Located in northern Laos, the small town of Luang Prabang is in the heart of a mountainous region. It is one of the most popular destinations in the country has most travelers use it as the first or last stop in the country before going to/from Thailand. I originally came here for a weekend but ended up staying a week. It’s an easy place to get stuck. You can spend your days relaxing by the river, in cafes, and heading out to the nearby Kung Si waterfalls. You’ll be able to see everything in town within a couple of days but the city has a hold on your and you’ll probably end up staying a bit longer. You won’t regret it though!
Luang Prabang
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Luang Prabang
1. Explore the Buddha Caves
2. Visit the Royal Palace
3. Check out the Elephant Village Sanctuary
4. See the sunset along the Mekong River
5. Trek to the Kuang Si Falls
Other Things to See and Do
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1. Visit Wat Xieng Toung Monastery
This is one of the oldest monasteries in the city and is one of the most important monuments to the spirit of religion, royalty, and traditional art. It also has amazing gardens that you can stroll through on your visit. I highly recommend this place! Admission is 20,000 LAK.
2. Witness the alms ceremony
At dawn, the monks come down Sakkaline Road to collect alms of rice from both villagers and tourists. You can easily locate the route for alms giving by looking for rows of rice baskets and stools waiting for the alms-givers. It’s one of the most popular things to do in the city and hundreds of people line up for it. Sadly, while it used to be an authentic thing, it’s now a money machine for the monks and a bit of a Disneyfied attraction. I wouldn’t go but you can get a lot of pictures (if that’s what you really want!).
3. Kuang Si Butterfly Park
Also located a bit outside of the city, this park contains huge landscaped gardens and orchids, with thousands of butterflies living inside of a netted butterfly garden. There is also a natural fish spa and a small European style bakery on site. Entry to the park is 33,000 LAK.
4. Climb Chomsky Hill
From the main hill in the city, you will have an amazing view of the area. The climb isn’t too laborious and you have a panoramic view from the top. I suggest going at sunset or sunrise for the best view!
5. Take a Laotian cooking class
If you are into Laotian cuisine, this is an affordable and fun option. There are three cooking class institutes in the city: The Terrace, Tamnak Lao, Tamarind: A Taste of Laos. In all of them, you get to enjoy the dishes afterward. Prices will vary but expect to pay between 200,000-300,000 LAK for a class.
6. Check out the night market
Set on the Sisavangvong Road, there are tons of souvenirs, food, and hawkers here. Make sure to bargain with sellers to get a fair price! It’s one of the biggest night markets in the country and a great place to pick up anything you want.
7. Visit Nong Kiew
This rustic village is located a few hours from the city, perched on the banks of the Ou River. It’s a great place to relax, disconnect, and slow down. You can take the bus for 40,000-50,000 LAK and spend a day or two away from it all.
8. Take a cycling tour
If you want to get active and escape the city, try a multi-day cycling tour. You can head out for 2-7 days and explore the countryside with a knowledgeable guide, learning about rural life as you get off the beaten path. Most tours are suitable for all ages, too. Prices start around 500,000 LAK and go up from there.
Typical Costs
Budget hotel prices – Generally, budget hotels start around 120,000 LAK per night for a twin or double. This includes free WiFi and air conditioning. Mid-range hotels tend to start about 220,000 LAK (double that if you want a hotel with a pool). Airbnb is a possibility in town, though there are virtually no options for shared accommodation. If you want a private room, prices start around 215,000 LAK. For an entire home or apartment, expect to pay at least 600,000 LAK per night.
Average cost of food – You can find some reasonable budget options for under 20,000 LAK. Lunch options tend to run about 20,000-50,000 LAK and you can expect to spend about 30,000-60,000 LAK for a mid-range dinner. If you have access to a kitchen, a week’s worth of groceries should cost between 150,000-250,000 LAK, but street food is so cheap in this country you would be hard pressed to cook your own meals cheaper. There’s plenty of riverside restaurant BBQs and the downtown night market is filled with cheap eats and all you can eat buffets.
Transportation costs – Getting around can add up quite quickly here. Taxis to the airport are about 45,000 LAK. I would stick to tuk-tuks for getting around, or even look at renting bikes to keep costs low. A full-day bicycle rental will cost under 20,000 LAK. If you want to rent a motorbike, expect to pay around 150,000 LAK for a day rental. For intercity travel, a bus to either Vientiane or Vang Vieng will cost between 100,000-150,000 LAK.
Suggested daily budget
200,000-250,000 LAK (25-30 USD) (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals, doing lots of free activities, keeping your drinking to a minimum, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)
Money Saving Tips
- Travel during off-season – Peak season tends to run from October through March. If you are able to land in Luang Prabang during April through September you can usually find some good prices, especially when it comes to accommodations. The rainy season runs during this time but tends to be short bursts of rain and not that bad.
- Rent a bicycle – While public transportation isn’t too pricey, renting a bike for a couple of days can get you around the city at your own pace, and save you a bit. There are a couple of different shops that provide rentals, and you can also try to negotiate prices. Prices will usually cost between 10,000-20,000 LAK per day.
- Stick to the local food – Western restaurants tend to be twice as expensive as the local ones and traditional fare is cheap and delicious. If you’re on a budget, eat what the locals eat — it will save you money!
- Organize your own transportation – Don’t go through your hostel or a tour company to book activities as they will charge you more money. Most attractions are near cities and you can either rent a motorbike or hire any number of tuk-tuk drivers to get you there. (Plus, you get the freedom of being on your own schedule).
- Don’t overdo it on drinks – One of the best ways to cut costs is the limit your drinking. A few beers here and there will slowly add up and put a dent in your budget, so keep the drinking to a minimum.
My Must Have Guides For Traveling to Luang Prabang
How to Get Free Flights
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Conquering Mountains: The Guide to Solo Female Travel
Kristin Addis writes the solo female travel column for this website and her detailed guide addresses all the concerns women have about traveling and gives the specific advice and tips you need to conquer the world and stay safe.
How to Teach English Overseas
This book will teach you everything you need to know about landing your dream job and features interviews with dozens of teachers, recruiters, detailed information on the top teaching destinations, sample resumes, advice on nailing your interview, and much more.
How to Travel the World on $50 a Day
My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach how to master the art of travel so that, no matter how long you want to travel for, you’ll save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experience.
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