Experience Luang Prabang
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Luang Prabang
Today you will arrive in Luang Prabang. Upon arrival you’ll be transferred to your small and cosy guesthouse within walking distance of the city center. The guesthouse is built in French style and run by the friendly Laotian ‘Vieng’. You will immediately feel at home here and taste the typical relaxed atmosphere and friendliness that characterizes the city. Your guesthouse is around the corner from the main street; colonial colorful buildings from the French era, bougainvillea, narrow streets lined with greenery and (at the end of the day) the night market. Phousi Hill, or Holy Hill, towers high above the city; here you’ll find important temples as well as stunning views of the city and surrounding area. Climb the 328 steps to the top and enjoy an enchanting sunset, before tasting typical Lao dishes at the night market. Tip: we ate at Khaiphaen Restaurant the first night, on the same street as our guest house. Here, poor young people get the chance to learn a profession by working in the service and kitchen. What’s more, they also learn a word of English this way. Here you will enjoy one of the best ‘laap’ in all of Luang Prabang.
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang was declared a World Heritage Site in the 1990s, putting it on the World Heritage List of Major Cultural Goods. One of our favourite temples is Wat Xieng Thong. The mosaics are not religious in nature, but show scenes from the life of a Lao man. What is striking about the temples in Luang Prabang are the roofs: they have long points that extend to the ground. We also visited the palace of the former king of Laos in Luang Prabang, today serving as a city museum. Here stands the country’s holiest and largest golden statue, the Phra Bang.
Besides the many impressive temples and museums, Luang Prabang is the place to enjoy the surroundings. Sail by boat to the Pak Ou caves, cool off at the Kuang Si waterfalls and then enjoy Lao cuisine in one of the many restaurants on the banks of the Mekong.
Day 2 – Enjoy Luang Prabang
Today all the time to go out on your own. Will you explore the city further or go for a cool-down? The latter is best done at the Kuang Si waterfalls. Located about 1.5 hours’ drive from Luang Prabang, the waterfalls are one of the highlights of northern Laos. The water has a milky blue colour and comes crashing down through several plateaus. Not only cool, but also a picture to behold. If you have enough time, you can visit the Pak Ou caves. The caves house thousands of Buddha statues, large and small and in different styles. The caves are about 30 km from Luang Prabang. The caves are a pilgrimage site for Buddhists. The caves are full of Buddhas left behind by pilgrims. Some are as tall as 2 metres. The complex consists of 2 caves; the upper cave and the lower cave. For the upper cave, bring a torch as there is no daylight there.
Sunset on the Mekong
At 4pm you’ll be picked up by tuk-tuk, at your hotel, for a sunset trip along the Mekong River. Along with your English speaking guide you’ll sail upstream to the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong River, a mystical and holy place for the local Laotians. On the other side of the river, you’ll get out and walk to the less famous temple of Wat Long Khoune and Wat Chomphet. Then it’s time to get back on board. With a glass of wine or beer in your hand, you’ll relax and watch the sun set over the Mekong. A truly romantic place for a sunset in Luang Prabang!
Day 3 – Your stay in Luang Prabang
One of Luang Prabang’s highlights is the daily procession of monks, through Luang Prabang’s small streets. Before dawn, the monks collect alms (alms), dressed in orange robes. Faithful Laotians pour the alms; they sit by the side of the road, on a small plastic stool. A basket on the ground holds steamed rice and fresh fruit, which they give to the monks. Set your alarm early; the monks go round the streets around six. We enjoyed a delicious coffee afterwards at Saffron Caffee, by the river. Boats slowly sail across to the other side of the river, the fog slowly lifts and the coffee tastes delicious. The place to buy souvenirs is at the night market, which takes place daily in the city centre. Several mountain tribes sell handmade products here, such as garish scarves, wood carvings, paintings and jewellery. Bargaining is very common in Luang Prabang and the rest of Laos, you’ll find it gets easier and easier.
Day 4 – Departure
The day of departure from Luang Prabang has arrived. Enjoy your breakfast one last time at your guest house before travelling on. If you started your journey through Laos in Luang Prabang, head up north to visit laid-back Nong Khiaw. If you head south Vientiane may be your next destination. Vientiane feels like a big village, full of colonial buildings and temples. The best way to travel from Luang Prabang to Vientiane? Go kayaking between limestone peaks. Prefer to be ‘active’? Then take a trek and sleep with the Khmu. You travel easily and quickly from Luang Prabang to the south, using the new express train that has been built. Where it used to take you about 7 hours to travel to Vang Vieng, you can now get there in an hour.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Upgrade to our In Style accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we have an alternative option available for your accommodation. Our In-Style version is something a bit more special or unique but still with lots of local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your accommodation for this bite-size trip select our In Style option below.
Kuang Si explorer
Today you will leave the city behind and head into the forest near the source of the Krung Si waterfalls. Along the way you will stop off at a few different villages to see the various lifestyles, traditions and religions. Once you get to the Kuangsi Waterfalls you can enjoy swimming at the natural pool and enjoy your picnic lunch. On the way back to the town, you will stop to visit the Buffalo Dairy, known for its sustainable approach in local farming. An excellent way to finish your day.
