Things to do in Luang Prabang, Laos
- margauxgathy6
- Nov 29
- 3 min read
Luang Prabang was my favourite city in Laos. I was there for 4 days but could have spent a week there with its relaxed vibe and everything to do. Here are the top things that I did.
For more on Laos, see my 10 day guide here.
Kuang Si Waterfall
Kuang Si Waterfall is without doubt the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen. You can’t miss it when you’re in Luang Prabang. To get there, you can book a tour through your hostel or any booking agency around the town, but if you have at least four people, consider getting a tuk tuk instead. We found one on the street, and they charged us 200,000 Kip (approx. £6.75) per person for the return trip, which seems to be the going rate. Agree on the price beforehand, and don’t pay until you are back in Luang Prabang! The driver waited for us when we were visiting and then took us back.
Make sure you have at least 3 hours there to give you enough time to go to the top of the waterfall, take pictures, and have a few swims at the different levels. It is honestly just jaw droppingly gorgeous - I felt like I was in a movie.
Mt Phousi
Mt Phousi is the hill in the middle of Luang Prabang that you can climb to get panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. There is a temple at the top, so make sure you are dressed appropriately, with your legs and shoulders covered. The best time to visit is either sunrise or sunset, but beware that sunset is a very busy time! It costs 20,000 Kip (approx. 68p) to go up, but if you keep your ticket, you might get lucky and be able to use it again (this is what I did!).
Watch the Alms Giving Ceremony
If you go up Mt Phousi for sunrise, you might catch the alms giving ceremony on your way. It begins between 6 and 6:30am. I would not, however, recommend just getting up for that. Unfortunately, it has become a commercial event whereby the monks are given offerings from tourists who (sometimes literally) have their phones and cameras right in their faces. It hurt to watch. If you decide to go, please keep your distance and respect this tradition.
Explore the Old Town
Luang Prabang has a great old town with beautiful buildings, temples, cafés, restaurants, and shops to explore. I spent half a day exploring and couldn’t get enough.
Walk along the river
There is a path along the riverbank which has great views of the surrounding nature, and is very peaceful. I highly recommend taking a walk along it.
Take a jewellery making class
Garden of Eden is a little shop in Luang Prabang run by a local woman who teaches you how to make jewellery. It is one of the most popular things to do in the city, whether you are artsy or not. The setting is right on the river so makes it such a wholesome activity. It’s a great way to meet people, be creative, and learn about jewellery making. They have lots of different types of classes, and you have to book them online to reserve a place. It can be the day before or even on the day itself if you’re flexible with timing. This is their website where you can book a class, or see the link on their Instagram page.
Visit the UXO Visitor Centre
Did you know that Laos is the most bombed country in the world? The UXO Visitor Centre is an absolute must do in Luang Prabang. It is a free museum which teaches you about the history of Laos and the war there. It was really informative and very moving, and essential to understand more about the history of the country.
Volunteer at Big Brother Mouse
While I unfortunately did not get the chance to do this, I have heard nothing but good reviews from people who took part in volunteering at Big Brother Mouse. It is a local organisation which teaches English to children in Laos. You can volunteer for a day or longer. Reach out to them to organise it.
I hope this gives you a good idea of the best things to do in Luang Prabang. It’s such a great city and I have no doubt you will enjoy it. As always, please respect the people and places you visit, and only leave your footprints behind :)
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