Things To Do in Luang Prabang

Let me start off by saying, I love Luang Prabang! I’ll admit, heading into LP, I was a bit nervous. It seemed unanimous online that everyone enjoyed this small, former capital city in the north. I couldn’t find much criticism; it just seemed too good to be true. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, only to be disappointed. Fortunately, LP lived up to the hype. Delicious restaurants everywhere, cheap massages, beautiful sites, easy to get around, you name it. While LP isn’t as live as Ho Chi Minh or as action packed as a Bangkok, this quiet city has its own unique charm to it that makes you feel at ease here. I stayed in LP for 3 days, which I felt was appropriate.

Here are my favorite things to do in Luang Prabang.

1) Climb Mount Phousi:

Rising 150 meters above the city, Phousi offers a spectacular overview of LP. Many tourists come here for the sunrise and sunset, which I also recommend. However, be prepared for massive crowds an hour before sunset. You’ll be competing with everyone to take the same photo. It’s a bit chaotic, but still a great view and only just a 10 minute walk up the stairs, not really much of a “climb.” The fee is 20,000 kip.

2) Get a massage at the Lao Red Cross Massage and Sauna Center:

You could theoretically get a massage anywhere in town, but at least this one is for a good cause. For just 50,000 kip, you can get an hour massage and for 15,000, you can get unlimited use of the sauna for the day. This sauna is pretty neat for the fact that they use lemongrass and other herbs in the steam, the same herbs they use in the tea they offer outside the sauna.

3) Visit Kuang Si Waterfall:

This is the highlight of Luang Prabang and it is AMAZING. I took a van from my hotel for 50,000 kip around 11 AM and arrived around 12. We were given about 3 hours to explore, which was a good amount of time, but more is better! Kuang Si is much bigger than I imagined, I recommend walking all the way to the peak for the best views and less crowds. Make sure you bring your swimming clothes and a waterproof camera case. Don’t be one of those photographers that just takes photos and watches everyone have fun, get in the water!

4) Visit the Night Market:

Around 4-5 each day, vendors set up the night market right on the main street in LP. Here, you can buy pretty much any souvenir you’re looking for. Although I am not much of a souvenir shopper myself, it is pretty neat to check out at night. Surrounding the market are tons of places to buy fruit shakes and crepes. Just walk, eat, and look around for at least 1 night.

5) Go Trekking in a Village:

This is an underrated activity in LP. I hired a driver and went about 40 minutes from the city to a Hmong village and from there, I trekked to a Khmu village. Incredibly stunning scenery along the way and having the opportunity to see life in the countryside was nice. The definition of laid back!

6) Eat Local Food!

You’d be surprised how many people don’t eat local food. Many of the western places serving burgers and pasta in LP were more crowded than local places. Laotian food is flavorful and cheaper than foreign food. There are several options for vegetarians too. Also, if you’re into fish, you’ll be happy to know that the fish is caught straight from the river, and likely the one you’ll be eating along.

And there you have it; those are my six recommendations for Luang Prabang. I did leave out the temples, as I didn’t find them too appealing. I guess I’ve seen so many in Asia; however, the Royal Palace is one that I found particularly stunning.

After Luang Prabang?

Looking for a plan after Luang Prabang? Take a 3-4 hour trip up north to the sleepy town of Nong Khiaw and learn why it’s one of Laos’ hidden gems here!