Luang Prabang Travel Guide

Lying right in the middle of northern Laos beside the Mekong River, Luang Prabang is the country’s second city as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This small city has become something of a darling of the Southeast Asian tourist trail, with its many old pagodas, markets, beautiful scenery and laid-back atmosphere. The surroundings feature a number of stunning natural wonders including waterfalls and caves that add to the mystique.

Perched alongside the Mekong among forest-topped hills, Luang Prabang makes for a leisurely holiday where Buddhist temples are the main attraction. Wat Xieng Thong is the best-known and most impressive, dating back nearly 500 years with its long sloping roof and abundant gold leaf. Wat Manorom is even older, dating back to the middle of the 14th century, the same date the six-meter bronze Buddha statue was erected here.

Luang Prabang is also home to a number of royal artifacts from before the current Communist era. Sat beside the river, the Royal Palace is a little over a century old and used to be the place at which the former monarch King Sisavang Vong received guests. The palace is also a museum with Laotian art, religious frescos and other artifacts. For a look at Luang Prabang’s natural charms, head to the popular Pak Ou Caves, which lie north of the city beside the river, or cool off at the Kuang Si Falls. When you exhaust the city’s offerings, sip a coffee on the riverbank or fine at one of the increasingly upscale restaurants.

Luang Prabang Attractions

Wat Xieng Thong: the most-visited temple in Luang Prabang and with good reason; this is an impressive yet dignified place.

Royal Palace: interesting colonial-Laos style former palace and now a museum with interesting artifacts on show.

Night Market: very touristy, but certainly the best place to track down souvenirs with numerous handmade textile items.

Pak Ou caves: sat beside the Mekong, these caves north of the city make for a good trip by land or water.

Kuang Si Falls: less than 20 miles south of Luang Prabang, this multi-tiered waterfall is good for bathing, relaxing and taking in the local scenery.