Luang Prabang Travelers Recommend

The remote highlands of northern Laos are dotted with villages that are home to Laos’ ethnic minorities. Trekking and cycling tours from Luang Prabang offer a chance to immerse yourself in rural life, learn about diverse cultures and traditions, or enjoy a homestay experience with a village family. Here are your options.

Yuan Village (Ban Pickngai)

The Yuan people, who once ventured from northern Thailand to farm the rice paddies in the lowlands of Laos, populate this village in the plains outside of Luang Prabang. The community’s agricultural culture is a nod to old Thai traditions, and visitors can learn about the day-to-day lives of these farmers and their families. 

Khmu Village (Ban Na Tan)

Home to the Khmu people, one of the largest ethnic groups in northern Laos, Ban Na Tan is known for its inhabitants’ rich tradition of hunting, gathering, and fishing. Villagers work together to accomplish daily tasks, and elders and shaman hold the most respected positions in the community. 

Hmong Village (Ban Long Lan)

An organic coffee plantation and impressive vegetable farm make this local mountain village a charming stop. About an hour and a half from Luang Prabang, the area offers visitors the chance to interact with members of the Hmong tribe, and learn about traditional medicine practices and herbal remedies used by local shamans. 

Hath Hient Village

Visitors to this tiny village just outside of Luang Prabang can learn about age-old techniques used to fashion the traditional iron knives of this tribe. Villagers have perfected the craft over centuries and passed it down from generation to generation, making for high-quality works of art. Travelers can meet the artisans and watch the creation of these famous tools by traditional blacksmiths. 

Ban Xang Khong (Ban Sang Khong)

Located about 3 miles (5 kilometers) outside of Luang Prabang, this small village is known for its woven textiles and silk. The locals also produce Saa paper, which is made from mulberry trees.

Ban Xang Hai

Often included on tours of Laos’ hill tribe villages or the Pak Ou Caves, Ban Xang Hai is nicknamed the Whisky Village because it’s famous for producing LaoLao, Laos’ traditional rice whisky. Visitors can learn about the ancient distilling process, sample the potent spirit, or purchase bottles.

Lao food differs from the cuisine in neighboring Thailand. The influence of French colonial rule on Laos shows in staples such as baguettes as well as in the great-value French fare to be found in major cities. However, every region of Laos boasts its own unique specialties. Here are a few foods and activities not to miss when you’re in Luang Prabang.

Must-Try Dishes

Laos runs on sticky rice and fish, served every which way, but there are plenty of other dishes to discover. Be sure to try laap, a spicy salad of minced, marinated meat or fish that can be served raw or cooked; the breakfast noodle soup feu, Laos’ answer to Vietnam’s pho; and tam mak hoong, a tangy salad made with green papaya. Kaipen —dried river weed, Luang Prabang’s answer to Japanese nori—and the herbaceous, spicy pork sausage known as sai oua are city signatures. No Luang Prabang night out would be complete without a bottle of the national brew, Beer Lao, and a shot of the rice “whiskey” known as lao-lao, but you may want to avoid consuming versions that contain animals.

Must-Do Experiences

• Rise early to see a morning market in full swing, soon after the monks parade through the streets in search of alms.
• Take a cooking class with a local family in a traditional home.
• Discover local specialties at Khaiphaen, a restaurant that trains street children and vulnerable youth for hospitality careers.
• Sip a cold Beer Lao as the sun sinks into the Mekong.
• Savor a street food feast at the night market.

With three days in Luang Prabang, you can get to the heart of the city: monks, markets, temples, and palaces. Besides countryside highlights such as the Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls, you can go deep into cultural adventures, perhaps playing mahout for the day, experiencing life on a farm, or kayaking quiet rivers. Here’s how.

Day 1: Monks, Markets, and Temples

Wake early to partake in a charming Luang Prabang ritual, giving alms to the orange-clad monks who proceed through the city before dawn each day. Then soak up the atmosphere at a bustling wet (produce) market before you hit some of Luang Prabang’s signature sights: the Royal Palace Museum, once home to Laos’ kings, and temples such as Vat Visounarath and Wat Xieng Thong (Golden City Temple). There’s no better way to get to know a culture than through its food, so immerse yourself in Laos’ unique cuisine with a cooking class that includes dinner.

Day 2: Caves, Falls, and Crafts

Luang Prabang’s architectural wonders may have secured it UNESCO World Heritage status, but the countryside around it is every bit as charming. Discover authentic rural life as you cruise the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves, crammed full of thousands of ancient Buddha statues, stopping at villages such as Whisky Village (Ban Xang Hai) and the weaving village of Ban Xang Khong. Spend the afternoon at Kuang Si Falls, where turquoise waters tumble down three tiers. Don’t miss the rescue center that’s saving bears from torture in the traditional-medicine trade. Savor a street-food dinner as you stroll through Luang Prabang’s vibrant night market, stocking up on souvenirs from mulberry leaf paper to handwoven silk.

Day 3: Elephants, Farming, and Kayaking

Treat yourself to a full-day adventure on your last day in Luang Prabang. Perhaps get the chance to play mahout for the day at a riverside elephant camp, where you can learn about the role these majestic animals have played in Lao life. Alternatively, discover the fine art of rice farming as you get hands-on at a local organic farm. The rivers around Luang Prabang are ripe for kayaking at many times of year—or make like a local and cycle quiet back roads to sleepy rural villages. As night begins to fall, make the most of your last Mekong sunset with a sunset river cruise, then wrap up your visit with a fine-dining feast in a candlelit tropical garden.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architectural wonders, Laos’ No. 1 tourist destination delivers orange-clad monks, gilded temples, vibrant night markets, and startling sunsets. Even if you only have a day in Luang Prabang, you can see the city’s signature sights and enjoy a river cruise to the Pak Ou Caves. Here’s how.

Morning: Temple Touring

Start your day in Luang Prabang the local way, with an early morning ritual: giving alms to the Buddhist monks who study at the city’s many monasteries. Soak up the atmosphere at a bustling morning market, get a handle on Lao cuisine and ingredients, then explore some of the city’s signature sights. Travel back in time to the world of Lao kings at the Royal Palace Museum; soak up the spiritual atmosphere at sacred sites such as Vat Visounarath and Wat Xieng Thong (Golden City Temple); and admire colonial architecture and heritage timber houses.

Afternoon: Caves and Falls

Next, discover the mighty Mekong, one of the world’s great rivers, on a cruise to the Pak Ou Caves, a pair of riverside caves crammed with thousands of Buddha statues. Many cruises stop at traditional villages along the way: Sample lao lao (Lao whiskey) at Whisky Village (Ban Xang Hai) or learn the art of making paper or weaving at craft villages. Alternatively, spend the afternoon at beautiful Kuang Si Falls, home to rope swings, a butterfly park, and a bear-rescue sanctuary. Or, if you’d rather stay in the city proper, take the opportunity to explore Lao food with a hands-on cooking class.

Evening: Mekong Sunset

The beauty of the setting sun reflected in the Mekong will stay with you for a lifetime. Make the most of your Luang Prabang sunset, perhaps by scaling Mt. Phousi in the heart of the city for views across the river to the mountains, or embarking on a sunset river cruise with drinks included. As night falls, head to the city’s glorious night market and graze on street food as you shop for paper crafts, silk, embroidered bags, and elephant slippers—plus the whole array of Southeast Asia backpacker fashion. Wrap up your night with a stroll along the tranquil waterfront.

With two days in Luang Prabang, you can acquire a comprehensive overview of the city, catch a Mekong sunset, meet some monks, and enjoy a cooking class. You can also discover the local countryside with a river cruise to the Pak Ou Caves and a visit to one of the nearby waterfalls, or even a stint on an authentic farm. Here’s how.

Day 1: Discover the City

**Morning:**Start the day bright and early, as the locals do, by rising to see the monks collecting alms around the city and joining in the ritual for yourself. Soak up the atmosphere at a wet (produce) market, bustling long before dawn, then follow in the footsteps of Laos’ last king at the Royal Palace Museum.

**Afternoon:**Culture vultures will want to spend the afternoon discovering the city’s signature temples, such as Vat Visounarath and Wat Xieng Thong. Others can get a handle on Laos’ unique cuisine, with influences from Thailand, China, and even France, at a cooking class.

**Evening:**The colors as the sinking sun reflects in the Mekong will stay with you for a lifetime. Experience your first Luang Prabang sunset from a sunset cruise, from atop Mt. Phousi in the heart of the city, or from a simple riverside restaurant, cold Beer Lao in hand.

Day 2: Into the Wild

**Morning:**Continue your Mekong explorations with a classic Luang Prabang adventure: a river cruise to the Buddha-filled Pak Ou Caves. Many boats make stops at traditional villages, including Whisky Village (Ban Xang Hai) or the weaving village of Ban Xang Khong.

**Afternoon:**A number of scenic waterfalls tumble through the forests outside Luang Prabang. Spend your afternoon at Kuang Si Falls, a 3-tiered affair that’s also home to a bear rescue center saving bears from the cruel traditional-medicine trade. Alternatively, experience the hard work of farming rice at an authentic organic farm.

**Night:**Luang Prabang’s colorful night market is one of the best spots in all of Southeast Asia to shop for handicrafts. Stock up on mulberry-paper notebooks, bright silks, and embroidered bags. Wrap up your visit to the city with a fine dining feast at one of Luang Prabang’s elegant restaurants, by candlelight in a tropical garden.