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UNESCO World Heritage town
Luang Prabang
Gilded temples, saffron dawns and two rivers. The old royal capital rewards slow days.
All 50 Temples & spiritual 5 Nature 6 Social enterprises 4 Culture 2 Markets & local life 4 Nightlife & social 5 Adventure 2 Food & drink 3 Wellness 4 Off the beaten path 4 Festivals 4 Crafts & workshops 3 Getting around 4
Temples & spiritual 01
Wat Xieng Thong
ວັດຊຽງທອງ
The city's most revered temple (1560), with a sweeping tiered roof and a glass-mosaic Tree of Life on its rear wall.
Visit early morning or late afternoon for soft light
Find the Tree of Life mosaic on the back wall
See the royal funeral carriage in its own hall
Cover shoulders and knees; an entry fee applies
Temples & spiritual 02
Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham
ວັດໃໝ່ສຸວັນນະພູມາຣາມ
A five-tiered roof and a gilded façade telling the Vessantara Jataka; once home to the Phra Bang Buddha.
Study the gilded reliefs on the front veranda
Step quietly into the main prayer hall
Listen for chanting around dusk
Ask a novice monk about the stories on the walls
Temples & spiritual 03
Wat Visoun (Wat Wisunalat)
ວັດວິຊຸນ (ວັດວິຊຸນນະລາດ)
The oldest operating temple in town, beside That Makmo, the 'watermelon stupa'.
See the collection of old Buddha images inside
Photograph the rounded That Makmo stupa
Notice the classic early Lao architecture
Pair it with the Red Cross sauna next door
Temples & spiritual 04
Wat Sensoukharam
ວັດແສນສຸຂາຣາມ
A quieter temple on the main street with a deep-red and gold interior.
See the murals and red-gold hall
Walk the peaceful grounds
Sit for a few minutes of quiet
Chat with monks who like to practise English
Temples & spiritual 05
Wat Xieng Mouane
ວັດຊຽງມ່ວນ
A small temple most visitors walk past, known for carved doors and its Buddhist arts training workshop.
Hear early-morning chanting
See novices learning woodcarving and painting
Admire the carved wooden doors
Keep a respectful distance from living quarters
Nature 06
Kuang Si Waterfalls
ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດກວາງຊີ
Tiered turquoise pools about 29 km south of town, with a bear rescue centre at the entrance.
Swim only in the marked lower pools
Hike to the top of the falls for the view
Visit the Free the Bears rescue centre
Arrive early to beat the crowds
Picnic at the wooden tables
Nature 07
Tad Sae Waterfalls
ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດແສ້
Terraced limestone falls about 15 km away, reached by a short boat hop. Quieter than Kuang Si.
Best from July to December when water flows
Swim in the many small pools
Relax on the wooden platforms
Skip elephant rides and choose no-riding sanctuaries
Nature 08
Tad Thong Waterfall
ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດທອງ
Three small spring-fed cascades 6 km from town, reached on a 2 km jungle trail.
Allow 45 to 60 minutes for the trail
Take the side path to a Khmu village
Best in the rainy season; a trickle by April
Bring your own snacks and water
Nature 09
Mount Phousi
ພູສີ
The sacred hill in the centre of town, crowned by Wat Chom Si, with views over both rivers.
Climb about 330 steps from the main road
Go at sunrise, as sunset is crowded
See Wat Chom Si at the summit
Allow about 45 minutes up and down
Nature 10
Mekong River Cruise
ລ່ອງເຮືອແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ
Longtail boats on the Mekong, where it meets the Nam Khan beside the old town.
Take a sunset cruise from the old-town landing
Go upriver in the morning to Pak Ou Caves
Watch fishermen cast their nets
Choose half- or full-day trips
Take the two-day slow boat to Huay Xai on the Thai border
Nature 11
Pak Ou Caves
ຖ້ຳຕິ່ງ (ປາກອູ)
Two riverside caves about 25 km upriver, filled with thousands of Buddha images left by pilgrims.
Visit both the lower and upper caves
Bring a torch for the upper cave
Combine with the river cruise
Hire a guide for the history
Social enterprises 12
Laos Buffalo Dairy
ຟາມນົມຄວາຍລາວ
The first buffalo dairy in Laos, about 30 km from town, renting buffalo from local families.
Meet the calves on a farm tour
Taste buffalo cheese and ice cream
Try milking a buffalo
Easy to combine with Kuang Si
Social enterprises 13
Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
ສູນສິລະປະພື້ນເມືອງ ແລະ ຊົນເຜົ່າ (TAEC)
A small, excellent museum on the cultures of Laos's ethnic groups, below Mount Phousi.
Learn about the 50 officially recognised ethnic groups
See costumes, tools and ritual objects
Shop fair-trade crafts in the museum shop
Stay for the café garden
Social enterprises 14
UXO Laos Visitor Centre
ສູນຂໍ້ມູນ UXO ລາວ
An eye-opening centre on unexploded ordnance and the ongoing clearance work across Laos.
Learn how clearance teams work
See defused ordnance displays
Understand the impact on rural families
Entry is free; donations help
Social enterprises 15
Living Land Farm
ຟາມລີວິງແລນ
A community rice farm about 20 minutes from town where you plough, plant and harvest alongside farmers.
Follow rice from paddy to plate
Plough with the farm's buffalo
Share a farm-to-table lunch
Proceeds support village students
Culture 16
Alms Giving (Tak Bat)
ຕັກບາດ
At dawn, saffron-robed monks walk the streets collecting sticky rice. It is a daily religious ritual, not a show.
Be in place by about 5:30 AM
Only give if it is meaningful to you
Buy rice at the market, not from street touts
Sit lower than the monks and keep quiet
Never use flash or block the procession
Culture 17
Royal Palace Museum
ພິພິທະພັນພະລາຊະວັງ
The former royal palace (1904), with the throne room, state gifts and Haw Pha Bang, home of the Phra Bang Buddha.
See the royal regalia and state gifts
Walk the mirrored throne hall
Pay respects at Haw Pha Bang
No photos inside; shoulders and knees covered
Hire a guide for context
Markets & local life 18
Night Market
ຕະຫຼາດກາງຄືນ
Handicraft stalls fill Sisavangvong Road every evening from around 5 PM.
Shop textiles, silver and paper lanterns
Eat at the buffet lane of street food
Bargain gently and with a smile
Look for makers selling their own work
Markets & local life 19
Morning Market
ຕະຫຼາດເຊົ້າ
A lane of fresh produce, river fish and herbs near the Royal Palace. This is daily life at its busiest.
Go before 9 AM
Try unfamiliar fruit in season
See how local dishes are prepared
Shop here before a cooking class
Markets & local life 20
Whisky Village (Ban Xang Hai)
ບ້ານຊ່າງໄຫ
A riverside village distilling lao-lao rice spirit, usually visited on the way to Pak Ou.
See the small-batch distilling process
Taste rice spirits and wines
Buy directly from family producers
Browse the village weaving
Markets & local life 21
Hmong & Khmu villages
ບ້ານມົ້ງ ແລະ ບ້ານຂະມຸ
Hill villages around Luang Prabang offering homestays arranged through community-based tour operators.
Stay overnight with a local family
See indigo dyeing and batik
Buy textiles from the makers
Book through a guide so income stays local
Nightlife & social 22
Riverside bars
ບາຣ໌ລິມແມ່ນ້ຳ
Relaxed bars along the Mekong and Nam Khan banks; most close by the 11:30 PM town curfew.
Watch the sunset over the Mekong
Meet other travellers
Catch occasional live music
Plan dinner early, because kitchens close early
Nightlife & social 23
Luang Prabang Bowling Alley
ໂບລິ່ງຫຼວງພະບາງ
The long-standing late-night spot on the edge of town after bars close.
Bowl, play pool and darts
Meet locals and backpackers
Grab late-night snacks nearby