How many days luang prabang

So basically, you might be a little sleepy when you arrive in Luang Prabang. The colonial architecture is wonderful, as are the Mekong views that can be found throughout the city.

They have a book exchange programme here, as well as delicious drinks. And another place to chill in Luang Prabang is Utopia. There are yoga lessons throughout the day, click here to find out times. After yoga, you can stay here for food, and experience the change from a relaxed joint to a party place. After dark, they serve up Beerlao and other drinks, have bonfires and music until 11pm. At 11pm, nearly all of the bars in Luang Prabang shut to help people sleep, as the monks wake up at 4am for the almsgiving.

A whole city with a curfew is a dream come true for me, someone who absolutely thrives off being in bed by 10pm. But if you do fancy heading out after Utopia, the bowling alley is your best bet.

You can either get drunk and bowl, or not get drunk and bowl while watching drunk people bowl. Today will help you experience the scenic beauty around Luang Prabang.

While other destinations in Laos are all about the nature, I would argue that Luang Prabang is better visited for its culture. However, there are some must-visit destinations in the surrounding area that are well worth visiting.

Kuang Si Falls are one of the top things to do around Luang Prabang. You can get there by minivan for 35, — 40, kip, or rent a motorbike and make the journey yourself. Kuang Si Falls are really beautiful, with crystal blue water and drops that make for fantastic photos. The mist clears at around 11am and then it suddenly gets scorching hot! You can also hike around the falls, through the forest at the back.

There is a bear sanctuary on site as well. Generally, these are statues that have broke or are for some reason disused, and they come to live their retirement here rather than be thrown away. You can buy all sorts here — food, souvenirs, gadgets, clothes, and more! There are lots of trinkets and souvenirs that other night markets might not necessarily have.

One especially poignant thing, for me, were the artefacts made out of bomb shells — not only did this put them to a use and help people make money from the shells, but it raises awareness about how much it still affects Laos today. Also on sale are some traditional skirts and the normal Asian night market fare of baggy traveller pants and colourful bracelets. Now, I am recommending that you eat at the Luang Prabang Night Market, but I will issue a word of caution — DO NOT eat any buffet food that is served cold and has obviously been sitting out for a while.

Let me tell you — a lot. Whilst they are all seriously impressive, the Kuang Si Falls in Laos was something else. These falls are much more serene and calm in nature, making for an entirely different experience especially when you see them all cascade. Bonus, you can even swim in them! Located just 21km out of the city centre, you can reach the waterfalls in an hour by mini-van, tuk-tuk or motorbike.

If you have a group of 6, we recommend a tuk-tuk. The tuk-tuk driver will wait for you until you are ready to leave, but it is a good idea to let them know a time. If the slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang is too long 2 days for you, but you still want to experience life on the Mekong River then take this half day trip to the Pak Ou Caves.

On the way, you will also visit the somewhat lack luster, Lao Lao village to sample the local Laos rice whisky. The riverboats are quite basic but they work! The Pak Ou Caves are limestone caves filled with thousands of Buddha images in varying sizes and styles. There are 2 caves to visit with one a short climb up some stairs.

To be honest, the caves were a little bit underwhelming but we enjoyed the boat ride on the Mekong River! This particular whisky is made by steamed distillation using hulls of sticky rice and crumbles of yeast balls. It was not our favourite drink of choice and we tried it in 2 flavours, banana-infused and honey ginger. Both of which tasted like petrol.

The boats depart at am but arrive at the dock by am to purchase a ticket. Spending half a day at the Living Land Farm was by far our favourite activity to do in Luang Prabang and we strongly recommend it! Sticky rice has long been a staple in Asian culture, but there is little appreciation for the work that goes into getting the rice on your plate every day.

We sure had no idea the steps of this lengthy process. The 4-hour tour is comprehensive and shows you the steps from the beginning to the end. All 14 of them! We did it all. It was such a hands-on experience and our guide was hilarious. We vow to never waste a grain of rice again, nor do we feel the same about eating rice in general.

The cuisine in Laos is not as well known as its neighbouring countries due to it being landlocked. Laos cuisine is a combination of Thai, Vietnamese, French flavours and of course, local flavours. On Day 2, you will explore more of the region with two Luang Prabang tours: a working rice farm and Kuang Si falls.

The Living Land Lao Rice Farm is owned and operated by seven local families, who produce rice for local consumption. Intent on sharing their trade with visitors, they have designed a hands-on program that is inclusive of all the steps of the rice-making process — from ploughing to planting to harvesting to eating.

Before jumping in, however, follow the path to the wooden bridge for the best views of the thundering Kuang Si Falls. We hiked beyond the bridge up the steep, muddy path to the right there is also a path on the left to the top of the falls where we could swim, swing from a rope or take a boat ride to the source of the stream.

Swimming at Kuang Si was one of our Luang Prabang highlights. The Kuang Si Bear Rescue Center, located near the entry, is included with the Kuang Si Waterfall entrance fee and is well-worth a few minutes on the way in or out of the park or both!

The Asiatic Black Bears — also called Moon Bears — are endangered and the ones in the park have been rescued from poachers and traffickers. The viewing platform offers an up-close view of the bears playing, splashing in streams and just being naturally lazy bears! Note : Kuang Si is not the only Luang Prabang waterfall — but it is the most crowded.

Start Day 3 early with the almsgiving ceremony then walk through the morning market. Relax on a mid-day Mekong River cruise and afternoon traditional Laos massage, before having sunset drinks along the Mekong River.

End the day with a Luang Prabang cultural event. Every morning at dawn, hundreds of monks in saffron robes walk barefoot through the streets of the city collecting alms. The morning almsgiving is an ancient tradition and watching the Tak Bat ceremony is touted as one of the top things to do in Laos.

However, in recent years, the peaceful ritual has been met with aggressive tourists, which has resulted in some backlash against visitors wanting to be present for the humbling ceremony. For me, witnessing Tak Bat ranks as one of the most beautiful things to see in Luang Prabang, but I made sure to adhere to the rules and respect the tradition.

Unlike the Night Market, the Morning Market is where locals do their daily shopping. Fresh produce, eggs, spices, whole chickens and live critters — like bats and frogs — can all be purchased at the Morning Market. Hopping on a boat on the Mekong River is a great way to see more of the region. There are several Luang Prabang river cruise options. The stop includes visits to two caves — one of which has more than 1, Buddha statues displayed inside. One of the lesser-known Luang Prabang boat trips includes a short ride directly across the river to the village of Ban Xieng Mane.

Walk around the small town then hike the stairs to the Chomphet Temple for great views of Luang Prabang from across the river. Luang Prabang sightseeing can be exhausting — and no better way to recharge than with a traditional Laos massage!

Laos massages are similar to Thai massages, but with less pulling and twisting, and more kneading. For those not inclined to have a full body massage, we would recommend that, at least, your experience an intense foot massage.

Along the bank of the Mekong River are several outdoor cafes offering an excellent view of the setting sun…which is often done best with drinks in hand. Map of Luang Prabang for Day 3 not including massage, drinks or events as options are too varied : Google Maps. With more time in the city, consider adding these Luang Prabang sights to your itinerary:. Wandering aimlessly through the streets is simply one of the most fun things to do in Luang Prabang. Marvel at the architecture, watch the people and let your instincts lead the way.

Backstreet Academy pairs visitors with locals to learn and participate in making traditional handicrafts — like weaving, woodworking and winemaking! Big Brother Mouse is a local organization dedicated to helping Laos children learn to read and creating books for young kids to enjoy. You can visit their shop in the city center to buy books for village children or volunteer to practice English with a local. We were drawn to one temple during the evening chanting and when we entered the complex a monk invited us to sit and have conversation.

We asked him questions about his life and Laos and he had a chance to speak in English. A win-win!