13 Top things to do in Luang Prabang - Digital Nomads Adventures

Luang Prabang, a laid back town with french cafees, golden temples, monk ceremony, rice fields, caves, and stunning out of this world turquise Kuang Si Falls has a lot to offer.

Nestled between two of the largest rivers in the region, the Mekong and Nam Khan, Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ancient royal capital of Laos.

It is definitely a city worth visiting and one of the top places to see in Laos.

We spent 6 days in Luang Prabang and loved every minute of it.

things to do

where to stay

how to get there

best time to visit

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1.Visit the Magnificent Kuang Si Waterfall

2. Participate at the Monks Alms-Giving Ceremony

3. Become a Rice Farmer For a Day

4.Volunteer and Teach English to Lao Kids

5. Endulge at French Bakeries and Cafees

6. Watch Sunrise / Sunset at Mount Phou Si

7. Explore the Temples of Luang Prabang

8. Buy Souvenirs at Luang Prabang Night Market

9. Eat at Street Food Market

10. Learn About Laos History at Royal Palace

11. Cross the Bamboo Bridge

12. Cruise along the Mekong River at Sunset

13. Visit Pak Ou Caves

1. visit the magnificent Kuang Si Waterfall

Kuang Si Waterfall is definitely one of the most beautiful waterfalls we have ever seen and one of the top things to do in Luang Prabang.

A mix of stunning azure and turquoise water of the many layers of gorgeous natural pools, cascading over the lime rocks is an incredible sight that you don’t want to miss.

Upon reaching the main iconic 50 meter tall waterfall with the water mist in the air and lush jungle all around, we stopped in awe how incredibly stunning this movie-like scenery was.

You can take a swim in the gorgeous grottoes surrounded with green jungle, stand in the cascades and let the waterfall massage you or take action pictures as you jump of the tree branch into one of these cooling natural pools.

You can even hike to the top of the waterfall, it only takes about 20 min, but I highly recomend you to wear proper footwear as it might get slippery.

Even though the Kuang Si Waterfall isn’t in the city, it’s definitely worth the 40-min trip to get there.

Location: 23 km from Luang Prabang
Opening hours: every day from 8 AM – 5:30 PM
Price: 20,000 kip

2. Participate at the monks alms-giving ceremony

Starting from the 14^th century, hundreds of barefoot Buddhist monks leave their temples every morning at sunrise.

They walk down the streets, linend-up in their orange garments, and collect food donations from the local people. Some of the food they keep for themselves, the rest they give to the poor.

Alms-giving, or “Tak Bat” is an important part of Laos’ culture and is an unforgettable thing to experience.

Insteadt of just watching this ceremony, you can actively participate in it, which makes it one of the best things to do in Luang Prabang.

There are many locals who sell food that you can buy and offer to the monks. We bought 2 baskets of sticky rice, sat on little stools next to the locals and waited for the monks to arrive.

Offerings include food, such as fresh fruit, sticky rice in banana leaves or sweets, and they are to be presented respectfully with a bow.

Do’s and Dont’s

Similar to visiting a temple, clothing is important – covering your chest, shoulders and legs is a sign of respect. Stay silent not to disturb the serenity of the ceremony, don’t walk into the monks way and turn off the camera flash.

It’s considered rude and disrespectful to arrive late and to take part in the tradition after it has begun. So make sure you check with your hotel what time is sunrise and set your alarm clock to make sure you are there before the monks arrive. We set ours for 5:00 am!

It’s a lovely tradition with a serene athmosphere that allows you to have an unforgettable experience of Laos’ culture.

Location: Main Street and side streets of the Luang Prabang city centre
Opening hours: Sunrise until early morning
Price: Free

3. become a rice farmer for a day

One of the most awesome things we did in Luang Prabang was becoming rice farmers for a day and learning how to cultivate rice. It was totaly hands on, feet in the mud, planting rice in the mud, plowing with a help of a buffalo kind of experience.

We were able to try ourselves every single step of growing rice manually.

We learned about the different types of rice and that it needs to be planted all in one day, so when one farmer is planting, all the other farmers come to help him.

Our guide taught us how to cultivate and grow rice the traditional way. Many farmers still don’t use modern machinery today. We learned how to plant it, cut it, grind it, sift it, and even how to cook sticky rice.

Growing rice is a lot of hard work and after a few hours in the rice farm and rice fields you’ll appreciate how much effort goes into making rice and wonder how can it be so cheap.

Our hard work was rewarded by delicious rice snacks and freshly squeezed sugar cane juice, which we squeezed manually ourselves. After we washed off the mud we cooled off in the shade while learning how to weave bamboo animals.

Learning how to cultivate rice was such an unforgetable and humbling experience of Laos culture. I can not recommend it enough, it is definitely one of the top things to do in Luang Prabang.

We booked the afternoon tour as there is a possibility to stay longer and volunteer to teach local kids English and we wanted to volunteer too. Tuk-tuk ride there and back was included in the price.

Location: 5km outside of the city centre
Opening hours: You can book a morning tour or afternoon tour

Price: 275,000 kip per person

4. volunteer and teach english to Lao kids

One of the most rewarding and awesome things to do in Luang Prabang is to volunteer to teach English to the local kids.

We did this at the rice farm as the people who run the rice farming experience also support local kids and teach them English so they can have a better future.

Many of these kids are from the families of rice farmers and are predestined to become farmers too. Learning English gives them more options, they can work in travel and tourism and make a better living.

We booked the volunteering via email when booking the rice farming experience. After we were done planting rice, we simply stayed longer, we were shown around the eco farm and soon the students started coming to the classroom upstairs in the farmhouse.

All the teachers here are volunteers and they teach English 5 times a week. The kids were awesome, very shy but it was lots of fun, we mostly talked about what they want to be when they grow up, their favorite hobbies, sports etc.

It was so lovely to contribute and learn about their life and dreams and they were very interested about ours. This was definitely one of the top things to do in Luang Prabang and a memory all 3 of us cherish.

Location: 5km outside of the city centre / same place as rice farming experience
Opening hours: English lessons start around 6pm, 5 times a week
Price: free

5. Endulge at french bakeries and cafees

Laos used to be a French colony, and it is not only the architecture that the French have influenced. Grab a delicious croissant, cake or pastry and a coffee at one of the many french bakeries and cafees in Luang Prabang and enjoy!

6. Watch sunrise/sunset at Mt. phou si

The view from the top of Mount Phou Si is beautiful any time of the day, but especially magical during sunrise and sunset.

There is something special about the gorgeous Luang Prabang skyline, Laos’ mountains, Mekong river banks and golden pagodas in the morning mist or shimering in the rays of the setting sun.

Mount Phou Si is located in the centre of the old town, opposite of the Royal Palace entrance, which makes it very easily accessible.

“Phou Si” means sacred hill, since this is not a mountain but rather a steep hill that’s about 100 meters tall with around 300 stairs to climb to reach the top.

At the top you will pay an entrance fee of 20, 000 KIP per person. There is also a person who sells caged birds that you can buy and set them free for good luck, this is animal abuse and we do not support it.

Make sure to get to the top before the sun is about to set because the spot is very popular and might get crowded.

Location: Center of the old town, opposite of Royal Palace entrance
Open hours: 5:30 AM – 6 PM
Price: 20,000 kip

7. explore the temples of luang prabang

There are 34 active temples known as Wats in Luang Prabang, which give the city a serene, deeply spiritual and peaceful feel.

You can spend the whole day strolling through the city visiting various temples, each unique, serene and beautiful. Many of them are free to enter!

However, it is important to know some etiquette and customs when visiting temples to avoid offending the monks and locals.

Always cover your arms, chest and legs and take off your shoes before entering the temples, never point your feet at Buddha when sitting inside the temple and naturaly be respectful and silent.

The most famous temple is Wat Xieng Thong and it is also the oldest temple, it was built in the 1500s.

It is a beautiful place, covered in gold and mosaics where you can rest, recenter and meditate, or just walk around, marvel at the beauty, take some pictures and soak in the peaceful atmosphere.

Location: Khem Khong
Opening hours: every day from 8 AM – 5 PM
Price: 20,000 kip

8. buy souvenirs at luang prabang night market

Luang Prabang night market is one of the best markets in South East Asia.

It is located in the centre of the town, and it’s very colorful, vibrant, and lovely with many stalls that sell handmade goods from people of the region.

There are plenty of different items for sale like clothes, scarfs, paintings, candles, wood carvings, jewellery, bowls, toiletry bags, wallets, pencil cases, phone cases, toys…

We bought lovely colorful toiletry bags for medicine and make up, Ryan bought a Laos T-shirt and we all got a handmade pouch for our phone. They make a beautiful souvenir from Laos that we use all the time and by purchasing them, we also supported the local people.

The night market can get quite crowded, and gives Luang Prabang extra sense of lively evening atmosphere. You can easily walk to it after dinner from the Street Food Market.

Location: Sisavangvong Road
Opening hours: 5 PM – 11 PM every night
Price: Free

9. eat at street food market

Luang Prabang’s Street food market is enormous and you cannot miss it. It’s located at the main street right before the night market.

There is even a live show of traditional Laos dance on some evenings.

Countless stalls sell Lao Food, Thai food, Korean food, curry, noodles, soups, fish, roti, coconut pancakes, meat skewers, fresh fruit shakes and much more.

The Street Food Market has plenty of seating, it does fill up fast after sunset though as locals and tourists all come to have dinner here.

10. learn about laos history at the royal palace

The Royal Palace Museum is located in the center of town and it is absolutely beautiful. It is free to enter the open courtyard but to enter one of the buildings you will have to buy a ticket.

The museum was originally constructed as a residential palace for King Sisavang Vong in 1904.

After the king’s death, the palace was occupied by the crown prince, Savang Vatthana and his family until the revolution of 1975.

When Laos no longer had a royal dynasty to rule the country, the palace complex was occupied by the government.

It was reopened to the public in 1995 as a museum.

One of the buildings of the Royal Palace Museum complex is housing a standing Buddha statue called Prabang, which the city of Luang Prabang was named after.

Location: Across Mount Phou Si
Opening hours: 8 AM – 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM – 4 PM
Price: 30,000 kip

11. cross the bamboo bridge

You can cross the bamboo bridge over the Nam Khan river only during a few months of the year.

In the rainy season, the strong current, and high water levels of the river, wash away the bridge.

In the dry months, it is rebuilt and it’s definitely worth seeing. You might catch a glimpse of the monks crossing the shaky bridge or even dare to cross it yourself.

A small fee is required to cross, which is used to rebuild the bridge for the next season.

After you cross the bamboo bridge, you’ll find a craft shop named Garden of Eden and a lovely restaurant overlooking the river.

12. cruise along the mekong river at sunset

One of the best things to do in Luang Prabang is to take a cruise down the mighty and magnificent Mekong River.

There are plenty of options to choose from, you can hire a basic boat or even a luxury one. You can take a short one-hour cruise, or even a longer cruise to some of the farther sites like Pak Ou Caves.

It is possible to do Mekong river tours all day long but one of the best times to go is right before sunset because then you’ll be able to truly enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature and take some stunning pictures of the breathtaking Mekong at its sunset glory.

Location: Near the morning market, near Wat Xieng Thong
Opening hours: 9 AM – 6 PM
Price: 100,000 kip and above

13. visit pak ou caves

The Pak Ou Caves are one of the most important religious sites and one of the most known prayer spots in the region mostly known for the thousands of different Buddha statues of different shapes and sizes left throughout the history by different people.

In the past, when the pilgrims first came and settled in this region, they visited the cave and left a Buddha statue, which prompted other pilgrims to start leaving Buddha statues in the upper and lower caves too.

The lower cave is well-lit and everything is clearly marked. To get to the upper cave you’ll need a torch to climb the many steep steps.

You can get to the Pak Ou Caves from Luang Prabang by boat.

Location: 25 km upstream Mekong
Opening hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
Price: 20,000 kip per person

To save some hustle and make the most out of your time in Luang Prabang, you can book an organized tour that combines Pak Ou Caves, Mekong Cruise, Kuang Si Falls or UNESCO World Heritage City Highlights and more. Check out some of the available tours here.

There are many hostels and hotels to stay in Luang Prabang ranging from very cheap to more expensive for everyone’s budget. Check out some of the available hotels here.

Slow boat – Taking a slow boat from Thailand to Luang Prabang takes 2 days down the Mekong river with an overnight stop in Pakbeng. It is a great way to see the beautiful mountainous scenery surrounding the Mekong River and the local life.

The best way is to buy a ticket for the boat in Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai through one of the local travel agents. The tickets include the minibus ride to Chiang Khong, shuttle across the friendship bridge to Huay Xai on the Laos border. Here you get the entry visa, before the shuttle takes you to the river bank, where you board the boat for Luang Prabang.

The first day you will travel for about 7 hours. Then spend a night in Pakbeng at your own cost. And the second day you will be on the boat for 8 hours.

Flights – Luang Prabang has an international airport just 10 minutes away from the city center. Once you arrive at the airport, a taxi to the city center costs around 50.000 Kip (5.5 USD).

Buses – It is possible to travel by bus from/to neighboring countries like Vietnam and Thailand but the ride will be long and tough.

Trains – The fastest way to get around Laos is to use the high speed train that links Luang Prabang with Vang Vieng and Vientiane. Each trip is less than an hour long which is considerably less than taking a bus or even driving a car.

getting around luang prabang

The centre of Luang Prabang is very walkable. Truck and buses are not allowed in the centre as Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To get outside of centre you can rent a bike, motorbike or catch a tuk-tuk.

Bicycle – Almost all hostels and hotels in Luang Prabang offer bicycles for you to get around town. You can also rent them in one of the rental shops in the town. The cost per day is around 3 USD.

Motorbike -To get further away from town you can rent a motorbike. Again many hotels offer these as well as rental shops. Price per day is around 9 USD. The roads to Kuang Si Waterfall and around Luang Prabang are safe.

Tuk-Tuk/Taxi – Or catch a tuk-tuk, they are a great cheap option to get to places further away especially if you are traveling with kids or as a group of friends.

October to March is the best time to visit Luang Prabang. The temperatures are cooler than the rest of the year, around 27- 29°C, the nature is lush green and waterfalls full of water after the rainy season.

June to September is rainy season and occasional floods occur in this area.

March to May is dry season, so it doesn´t rain but it is very hot and humid. Daily temperatures can reach 38 – 40°C.

Luang Prabang is a safe city. Many travellers, backpackers and nomads have visited this town and didn’t have any problems. We felt totaly safe here at all times.

Just use your common sense, leave valuables at the hotel and keep an eye on you wallet and phone. Make sure you wear a helmet when driving a motorbike and always have a good health insurance.

Since trucks and buses are not allowed in the city centre, the town is relatively peaceful and slow paced.

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