French Colonial influence. The architecture is so remarkable and well-preserved that it has earned the town UNESCO World Heritage status.
3. Stroll along the river
The Mekong River flows alongside Luang Prabang with the smaller Nam Khan river swooping around the other side of town. At the point at which the rivers meet there is the aptly name Riverview Park. From here you can stroll alongside either river and take in the views of the bustling streets, traditional homes and perhaps a bamboo bridge or too (if you’re visiting in the dry season!).
4. Visit Heuan Chan Heritage House
Heuan Chan Heritage House is tucked away in a side street of Luang Prabang. We stumbled upon it one afternoon and found a treasure of artefacts displaying traditional family life in Laos. The building itself is a relic; an old wooden house build on stilts. Inside there is information and objects explaining how families used to live in Luang Prabang. There is also an opportunity to dress up and have your photo taken in Laotian clothes.
Entrance fee: 10,000 LAK
5. Explore the Wats
There are several grand Buddhist temples throughout Luang Prabang. Many of them are open to visitors to freely explore and appreciate the beauty of the ornate structures and statues. If you would like to experience more of Buddhist culture, you could take part in the Alms Giving Ceremony. This occurs everyday at sunrise. Monks line the streets, starting on Sakkaline Road to accept offerings from the local community. If you do partake in this ceremony or visit a Wat, please be respectful of the monks and local people.
Day trips from Luang Prabang
6. Explore Nahm Dong Park
Nahm Dong Park truly is a hidden gem in Luang Prabang. Even lots of locals didn’t seem to know about it when we asked around. Because of this the park was super quiet when we visited. There were maybe two other couples there at the time. That meant we could explore the nature, waterfalls, rope bridges and spectacular views in solitude. However, the obscurity of the park does make it a little harder to get to.
How to get to Nahm Dong Park from Luang Prabang
There is no public bus and we couldn’t find many tour options. A tuktuk quoted us 500k or 110k per person if sharing with a larger group. We opted for a moped instead to give ourselves more flexibility. This actually worked out cheaper too at only 150k for 24 hours. Google Maps suggests the park is around a 20 minute drive away from Luang Prabang. In reality it took us around 40 minutes. The last 5km of the route is a long an unsealed, bumpy dirt track. It was literally a rough ride but we are not experience moped drivers at all but we managed fine. You just have to take it really slow. Trust me the park is worth it!
Entrance fee is 20,000 LAK. Additional charges for tree walks, ziplines and craft activities.
7. See Tat Sae Waterfall
Tat Sae is by no means the most famous waterfall near Luang Prabang but if you’re nearby its worth visiting – particularly in the wet season. To reach the falls, drive to the village of En and head straight down the main road towards the river. There you will find a small complex of stalls with a large car park area. From here you can get a small boat over to the other side where you will find the waterfalls. For these falls you have to pay for parking, the boat crossing and entrance to the falls. If you are visiting Luang Prabang in the dry season, as we did, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit Tat Sae as the waterfall may be feeble and underwhelming.
8. Visit Kuang Si Waterfall
Kuang Si Waterfall is one of Luang Prabang’s most famous attractions. Once you visit it will be easy to see why. The waterfall complex expands over a vast area, cascading into multiple pools or dazzling turquoise water. You can swim in the water so don’t forget your swimming costume! There are a couple of launch points too for the more adventurous types to jump in. Just don’t expect the water to be too warm. There is also a short hike that you can do around the top of the water fall to soak in some more great views. From the top you can also take a boat ride to see the source of the waterfalls.
How to get to Kuang Si Falls from Luang Prabang
You can hire a moped for 150-180,000 kip for the day, plus petrol. Alternatively, you can go on an organised tour, or with a group. There are lots of tour options on Viator that also go to the Pak Ou Caves and local villages. If you don’t want to book in advance, there are agencies and drivers in Luang Prabang that will take you there and back. The cheapest ticket to get there that I saw was 70,000 kip. This was from the Iplanet Travel Agency. They did trips to the falls three times a day and you get two hours there. We wanted a little more freedom to explore at our own pace so opted for a moped, but it definitely seems a good option if you don’t fancy a driving yourself.
Entrance fee: 25,000 LAK
9. See Sun and Moon Bears at the Bear Sanctuary
The Kuang Si Bear Sanctuary is part of the Kuang Si Falls park. You will likely pass the sanctuary on your way up to the falls. It is included in the entrance fee for the waterfalls. The sanctuary houses a few moon and sun bears and has lots of displays about bears that once naturally inhabited this part of Asia. The sanctuary is support by Free the Bears, an organisation that has rescued more than 100 bears in Laos. The bears are threatened by habitat loss and poaching. They are particularly targeted for their bile, a substance used in traditional medicine.
Entrance is included in the Kuang Si Falls entrance fee.
10. Visit Butterfly Park
The Butterfly Park is another attraction close by to Kuang Si Waterfalls. The park is fairly expensive compared to other attractions in Laos but it is a lovely experience. You will get to see lots of colourful butterfly species. Plus you can see them at different life stages, including in the chrysalis?. The guides at the park are all well informed and eager to share their knowledge and passion for butterflies. The park also has its own mini version of Kuang Si falls. There is also a fish foot spa too!
Entrance fee: from $5 USD.
The Butterfly park is only open in the dry season, November – March and closed on Thursdays.
11. Sail to Pak Ou Cave
Pak Ou Caves is often listed as one of the must see attractions of Luang Prabang. While you’re in Luang Prabang, you will likely see lots of boats and tuktuks offering trips there. However, if you only have a short time in Laos, I wouldn’t necessarily prioritise the caves. Whilst it is interesting to see ornate Buddhist shrines inside ancient caves, you can see similar sights around Asia for free. The journey there by boat takes a while although it is nice to cruise along the river and take in the sights. Once you arrive, there is nothing there but the shrines in the caves and dozens of local children trying to sell bracelets and caged birds.
Boat to Caves starting from: 120,000 LAK
Things to do in Luang Prabang at Night
12. Watch the sunset
If the Pak Ou Caves doesn’t appeal but you still want to get out and sail along the river – consider a sunset cruise! Lots of boats offer different packages, some including dinner and drinks. Others are more basic if you’re on a budget.
For those who aren’t keen on boats, there is a great place to watch the sunset on land. Cross the bamboo bridge by Riverview Park and walk left along the river bank to find a nice spot. Settle in and enjoy the view!
13. Eat at the Night Market
Luang Prabang’s night market is a lively and bustling place. The food market section benefits from a permanent structure on the corner of Sisavangvong Road and Kingkitsalat Road. Here you can gorge on a wide variety of street food. There are also plenty of stalls selling drinks and you can even treat yourself to rolled ice cream for dessert. Once you’ve eaten, walk off your food with a stroll down Sisavangvong Street to explore more of the night market. This stretch consists of handmade items, souvenirs and clothes.
14. Watch a Traditional Storytelling Show
If you are looking for something unique to do in Luang Prabang, head to the Garavek Theatre around 6pm. Each evening, there is a storytelling performance of traditional Laotian folk stories. Hear all about the myths and legends circulating in Luang Prabang.
The show lasts 1 hour from 6:30pm. Tickets are 50,000 kip.
Is Luang Prabang Worth visiting?
Absolutely! Luang Prabang is one of the most beautiful places in Laos, possibly all of South East Asia. It is filled with culture, thriving markets, spectacular views and wonderful waterfalls. If you are travelling around South East Asia I’d highly recommend adding Laos to your itinerary. If you are only going to one place in Laos – it should certainly be Luang Prabang.
How long to spend in Luang Prabang
I would suggest 3-5 days as the perfect amount of time to spent in Luang Prabang. You can squeeze a lot into three days but if you want to take things at a slower pace, five days will allow you plenty of time.
Best time to visit Luang Prabang
November to March is the dry season in Luang Prabang. The temperature is usually around 20-25°C (66-77°F), with December and January being the cooler months. The summer brings warmer weather but also more rainfall with June to August being the wettest months. Whilst some attractions are better in the wet season (such as Tat Sae falls), the majority are best enjoyed dry. I would suggest the best time to visit Luang Prabang is from November to March.
How to get to Luang Prabang
Getting to Luang Prabang by Air
Luang Prabang Airport is small but well connected. You can fly in directly from Hanoi, Vietnam, Siem Reap, Cambodia and Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand. The airport is also super close to town (closer than the train station is!) and easy to get to. A tuk-tuk to the airport costs around 100,000 Kip.
Getting to Luang Prabang by Boat
If you are travelling to Luang Prabang from Thailand, you can travel by boat. Slow boats from Chiang Rai travel to Luang Prabang with a stop over in a smaller town. The journey takes a few days.
Getting to Luang Prabang by Train
Luang Prabang is a smooth train ride away from Van Vieng and Vientiane. The Laos-China Railway has built modern train stations and lines across Laos making the cities quicker to travel between. However, the stations are all quite far away from the town centres but you will easily be able to get a bus or tuk-tuk from station to town.
The train to Vientiane costs around 270,000 Kip.
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