Are you looking for the best things to do in Luang Prabang? In this article, we will share the very best activities and locations that we experienced during our 3-day Luang Prabang itinerary. From ancient temples, vibrant night markets, stunning natural scenery and more – every type of traveller will find something to love in the things to do in Luang Prabang. Continue reading to find out more!

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage city in Laos’s heart along the magnificent Mekong River. It was the royal capital until 1975 and is chock full of well-preserved cultural and historical sights. Luang Prabang is a fascinating place where Buddhist temples (33 to be exact) and orange-robed monks are blended with French colonial architecture and bakeries.

We didn’t expect to be blown away by Luang Prabang but we truly were. Imagine strolling between quaint coffee shops, marvelling at glimmering golden temples and basking in glorious sunsets over the Mekong River. The atmosphere is special and we found it to be very romantic. 

For us, Luang Prabang is one of the best places to visit in South East Asia. We recommend planning extra time during your visit to slow down and soak in this magical destination. Hopefully, we can inspire you to visit with our 3-day Laung Prabang itinerary. Let’s begin!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links for products and services we genuinely recommend. These help us earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Essential Travel Tools
✈️ Flights: Skyscanner
🚆Transport: 12GoAsia
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com
📸 Tours: Viator/Klook
🚗 Car hire: Discover Cars

Contents

• Best Time to Visit
• How to Get to And Around
• Where to Stay
• Map
• Things to Do/Itinerary
  • Day 1 – Cultural Activities
  • Day 2 – Waterfalls, Wildlife and River Cruises
  • Day 3 – Educational Workshops
  • Additional Things To Do in Luang Prabang
• Where to Eat
• Conclusion

Don’t have time to read this article now? PIN IT for later!

Best Time to Visit Luang Prabang

November to early February is the best time to visit Luang Prabang. This is during the dry season when the temperature is around a cool 25°C. These are perfect conditions for exploring all of the best things to do in Luang Prabang without becoming a sweaty mess.

AVOID the smoky season from late February to May. Temperatures during this time can reach up to 40°C and it is painfully dry making the whole city very hazy. Additionally, this is the period when farmers will burn their fields, creating air pollution which gets worse and worse until the rainy season starts in late May/June and washes away the smoke.

🎉 Luang Prabang Festivals
Pi Mai (Laos New Year) – mid-April
Boun Ok Phansa (End of Buddhist Lent) – October
Hmong New Year – December

How to Get There & Around Luang Prabang

Is Laung Prabang your first stop in Laos?

The most convenient way of getting there is by flying into Luang Prabang International Airport. For the best deals on flights to Luang Prabang, we recommend that you use Skyscanner. 

Once you arrive, go to the taxi booth and book a shared taxi to your hotel which will cost 40,000 LAK (£1.90) per person.

Already in Laos? 

You have two options, the high-speed train or a minibus. The newly built high-speed train is the preferred option as it saves time. However, there is a catch. Only locals can buy train tickets so you will have to ask a travel agent or your hotel to buy tickets for you. Also, be warned that the tickets sell out fast so do not leave it to the last minute as we did! 

If you miss out on train tickets, you will have to resort to a minibus. We have bad news for you, this is incredibly unpleasant. We were crammed into a people carrier with barely any space for all the 70-litre backpacks and bounced around by the terrible roads for 6 hours. So we recommend avoiding this like the plague if possible.

Coming from Thailand? 

An extremely popular and adventurous slow boat takes travellers from the border of northern Thailand to Luang Prabang along the Mekong River. This takes two days with an overnight stop in Pakbeng and would be an unforgettable unique experience if you are up for it!

Getting Around Luang Prabang

Being fairly small, it is easy to walk between all the things to do in Luang Prabang. You can also hire a scooter but the roads in Laos aren’t amazing so we only suggest this if you are a confident driver. Another option would be riding a bicycle between sights which would feel very fitting in the colonial town.
To get to the sights further away simply approach one of the many locals on every street of town offering tuk-tuks, minivans or shared taxis.

Where to Stay in Luang Prabang

Thanks to being so walkable, anywhere within the UNESCO old town will be convenient for seeing the best things to do in Luang Prabang. 

Having said that, we would recommend The Riverside area for those looking for upmarket hotels with romantic views of the Mekong River. For the average traveller looking for the most central location, we would advise basing yourself near the famous Night Market at the heart of the city.

🏨 Luang Prabang Hotels
Luxury: The Belle Rive Boutique Hotel
Mid-Range: Indigo House Hotel
Budget: Moon’s house LuangPrabang (our pick)
…find more accommodation options here.

Map of The Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang

Save this map for later: Click on the star icon to save the map to your Google Maps Account. You can view the map later by opening Google Maps and navigating to “Your Places/Maps” in the menu.

Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang Itinerary

Luang Prabang Itinerary

Day 1 – Cultural Activities

The first day of our Luang Prabang itinerary takes you on a cultural exploration of the city. We strongly feel that some of the best things to do in Luang Prabang are the temples, crafty bamboo bridges and markets.

1. Alms Giving Ceremony- optional

Price: Free

The Morning Alms Giving Ceremony has recently become a point of controversy and therefore we are suggesting it as an optional thing to do in our Luang Prabang itinerary.

The Alms Ceremony is a 600-year-old tradition in Luang Prabang where locals offer rice to a procession of saffron-robed monks from the local temples and monasteries. The ceremony is very peaceful and respectful, occurring early every morning on the main road in the city. We are sure it is an incredible sight to behold as the orange robes emerge from the morning mist.

Or at least it used to be. In recent years, the Alms giving has become a bit of a tourist trap with large groups of tourists seeing the proceedings as an activity and an opportunity to pose for photoshoots. 

What might have stemmed from a fascination and eagerness to embrace the culture has resulted in inappropriate behaviour, interruptions to the ceremony itself and frustration for the monks and locals.

If you are keen to observe the Alms, we suggest you follow the guidelines on the posters along the street and educate yourself on the do’s and don’t’s. Dress and act appropriately, and be very quiet and respectful. If you aren’t Buddhist, you probably shouldn’t participate in giving an offering. 

Whilst we chose to sit this one out, we do believe you should be able to make up your own mind. Just make sure you understand your motivations for going.  

2. Morning Market

Price: Free

One of the best ways to start your day in Luang Prabang is to head down to the Morning Market and tuck into some gooey coconut pancakes.

Luang Prabang’s Morning Market is an excellent opportunity for you to observe the local culture as restauranteurs and hotel owners flock to buy the best ingredients. Whilst strolling along the rows of colourful produce, grab yourself some skewers, pancakes and freshly squeezed orange juice. 

Alternatively, if you are looking for something more substantial for breakfast, perch on one of the plastic stools with a bowl of delicious noodle soup. Visiting the market is a great way to immerse yourself in the buzzing atmosphere of Luang Prabang.

3. Wat Xieng Thong Temple

Price: 20,000 LAK (£0.94) per person

Located at the edge of the Luang Prabang peninsula where the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers meet, you will find the breathtaking Wat Xieng Thong Temple.

Wat Xieng Thong was built back in 1559 by King Setthathirath and has managed to survive multiple invasions throughout the years. The temple is most famous for its intricate carvings, stunning architecture and colourful mosaics.  

This is one of the more popular things to do in Luang Prabang so we recommend visiting early so you can soak in the serene ambience. 

4. Bamboo bridge

Price: 18,000 LAK (£0.85) per person

This is one of the truly special and unique things to do in Luang Prabang! 

If you are lucky enough to visit Luang Prabang during the dry season then you will be able to see the bamboo bridge. This bridge is rebuilt every year as it gets washed away by the river in the wet season. 

The fee for crossing the bridge goes towards rebuilding the bridge next year – a worthy cause if you ask us! 

Cross the bridge carefully and get yourself to the teahouse on the other side for a refreshing iced tea in their beautiful gardens.

5. Royal Palace

Price: 30,000 LAK (£1.41) per person

Another of the popular sights on this Luang Prabang itinerary is the Royal Palace. 

Built in 1904, in a blend of traditional Lao and French styles, the Royal Palace was home to King Sisavang Vong. From here he ruled the city for 55 years, where his son then lived until the revolution in 1975. 

It has since been converted into an excellent museum where visitors can learn all about the history of Laos and its monarchy. The main highlights of the palace compound are the ornate pavilion housing a golden Buddha, the front and back wings and the throne hall. 

Note: no photography or bags are allowed in the Museum but belongings can be stored in the lockers by the entrance.  

6. Phousi Hill

Price: 20,000 LAK (£0.94) per person

Towards sunset, we recommend hiking up Phousi Hill for the perfect view.

Whilst it can get a little crowded up there, we can’t deny that the views of Luang Prabang, the Mekong and the mountains surrounding the city are magnificent. 

There are two routes up Mount Phousi; the slightly less taxing route that starts just opposite the Royal Palace and the more scenic route starting by the Nam Khan River on Phousi Road. To get the most out of your visit, we suggest hiking up one way and down the other. 

When following the Phousi Road route, you will come across various temples and Buddha statues, including the Buddha’s Footprint temple and a large reclining Buddha. We hiked this way down the hill and came out in a beautiful monastery where a very cute dog was napping on one of the buildings. It turned out he belonged to one of the monks! 

7. Night Market

Price: Free

Finally, end day one of your Luang Prabang itinerary at the famous Night Market. 

We love visiting a market for its vibrant collection of goods and the electric atmosphere, and this Night Market is one of the best things to do in Luang Prabang to experience these vibes.

There is a large area at the entrance to the market selling a variety of street food with a particularly popular roti stall. Just order your food, take your number and grab a table.

The street alongside is lined with market stalls selling homemade goods, art, clothing and other souvenirs. We didn’t think the souvenirs were the usual bits of tat you find in SE Asian markets, and instead were very unique and artistic and something we felt good about purchasing. 

Another great thing about this market is the noise level is very quiet. Nobody is shouting at you to look at their products. It makes browsing the rows of shops an enjoyable, peaceful experience. 

Day 2 – Waterfalls, Wildlife and River Cruises  

The third day of your Luang Prabang itinerary takes you to an iconic sight of the area before concluding with a relaxing sunset cruise on the Mekong River. 

8. Kuang Si Waterfall 

Price: 25,000 LAK (£1.17) per person – book your cheap transport here

Amongst the most beautiful waterfalls in South East Asia, Kuang Si Waterfall is an incredible sight to behold. 

You are bound to know about Kuang Si Waterfall if you have been looking into Laos. It is honestly the best falls we have seen in Asia. The way the water is almost milky looking and the perfect shade of turquoise. 

Located 30km outside of Luang Prabang, it is best to grab a taxi or minibus if you haven’t hired a scooter. It should cost around 400,000-450,000 LAK (£18.77-£21.11) depending on your bartering skills (or book a cheap transfer here) and takes about an hour to pass through some lovely landscapes. 

Once at the falls admire the unobstructed view from the little wooden bridge before heading to the designated swimming pools for a dip. You can also hike to the top of the falls which should take 15 minutes and is quieter but we found the hike quite slippy on the top wasn’t amazing. 

Downstream you will find many pools for swimming, rope swings and little wooden rafts as well as picnic tables and changing huts. It’s the perfect set-up for spending a few hours relaxing. 

9. Free the Bear Sanctuary

Price: Free

En route to the waterfall, you will also pass through the Free the Bear Sanctuary which rescues sun and moon bears from being used in Chinese medicines. 

Despite first appearances of looking like a zoo, we were reassured to learn about the many bears that Free the Bears have rescued from bile farms and are rehabilitating for release back into the wild. 

The bear enclosures are large with many enriching elements such as hammocks, tyres and platforms. The sanctuary does not receive any money from the Kuang Si entrance fee and instead relies upon donations and t-shirt sales. Try to give what you can, if you can afford to.  

10. Sunset cruise with SaSa Cruises

Price: 195,000 LAK (£9.15) per person 

What better way to end the perfect day than a sunset cruise along the Mekong River?

SaSa Cruises offers a two-hour sunset cruise along the Mekong with a free Laos Mojito included. The upper deck of the boat is equipped with sun loungers and comfortable chairs so you can really relax and enjoy the journey. 

They also perform some fun rituals to grant wishes and draw away any stresses/ bad energy. This is the ideal way to conclude your Luang Prabang trip!

Day 3 – Educational Workshops

On this day we recommend booking a class/workshop. There are a few to choose from such as rice farming, textile making and elephant walks but we chose a cooking class for our own Luang Prabang itinerary.

11. Option 1: Cooking Class by Tamarind

Price: $35pp for a full-day class

For a while now we have wanted to participate in a cooking class but for whatever reason, we haven’t managed to do it. That was until we booked a class with Tamarind. 

The cooking class run by Tamarind has even welcomed celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsey! 

The day started at 09:00 when we were taken to a very local market. We spent about an hour here where we were shown the ingredients we would be working with, enjoyed some free samples and were taught about the more exotic produce. 

Next, we travelled 20 minutes by minibus to the Tamarid school kitchen, set in the beautiful surroundings of the Laos countryside. For each dish, the teacher provides a demonstration before you collect your ingredients, get to your workbench and start cooking. We especially loved that we were cooking over hot coals (with careful supervision of course).

In total, we made 6 dishes which we tucked into over a delicious lunch with our fellow classmates. Then at 15:00, we were ushered back into the minibus with a recipe book as a parting gift. A truly wonderful day if you ask us.

12. Option 2: Rice Farming

Price: $30 per person – book a tour in advance here

One of the more unique things to do in Luang Prabang is the Rice Farming Experience offered by the Living Land Farm.

This is great for those who prefer to be outdoors and want to participate in a more local, educational activity. At the Living Land Farm, visitors are shown how rice is grown before trying their hand at some of the activities such as planting seedlings, cutting rice and ploughing the rice paddy with the farm’s buffalo. 

Best of all, participating in this experience means you will be helping fund English classes for the local children as well as contributing to the local community. 

After a morning’s work, stop off in the restaurant for lunch with glorious views across the ancient rice terraces. 

13. Option 3: Textile Making 

Price: from $45 per person depending on the workshop chosen

Ock Pop Tok is a craft centre just outside the centre of Luang Prabang that offers a variety of textile classes and workshops. 

Visitors can choose from classes in natural dyeing where you use plants from the garden to produce dyes; silk weaving with your very own loom; bamboo weaving to make a basket; and many more skilful crafts. 

Whatever you produce in your workshop is yours to take home. What a sweet souvenir! 

Ock Pop Tok follows the incredible philosophy of empowering women through their traditional skillset. By showcasing their talent to tourists, Laotian textiles are promoted worldwide increasing the economic opportunities for female artisans. We love a workshop that gives back to the community!

14. Option 4: Elephant Trek

Price: from $100 per person

MandaLao Elephant Conservation provides an intimate non-riding experience with a focus on education and elephant welfare. 

In Asia, elephant tourism is particularly popular with tourists wanting an opportunity to interact with these magnificent animals. However, this is having a devastating impact on elephants. They are being taken into captivity for elephant riding and other tourist focussed activities. 

We will hold our hands up, we went to what we thought was a “conservation” for elephants in Phuket but the feeding, bathing and posing with chained elephants was actually a very sad experience. 

We are striving to do better and learn from this experience (check out our visit to Stand Up 4 Elephants in Nepal) and this MandaLao Elephant Trek is the perfect activity for this.  Visitors connect with the elephants in the most natural way possible, all whilst learning more about the humane and ethical treatments of the animals at MandaLao. 

The trek involves walking through the jungle alongside two adult elephants for 2.5km, making your way through rice fields and past streams. Once the walk is over, you then enjoy a tasty lunch at the property. Take part and become part of the movement for better treatment for elephants!

Additional Things To Do In Luang Prabang

If you have additional time during your Luang Prabang itinerary or are just looking to switch out some activities, check out our additional things to do in Luang Prabang!

15. Have a traditional Laos massage

Price: between 40,000-60,000 LAK (£1.88-£2.82) per hour

Make yourself feel brand new with a massage. There are massage parlours and spas located throughout Luang Prabang that offer every type of treatment you could think of. However, we recommend the traditional Laos massage as it is a unique experience that you will not find elsewhere. 

Using a blend of deep tissue massage, stretching, and acupressure, the massage is thought to have ancient healing powers which promote physical and mental well-being. So go ahead and treat yourself, you have earned it after a long day of sightseeing.

16. Volunteer at Big Brother Mouse

Price: $10 donation towards fuel, food and field trips

If the idea of volunteering abroad appeals to you but you are short on time, Big Brother Mouse might just be the perfect solution. 

Spend a couple of hours of your day helping people in the local community to practice their English. Students of Big Brother Mouse take their education very seriously, some travelling for hours just to learn English. This rewarding activity means you are giving back whilst also having some interesting conversations about the Laos culture.

Visit the Big Brother Mouse website to learn more about what they do. From writing and publishing picture books to running a school, this organisation is making positive changes for the children of Luang Prabang. 

17. Visit the Pha Tad Ke Botanical garden

Price: $25 per person (closed until October 2024 due to the pandemic)

Pha Tad Ke is the first botanical garden of its kind in Laos. It is dedicated to plant conservation, sustainable agriculture and ecotourism.

Whilst the entry fee may seem steep it does include an orchid talk, a one-hour bamboo handicraft workshop and free herbal-tea tastings overlooking the lotus pond.

18. Pak Ou Caves

Price: 20,000 LAK (£0.94) per person entrance fee

Quickly becoming one of the more popular things to do in Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Caves is the ideal day trip.

Following a soothing boat trip along the river, admiring the limestone cliffs, you will reach the cave that has important religious significance to the people of Luang Prabang. Climb the zig-zagging staircase up the steep cliffside and be greeted by the many Buddha statues inside the cave. 

19. Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center

Price: 30,000 LAK (£1.41) per person

In the heart of Luang Prabang, you will find the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC). 

The TAEC celebrates the diverse ethnic cultures and peoples of Laos through well-curated exhibitions, events, and craft workshops. Their focus is on preserving the culture by educating visitors about the people of Laos. 

The efforts of TAEC have had a remarkable impact on ethnic minorities in Laos, enabling families to invest in food, education and health.

Where To Eat In Luang Prabang

We ate so well in Luang Prabang. The variety available and the quality of food was somewhat surprising. And let’s not forget about the purse-friendly prices! Here are some of the places we genuinely enjoyed during our time in Luang Prabang. 

• Two Little Birds – Cute breakfast spot with obligatory smoothie bowls.
• Bouang Asian Eatery – A main street restaurant offering a contemporary version of Laos’ street food.
• Joy’s Restaurant – Lovely lady’s family-run Laotian restaurant.  
• Atsalin Restaurant – Cheap traditional Laotian cuisine. Local’s favourite and ours too! 
• Break for Bread – Perfect lunch spot. 20,000 LAK (£0.94) Laos Sandwich (Laos’ version of Banh Mi)
• Saffron Coffee’s Espresso Bar – Riverside cafe with good coffee and even better views.
• Ock Pop Tok Silk Road Cafe – Traditional arts and crafts centre with a riverside restaurant. A hidden gem for sunset!
• Dyen Sabai Restaurant – Riverside Laotian BBQ. Self-cook over a bucket of hot coals. Must-do unique experience!
• Le Banneton Cafe French Bakery – Taste Luang Prabang’s colonial past through perfect pastries.
• Manda Le Laos – Instagram hotspot. Dine within a dreamy lilypad garden. Reservations required.
• T56 Cafe & Bar – Romantic candle-lit bar overhanging the Mekong River. Perfect for sunset cocktails!
• Popolo Restaurant – Super cute Italian restaurant serving wood-fired pizzas. Ideal for Instagram or date night.

Pasaniyom Coffee – Authentic Local coffee and bites to eat by the river.

Luang Prabang Itinerary Conclusion

As you can see there are so many amazing things to do in Luang Prabang that it is hard to fit them all in. You could easily add a few more days to your Luang Prabang itinerary to take things slowly and really soak in this amazing place.

There are plenty of activities for all types of travellers. Whether it’s exploring the golden temples, basking in the natural beauty of the area, or immersing oneself in the local way of life, Luang Prabang is a destination that should not be missed.

We fell in love with Luang Prabang and would say it is easily one of the best places to visit in South East Asia. There is a warming atmosphere that oozes a mix of romance and adventure that we adored. 

Laos is often overlooked for its neighbours Thailand or Vietnam, however, this is such a shame and we highly recommend you plan a visit to Luang Prabang ASAP!

If you found this post useful, BOOKMARK it for later and SHARE it with your friends or…

Are you on Pinterest? PIN IT!

Have suggestions of your own? Please let us know in the comments below!

Travelling around South East Asia? Check out our other guides for some inspiration:

• 32 Best Things To Do in SINGAPORE Itinerary (3-Days)
• 30 Best Things To Do in BANGKOK Itinerary (3-Days)