How many days in Luang Prabang is enough? - best things to do in Luang Prabang
When you think of exciting destinations to travel to in Asia, I’m willing to bet that Laos probably wasn’t your first thought. I mean, when you say “Laos”, most people just assume you’re talking about the plural of “Lice” and not the most underrated country in Southeast Asia. I promise you though, if you give Laos a shot, it will be well worth your time.
For some odd reason, Laos was the one country I was most excited for on my trip, even over Bali and Thailand. I was SO excited to make it to this point in my 3 month Southeast Asia backpacking trip and finally have the opportunity to explore this country that can tend to get swept under the rug. Over the next few weeks of posting Laos content, hope I can show you why it should be on your high on your radar the next time you’re planning a trip to Asia.
Typically, a trip through Laos either starts in one of two places. The first stop on many people’s Laos itinerary is Luang Prabang, where most people decide to continue their Thailand adventures by either flying to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai or taking the 2 day slow boat into Laos from the Thai border.
The other option is to fly into the capital city, Vientiane, and working your way up through the country.
(Unfortunately, I didn’t get the pleasure of exploring the south, although there are incredible landscapes and motorbike loops. I simply didn’t have time on my trip, but if you’re down for the full Laos adventure, be sure to check out the Thakhek loop and Pakse as well! )
I personally made the magical decision to take the 2 day slow boat from the Thai border to Luang Prabang and started my journey through Laos there. I know that 2 days in transit might not seem like everyone’s cup of tea, but trust me. It is an experience you will never forget or regret! Read all about my experience here.
How many days in Luang Prabang is enough?
Because there isn’t really a lot of information about Laos on the internet, the biggest question mark I had coming in was “How many days in Luang Prabang is enough to do it justice?” - and after having spent some time there, I would say that while everything can be done in two days, that three would be ideal.
Who likes cramming everything into two days anyways?
Where to stay in Luang Prabang
If you know anything about me, it’s that I am a budget backpacker who is content to stay in 3 dollar hostels - and that’s exactly what I did in Luang Prabang!
Unfortunately, I was there during the pandemic, and a lot of the accommodation options were still closed down, so I ended up in a hostel that I can’t quite recommend. If you’re on a budget, I would say to stay in the Mad Monkey hostel if you get the chance! They were still closed when I was there, but I’ve never had a bad Mad Monkey experience.
Of course, there are much higher end hotels and resorts that you can stay in in Luang Prabang if the budget allows! The city is fairly small, so you don’t need to worry about neighborhoods or proximity to the sites when you book your stay, which makes things so much easier.
There are so many boutique hotels that are situated on the Mekong river, making for some epic views.
How to spend 3 days in Luang Prabang
Watch the Alms giving ceremony
Luang Prabang is absolutely filled with temples - which means that you will see monks everywhere! One of the best ways to see these monks is during the Alms Giving Ceremony, that happens every day at sunrise.
Sunrise - I know I know. You’ll have to be up and at ‘em really early, but it is truly such a unique experience. You can simply search “Alms giving ceremony in Luang Prabang” on google maps, and head to the main street! I chose not to participate in the Alms Giving directly, but if you want to, there are always multiple vendors selling rice and candies for you to give to the monks as they make their daily procession.
The monks only eat what they are given, so this daily ceremony is a vital part of every day life for them!
If you do choose to participate, take a seat next to the others who are lined up against the retaining walls, and follow their lead! Participating is absolutely allowed, but I was just worried about running out of rice or accidentally doing something I wasn’t supposed to do - so I was very content to just watch.
A few things to note - Please respect the silence and the sacredness of the ceremony! No flash photography, no giggling with your friends, and no inappropriate clothing. I wore a maxi dress and a scarf over my shoulders, and it was a lovely experience.
2. Eat at all the French cafes!
Now that we’ve made sure that the monks are fed for the day, let’s go get some food ourselves.
One thing that I didn’t know about Laos was that it was colonized by the French. While colonization is very much frowned upon and can be a very dark spot in a country’s history, one good thing that came out of it is Luang Prabang’s gorgeous bakeries and cafes. If you simply walk around the Old Town portion of the city, you will have a million to choose from.
And if you’re looking for a delicious western brunch option (what can I say, I may love to experience new food and cultures but I’ll NEVER pass up a western brunch), check out Two Little Birds Cafe! They have amazing coffees and smoothie bowls.
To kill some time in between the Alms ceremony and the bakeries opening, however, you might want to take a stop by the morning market.
While it’s not awe-inducing, it is a nice way to experience local culture and explore a little more of the city before going on with the rest of your day.
3. Visit the Temples!
Although Luang Prabang is home to over 30 temples, Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most popular to visit, as it is the oldest standing temple out of all of them! It’s located right on the river, which is absolutely stunning.
The entrance fee is $2.5 USD, which is a small price to pay to wander through the courtyard and appreciate the stunning architecture. Once again, you do have to dress modestly - so keep that in mind when planning your day!
Fun fact - the word “Wat” means “Temple”! So when you’re walking through the city, keep your eyes peeled, and you just might come across some lesser known (but still gorgeous and worthwhile) temples! There’s no way to see them all in two or three days, but you will run into quite a few.
4. Visit the Royal Palace and the National Museum!
You won’t be able to walk through Luang Prabang without passing by the Royal Palace. It’s super centrally located, and it’s easy to spot due to Haw Pha Bang temple that sits in the courtyard. While the Royal Palace is beautiful, the temple is absolutely JAW dropping, and in my opinion, is the Gem of Luang Prabang.
The courtyard is typically open for walking around from 8am to 4pm, but if you want to go to the Royal Palace (where the National Museum of Luang Prabang is also located), be sure to check their hours.
I unfortunately did not, and came on their lunch hour the first time, and the second time I came back they stopped selling tickets due to being closed in the next 45 minutes - So if you want to go, I recommend trying earlier in the morning or right at 1:30 when they reopen for the afternoon.
If you do happen to go, leave a comment and let me know how it was! I was super bummed that despite my best efforts, it didn’t work out for me.
^^ the photo above was actually a sunset river cruise! The people on the boat were absolutely killing the Karaoke, and there are so many places you can book a night on the river like this.
4. Sunset at Mount Phousi
Although I was not blessed with good weather when I was visiting, it is an absolute right of passage to watch the sunset from Mount Phousi at least once during your 3 days in Luang Prabang.
The hike up is short but steep, and the views are phenomenal. The entry is directly across the street from the Royal Palace, which makes it the perfect way to finish off your day of sight seeing. There are plenty of shrines and mini temples to explore on your way up the mountain, so no need to rush.
I would go a little bit earlier than sunset, as it can get pretty crowded up there. I was for sure envious of the groups that came early, snagged a good seat, and brought snacks and water with them. Meanwhile I was just standing there, thirsty as heck, with a grumbling tummy. So learn from my mistakes and plan a little farther in advance!
5. Handicraft Art Market
It’s times like these where I absolutely love how small Luang Prabang is.
On your way back down after watching the sunset, you’ll be shocked to find that during the time you were admiring the view from the top of Mount Phousi, an entire art market gets set up right in front of the Royal Palace. It is the perfect place to stock up on shoulder coverings, earrings, trinkets, purses, and leather goods to bring back home to your family.
I unfortunately was living out of a backpack at the time and unable to bring anything back with me, but don’t be afraid to haggle with the vendors and get a fair price for something you like! If anything, it’s a fun time to walk through and take a look at everything the Handicraft Art Market has to offer.
6. Night Market
Yet another market, but probably my favorite, was Luang Prabang’s infamous night market. If you’ve noticed an absolute absence of restaurant recommendations, it’s because my fellow hostel-stayers and I made a trip to the night market literally every single night for dinner.
There are so many different food stalls - noodle soups, meat skewers, stir fries made to order, desserts, drinks, etc. that there was something for everyone! There was typically music playing from the center stage or performances going on, and it was just a loud, hectic time full of good food and company.
I highly recommend checking it out at least once or twice!
5. Pak Ou Caves (Buddha Caves)
Now, if you came to Luang Prabang by a private slow boat (Like Nagi of Mekong - the river cruise I rave about all the time), you would have already had the pleasure of visiting the Buddha Caves on the way downstream to Luang Prabang.
If not, never fear! There are so many tour companies that will take you the short boat ride to visit them. If you chose to do it this way, I would budget around half a day. It will take about two hours to travel upstream, an hour to explore the upper and lower caves, and just an hour to travel back downstream.
It does seem like a lot of travel time, but if you think of the boat ride as part of the relaxing experience, it’s really not so bad! It’s such a good way to see more of Laos’ landscapes as well.
The Buddha caves are gorgeous, filled to the brim with over 4000 Buddha statues that families have brought and left inside the caves. Typically, locals will visit their personal or family statue that has been there for generations during the Laos New Year festivities to worship and to clean their family’s statue.
The caves are definitely small, and with other tour groups packed in there as well, it can feel rather touristy. Just try your best to be patient, and I promise it’s an experience that is well worth your time!
6. Kuang Si Waterfalls
Located about a 45 minute motorbike drive outside of Luang Prabang is one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever seen - and I’ve seen my fair share of waterfalls.
Something about Kuang Si falls is so spectacularly unique. If you’re not comfortable renting a motorbike and driving yourself, there are plenty of tour operators that will take you, and it’s super easy to book something from your hotel or hostel reception as well.
There are two parking lots - one by the main waterfall, and one by the bear sanctuary located at the bottom of the lower falls. Either one is fine, and to be honest I had no idea which one we were even aiming for. You’ll still be able to see everything with no issues!
We arrived by the main waterfall, and made the PRECARIOUS hike up all the way to the top, where there are some super cool lagoons and pools to swim in, as well as a cute little rope swing to play on. But this hike is no joke y’all.
It had been pretty rainy my whole time in Luang Prabang, however, so it could just be due to that, but make sure to bring some good shoes. I was wearing flip flips that I ended up taking off just so that my toes could grip into the mud a little better. Not even that helped fully, though, but some very kind strangers were able to either give me a hand or a boost up a particularly slippery section.
Worth it though.
After enjoying some time at the top of Kuang Si, we made our way back down to the lower pools, where you see most people’s pictures. The waterfalls by the lower falls are so picturesque, and if it wasn’t so gloomy on the day that I went, I could’ve spent all day frolicking around and swimming through these stunning pools.
Unfortunately, the water was FREEZING, and the air wasn’t much better. If you get a super hot day during your 3 days in Luang Prabang, be sure to high-tail it over to Kuang Si falls. It’s the perfect way to cool off and I guarantee you’ll never see anything else in your entire life that looks remotely similar.
That wraps up my Luang Prabang recommendations!
So, how many days in Luang Prabang is enough?
I fully believe you can cram all of this into two days, but if you want to take your time, stay stress free, and see all that Luang Prabang has to offer, I would recommend staying at least three days.
I can’t wait to show you the rest of what Laos has to offer! It is such an incredible, gorgeous country and I hope you have the pleasure of visiting one day.
Have you been? How many days in Luang Prabang is enough?
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