Stepping into the ancient capital of Laos is like stepping into another world. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang is a “must visit” for anyone planning to explore the stunning country of Laos. In addition to the more “famous” tourist draws, there is an incredible array of things to do in Luang Prabang for every style of traveler.
Temples, wildlife, food, nature, and culture. The more you look around, the more unique experiences you’ll find.
We spent a month exploring Luang Prabang and doing all of the activities from the well known to the weird. Then we put them all-together in this tried and tested guide to this incredible city. We’ve split up all the things we’d recommend you do by price point from the free, mid-budget, then bougie.
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FREE Things to do in Luang Prabang
Observe Early Morning Alms
Cost: Free
Time needed: 30 – 60 minutes
This is probably the most popular thing to do in Luang Prabang. Or at least the most well known.
The daily Alms Giving ceremony is an important part of daily life, holding great cultural and religious significance to the people living in Luang Prabang. During this time, the many monks and novices walk the streets and accept offerings of food in return for blessings.
This isn’t a show for tourism, it’s local people living their lives and practicing their religion.
Unfortunately, the main street in the Old Quarter is often awash with tourists, some of which aren’t very respectful. To avoid being one of the disrespectful ones, there are big boards throughout the city with the ‘rules’ on how to behave. This includes having your shoulders, knees and chest covered, remaining quiet, keeping your distance if you’re not participating, and not touching or getting in the way of the monks.
For a more peaceful way to observe this important spiritual ceremony, try a side street or one of the many temples in Luang Prabang that are set back from the main strip.
Read next: Complete Guide to Alms Giving in Luang Prabang
Temple Hopping
Cost: Free entry at most (small charge at some more popular temples)
Time needed: Anywhere from 30 mins to a whole day
As the spiritual capital of Laos, you’ll have no shortage of temples to choose from. “Wat hopping” is a great way to immerse yourself in the beautiful architecture and art of the local Buddhist temples.
Remember to dress modestly and respect those who are worshipping while visiting, and don’t take photos with your back to Buddha.
If you need help narrowing it down, here are our favourite temples to visit in Luang Prabang.
You can also visit during evening prayers, at sun down. Even if you’re not Buddhist, there’s something deeply relaxing about sitting quietly amongst the gentle chanting of the monks. You can freely walk into any of the temples at this time and sit at the back, just don’t cause any disturbance as this is a very important daily ritual for the monks and novices.
Wander the Old Quarter
Cost: Free
Time needed: Up to a whole day
With very little traffic, the Old Town of Luang Prabang is the perfect place to lose yourself in. During the day, it’s almost eerie how quiet it is (even in peak season). So we love to just wander with no agenda, and take it all in.
You’ll find a bit of everything: temples, colonial architecture, food stalls, café’s, and local craft shops. Time taken to just absorb the atmosphere and feel of a place is never time wasted.
There are lots of shops that support local community groups. And you can keep your energy levels high at one of many excellent coffee shops in Luang Prabang serving locally grown coffee and baked goods.
Read next: Take a self-guided walking tour of Luang Prabang
Walk the Morning Market
Cost: Free
Time needed: 30 – 60 minutes
The morning market is located one street closer to the Mekong from the Night Market and is far less touristy than the evening edition.
Stalls start opening up from 5am and will be closed by 10am. Though it’s usually at its busiest between 7 and 8.30am. Here, you’ll find a blend of tourist stalls and local sellers selling lots of fresh, local produce. This includes meat, offal, fish, and live frogs. So if you find these things upsetting or uncomfortable to see, then be aware – it’s a small area so there’s no real hiding from it.
There are also souvenirs and local crafts, coffee and orange juice, fresh fruit and vegetables, and breakfast stalls selling takeaway items or sit down meals. It’s a true halfway house between the local markets and the more touristy versions you see across Southeast Asia.
Visit the Paper Village
Cost: Free
Time needed: 1 – 2 hours
Just down the Mekong river, over the old bridge, is the Paper Village. It’s a quaint little village where the streets are lined with sheets of handmade paper drying in the sun, including paper with local flowers.
Inside the little craft shops like Sa Paper Handicraft (one of the oldest paper shops in the area), they sell all kinds of paper goods. You can pick up some beautiful art to take back with you, gift bags, lanterns, and envelopes.
In addition to the handmade paper, there’s also shops selling other local crafts like woodwork and clothing. The prices are usually a little less than you’ll find at the night market too.
Just don’t make the mistake we did and put the town’s name (Ban Xang Khong) straight into Google Maps as it took us to a little village wayyy out of town. The one you’re looking for is a 1 hour walk from the night market location, a 20 minute cycle or a 10-15 minute taxi.
UXO Museum
Cost: Free (donation requested)
Time needed: 30 minutes
Critical to understanding the history of Laos, the UXO Museum explains the lasting impact the US bombing campaigns of the 60s and 70s have had on the country. It also explains the continuing work needed to clear the UXO (unexploded ordnance) from the land and the challenges of just living your life in these areas.
The museum is just one small room so it doesn’t take much time. But it’s well worth a visit to gain a deeper understanding of Laos history and the people.
If you’re going to Vientiane, we’d recommend skipping this museum though and heading to the COPE Visitor Center instead. It’s a bigger space with a lot more information explained in a slightly more engaging way.
Language Volunteering at Big Brother Mouse
Cost: Free
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Big Brother Mouse is an education project founded by an American ex-publisher to encourage Laos children to read. Until they started, there were very few books written in Lao other than school textbooks.
They have 2 schools – one in Luang Prabang historic centre and one outside the city.
You can help local adults with their English skills by dropping by at either 9am or 5pm to speak with them. You can stay as long as you like and have a beautiful exchange, learning from one and other.
This contact with English speakers of all origins and accents really helps them improve their fluency and makes a big difference to their confidence.
Low-Cost Things to do in Luang Prabang
Kuang-Si Waterfall
Cost: 65,000 Kip entry ($2.50), $10-30 for transport
Time needed: Half a day
A stunning multi-tiered waterfall with perfect aqua blue water in the dry season. (It gets a little ‘muddy’ looking during Laos’ wet season).
As you walk around Luang Prabang, every tuktuk and taxi driver will shout “waterfall?” at you as you pass. For good reason! Kuang-Si is very touristy but well worth it.
You can swim in the water, marvel at the main fall, walk to the top for a shot on a secluded swing, or take the newly built zip line.
On the way in, make sure to check out the sun bears. They have all been rescued from the bear bile industry by “Free the Bears” (a non-profit) and there’s lots of info about their work that you can read too.
It takes about 40 minutes to get there from town so you can take a tour or arrange your own transport. We recommend the latter so you can enjoy Kuang-Si at your own pace. (And get there early to beat the tour groups).
Read next: Kuang Si Waterfall: A Complete Guide
Tad Sae Waterfall
Cost: 30,000 Kip entry ($1.25), $10-30 for transport
Time needed: Half a day
While not quite as spectacular as Kuang-Si, Tad Sae is still a beautiful place to visit. Bathing in the pools or relaxing by the aqua water of the falls is an lovely way to spend an afternoon.
It’s often quieter than Kuang-Si too.
Pak Ou Caves
Cost: 200,000 kip for the boat plus 30,000 kip entry ($10 total)
Time needed: Half a day
Around 1-2 hours up the river from Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Caves have been important religious sites for Laotians for over 1200 years. What started as a shrine to the river spirits is now a Buddhist shrine and contains thousands of Buddha statues.
There are two caves here. The smaller, lower one, was our favourite as you can see 2500 Buddha statues going back hundreds of years. The larger upper cave is also very impressive but it goes deep into the limestone mountain so you’ll need a torch to fully appreciate it.
Even without visiting the caves, the boat ride up the Mekong is a beautiful way to spend a morning. You can a trip through one of the hostels in town or head to the public pier in the morning.
Read next: How to get to Pak Ou Caves
Shop at the night market
Cost: Variable from cheap souvenirs and snacks to more expensive handmade items
Time needed: 1 – 2 hours
The main street (Sisavanvong Road) transforms in the evenings and comes to life. Vehicles can’t get through and the streets are lined with stalls selling everything from food to souvenirs.
Many of the shops set up stalls at the night market and local crafts people come out especially. So you’ll find a pretty varied selection on sale, meaning there’s something for pretty much everyone. From the usual “tourist-tat” that you see everywhere to some really nice, handmade options.
Please note that you should NEVER buy items made from pieces of UXO (unexploded ordinance). This encourages people to go searching for these unexploded bombs and put themselves at risk of serious injury or death.
If you get hungry after shopping, the food portion of the night market is set up on the corner of the street. Here, there are lots of options from international to local Lao dishes. As everything is eaten at communal tables, it’s a great way to keep the group happy if you all want something a little different.
Watch the Sunset over the Mekong
Cost: 30,000 Kip to view from Phousi, Sunset tours vary from $8.50-30 per person, or free from the river bank
Time needed: 30 – 60 minutes
Luang Prabang’s orientation means that the sun dips perfectly over the Mekong River for that ideal sunset shot. Sitting with a cold BeerLao and watching the sunset over this sleepy city is the perfect way to end any day in LPB.
Mount Phousi is extremely popular for this view but there’s limited space so you’ll have to fight your way through the crowd to *maybe* see the view. Or you can take another popular option – one of the many many cruises down the river.
But there are also loads of great spots along the riverside, either in a nice café or on a jetty. From here, you can take in the incredible view with fewer (or no) people around. And take all those jealousy-inducing photos without feeling awkward whilst posing (is that just us?!)
Read next: Best Sunset Spots in Luang Prabang
Go up Mount Phousi
Cost: 30,000 Kip entry ($1.25)
Time needed: 30 – 60 minutes
Climbing the 300 stairs to the top of Mount Phousi is a must-do activity in Luang Prabang. And if you time it wrong, it will feel like you’re there with literally every other person visiting the city!
From the top, you get stunning panoramic views across Luang Prabang.
As long as you can manage the stairs (there’s no other way up), you’ll be rewarded with a view of the two glittering rivers (Mekong and Nam Khan), plus the mountains and forests that surround the city.
Mount Phousi isn’t just a beautiful viewpoint, it’s also a sacred site within the Buddhist faith. So, at the summit you’ll find a temple (Wat Chom Si) and 20m tall golden stupa. This also means you have to dress and act respectfully. Being fully covered and climbing the stairs in the heat might not feel like a lot of fun at the time, but it’s totally worth it.
Sunset is extremely popular so it starts to get crazy busy from about an hour before sunset. But early risers can have a more peaceful, and cooler, experience by going first thing.
Visit the TAEC Museum
Cost: 35,000 kip ($1.50)
Time needed: 60 minutes
Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) have an excellent small museum which demonstrates the cultural diversity of Laos. Laos officially has 49 ethnic groups and over 160 sub-groups, each with their own unique culture. As well as some exhibits exploring these groups there is a special exhibit on cultural appropriation which started after a large European fashion brand stole motifs from a Laos group without credit. This exhibit goes deep into the work to create a legal framework for indiginous peoples all over the world to protect their intellectual property.
There is also a small area dedicated to helping you spot the difference between handmade and factory-made products in the local market as well as a little shop to buy things that help support tribes living in rural Laos who are trying to preserve their cultural heritage.
Visit the National Museum
Cost: 60,000 kip ($3.00)
Time needed: 60 minutes
The former Royal Palace is now the National Museum. While the museum is quite small, it does host some very interesting objects and the throne room is spectacularly maintained. You can also see former Royal Family’s collection of vintage American cars and get great photos of the beautiful Haw Phra Bang. The museum closes over lunch every day so early morning or mid-afternoon is best.
Be aware that no bags or cameras are allowed into the museum so be sure to leave them in the lockers in the building on your left as you enter.
Read next: Visiting the Royal Palace Luang Prabang: Complete Guide
Enjoy Laos Food
Cost: From 40,000 to 500,000 kip ($1.50 – $20) depending where you want to eat and how much
The food in Laos is one of the best reasons to visit. (Or it is for this pair of foodies at least!)
They have a rich and diverse cuisine bursting with aromatics and incredible fresh produce. They’re also very partial to eating chilis (there’s a joke that you add one chili for every year of your life) so if you don’t like spicy, make sure to ask.
For a great intro to the local food, check out Tamarind Restaurant overlooking the Nam Khan. They have a selection of Laos tasting platters and speak good English so you can get to grips with Laos food in a way that you feel comfortable with. For example, if you want less spiciness or would rather avoid the more ‘funky’ fish sauce. Just make sure to book ahead on Whatsapp as they get really busy!
If you’re looking for a more local setting to eat the local food then check out our recommendations for the best Laos restaurants in Luang Prabang for all the best spots.
Visit the Chomphet District
Cost: Up to 5,000 kip for the boat across + 20,000 kip for entrance to the trail and temples
Time needed: Half a day
If you want to escape the crowds and enjoy a hidden gem in Luang Prabang, visiting the Chomphet District needs to be on your radar. This is one of our absolute favourite things to do in Luang Prabang.
It takes less than 5 minutes on the boat across from the main hub of the city. But it feels like you’ve travelled hours as it’s world’s away in look and feel. Since not many tourists visit, you can hike between viewpoints and temples without bumping into another soul. Any locals you do meet might look a little confused as to why you’re there.
To get there, head down to the boat ferry point (pinned on Google Maps as ‘Cross Ferry River’). There’s no set schedule – the boats leave when they’re full and most people will have their truck, car, or motorbike. In theory, it’s free for pedestrians but they’ll likely charge you 5,000 kip in each direction (the bike fee) which is so little money that it’s not worth arguing over.
Take your time to walk through Chomphet Village and visit the beautiful temples with stunning views across the river and across to the main city.
Take a Yoga Class
Cost: $8 per class
Time needed: 1 hour
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that, as backpacker paradise, Luang Prabang has a couple of yoga studios.
So if you’re feeling the need to stretch out after the bumpy bus rides or just need an hour of calm amongst your hectic sightseeing then these are for you.
Yoga is extremely affordable here and they offer discounts if you’re sticking around the city and will visit multiple times. We tried both ‘Luang Prabang Yoga’ and ‘Grasshopper Yoga’ studios and they were both great for beginners (like us) and more experienced yogis alike.
You don’t need to book, just turn up but the classes do fill up (even in low season) so be early.
Read next: Yoga in Luang Prabang
Get a Massage
Cost: 90,000 to 200,000 kip depending on where you go ($4-9)
Time needed: 1 hour
You can’t walk more than 10 steps in Luang Prabang without finding another massage place.
But they’re not all made equal!
Training isn’t consistent across all shops. A lot of the tour groups also go for a massage in the mid-afternoon around 3pm, so if you go around then, they’ll be super busy. And if you go right after, the staff are usually really tired and less interested in working out your knots.
The idea of getting a massage is a hard no from me. But Katie is a (very) frequent flyer and has tried a huge number of the massage shops in Luang Prabang in pursuit of the best spot. Her favourites are:
- MK Wellness Centre (200,000 kip)
- Thai Sawan Massage & Spa (90,000 kip)
- Mora Massage & Spa (160,000 kip)
The prices are for a 1 hour traditional Lao massage at the 3 different shops. Traditional Lao massage is not dissimilar to Thai massage but slightly less forceful so it’s good for those who prefer a slightly lighter touch (slightly being the key word here).
Crazy Golf
Cost: 50,000 kip ($1.75)
Time needed: 1 hour
This one’s more for the kids than the grown up travellers but there’s a small crazy golf course just outside the Old Quarter. It was right down the street from our hostel so we went to have a look. Don’t expect US standards of minigolf architecture but it’s a fun way to spend an hour and there’s a play park there too.
Mosquitos seem to love this place so make sure you have your repellent.
Garavek Storytelling
Cost: $5 per person
Time needed: 1 hour
Learn some of Laos’ history with enchanting folk tales told my an amazing local story teller. Accompanied by traditional music, this 1 hour show gives an insight into Laos folklore as well as explaining the myths around some of the most famous sights in Luang Prabang.
The show starts at 6.30pm every night and when we went in the off season, there were still some spare seats. But in peak season, you’ll need to arrive early to get a spot.
Open Air Cinema
Cost: Free but you have to buy a drink, starts at $1.50
Time needed: 1 – 2 hours
Every night, the Sanctuary Hotel shows the first movie ever made about Laos in 1927. “Chang” is about a Laos village’s encounter with elephants. It’s a silent movie so you won’t miss any important plot points by not speaking Lao.
Watching is technically free but you’re expected to order a drink or get something to eat. Prices are reasonable though, starting at around 35k Kip. So it’s still one of the more low cost things to do in Luang Prabang. Plus it’s a great way to meet other travellers.
Bowling Alley
Cost: $1.50 per person per game
Time needed: 1 hour to whenever they kick you out
A bowling alley might not initially seem like the biggest draw. But as the only place in Luang Prabang that’s open past 11pm, it draws a pretty big crowd after dark. It’s mostly people looking to continue getting the beers in, and occasionally to actually bowl. Good bowling skills are definitely not a requirement.
They have all sorts of mini games there too and will stay open pretty much as long as there’s a good number of people buying drinks.
It’s a little out of the Old Quarter but really easy to get to. Tuktuks will happily take you there and plenty hang around outside waiting to take you home again. Prices do vary pretty wildly depending on how much they think they can get away with if you’re super drunk!
Bougie Things to do in Luang Prabang
Bare Care Tour with Free the Bears Sanctuary
Cost: $50 per person at Kuang Si Sanctuary, $60 per person at Luang Prabang Wildlife Centre + $25 for transport
Time needed: Half a day
Free the Bears is a non-profit organisation who do amazing work rescuing Sun Bears and Moon Bears across Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and India. Some are rescued from the bear bile industry, others from illegal wildlife trade including being kept as pets.
When you visit Kuang-Si Waterfall, you’ll see a small number of sun bears on the walk to the falls for free. But if you want to have a more in-depth experience, we really recommend doing their Bear Care Tour.
They have 2 sites in Luang Prabang and you can do it at either. It’s cheaper at the Kuang-Si location but they only have Sun Bears with a maximum capacity of 25.
So we chose to do the tour at their bigger site, the Luang Prabang Wildlife Centre and it was hands down the best thing we did in Luang Prabang. Scratch that, it was the best thing we did in Laos! Here, they have Moon Bears, Sun Bears, monkeys, and when we visited there was also 2 red pandas.
This is a great half day activity especially if you’re looking for a more unique thing to do in Luang Prabang. Plus it helps support bear conservation work in SE Asia.
Read next: Is it Worth Visiting a Bear Sanctuary in Luang Prabang (Our Experience)
Take a Cooking Class
Cost: $35
Time needed: Half a day
Whether you have 3 days in Luang Prabang, or 3 years in the whole country, it’s never enough time to enjoy the Laotian cuisine. That’s why we love take cooking classes. They’re a great way to get a deeper understanding of the local food culture and satisfy those post-trip blues by making Laos food at home.
We did Tamarind’s cooking class and it was absolutely superb. You learn to cook 4 or 5 dishes in their traditional outdoor kitchen on the outskirts of town and, if you do the day time class, they take you around the market too.
There are a few cooking classes available in Luang Prabang for different budgets but Tamarind’s is amazing value for the quality.
Sunset Mekong Cruise
Cost: Anywhere from $5-50 depending on level of luxury and included food and drinks
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Much like the tuktuk drivers all trying to take you to Kuang-Si, there loads of companies trying to sell you a sunset cruise on the Mekong around 5pm each afternoon. These can vary hugely in price and quality from full dinner and drinks to a seat in a basic canoe with a motor.
Jockeying to get the best view is all part of the experience (and the loudest karaoke!) but there’s no denying you can get some incredible sunset shots out on the river itself.
We’ve always decided against it as there’s so many great sunset spots on land. The cheaper boat cruises often get their view blocked by the bigger, more expensive boats. And the bigger ones felt like a lot of money for pretty ‘meh’ food. But we know lots of people who’ve done it and had a lovely time so don’t let us put you off!
Take a Craft Class
Cost: $10 – 100 depending on what you choose to do
Time needed: From 1 hour for jewellery making to a full day scarf weaving to a 3 day start to finish weaving class
Luang Prabang is heaven for those who love hands on crafts.
There are 49 different ethnic groups living in Laos, each with their own skills and styles in a range of areas from wood work to batik to silk weaving. In Luang Prabang, loads of businesses celebrate and support the different groups to ensure their knowledge isn’t lost and can be a viable source of income. We’ve travelled to over 50 countries, and nowhere comes close to the diversity in craft work as you see on display in this city.
There are so many options to learn from local artisans and create a truly unique souvenir. You can keep it as an amazing memory of your time in Luang Prabang… or gift it to someone if you aren’t very good at crafts like me!
There’s everything from silk scarf weaving, to knife making, jewellery, wood carving, and pottery. Some workshops to look out for are:
- Ock Pop Tok run a range of workshops at their site just outside of town (they provide free transport there and back). Katie did their full day silk scarf weaving class and absolutely loved it. You can see there class options, here.
- Lon Wood Workshop is across the Nam Khan and you can make small items (I made a little elephant ornament) up to bigger jewellery boxes
- Garden of Eden is just down from the wood workshop and you can make all sorts of jewellery here. They can also repair jewellery or buy something made by the pros, if you prefer.
Visit the Buffalo Farm for ice cream
Cost: Tours start from $9 up to $200, ice cream starts at $2
Time needed: Pop in for an ice cream. Tours run from 1 hour to half a day
A social enterprise set up by some adventurous Singaporeans, the Buffalo Farm rents buffalo from local people and uses the milk to make delicious dairy things. It’s on the way to Kuang-Si so you can stop in and grab an ice cream on your way to or from the falls.
Or you can do a tour and meet some friendly buffalo too.
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