Luang Prabang is my favorite city in Laos. Nestled alongside the Mekong river, French colonial architecture takes on a distinctly Laotian flair here. The city is vibrant and happening; it’s a magical place, filled with backpackers and off-beat honeymooners, where time seems to stand still and you can spend days exploring the nearby natural wonders and wandering down cute alleyways bursting with colorful cafes. It has everything from cozy places to relax on the river to over thirty unique Buddhist temples and pulsing night clubs. Ready to explore? Here are 8 of my favorite things to do in Luang Prabang:
Join the Monks in the Morning Alms Ceremony
Every morning at sunrise, monks wrapped in orange robes leave the thirty-three temples of Luang Prabang to receive the morning alms from the townspeople, who provide them with food for the day. And guess what? You can participate in the ceremony too.
Locals set up booths around town selling food that you can give to the monks. If you just want to watch and take it all in, that’s totally okay, but make sure to do it respectfully. Stand on the other side of the road if you want to take pictures and make sure that you’re dressed appropriately. No bare legs and shoulders, just like if you were to go into one of the temples. There’s a handful of unspoken etiquette rules and you can get more details here.
Climb Mount Phousi
Mount Phousi, or Phousi Hill, is Luang Prabang’s most distinctive feature, rising up from the center of town. It’s one of the most popular places to watch the sunset, with incredible views of Luang Prabang, the Mekong, and the mountains nearby. If you want a more chilled out experience, it’s much less busy earlier in the day, and it’s also much cooler.
On the way up, you can stop at a shrine with a statue of the reclining Buddha in a little grotto, or stop at several of the resting places along the way for a breather and a nice view. At the top of the mountain there’s an especially picturesque temple, called Wat Chomsi.
Next to Wat Chomsi you can get flowers to make offerings to the Buddha, or buy caged birds to set free, which the Laos people believe brings you good luck in the future. I’m pretty uncomfortable with that practice and opted to skip buying anything at all.
Take a Dip at Kuang Si Waterfall
If you’re only going to go out of the town limits for one thing, make it this one. Even in the dry season the Kuang Si Waterfalls are incredible, with bright blue waters forming lagoons you can swim in to escape the heat. The (very gentle) hike to the waterfall takes you through an entirely unexpected bear sanctuary, with rescued sun bears chilling out in hammocks and snoozing in the sun.
The waterfalls themselves are so beautiful words don’t do them justice. There’s pool after pool of stunning turquoise water, which you follow up until you reach the big waterfall at the top. I was there in the dry season and it was still roaring; I can only imagine how much water passes through here in wetter weather.
I recommend hiking to the top of the falls, which is a steep and slightly slippery trek but rewards you with a beautiful shaded pool featuring a rope swing and little fish who will nibble on your feet. You’ll have to pay good kip for that if you want the same treatment in town. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can even hike to the spring that the waterfall comes from a few kilometers away.
Explore the Pak Ou Caves
The Pak Ou Caves, whose name means ‘Mouth of the Ou River,’ are one of the holiest sites in Laos. You can take a bus to get there or, and this is of course my favorite option, hop on a slow boat and take a two-hour cruise up the river.
The caves themselves are home to over 4000 Buddha icons in various poses. Be sure to pack your flashlight because the upper cave is a bit of a climb up some very dark steps to reach where the majority of the icons are.
If you’re heading this way, don’t forget to stop off at Ban Xang Hai, also known as ‘Laos Laos Village,’ home of the famous whiskey that you’ll be sure to get a taste of on your travels, though you might not remember it.
Eat Literally Everything at the Luang Prabang Night Market
Like many cities in this region, Luang Prabang has a bustling night market where you can binge on street eats (look for the stalls selling some of the best cakes in S.E. Asia) and shop in the shadow of the royal palace turned museum. The night market has tons to offer, from beautifully hand woven scarves to jewelry created from the shrapnel of bombs dropped on Laos during the ‘Secret War.’ The whole place is teeming with life and color and the delicious smells of traditional Laos cuisine.
Learn How to Weave in Ban Phanom
If you like textiles – and who doesn’t, am I right? – then you’ve come to the right place. The night market is full of beautifully woven scarves and clothes, many of them using the traditional Laos indigo dye. Seeing the finished product is cool; seeing them being made is cooler.
Ban Phanom is a village only a ten minute tuk tuk ride from town and the whole village’s livelihood revolves around weaving. It used to be the village of choice for the Laos royalty when they wanted the best textiles made. Nowadays you can visit the village, observe the weavers, and maybe even take a crack at the loom. If you’re looking to buy some textiles, you’ll get them much cheaper here than at the night market.
Relax with a Laos Massage
I know I’m always telling you to get massages, but that’s only because they’re amazing and you should. Laos massage is very similar to the massages you’ll get in Thailand, but they’re a bit more gentle and relaxed. There are tons of places around town where you can get a massage, and it’s the perfect way to wind down after a day of sightseeing or to start the day or to spend the day if you’re a high roller.
Go Late Night Bowling
The bars in Luang Prabang are required to close by midnight, usually shutting down around 11:30, since the town gets an early start with the alms giving ceremony. If you’re not ready to go home after a night of partying at the popular Utopia Bar, don’t worry! Tuk tuks are waiting to take you to the Luang Prabang Bowling Alley.
It sounds weird, and it is a little weird, but it’s the only place you can get booze after curfew and it’s a great place to meet people and continue the party with a few more Beerlao and happy balloons. Plus bowling!