There are a lot of top things to do in Luang Prabang, and each one is more memorable than the last.
Luang Prabang is one of the most recommended destinations if you have decided to travel to Laos for tourism. It is a very religious and quiet city, although at night, the Luang Prabang night market comes alive and there is much more atmosphere..
Top 8 must see:
Kuang Si Falls : Best waterfalls
A special and highly recommended place to visit would be the Kuang Si Falls. The falls are part of a small natural environment where we can swim, eat in some picnic areas and visit a bear recovery center.
They are the perfect place to take a bath and relieve ourselves from the humid and sticky heat of Luang Prabang. Next to each turquoise pool there are signs that indicate whether or not bathing is allowed.
The Kuang Si Falls are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the price is 20,000 Kips per person. 7
The famous night market
The night market is located on Sisavangvong Road. It is one of the liveliest in all of Southeast Asia: you can see from stalls selling hats made of rice paper, clothing, handicrafts, etc…
An important reason to visit the night market is that some beach bars and street stalls are set up that are dedicated to tempting tourists and locals with an irrefutable buffet offer. It’s really cheap and you can try everything. They also have a wide range of artisan sweets with different flavors that are delicious. Dining there is a highly recommended experience!
Hike up to Mount Phou Si
One of the best things to see and do in Luang Prabang is to climb the steps to the top of Phou Si Mountain, a 100-meter-high mountain that sits right in the center of the city. Once at the top, incredible views of the Wat That Chomsi temple, the Mekong River and all the nature that embraces Luang Prabang await you.
Royal Palace
A unique and special place would be the Royal Palace, where the Laotian monarchy once resided when Luang Prabang was the capital. Currently, the site houses the National Museum (entrance around €2) with objects that belonged to the royal family, such as a room for special gifts and gifts from other kings. You can also see a private collection of cars from the time or the throne room, which is spectacular, and the Wat Haw Pha Bang temple that guards the figure of the Buddha Pha Bang that gives the city its name and that, according to legend, was brought Sri Lankan. Both this temple and the rest of the outer enclosure can be freely visited (the ticket is for the museum).
Buddhist temples
We already told you that Luang Prabang hides many Buddhist temples among its tree-lined streets. It will be difficult for you to see them all, but you can’t miss at least these: Wat Xieng Thong, probably the most beautiful of all with a spectacular golden facade; the Wat May Souvannapoumaram; the Wat Wisunarat; and the Wat Xieng Mouane. We recommend that you choose a whole day to see these temples and enjoy the magical streets that lead you to them.
Kieng Men village
Luang Prabang sits on one bank of the Mekong and on the other side is the tiny village of Kieng Men: if you want to get to know it and enjoy a rural and quiet corner, you just have to get on a little boat that for a few cents and in a few minutes will take you to the other side. On that other bank of the Mekong there are also interesting places to discover, such as the Wat Xiang Maen and Wat Tham Sakkalin temples (with a cave that can be visited) or Wat Jom Phet on top of a promontory with beautiful views of Luang Prabang.
Sunset view point
Sunset view point”, a moment for you. The best thing is to get yourself a cold Lao beer beforehand and sit on the stairs that overlook the river, or choose to go to a terrace-bar that you will find on the same street. As a third option (and perhaps the most attractive) we have a sunset cruise on the Mekong, most romantic! You know, you can negotiate it there with a local boatman/agency.
Pak Ou Caves
And finally, we advise you to do another excursion, traveling up the Mekong river. The one that will take you in a boat to the Pak Ou caves, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, because inside there are many statuettes, gifts from the pilgrims who came there. We propose this complete excursion (with a stop at what is known as the Whiskey Village for its famous production of laolao rice whisky).
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