Luang Prabang Destination Guide

Among the popular tourist attractions on a Luang Prabang holiday are the Buddhist temples, steeped in hundreds of years of history, the former Royal Palace and Mount Phousi. Outside of Luang Prabang, travel options grow exponentially. Famous attractions like Kuang Si Waterfall, Tad Se waterfall and the Pak Ou caves are very popular. However there are also more active Luang Prabang tours such as elephant trekking, kayaking, cycling, rock climbing and trekking to name but a few. For a really cultural experience, witness the monks' almsgiving ceremony every morning, or consider spending some time here as a volunteer in Luang Prabang.

This city is a must-see for any visitor to Laos.

Luang Prabang is small, and just about everywhere can be reached by foot so practically any Luang Prabang guesthouse or hotel is well located. The town has dozens of temples and religious sites, most of which are located in the old quarter.

Use this Luang Prabang Destination Guide to determine what there is to see and do while on your Luang Prabang holiday. Our Luang Prabang Tours Guide lists some companies that are able to give you competitive prices on things to do around town. You may also want to speak to your host Luang Prabang hotel, as they can give you detailed local information. More general information about things to do around the country can be found in our Laos Country Guide.

Luang Prabang Destination Guide

A Luang Prabang holiday planned in mid-April may be one of the best places to spend Pii Mai (Laos New Year). The three day water festival is observed by locals with a colorful procession starting from the Wat That Chom Si on Mount Phousi, an entertaining ceremony involving the Royal Palace Museum, the wearing of traditional costumes and, of course, a good quantity of water with which to douse hot celebrants.

Things to See & Do in Luang Prabang

Wat Xieng Thong temple is the most significant and impressive of Luang Prabang's many wats and a must see as part of a Luang Prabang travel experience. The low sweeping double-tiered roof and the rich interior and exterior decoration of its sim create an exceptionally fine example of the classic Luang Prabang style.

The monastery had its origins in the 16th century with King Setthathilat founding it in 1560. The sim was built at this time, as were the monks' quarters. Setthathilat's direct association with the monastery did not last for long and shortly after he founded it, he moved his capital to Vientiane.

Wat Xieng Thong means Monastery of the Golden City and its located close to the tip of the Luang Prabang peninsula. The main entrance into Wat Xieng Thong is on the Mekong river just up from the pier. Alternatively, you can enter Wat Xieng Thong through the main road going through Luang Prabang.

Mount Phousi is 150m above the peninsula and offers spectacular views of the city and surrounding countryside and is a popular Luang Prabang travel spot from which to catch the sunset over the Mekong River in the late afternoons . The temple Wat Chom Si at the top of the hill was built in 1804 and its gold-tipped stupa can be seen from most parts of the city. Luang Prabang holiday visitors are reminded that while it’s a tourist viewpoint, it is also sacred temple grounds and dress-code and behaviour should reflect this.

Mount Phousi can be reached from both the central road through Luang Prabang, just opposite the Royal Palace Museum, or from the Nam Khan River Road not from the Hive Bar. There is a small visitor fee people must pay to access the top.

Situated 4 km east is a small village famous for its cotton and silk hand-weavings. There is a small market set up here, and you can wander in the village and see village women weaving on their hand looms or bargain with them for their finished products. 

The tomb of Henry Mahout, the legendary French explorer credited with 'discovering' Angkor Wat, is also nearby. 

The former Royal Palace was built in 1904 for King Sisavangvong and is a combination of Lao and French designs. It is now a museum housing a collection of artifacts belonging to former rulers of the Kingdom of Lane Xang. The site for the palace was chosen so that official visitors to Luang Prabang could disembark from their river voyages directly below the palace and be received there.

Above the entrance is a three-headed elephant sheltered by the sacred white parasol, the symbol of the Lao monarchy. The most impressive room is the Throne Hall, a dazzling interior of mosaics and mirrors, with displays of royal regalia including glittering swords and the king's own elephant saddle. In the right front corner room of the Palace are many of the museum's top attractions including a replica of a golden standing Buddha that was a gift to King Fa Ngum from Khmer king Phaya Sirichantha in 1359. This is the Phra Bang from which the town takes its name. It translates as "holy image" and the original was cast in Sri Lanka in the 1st century A.D. This room also has on display another Buddha image engraved with large elephant tusks and three embroidered silk screens made by the queen herself. The room's walls are covered with murals that depict scenes from traditional Lao lifestyles, painted in 1930. Each of the walls is intended to be viewed at a different time of day, depending on the light that enters the windows on one side of the room, which matches the time the day depicted.

Situated 25km upriver from Luang Prabang are two caves, Tham Ting and Tham Phun, known as the Pak Ou Caves. Inside are thousands of Buddha images, many of them Luang Prabang-style standing Buddhas, that have been left over hundreds of years by the Buddhist faithful. Those interested can take a slow boat (which takes about 2 hours) from Luang Prabang. Travel is relaxing and you can visit some of the villages such as Ban Xang Hai (see below) along the way and have a picnic lunch at the caves.

One of the best ways to experience the Pak Ou Caves is on a Luang Prabang tour which takes you on a boat cruise up the Nam Ou from Luang Prabang.  Check out our Luang Prabang tours for more info.

A popular stop on the way to Pak Ou Caves is the village of Ban Xang Hai ("Jar-maker Village"), once famous for its jars but now famous for its manufacture of rice whiskey (lao lao). The villagers carry water from the Mekong and use it to soak rice in large jars which ferment, yielding alcohol which can be drunk as a cloudy liquid, or distilled to make a fine spirit. Ages ago, the village produced pots and jars, some of which have been excavated by archaeologists and found to be over 2,000 years old.

The Kuangsi waterfalls are simply magnificent. This place is great for nature lovers and for all ages. It is easily accessible with clear wide main pathways around the falls and is marked as a community-based tourism project. There are some information boards to the left of the entry/exit gate that explains the park, a little about Lao’s biodiversity and generally what wildlife you might see.

The park area is quite large and includes a small bear sanctuary and displays on anti-poaching and the free-the-bears program. The bear sanctuary contains Asiatic black bears (moon bears) rescued from poachers. There used to be a tiger (Phet) there too, unfortunately she passed away due to an incurable central nervous system disorder in 2008.

Not far from the bear sanctuary, you can easily swim and enjoy one of the many rock pools that the waterfall cascades into. There are picnic areas and change rooms, so you could easily spend a day picnic-ing or just enjoying the area. Allow at least 2 hours to walk around and enjoy the natural beauty.

For keen hikers, as you exit the bear area, go towards the first pool on your right and take the first bridge on the right. Cross the bridge and then follow the natural path up. It’s a good 1 hour slog uphill to the top of the waterfalls. If you time it well, you can hike the whole distance up without seeing many people at all, so you have the jungle to yourself.

The top of the waterfall you need to carefully walk through to get to the other-side to descend. But the walk across affords great views of the valley and if you manage to look down you can see parts of the waterfall and some of the pools. The natural path up and down and around the top of the waterfall is muddy, very muddy in some places, and slippery. The descent is much easier than the ascent, if you cross the water first. However, if you follow the main path up from the moon bears to the waterfall directly and hike to the top via the path to the left of the waterfall (left, if you are facing the waterfall), the ascent is made easier with wooden steps in some places and natural steps in others. You will find the descent much more difficult if you cross the waterfall and descend on the other side.

The amount of pools and cascades are numerous and all equally as beautiful as each other. Not all pools are for swimming, so do look out for signs marking where you can swim. The water was very cool in January, during the dry season the temperature in the area is quite cool. Not many people go swimming, but you can! You can warm up easily by hiking up to t top of the waterfall, but you still might need light cover when you’re back at the base area.

For years, the Royal Ballet troupe performed Phra-Lak Phra-Lam, the Lao version of the sacred poem, the Ramayana, in the Royal Palace in Luang Prabang. Then in 1975, after 15 centuries of annual performances, the Theatre was banned and the master artists and teachers had to look for other work. In 1993, after an absence of more than 15 years, the Institution of Cultural Research and the Provincial Government Office in Luang Prabang established a committee to revive limited performances of Phra-Lak Phra-Lam for festivals. In 2002, the Theatre was re-established and has been performing at home and abroad since.

To re-establish the theatre, we gathered local youths and taught them dancing, traditional music and folksongs for six months. After three years our team of musicians and performers has grown from 38 to nearly 160.  Between November and March, we perform everyday except Sundays in our 480-seat theatre, and during October and April, four times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat). This is a great addition to Luang Prabang travel plans.

We also encourage young children to learn traditional music and dance. To share the history of the Ramayana, we perform in small village schools and donate traditional instruments so that they can help preserve traditional Lao culture. In our school for performers, 50 of our students have become professionals.

The Elephant XL Camp near Xieng Lom village was established in 2003 to protect the Asian elephants in Laos. As the forests disappear, the elephants which used to help with logging can become neglected. Our aim is to give these elephants a brighter future. So far six elephants have been freed from logging work and given a new home in the park. Experienced mahouts (elephant keepers) and vets help the elephants adapt to their new environment, with sick or older elephants receiving special attention.

Our project gives the elephants a more comfortable retirement by providing professional medical care, nutritious food, caring staff and a natural environment. It also provides jobs to local people and supports the community, as well as helping to support rural development out of Luang Prabang. Most importantly, our project provides both communities and local businesses with an example of sustainable tourism and how to successfully link conservation with tourism.

Interested in elephant riding? Check out our Luang Prabang tours for more information.

Trephirom offer a great way to experience a bit of Lao tradition.  Join them for a unique evening of traditional Lao food, a traditional ceremony and classical Lao music in the peaceful gardens of Heritage House at Ban Xieng Moune.

Shows start everyday at 18:30 at Heritage House and the ticket entry price of 150,000 Kip per person (about USD18) gains you entry to the performance and a dinner consisting of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian traditional Lao dishes.

F2F, situated in a two-story shop house, is a small resource centre for those interested in learning about the textiles of Laos' ethnic groups. The ground floor hosts the changing exhibitions whilst the first floor houses a permanent textile collection representing 12 ethnic groups from Laos.  There is also a selection of specialist films and documentaries that can be watched in the upstairs room.

The project conducts valuable research and documentation of the hand fabrication of textiles in Laos. Our vision is to create an informed appreciation and understanding of the cultures and peoples in Laos.

The Children's Cultural Centre caters to children between the ages of 6 and 18 by providing non-formal instruction in a variety of arts and cultural subjects not taught in the regular school system.  The Children's Cultural Centre (CCC) of Luang Prabang opened its doors in January of 1998 and is one of 17 CCC's located provincially throughout Laos.   Activities provided include traditional dance, music, singing, drawing and painting, Lao culture, storytelling, puppetry, reading, games, and handicrafts.   Children's Cultural Centre's throughout Laos are one of few opportunities for children to engage in social activities beyond school or family life and help to deter them from the ever increasing influences of drugs and alcohol.

The Luang Prabang CCC performs regularly in rural villages throughout the province, where, through puppetry, dance and drama, the children are able to convey important messages about the Rights of Children, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Health Education and the Importance of Vaccinations.   This awareness work is undertaken in partnership with the Department of Health, Luang Prabang Radio and UNICEF.

Big Brother Mouse is a project that publishes books that make it fun and easy to learn to read. Today, few books are available in Laos, and they rarely reach the villages where most people live. Most children, especially in the countryside, have never read a book except for a few school textbooks, and some have not even read those. Few Lao people think that reading could be enjoyable, add to their knowledge, or improve their quality of life.  Learn about Volunteering with Big Brother Mouse in Luang Prabang.

ElefantAsia is a registered non-profit initiative aimed at safeguarding the Asian elephant, an emblematic endangered species worldwide. We have been working in Laos, ‘the land of a million elephants', since 2001.

Studying languages, learning new skills - typing, using different software, recording your own music, growing teak - talking about your culture or mastering English in order to get a job... whatever it is, it's all happening @ My Library.

Even if you on been on a Luang Prabang tour for a few days, you've probably met someone who has studied @ My Library. He or she may have been your waiter, receptionist, guide, the person next to you at the Internet cafe or the novice monk you talked to at the temple.

The mission of the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Program is to reduce the number of civilian casualties caused by UXO and to increase the amount of land available for food production and other socio-economic development activities. We are the only Lao national humanitarian UXO clearance operator in the country. Established in 1996 by the Lao Government with the assistance of UNDP and UNICEF, we operate in nine of the ten provinces most affected by UXO. We have a workforce of around 1,040 employees of whom more than 85% are employed in field operations.

The Lao Red Cross Society was founded in 1955 and began working in Luang Prabang Province in 1993, with on-going support from the Swiss and the Austrian Red Cross. Our vision is to prevent and alleviate human suffering and to improve living conditions at the village level and the health of the most vulnerable sections of society. We follow the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement - humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The Lao Red Cross have a massage and steam room open to the public at the building opposite Wat Visoun and next to Villa Lane Xang.

Tum Tum Cheng Cooking School was established in 2001. Certified Chef Khoun Chandra Vongsaravanh, assisted by Ms Linda Vongsaravanh and Mr Laan Phouttasack, teach traditional cooking techniques based on more than 30 years of experience in Asia and Europe, including variations of the recipes of Phia Sing, the Luang Prabang Chef to the Royal Family. This is a great activity for your Luang Prabang holiday.

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is a museum dedicated to the ethnic cultures of Laos.  The Centre is housed in a heritage building, and exhibits ethnic clothing, household objects, religious artefacts, and handicrafts, with information in English and Lao languages.  Our objective is to help locals and foreigners learn about the different ethnic groups of northern Laos.  Our Museum Shop sells books and exclusive handicrafts and photos from ethnic communities.  The Patio Café serves delicious food and drinks in a relaxing setting. 

The Centre is a completely new and different type of attraction for tourists and locals.  You will see unique objects from various ethnic groups and learn about their lifestyles, beliefs, and traditions.  We also organize seminars and guided tours. 

Tamnak Lao established the restaurant 10 years ago to share with people our unique Lao cuisine. We specialise in offering authentic Luang Prabang-style cuisine. Many of our recipes are handed down from mother to daughter over numerous generations.

A few years ago, after many requests, we opened the cooking school. Here you can learn how to select, blend and cook our wonderfully exotic Laos flavours and take your newfound skills home after your Luang Prabang holiday.

The Heritage Information Centre (Heuanchan) is part of a project using information and communications technology to aid in the management of World Heritage sites and also promote sustainable development. Working in cooperation with UNESCO, La Maison du Patrimoine (Heritage House) and the Tokyo Institute of Technology are documenting Luang Prabang's historic, environmental and cultural heritage into an extensive database and also educating the local community and business sector on the need to sustain Luang Prabang's unique assets.

Icon Klub is a small, chic bar offering some of the best cocktails in town. This funky bar with an eclectic collection of curios and collectibles offers a great retreat and that little bit of refinement not found with the cheaper beer bars in town.  If you are looking for something a little different, a little special or just to get away from the masses, then the Icon Klub is your place.