Luang Prabang

Things to see and do

The temples of Luang Prabang

For a small city, Luang Prabang has a high concentration of Buddhist temples and it's these beautiful golden wats that earned it a spot on the UNESCO list and tourist map. Before the Black Flag attacks of 1887 there were 60-odd temples in Luang Prabang, but many were destroyed following the ... read more
Wat Xieng Thong

Wat Xieng Thong is generally considered to be the most historically significant and magnificent of Luang Prabang's temples. Set near the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers, with a sweeping two-tiered roof and elaborate mosaics, this large temple epitomizes the classic Luang Prabang style. ... read more
Wat Mai

Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham, more simply known as Wat Mai (the New Monastery), is Luang Prabang's largest wat. Centrally located on Sisavangvong Road and an important site during the annual Pimai Lao festival, Wat Mai is one of the city's most photographed temples. Founded at the end of the 18th ... read more
Wat Wisunalat

Also know as Wat Visoun, this wat is named after King Wisunarat, the king whose reign it was constructed during, though the structure standing today is a replica of the one built in 1513. Records suggest that the original was quite spectacular with some 4,000 trees needed to complete its ... read more
Wat Aham

Next door to Wat Wisunalat, Wat Aham (Temple of the Opened Heart) is another sleepy temple that most tourists tend to bypass. The sim was only constructed around 1820, but the site has been home to animist shrines since long before. The temple has spacious grounds graced by two large banyan trees ... read more
Wat That Luang

Legend has it that Wat That Luang was founded way, way back in the 3rd century BC by visitors from India, but physical evidence from the temple site place its origins in the early 1800s. Of historical interest is the central stupa containing the ashes of King Sisavang Vong, the final king of Laos, ... read more
Wat Manorom

Built to inter the ashes of King Samsenthai who died in 1416, the badly weathered sim here was home to the Phra Bang for a decade during the early 16th century. Today, Wat Manorom (also known as Wat Mano) is best known for housing one of Laos' oldest Buddha images, a two-tonne, armless bronze ... read more
Wat Sene

This Thai-style wat was built in 1718 and restored twice during the 1900s. 'Sene' means 100,000 kip in Lao and that's supposedly what it cost to originally build the temple. It remains an active temple and is known for its large standing Buddha image draped with a saffron robe. The image's shelter, ... read more
Wat Xieng Muan

Tucked away down a quiet lane between the market and the riverfront, Wat Xieng Muan is a serene temple with flower gardens, several stupas and outdoor Buddha statues. The sim was reportedly constructed in the mid-1800s, although the monastery is much older. With funding from UNESCO, the living ... read more
Royal Palace Museum

Inside the walled compound between the riverfront and Sisavangvong Road you'll find the Royal Palace Museum. Also known as the National Museum or Haw Kham (Golden Hall), this ornate residence was built between 1904 and 1909 as a new home for King Sisavangvong after the previous royal digs were ... read more
Mount Phou Si

Phou Si, meaning Holy Mountain in Lao, offers a panoramic view of town and the Mekong and Nam Khan. To maximize the view of each river, try walking up one side and then going down the other. The temple on top is striking from a distance, but nothing spectacular once you're up close. Many people ... read more
Tak Bat

If Luang Prabang has a must-see attraction, this is it. Each morning at around 06:00, hundreds of resident monks leave their wat and walk silently down the streets in single-file to collect food offerings from the local people. The endless parade of monks, each barefoot and saffron-robed, is truly ... read more
Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre

This private museum devoted to Lao ethnography has operated out of a beautifully restored French mansion since 2006. The collection of items on display were all obtained via direct contact with villagers and include traditional clothing, religious artifacts, tools and handicrafts. The displays are ... read more
Across the river, Chompet District

For an off-the-beaten-track experience without straying too far, take the local boat across the Mekong to Chompet. A particularly scenic time to visit is mid-morning when the people who live in Chompet head home with baskets of vegetables, sacks of rice and live animals from the Luang Prabang fresh ... read more
Boat rides

A lazy boat ride down the Mekong is one of the highlights of Luang Prabang, and you can't walk along the riverfront without being approached and offered a tour. For a short cruise, the best time to go is before sunset when the fishermen begin to reel in their catch and school children, home for the ... read more
Kwang Si Waterfall & Bear Rescue Centre

About an hour's scenic drive through rice fields, mountains and dusty villages lies the beautiful Kwang Si Waterfall. The clear, cool water cascades gently over limestone formations and gathers into layers of stunning turquoise pools. Follow the tumbling waters uphill for scenic views and a rope ... read more
Tad Sae Waterfall

About 20 km outside Luang Prabang, this waterfall is well worth the trip for its scenic limestone cascades and plentiful pools of cool water, but only during the rainy season from August to November. Outside of these months the falls are hardly a trickle, so you're better off going to Kuang Si. The ... read more
Pak Ou Caves

One of Luang Prabang's most famous sites, these limestone caves near the Mekong have been a place of worship for over a thousand years. When pilgrims completed the difficult journey to the caves, which lie 25 km upriver from Luang Prabang in a cliff 15 metres above the water, they left behind a ... read more
Elephant rides & mahout training

Several camps have been established in the area to care for elephants previously mishandled or overworked. Many of these are injured when they arrive at the camp, where they are nursed back to health and then trained to work with tourists who supply the n Elephant rides are usually a one-hour jaunt ... read more
Henri Mouhot's Grave

This whitewashed monument in a small clearing by the river is quite simple, but the fascinating life of the man buried beneath is what brings visitors to this grave. Henri Mouhot was a French explorer and the first foreigner to see Angkor Wat in Cambodia. He contracted malaria during an expedition ... read more
Kamu and Hmong village treks and homestays

The possibilities are virtually limitless for trekking in northern Laos. The nearby mountains provide perfect fodder for frolicking and trails are lengthy but not all that strenuous, many taking six hours or more. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful as you forge through forests, jungles and ... read more
Ban Phanom

The village of Ban Phanom is devoted to creating textiles like the ones you see at the night market. It is possible to watch the women working on their loom and observe the entire silk-making process from silkworm, through to dyeing and weaving, to wall hanging the final product. As expected, ... read more
Ban Chan Pottery Village

This village on the Mekong produces a variety of pottery from flower pots to funeral urns. Here you can do more than just watch the artisans in action: With advance notice, you can participate and make your own pieces from natural clay for a truly original souvenir.
Ban Xang Hai

Aged in a matter of minutes, lao lao is an acquired taste. In this village you can watch its production and purchase a bottle, with or without scorpions and snakes to improve your sexual vitality. It's more of a souvenir stop than a real village, but a short stop and a few welcoming shots of lao ... read more
Ban Had Hian

A traditional arts village, Ban Had Hian is better known as the Blacksmith Village and lies only 5 km from the city. Here you can watch men who have clearly mastered their trade crafting machetes, knives, shovels and spades. Keep an eye out for the bellows used to heat the metal, as many of them ... read more
Volunteer!

Under-developed and with a tumultuous history, it's hard to travel through Laos without feeling affected. Luang Prabang has many opportunities to contribute toward the community. Stay Another Day publishes an excellent (and free) handbook of eco-friendly activities, shops selling fair-trade ... read more
Weaving

Those with a soft spot for Laos' fine fabrics can try their hand at the loom with classes run by Ock Pop Tok. Participants will work directly with the artisans through the aid of a personal interpreter. Workshops are held at their artisan centre 2 km outside of the city and range from one day ($45) ... read more
Cooking Classes

Developed a taste for sticky rice? Some of Luang Prabang's best restaurants offer cooking classes sharing their kitchens' best-loved local recipes visitors. Generally, classes run a full day from morning until dinner and begin with a visit to the fresh market for shopping and an introduction to all ... read more
Massage and spas

Luang Prabang isn't exactly a strenuous place to spend a holiday, but we think everyone deserves a little R&R. Thankfully, spas and massage therapists can be found scattered throughout town, most notably on Sisavangvong Road and near the riverfront. Not quite the same as Thai massage, Lao massage ... read more