Overview

Luang Prabang is home to a large array of old Buddhist temples and interesting museums such as the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, located in the centre of town. Pak Ou Caves are popular, with hundreds of damaged Buddha statues and images to see. The most impressive temple in the city would have to be Wat Xieng Thong situated near to the point where the Mekong and Khan Rivers meet. The beautiful temple was built in the 16th century and houses significant artwork and artefacts.

Wat Xieng Thong

Located just 300 metres south of where the Mekong and Khan Rivers meet is the impressive Buddhist temple of Xieng Thong. The temple was built in 1560 by King Saisetthathirat and is one of the most popular and beautiful in Luang Prabang. Wat Xieng Thong's architecture is a classic example of traditional Lao-style with a low rising roof. There is a reclining Buddha at the temple which was made at the same time as the building itself and is not only beautiful but considered extremely lucky. Inside the temple are numerous artefacts and pieces of Lao art from as early back as the 12th century.

Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is a newly opened museum with an extensive collection of artworks, artefacts, traditional clothing and tools from the different ethnic cultures of Laos. The centre is well signposted in both English and Lao with numerous hands-on displays that the kids will love. You will learn of Laos and how the country began and developed. There are guided tours offered for a small cost that provide an English speaking guide to walk you through the fascinating displays explaining the history and heritage.

Pak Ou Caves

The famous Pak Ou Caves are located 25kms north of Luang Prabang city and are home to hundreds of damaged Buddha images and statues, which have been stored there for hundreds of years. Believing that broken Buddha statues and images bring bad luck, people bring them to the Pak Ou Caves, which has become a resting site. During the Lao New Year celebrations many locals come to the caves to wash away the bad luck and welcome in the New Year. In recent years, Pak Ou Caves have become a popular tourist attraction with thousands of visitors each year.

Royal Palace Museum

The Royal Palace Museum is situated across from Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham and offers a look into the royal family of Laos's history. The palace was built for King Sisavang Vong in 1904 using a mixture of Lao and French designs. The museum is filled with ancient artwork and traditional pieces of Lao clothing, home wares and jewellery. There is also a display of gifts to the royal family from other countries around the world including moon rock given by the Untied States of America during the Vietnam War era.

Mount Phousi

The impressive Mount Phousi is 420 feet high and offers picturesque views over all of Luang Prabang and the surrounding areas. On top of the beautiful mountain is the temple Wat Chom Si, which was built in 1804. The temple is truly spectacular with a tall gold stupa that is seen from all parts of the city. You can make the climb to the temple along a 350-step pathway, which is worth the effort for the magnificent views enjoyed on the way. Also on Mount Phousi are several other temples including Wat Tham Phousi, which is home to an impressive gold Buddha statue.

Overview

The natural surrounds of Luang Prabang provide the perfect setting for numerous outdoor activities. Rafting along the Mekong River is popular and also provides a great way to visit some of the remote local villages. Elephant trekking is an amazing experience that allows you to enjoy the peaceful and tranquil surrounding jungle. For something indoors, there is the tenpin bowling centre that also is a great late night hangout.

Rafting

With the city being positioned along the Mekong River, there are numerous water activities to enjoy, including rafting. The rafts are generally traditional, handmade from bamboo and are steered with a long stick. Tours are offered that include a raft trip along the Mekong usually stopping off for lunch at a small village to experience the traditional Lao way of life. There are also modern kayaks available for more serious rafters looking for an adventure, which can be hired or taken with a local guide.

Trekking

The surrounding areas of Luang Prabang offer some fantastic trekking opportunities with several mountains and picturesque forests. Some of the popular treks include from Muang Khai to Ban Na Haew, which takes you through thick jungle and steep mountains with local hill tribe villages along the way. There are several waterfalls around Luang Prabang including the Kuang Si Waterfalls, which are quite impressive with wide falls. There are numerous local tours that offer guided treks through the jungle and mountains.

Cycling

Cycling is popular mode of transport in Luang Prabang with easy to navigate quiet roads that are for the most part flat. It is relatively easy to cycle to most of the main attractions in town as well as some of the temples just out of town. For serious mountain bikers there are some great downhill runs that will be fun and challenging. You can hire bikes of all types from numerous shops and guesthouses in the city.

Elephant trekking

Laos is famous for its elephants and in Luang Prabang there are several elephant tour companies that offer treks through the surrounding jungles. Elephant riding through the jungle is a great way to see the natural surrounds of Luang Prabang as well as being exciting to sit upon such a large creature. The elephant camps usually have baby elephants to see and feed, which children will love. Tours can be for just an hour or all day depending on what you prefer. All day tours include lunch and sometimes stop off at local villages to see how the locals live.

Ten-pin bowling

Situated in the central downtown district is a tenpin bowling centre that is open everyday until at least midnight. The bowling centre is an interesting and unexpected attraction in Luang Prabang but offers a fun night out and somewhere to have a late night drink. The centre is a fantastic place to take children to break up the countless cultural activities.

Dining and shopping

The charming city of Luang Prabang has a wide selection of restaurants available serving cuisines from around the world including French, Italian, Thai, Korean, Indian and European. There are numerous restaurants and bars along the Mekong River that will satisfy all tastes and budgets. The central Sisavangvong Road is known for its diners and eateries sometimes being referred to as ‘restaurant row'.

Local food varies from tasty and spicy curries to barbequed seafood and sausages. One popular dish is laab, which is either ground pork or chicken served as a cold salad with a variety of herbs and spices. Grilled barbequed chicken is another local favourite and can be found at numerous street stalls around town. Sticky rice is usually served with many Lao dishes and is quite filling.

When visiting Luang Prabang, you must try the local barbequed buffalo sausages, which are found being cooked around town at numerous street stalls. The tasty sausages are eaten with sticky rice and local salad. French baguettes are also popular and very good; street vendors sell baguettes with a host of fresh and tasty ingredients including chicken, beef and salad.

For some of the city's best restaurants head for Wisunalat Street, where you can find some upmarket local eateries as well as a selection of European restaurants serving flavours from France and Italy. You will also find some Indian restaurants cooking authentic dishes from both the north and south of India.

Luang Prabang is home to an array of markets and street stalls with some vendors walking the streets selling their wares. There are traditional handicrafts using local produce including decorative and home wares. In the central downtown district you can find several goldsmiths that have a wide selection of inexpensive jewellery pieces.

Hmong Market is located on the corner of Phothisalat and Kitsalat Roads and is one of the most popular in town with both locals and tourists. There is a large collection of handmade goods, from locally sewn wall hangings to clothing and jewellery accessories. Dala Market is another centrally located market that has a host of traditional hand crafted items as well as numerous silver jewellery pieces.

Along the busy Phothisalat Road in the centre of town there are several antique shops with an abundance of Lao artworks and pieces. You will be able to find some great bargains of quality items such as jade Buddhist statues. Phothisalat Road also has numerous street stalls with vendors selling everything from cheap knock off watches and clothes to cigarette lighters and copied books.

Throughout the city in the numerous old French mansions there are shops catering to up market tourists with impressive local art, quality clothing and jewellery pieces. Most of these stores will accept major credit cards and provide international shipping to your home country.

Luang Prabang has a wide selection of restaurants in the local downtown district serving a variety of flavours and cuisines from around the world including French, Italian, Korean, Japanese Thai and European. Visitors will also enjoy the flavoursome local food, which uses numerous spices and herbs.

Overview

Most people arriving in Luang Prabang will use the international airport located just 20 minutes by taxi from the centre of town. There are bus services available as well as private taxis and mini buses from other Lao cities. Travelling by boat along the Mekong River can be fun and exciting albeit slow and precarious. Within Luang Prabang there are taxis, rickshaws, mopeds and bicycles for hire.

Airports

Located just 20 minutes' drive north of the city is Luang Prabang International Airport, which is host to several local carriers of the region. Flights arrive from Chiang Mai and Bangkok in neighbouring Thailand as well as from Hanoi in Vietnam and Siem Reap in Cambodia. The airport also has flights arriving from other Lao cities including Vientiane and Xieng Khuang.

Luang Prabang International Airport is just a small airport with only one terminal. Facilities within the airport are limited to basics such as toilets, small shops, ATMs, telephones, a tourist information desk and public transport.

Getting to the city from the airport is painless with only a short 20-minute commute. There are mini van taxis that offer the cheapest mode of transport while metered taxis are slightly more expensive but still very cheap compared with other international destinations. Most hotels have cars and offer free transfers to and from the airport so it is worth checking beforehand.

Public transportation

Getting to Luang Prabang by other means of transport is limited to road or water. There are bus services that travel from the capital of Vientiane but these can be slow and uncomfortable. Buses are generally old and susceptible to breaking down, causing inconvenient delays.

Another option for travelling by road is taking a mini van or private taxi. Mini vans travel from numerous cities across the country and are generally reliable and relatively fast. Hiring a private taxi is a popular choice as it is inexpensive and offers the most comfortable ride. You will find taxis in most cities willing to drive long distances.

Being positioned along the famous Mekong River allows for travel by boat. There are slow boats that travel from Huay Xai opposite the Thai city of Chiang Klong. These trips usually take approximately two days and are popular with young travellers. Speedboats are also available and although they offer a faster ride, are quite dangerous and wet.

Getting around Luang Prabang city is relatively easy with mini vans, taxis, rickshaws and boats available. In the central downtown district there are plenty of taxis and rickshaws that will take you around town. You will need to agree on a price before taking the journey and it is commonplace to haggle the deal.

Along the Mekong River there are numerous attractions which can be travelled to by small boat. In Luang Prabang along the river you will see many local boats offering trips to various sights. Another popular option for getting around is by bicycle or moped, with countless hire shops found throughout town. If you choose to rent a moped, be sure to wear a helmet and take out necessary insurance.