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On this article, I’ll share with you the very best issues to do in Luang Prabang, Laos. It doesn’t matter in case you are solely planning your journey to Laos otherwise you’re already there; listed below are 18 superb issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang.
Issues you’ll want to know earlier than the journey to Luang Prabang
Earlier than we begin with the very best issues to do in Luang Prabang, I’d prefer to reply some ceaselessly requested questions in regards to the metropolis.
Learn how to get to Luang Prabang?
Some of the necessary questions is find out how to get to Luang Prabang. The best manner of getting there may be by airplane. You may fly there immediately from Bangkok, Chiang Could and Hanoi (maybe, a couple of different areas as properly, however not as ceaselessly). In case you’re flying to Vientiane first, you may also take a pace practice, which takes round 4 hours; nonetheless, shopping for tickets is considerably problematic, as there isn’t any manner to purchase the tickets on-line, and the gross sales solely open 2 days earlier than the journey date. You may as well take an in a single day bus from Hanoi or Vientiane. You may as well get there by ferry, nevertheless it would possibly take a few days!
Test the costs and availability of flights to Luang Prabang right here >
Is Luang Prabang protected?
In case you’re questioning whether or not Luang Prabang is protected or not, I can guarantee you that it’s very protected. Luang Prabang is a tiny metropolis, and the locals are genuinely pleasant. In fact, I’ve a perspective or a vacationer – somebody, who spent lower than every week in Luang Prabang, however the one crime I’ve heard of there was the bike theft rip-off, the place the folks, who you hire the bike from, discover the bike and steal it from the road after which ask you to pay them a full value of the “stolen bike”. Thus, I solely advocate renting bikes from trusted firms with many optimistic critiques.
Is Luang Prabang costly? How costly is Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang could be each very inexpensive and fairly costly. It’s an idyllic city, so there are a couple of ultra-luxurious accommodations like Belmond, Rosewood and AMAN. Unusual resorts are additionally not too low cost; you possibly can put together to pay £120-130 per night time. Nonetheless, if you wish to keep on a finances, there are many very low cost hostels round.
Meals could be very low cost in Luang Prabang – you possibly can eat properly for lower than £10 per day for 3 meals. In case you eat road meals, you possibly can maybe survive with simply £5 a day.
Excursions and excursions may also be fairly inexpensive except you purchase them from accommodations and tour businesses. The most cost effective solution to do sightseeing is by both renting a motorcycle (you may get a pleasant one for lower than $5 a day) or hiring a taxi and sharing it with a number of folks. Taxi drivers cost $20-30 for a visit to the waterfalls & some landmarks on the best way, so in the event you break up it between 4 folks, that’s simply $5-$7 per particular person.
General, Luang Prabang was some of the inexpensive locations we’ve visited in the previous few years!
How lengthy ought to I keep in Luang Prabang?
Lots of people come to Luang Prabang to work remotely, and why wouldn’t they? The climate is nice, all the things is inexpensive, the surroundings is superb, and the web is nice. Nonetheless, in the event you’re coming as a vacationer, what number of days can be sufficient? I’d say in 3 days; it is possible for you to to see a lot of the issues round Luang Prabang and inside town. Nonetheless, if you wish to take it gradual and relaxation, I’d say that possibly 4-5 days can be even higher.
In case you don’t have an excessive amount of time, then 2 days would even be okay. Nonetheless, these 2 days must be fairly busy.
The place to remain in Luang Prabang?
Lastly, let’s focus on lodging and the place to remain in Luang Prabang. We stayed on the Bel Air Resort with gorgeous river views. Nonetheless, the situation wasn’t the very best as a result of each time we would have liked to go someplace (all of the locations aside from the airport have been throughout the river), we needed to cross a really scary bridge. Not the beautiful Bamboo bridge, however the Outdated French Bridge that appeared prefer it was on the breaking point, with lacking picket planks and nails protruding in every single place. In contrast to the Bamboo bridge, this bridge was very excessive within the air, and any fall would have been deadly.
As a substitute, I like to recommend staying on the following locations:
Luxurious resorts: If cash isn’t an issue, these resorts can be an incredible choice: Burasari Heritage, Rosewood, 3 Nagas
Mid-range accommodations and resorts: The Belle Rive, Angsana Maison
Very inexpensive however fairly good place to remain in Luang Prabang: Villa Ouis
With out additional ado, let’s get began!
18 superb issues to do in Luang Prabang:
Take a sundown cruise alongside the Mekong River
My absolute favorite factor to do in Luang Prabang was taking a sundown cruise alongside the Mekong River. In case you can solely do one factor, that might be the factor I like to recommend doing in Laos. There are many cruise choices – from some actually fancy cruises that embrace a 3-course dinner to some quite simple boats. You don’t must e book upfront, simply head to Khem Khong Avenue, and lots of boat house owners’ll method you. We discovered a flyer promoting a sundown cruise for $5.5 per particular person from Svan Mekong Cruises (that’s the spelling) in one of many companies (I feel you should purchase it from Mekong Eden Home) and have been extraordinarily fortunate – there have been no different vacationers that day and we have been the one ones on this cruise!
The boat was additionally pretty – it had bean baggage and cosy seats, and we might additionally purchase beers and wine there (for an additional price, nevertheless it was very inexpensive as properly).
It will get fairly chilly at night time, particularly in December/January, however we have been provided blankets, which was very considerate and superb.
In case you’re concerned with a dinner cruise, you possibly can test this cruise on-line right here.
Stroll the Unesco Heritage protected a part of Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang grew to become a UNESCO world heritage website in 1994, and that was completely deserved – Luang Prabang could be very fairly. Among the finest issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang is to put on snug footwear and for for a stroll or a motorbike experience across the Outdated City – there are many lovely streets!
Go to the night time market on Sisavangvong Highway
Sisavangvong Highway is essentially the most well-known, busy and fashionable road in Luang Prabang. It will get particularly crowded within the night, round 6pm, when the night time market opens. The night time market in Luang Prabang has loads of stalls promoting garments, souvenirs and artwork. I’d say it’s primarily geared toward vacationers, nevertheless it’s a must-visit attraction anyway.
Attempt native road meals
Proper initially of the Evening Market, there’s a everlasting road meals market in Luang Prabang. Most stalls open round 6pm and are in full swing by 7pm and 8pm. Nonetheless, in the event you come later, at 9pm or 10pm, you’ll nonetheless have the ability to discover some open stalls at this market.
Avenue meals in Laos could be very distinctive – you possibly can both attempt a number of small dishes from the stalls (e.g. all types of skewers) or get correct dishes within the restaurant stalls on the opposite aspect of the market (subsequent to the massive display). The most well-liked dish in Laos is Laap – a meat or fish salad, which is scrumptious however very spicy. Truly, most dishes in Laos are very, very spicy! Even Jose couldn’t eat a number of the dishes – and he was born and raised in Mexico, a rustic with a whole lot of spicy meals and other people snacking on chillies.
In case you are bored with spicy meals, contemplate asking for a soup. Soups in Laos are typically not spicy!
Go to the Kuang Si waterfall
One of many foremost sights of Luang Prabang is positioned exterior town, circa 45 minutes away. You may both get there by bike, purchase a tour or rent a taxi that can look forward to you there for 3-4 hours for $20 for a day. Alternatively, you may get there by boat in the event you purchase a tour (that mixes Kuang Si Waterfalls and Pak Ou caves, for instance) – you possibly can e book a tour on-line right here.
Entrance to Kuang Si prices round $2.5 per particular person, and you may swim in a number of the swimming pools there. Nonetheless, it will get very busy! There isn’t a lot mountaineering/strolling close to Kuang Si. Nonetheless, additionally, you will go to a tiny village subsequent to the waterfall, which is beautiful & very genuine. In case you’re hungry, don’t fear, there can be a whole lot of meals choices within the village proper on the entrance to the waterfall.
General, in the event you’re not planning to swim, you possibly can go to the waterfall and the village in about 45 minutes to 1 hour. On this case, in the event you employed a taxi, similar to we did, you may also ask your taxi driver to cease on the buffalo farm or on the rice farm proper exterior Luang Prabang.
Journey a motorcycle
One other of the 15+ superb issues to do in Luang Prabang is driving a motorbike. In case you’ve by no means pushed one earlier than, contemplate taking the teachings. You may as well rent an electrical bike that’s not so quick & harmful. It’s actually enjoyable to drive round Luang Prabang on a motorcycle, and also you’ll have the ability to entry a whole lot of sights simply!
Stroll the bamboo bridge
One of many sights of Luang Prabang is the Bamboo Bridge throughout the Nam Khan River. It’s solely open 6 months a yr and will get rebuilt yearly because it will get destroyed as soon as the water ranges rise. You might want to pay 10,000 kips ($0.6) per particular person to cross the bridge, nevertheless it’s price it. In case you’re visiting exterior the wet season, you must positively attempt to cross it at the very least as soon as!
Go to the Buffalo farm
A few the expats opened a buffalo farm exterior Luang Prabang a couple of years in the past, and ever because it grew to become an attraction. You may come to the farm to attempt a couple of cheeses fabricated from buffalo milk and buffalo ice cream. You may as well take a tour across the farm (I feel it prices round $10 per particular person) and be taught extra in regards to the farm and even feed child buffalos from a bottle.
Learn to harvest rice at Residing Lang Farm
One other thrilling factor to do in Luang Prabang is go to a rice farm positioned simply exterior Luang Prabang, close to the Pullman Lodge. You may even stroll there from the city centre. It’s known as Residing Land Farm. You may take part in planting and harvesting rice and, usually, be taught extra about rising rice and the significance of rice in Laos. You may be taught extra on their web site right here.
Go to the MandaLao elephant sanctuary
You may as well go to the MandaLao elephant sanctuary, the place you possibly can have a non-riding expertise (trek subsequent to them) with elephants, be taught extra about elephants in Laos and assist elephant conservation. You may be taught extra in regards to the expertise right here.
Climb the Mount Phou Si
One of many must-visit locations in Luang Prabang is Mount Phou Si – positioned proper within the coronary heart of town; this mountain has a wonderful temple on the highest of it. There are many stairs to climb. Nonetheless, the views from there are properly price it. The ticket to enter the higher a part of Mount Phou Si prices circa $1 per particular person.
Have a therapeutic massage
In case you really feel confused or simply need to loosen up, Luang Prabang is a superb place to have a therapeutic massage! There are many therapeutic massage parlours throughout Luang Prabang, and most of them are very inexpensive! In fact, there are luxurious therapeutic massage parlours as properly, so you might have loads of choices for any finances.
See essentially the most lovely temples in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang has so many gorgeous temples, monasteries and stupas. Probably the most lovely is undoubtedly Haw Pha Bang, positioned proper on the backside of Mount Phou Si. There may be additionally Wat Wisunarat, which is extra non secular and manner much less touristy and Wat Sen. There are such a lot of temples within the Outdated City that it’s in all probability not possible to go to all of them!
Go to the morning market
Luang Prabang has many markets! After the night time market, the second most well-known market can be the morning market, the place yow will discover a whole lot of native produce & groceries. It opens day-after-day at 5am and closes at 10am. Yow will discover it subsequent to the Ananta Villa Lodge.
Observe the Alm Giving ceremony with the Buddhist monks
In case you’re an early fowl and also you wish to observe a really distinctive, lovely ceremony that is essential to locals, head to the Outdated City round 5:30am. It’s a ceremony the place native Buddhists supply alms (home made sticky rice) to the monks. Nonetheless, except you’re a Buddhist, you shouldn’t take part. As a substitute, you possibly can quietly observe the ceremony. You may as well take images (with no flash), however ensure you’re not in the best way and never obstructing anybody.
Pak Ou Caves
Pak Ou Caves are sometimes visited as a part of a tour. It’s a big website for locals, particularly Buddhists, and they’re completely filled with hundreds of Buddha pictures. Guests usually mix Pak Ou Caves with Kuang Si Waterfalls, e.g. this tour visits each landmarks!
Go trekking
In case you’re into sports activities and would get pleasure from one thing that features shifting and exquisite sceneries, then you must positively go trekking exterior Luang Prabang! You may both analysis the routes your self after which head there utilizing taxis or purchase a trekking tour like this one. Both manner, you’ll positively get pleasure from trekking in such gorgeous surroundings.
Go to the Pottery village
Lastly, you may also go to the pottery village positioned in Ban Chan, very near Luang Prabang (simply on the opposite aspect of Mekong river), the place you possibly can take part in a pottery workshop and actually have a eating expertise. If that appears like one thing you’d get pleasure from, you possibly can be taught extra and e book a tour right here.
Abstract of 18 superb issues to do in Luang Prabang
I hope that on this article, you discovered some attention-grabbing locations that you just wish to go to in Luang Prabang. In fact, there are extra issues to do within the city and its environment, however I might solely write in regards to the issues we loved essentially the most / or heard from pals that they have been superb and positively price doing or visiting.
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