Welcome to our Luang Prabang travel blog! Embark on a captivating journey through this enchanting Laotian city as we highlight its must-visit places, delectable cuisine, and convenient transport options.
From ancient temples and bustling markets to traditional Lao dishes and efficient ways to get around, we offer a comprehensive guide to experiencing the best of this city.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, our insights and tips will help you explore, taste, and navigate the city with ease. Join us and discover the charm and beauty of this city.
Luang Prabang lies at the interaction of two rivers, the Mekong and the Nam Khan. Limestone mountains surround this city, with clean blue river water and lush green forests.
This city also holds the honour of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This City offers you a wide variety of activities to do such as trekking, enjoying waterfalls, monasteries, river cruises, kayaking trips, wildlife adventures, and outdoor activities.
Things to do in Luang Prabang:
1. Ban Phanom:
It is an artisan village. Here you can see the locals practice traditional textile-making to provide goods for sale at Luang Prabang’s markets.
Manufacturers here use pure cotton and silk materials, intertwining threads to create a shimmering effect in their products. This village represents a fantastic insight into the ancient art of Luang Prabang.
2. Kuang Si Falls:
This waterfall has 3 tiers leading to a 50-meter drop into shallow pools, before flowing downstream.
This is a great place to go swimming. You can rent the swimming costumes and change into wooden huts near the waterfall’s entrance.
The waterfall is surrounded by a lush green tropical forest. You will also find the trails to reach the top of the Kuang Si Falls.
3. Mount Phousi:
This hill is standing at 100 meters above sea level. It is the highest hill at Luang Prabang.
This place is very popular among tourists for enjoying sunrise and sunset over the Mekong River. You’ll have to climb 300 steps to reach the top of Mount Phousi.
4. Pak Ou Caves:
Pak Ou Caves are packed with over 4,000 Buddha icons believed to have been left in the caves for thousands of years.
The caves are located in a dramatic limestone cliff at the point where the Mekong River joins the Nam Ou River.
There are 2 caves to visit, one at a lower cave called Tham Ting and another in the upper cave Tham Theung, both serving as the river spirit and Lord Buddha.
Food to try in Luang Prabang:
1. Khao Ka Moo:
It is a pork leg rice dish. The pork leg is simmered for hours in a trance-inducing gravy peeling away the fats.
The gravy is piled on top of your rice with that sinfully indulgent sauce poured over it, paired with hot and sour spicy chili.
2. Khao Piao Sen:
This staple noodle soup in Laos is made up of sticky rice noodles. It has a unique texture that is different from any other noodle soup. It is slightly sticky, slippery, and very refreshing.
How to reach Luang Prabang:
1. Reach Luang Prabang by flight:
Luang Prabang has its international airport, located about 4 km from the city center. You can take a flight from Lao Airlines that flies daily from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.
The ticket costs about $76 one way. You can also fly to Luang Prabang from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, and Udon Thani.
2. Reach Luang Prabang by Bus:
Luang Prabang has two bus stations. One serving destinations to the north and the other serving destinations to the south.
To reach Luang Prabang you can take buses from nearby cities such as Huay Xai, Luan Nam Tha, Nong Kiaow, Vientiane, Phonsavan, and Chiang Mai.