Luang Prabang Sightseeing

Luang Prabang offers visitors a wide selection of sightseeing options, with most tourists’ itineraries centred on the city’s Buddhist temples and natural attractions. While many of the main sights are accessible on foot, some require a short boat ride, with the journey often being as exciting as the attraction itself.

Ban Lu
Also known as Lu village of Ban Phanom, this small settlement less than three kilometres from Luang Prabang is known for silk and cotton weaving. Visitors flock here to pick up handcrafted souvenirs at a fraction of the price of those on sale at some of the city’s more upmarket souvenir shops. The villagers’ ancestors descended from Sip Song Panna in south China and came to Laos upon the invitation of King Kitsarath.

Ban Xang Hai
This village sits opposite the Pak Ou Caves on the banks of the Mekong River. The residents of this small settlement have been crafting stoneware jars for centuries, but have recently turned their efforts to making lao-lao, fermented sticky rice liquor. The ‘whiskey village’ has become a popular stop off for tours groups on their way to the caves.

Mount Phu Si
Centrally located Phu Si mountain is Luang Prabang’s focal point. Home to several temples, it is a popular climb among visitors for the panoramic views it offers from the top. Perched at the summit is That Chomsi stupa, built in 1804. Temples on Phu Si’s slopes include Wat Tham Phousi, home to Kaccayana, a rotund Buddha image. Other interesting sculptures include Buddha with his disciples and a reclining Buddha, both located at Wat Tham Phu Si. Visitors are recommended to make the 355-step climb in the early morning or evening, when the cooler temperatures are more conducive to the climb.

Pak Ou Caves
One of Luang Prabang’s highlights is these ancient caves which house hundreds of damaged Buddha images. Buddhists believe broken Buddha images bring back luck and therefore should be disposed of at a temple or shrine. The caves act like a crypt for the damaged goods and have become a pilgrimage site and more recently a tourist attraction. Lao New Year festivities see locals gather here to wash the broken images in an act of merit-making.

Tad Se Falls
Often overshadowed by the more popular Kuang Si Waterfall, the Tad Se Falls Make for a quieter alternative. Located 21kms southeast of Luang Prabang, the falls can easily be reached by taxi. The picturesque journey allows visitors to admire the countryside, while the falls themselves are small but impressive. It is not unusual for visitors to have the falls to themselves. Swimming is possible in some of the tiered pools and at the base of the falls. The best time to visit is from June to October.

Wat Aham
Sitting next door to Wat Wisunalat is Wat Aham, known more for its delightful banyan trees than for its design. The temple is historically significant for having been the one-time home of the Sangkharat, the Supreme Patriarch of Lao Buddhism. The residence of the Sangkharat was later moved to Wat Mai and the temple lost some of its prominence. Nowadays, the temple is visited primarily by worshippers who come to make offerings to the spirit shrine at the foot of the two enormous banyan trees.

Wat Mai
Perhaps best visited in early evening when the resident monks engage in chanting, Wat Mai was once the seat of the Supreme Patriarch of Lao Buddhism, the Sangkharat, before the position was transferred to Vientiane in 1947. Built during the reign of King Manthatourath in 1821, the temple is a good example of traditional Luang Prabang temple design with its five-tiered roof. Also of interest at the temple is a golden bas-relief façade that depicts the story of one of the last reincarnations of the Buddha, Phravet.

Wat Tham Xieng Maen
Housed in the 100 metre deep Sakkalin Savannakuha Cave, Wat Tham Xieng Maen is one of Luang Prabang’s more unusual temples. Most people visit this temple and neighbouring Wat Long Khun at the same time. Attractions at the temple include two decaying spirit houses and some relief work that demonstrates excellent workmanship.

Attend a cooking class: if you want to do more than just taste Lao cuisine, take a cooking class and learn about the ingredients and techniques used to make popular dishes. Three Elephants Restaurant offers a one-day cooking course that includes a shopping trip to a local market. Phone: +856 71 252 525.

Climb Mount Phu Si at sunset: the summit of the centrally located Mount Phu Si can be accessed via 355 steps. Those who make the climb are rewarded with breathtaking views across the city and nearby rivers. There are several temples worthy of visiting on the way up to That Chomsi, the stupa which sits on the mountain’s peak.

Cruise the Mekong: charter a boat for a scenic cruise along the Mekong, stopping at popular attractions such as the Pak Ou Caves, a resting place for damaged Buddha images, and Ban Xang Hai, famous for distilling lao-lao, fermented rice wine.

Enjoy Lao coffee with the locals: there are several Mekong-facing coffee shops serving up Pakxong coffee in glasses along with a healthy dose of condensed milk. Wash your coffee down with a cup of green tea, grown on the Bolovens plateau.

Have a picnic at Kuang Si Waterfall: at 35kms from Luang Prabang, the cooling waters of this stunning multi-tiered waterfall make Kuang Si the perfect destinations for a daytrip. Vendors at the falls provide snacks, but you should bring your own mat or towel to sit on.

Temple-hop between Luang Prabang’s 29 temples: while most people choose to visit just one or two wat a day, it is possible to tackle all of the city’s 29 temples on foot in a single day. Highlights include Wat Wisunarat, Wat Xieng Thong and Wat That Chom Sii.

Visit a traditional hydro rice mill: don’t miss the opportunity to see one of Luang Prabang’s traditional hydro rice mills, which can be found in the villages en-route to Kuang Si Waterfall. Despite modern machinery slowly making an appearance, most of the villages surrounding Luang Prabang continue to use traditional methods for milling rice.