Transportation in Luang Prabang

The three main ways of getting to Luang Prabang are by air, road or boat. Each of these options has negatives and positives, mainly relating to the cost and time involved. As for getting around town, you will mostly come across either taxis or tuk-tuks. There are also opportunities to rent bicycles or motorbikes.

Getting there and getting around doesn't need to be difficult!

Indeed, use our Luang Prabang Transportation Guide to get more details on how to get to Luang Prabang, and also how to get around. It can also be used in conjunction with our Laos Transportation Guide and our Luang Prabang Destination Guide to help you best plan your transport options.

Getting to Luang Prabang

By Air

Lao Airlines now offers three flights daily to and from Vientiane. A return trip costs approximately USD 110.00, with a flight time of 45 minutes. There are also flights to/from Luang Nam Tha and Phonsavan four times a week, and a daily flight to/from Huay Xai.

However, the frequency of flights depends on the availability of aircraft and the number of customers booked. To be sure, passengers are advised to check with Lao Airlines a day in advance for departure schedules. Bangkok Airways also offers flights to and from Bangkok while Thai Airways offers flights to and from Chiang Mai.

Airport Departure Taxes:
International flights: US$10.00
Domestic flights: KIP 5,000 (about US$0.5)

Luang Prabang to/from:
Phonsavan: US$35.00, flight time 35 minutes
Luang Namtha: US$37.00, flight time 45 minutes
Huay Xai: US$46.00, flight time 50 minutes

To make bookings or get more information on flying to and from Luang Prabang, please check out the following websites:

Laos Airlines
Bangkok Airways
Siem Reap Airlines

By Road

By road, there are buses available from various points in Vientiane and Vang Vieng that depart to Luang Prabang (420km and 260km respectively). A local bus will cost approx USD6 and air-conditioned minibuses will cost around USD10-12.

By Boat

From the Huay Xai border crossing (just north of Chiang Rai in Thailand), speed boats (7 hours) or local boats (2 days) depart every morning. For those looking for a more comfortable cruise the Luang Xay Cruise boat departs three times a week.

Getting Around Luang Prabang

To travel from/to airport- town, there are taxis and tuk-tuks available at a rate of approximately US$3-5. It is quite easy to tour around town on foot and bicycle. You can also hire a tuk-tuk or minibus for the day.