After our intense and exciting stay in Vietnam, Luang Prabang was the perfect place to relax. I didn’t know a lot about Laos before arriving here. The cuisine hasn’t taken over internationally and with a small population (around 7 million), Laos isn’t the most talked about country in South East Asia. We spent just over 1 week in this country, with the first 4 days in Luang Prabang.
I haven’t met a traveller yet that did not love Luang Prabang. The town is sandwiched between the Mekong and the Nam Khan River, which offers some pretty lovely views. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, preserving the serene and tranquil mood of the city. There isn’t a whole lot to do in Luang Prabang, but you will find it a very special place. I will warn you though, this is not at all off the beaten track. There are many tourists here, but they all seemed to be the good ones! Luang Prabang is not a place to party, but a place to relax.
So, what should you do in Luang Prabang on your next adventure?
1. Take a Daytrip to Kuang Si Waterfall
This waterfall is a very popular tourist destination, and when you visit it, you will understand why. It is a truly stunning natural formation, and our regret was that we didn’t have more time to spend there. Unfortunately, we were on a bit of a tight schedule since I had some interviews to be back in town for. One of the “joys” of quitting your job to travel is that you actually need to find a replacement job while on your trip.
When you arrive, there is a sanctuary for rescued moon bears (so cute!) right through the main gates. Then you continue walking and you get to the main swimming spot. I think we got lucky since it can be insanely busy at Kuang Si Waterfall. It was still full of tourists the day we went, but I did not feel ambushed by other tourists as I have in other tourist attractions.
Token entrance picture and me with some beautiful water behind me
We decided to hike up to the top of the waterfall. We did a full loop, so we started on the right-hand side and came down on the left. The hike is easy and takes 10-15 minutes. I would recommend wearing runners since some parts are steep. Once we arrived at the top, Daniel took a dip and played on the swing there. When going down the other side, there was a staircase that the water poured all over. So, we ended up taking off our shoes for the rest of the walk down.
Daniel monkeying around and me trying to hurry down the very cold (and wet) steps
Once we arrived at the bottom again, Daniel went for another swim. I didn’t swim since we were a bit pressed for time and I didn’t want to waste time having to wash my hair before my Skype interviews. The water was really cold though, so be prepared for that.
There are tons of shuttle buses; however, Danne and I rented a scooter from our hotel to make our way up to the waterfall. I read some Google reviews about how dangerous the road was. I mean, compared to the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam, I think those reviews were a bit silly. However, there is one spot where the ground is like sand and we did see a group of tourists wipe out at that place. So, wear a helmet and check your surroundings.
As always, I love being able to rent a scooter and explore a new area. Thank goodness, Daniel can ride one! You really do see more on a scooter compared to when you are getting carsick on a cramped bus. So, if you can drive a scooter, I would recommend that. The scooter cost 80 000 LAK (12.5 CAD/85 SEK) for the day, which included 2 helmets. You do have to pay a small fee to park your scooter in the parking lot outside the waterfall.
2. Appreciate the Heart of Buddhism
Monasteries are scattered throughout the entire town. Even in the middle of the day, you may catch a monk-in-training walking along the streets. As opposed to Bali, I really felt that Luang Prabang was a spiritual place. Although crowded with tourists, the city doesn’t have that seedy feel that can happen to beautiful places. The architecture in the city is gorgeous and there are so many temples to visit that it is no wonder that travellings love Luang Prabang.
One of the highlights in Luang Prabang is watching the Alms Giving Ceremony bright and early in the morning. This ceremony is where the monks collect food, which they will eat themselves, but you will also see them sharing with small children placed along the path. The monks do their procession during sunrise, so Danne and I woke up early enough to head to the main street by 5:30 am. We didn’t participate in the ceremony, so we sat on the other side of the street.
Monks (as well as monks-in-training) walking along the streets of Luang Prabang
There are lots of rules of etiquette during the Alms Giving Ceremony. It is important that you do not get in the way of the monks’ procession. You should also not get too close to the monks while photographing them. I mean, it is pretty obvious. Just give them their distance and don’t be a bad tourist. For example, the rules showed very clearly to not use flash, but still, a busload of tourists just ignored those instructions. So, try to be respectful by being quiet, dressing respectfully, and not getting in their way.
When they were finishing up, Danne and I walked back to our hotel. Then we realized that the monks passed by our hotel the entire time. So, we could have watched from the comfort of our hotel, away from all the other tourists. Oh, well!
Danne and I walked past many temples, but we always forgot to bring some more modest clothing with us while exploring the city, so we didn’t actually enter any of them.
Wat Xieng Thong is the best-known monastery within Luang Prabang and was built in 1560. Its roof steeps narrowly down almost to the ground.
3. Watch the Sunset at Mount Phousi
I think almost every list includes this, but it is really pretty. Daniel and I are notoriously late for everything. So, we did arrive a few minutes late to watch the sunset. However, it was such a stunning view from the top of the hill!
Along the way, you pass some Buddhist temples and statues. We really enjoyed how much Buddhism was woven into the town.
Some beautiful statues along the way
The hike is around 10 minutes, so it is short. We had to run up it since we were late which means we arrived rather sweaty. This activity does not take very much time out of the day, so it is easy to combine with other sightseeing activities.
4. Walk Across the Bamboo Bridge
I really love bamboo. I’m not sure why but I love all items made out of bamboo. So, how could I resist a whole bridge out of it?
I think it is really cool that the bridge is only available to cross in the dry season. During the wet season, they have to tear it down for repairs. Since we were visiting in December, we were there at the perfect time. It costs 5 000 LAK (1 CAD/5 SEK) to walk across it. There is a restaurant on the other side, as well as the rest of the town. However, we ended up walking back after a few short minutes since I didn’t find the other side that charming.
5. Go to the Night Market
We really liked the Night Market in Luang Prabang. There was a vast assortment of goods to buy, as well as many different types of food. Be careful when buying souvenirs since some of the products contain parts of endangered species. If you are one of those travellers who love elephant pants (I can’t judge too much since I bought them when I was in Thailand 5 years ago), then this night market is your elephant pant paradise.
Danne with stalls at the night market and a selection of meals at the end of the street
We had some delicious food at the night market. There were lots of items to choose from so my suggestion is to come back a few times. I think we had dinner here 3 times because there is a lot to choose from. Danne became obsessed with the sandwiches in Luang Prabang, which are better than what you will find elsewhere in Laos.
6. Relax from your Travels
Travelling can be exhausting. I love every second of it, but I do need time to recuperate and sit down to write a blog post. Luang Prabang is the perfect place to catch up on what you need to do, whether it be work, writing a blog post, or your precious beauty sleep.
I really started to sleep again, which I felt like I needed badly after our amazing time in Vietnam. We also got massages done since they were cheap and I love massages!
There are tons of cafes around that offer the perfect relaxing setting to catch up on whatever it is you need to do. Luang Prabang also has plenty of high-quality baked goods. So, walk around the streets and indulge in different pastries in cute little cafes. Along the Nam Khan River, you will find lots of tourist-friendly cute bars. Our favourite was Utopia since it had an amazing ambiance and food selection.
Although there are many tourists in Luang Prabang, it really is a sleepy little town. The streets are so quiet and relaxing. It is the perfect place to unwind.
Well, there you go. There is my list of the 6 things you shouldn’t miss while in Luang Prabang. I hope you enjoy your travels there as much as I did.
Is there anything I missed that is worth doing in Luang Prabang? Let me know in the comments!
xx
Jasmine
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What a beautiful experience!