{"id":25027,"date":"2019-12-04T05:19:25","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T05:19:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/?p=25027"},"modified":"2022-12-27T10:00:11","modified_gmt":"2022-12-27T10:00:11","slug":"things-to-do-in-luang-prabang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adventureinyou.com\/laos\/things-to-do-in-luang-prabang\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Things to Do in Luang Prabang That You Can’t Miss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many travelers (wrongly) skip Luang Prabang during their time in Laos, instead opting to hit up the (previous) party mecca of Vang Vieng. I admit during my first visit I myself was guilty of this.<\/p>\n

Having recently made a return visit to Laos this time I made sure not to miss what has now turned out to be one of my favorite cities in all of Southeast Asia<\/p>\n

There is so much to do and see in Luang Prabang, I much prefer it over Vang Vieng and certainly much more than Vientiane, which I actually find a bit boring. Here are a few of my top recommendations to do in Luang Prabang.<\/p>\n

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Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The number one attraction in Luang Prabang is the Kuang Si waterfalls. You can rent a bike or pay to go on an organized tour but the best way is to hire take a tuk-tuk. Make sure to bargain hard to get a fair price!<\/p>\n

I recommend going early in the day as you\u2019ll want to spend all day hiking and exploring. Most people only see the main fall from the park located below, grab a selfie and go. Many people don\u2019t know that you can hike up behind the falls and find hidden wading pools and other waterfalls!<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re descending from the top of the mountain down the wooden stairs instead of following the trail down to the right go left through the wooded path. You\u2019ll have to climb down a wet hill but I promise it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n

Your selfies will be way better than the same one that everyone else has that doesn\u2019t bother making the climb down! There is also a cave system found at the top that you\u2019re able to explore. Locals will rent you a hard hat and flashlight and act as a guide for a small fee.<\/p>\n

Travel Tip: <\/b>If you are short on time, we recommend going on a day tour to visit a few of Luang Prabang’s hotspots. This Kuang Si Waterfall and caves tour<\/strong><\/a> shows you the best of the area within a day. Alternatively, this sunset boat cruise<\/strong><\/a> also includes a visit to the waterfalls.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Visit the Night Market<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You cannot visit Luang Prabang without checking out its busy night market. The market is hectic and can become crowded but that\u2019s part of what makes it so great! Try your skills of haggling with the friendly shopkeepers- I always start by countering with thirty percent of their initial offer before usually landing closer to half.\"luang-prabang-night-market\"<\/p>\n

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Dinner and Drinks at Utopia<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Nearly everyone that visits Luang Prabang ends up at Utopia, a traveler\u2019s favorite.<\/p>\n

Utopia\u2019s menu has both local and Western choices with impressive river view. Utopia is a chilled-out relaxation spot during the day (they even offer yoga!) before transforming into one of the best lounges\/party spots by night!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s great place to lay around reading a book during the day before meeting friends to share drinks and swap stories at night.<\/p>\n

Explore the Royal Palace Museum & Other Wats<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Learn a bit about the history of your host country as you spend an hour or two checking out the Royal Palace Museum. The museum is the former royal residence and also the only time I ever recall being barefoot at a museum, as you\u2019re not allowed to wear shoes inside the museum!<\/p>\n

Apart from the Royal Museum, other Wats (temples) like\u00a0Wat Xieng Thong,\u00a0Wat Long Khoun and\u00a0Wat Wisunarat are also worth visiting.\"luang-prabang\"<\/p>\n

Editor’s Note: Looking for where to stay in Luang Prabang<\/strong><\/a>? Take a look at out full guide for our top tips and recommendations<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Go Bowling<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I know this may sound like a crazy suggestion but I promise you it\u2019s one of the most popular things in town to do. The entire country of Laos has a nationwide midnight curfew, so locals can wake up early to pay alms to the monks.<\/p>\n

In Vang Vieng, the curfew is ignored. I\u2019ve come home at 4 a.m. in Vang Vieng with my friends arriving at the hotel hours after me!<\/p>\n

In Luang Prabang however, the curfew is strictly enforced with most places closing no later than 11 p.m. The only place that seems immune to the curfew is the local bowling alley. At night, as you\u2019re leaving the bars or restaurants, tuk-tuk drivers will be waiting, offering rides to the bowling alley. Grab your friends, jump in and go!<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a fun mix of both foreigners and locals gathered at the bowling alley every night until around 2 a.m. Also\u2014an entire bottle of local whiskey only costs about $5 USD!<\/p>\n

Experience Tak Bat<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On a morning, preferably not after a night of bowling and $5 bottles of whiskey, you should experience Tak Bat, or the daily tradition of locals paying alms to the monks. It\u2019s an incredible sight to witness- a single file line of orange-robed monks carrying bowls to collect offerings in front of them.<\/p>\n

The monks line up in order of age, with the eldest monk going first. Locals and tourists alike lay offerings of food, flowers, and incense into their bowls. You can buy offerings near where the procession begins.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find locals selling packages for you to purchase ( I suggest buying from the actual market rather than the baskets put together just for tourists). If you want to really understand what this tradition is about, consider doing this tour with a local.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Lastly, make sure to always remain respectful and to be dressed appropriately as this is an important local tradition that locals are privileged to even view, much less take part in.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Related: Basic Laos for Travelers<\/a>\"luang<\/strong><\/p>\n

Try an Authentic Laotian Massage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although neighboring Thailand is world-famous for their massages, a traditional Laotian massage is just as wonderful and can be had for even cheaper.<\/p>\n

If your muscles are really hurting after hiking the waterfall or Mount Phousi then try the four-hand massage. This is where you have two massage therapists working on you at the same time!<\/p>\n

Learn to Cook Laotian Food<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Luang Prabang is known as the best place in all of Laos to learn to cook traditional dishes. Classes are either full or half day and most classes begin with a trip to the local market to shop for fresh ingredients. Next, you\u2019ll return to the class to begin learning how to prepare the dishes you\u2019ve chosen.<\/p>\n

Portions are large so the best thing to do is for everyone to choose a different dish to learn, prepare and then share with others in class. This way you\u2019ll be able to try a bit of everything!<\/p>\n

Most schools include a cookbook in the price of the class so you can (attempt to) make the dishes for friends when you\u2019re back home. I recommend looking at Cookly, a company who lists various cooking classes in Luang Prabang<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nView Classes<\/a><\/span>\n

Related: What to Eat in Laos<\/a><\/strong>\"luang-prabang-grilled-food\"<\/p>\n

Prepare Your Own Dinner<\/strong><\/h2>\n

All over Laos, you can find restaurants offering BBQ but Luang Prabang seems to have the most I saw anywhere. Here, unlike a traditional BBQ restaurant, you\u2019ll cook your own meal.<\/p>\n

The tabletop cooking device is something between a hot pot and a charcoal grill where you\u2019ll cook whatever meats you choose on the sizzling top while boiling noodles, veggies and seafood in a bubbling broth found below.<\/p>\n

Make sure to try the water buffalo- a local specialty that\u2019s actually really delicious!<\/p>\n

Try Beer Laos<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s nothing better to wash your BBQ dinner down with than the country\u2019s national drink: Beer Lao. I would say this is some of the best beer in all of Southeast Asia, second only to Myanmar<\/a><\/strong>. You can buy an ice-cold bucket full of bottles to share with your friends, or drink them all to yourself.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: We recommend using Bookaway<\/strong> <\/a>or 12Go website<\/strong><\/a> to view bus, boat, and train schedules ahead of time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"luang-prabang-beer-lao\"<\/p>\n

Climb Mount Phousi<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Referred to as a mountain but I would actually call it more of a large hill, it\u2019s worth it to climb the 355 stairs to the top for impressive panoramic views of the city. There\u2019s a small temple at the top that you\u2019re able to visit.<\/p>\n

Visit to the Pak Ou Caves<\/h2>\n

Last but not least, a trip down to see the many Buddha structures varying in shapes and sizes is also a highlight when in Luang Prabang. You can get a glimpse of the mighty Mekong River while you’re at it. You can either join a tour or rent a motorcycle and drive yourself to the port where you can catch a local boat to the cave.<\/p>\n

Hopefully, this post has given you a glimpse into the many awesome things to do around Luang Prabang. This city is a real highlight in my Southeast Asian travels and is a place that I urge everyone to visit.<\/p>\n

This tour<\/strong> <\/a>takes you through the whiskey village, the caves, and the waterfalls making it a huge time saver for those who don’t have a lot of time.<\/p>\n

\"luang-prabang-caves\"<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Transportation Around Laos<\/h2>\n

From Luang Prabang, there are loads of other destinations in Laos that are worth visiting. For a full list of transportation routes and schedules, check out the transportation schedule from Book away by clicking the links below.<\/p>\n

Luang Prabang- Vientiane<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Luang Prabang- Vang Vieng<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Is it Safe to Travel Around Luang Prabang?<\/h2>\n

Generally speaking, I found Luang Prabang to be one of the safest places in Asia (but truth be told- they all are!)<\/p>\n

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Looking for more articles on Luang Prabang? Here are a few of our top reads<\/h3>\n