I recently visited Luang Prabang in Laos and here are my top 10 ten things to do there as a tourist. I visited in off season so there were less people but the humidity was off the charts.
10. The Morning Market and the Night Market
The morning market happens every morning from 5 am to 12 pm along the side lanes of the National Museum. Every night a market comes up on the main road around the National Museum around 6 pm in the evening. The evening market has a food court too. Both are lovely.
9. Exploring the National Museum and the Old Town
The Old Town of Luang Prabang is the UNESCO World Heritage Site and quite walkable. It is also full of shops and cafes. One turn and you are by the Mekong or Nam Khan River. The National Museum has a beautiful collection of information about the royal family. Photography is not allowed within the interiors of the National Museum or their car gallery.
8. The Phousi Hill
The Phousi Hill is the highest vantage point to see the city and catch the sunset or the sunrise. There are Buddhist shrines on the hill too. There are about 200 stepts to climb to reach to the top!
7. Ban Chan Pottery Village
You can hire a boat in a group or solo to go to nearby villages on the mekong river side. I went to the Pottery Village, Ban Chan, and had a good time. More than Pottery I enjoyed at the bank of the Mekong River where children came to play in the river.
6. Buddha’s Light Show
Buddha’s Light show happens every evening at the Luang Prabang International Opera House. It is a mesmerizing show depicting the life of Buddha by young dancers!
5. Tak Bak or the Alms Giving Ceremony
Tak Bak or the Alms Giving Cermeony happens along the main road in the old town. Early morning, monks walk the street collecting alms, mainly rice, for locals and tourists alike. If you have not seen it before, it is beautiful.
4. Wat Xien Thong and Other Temples
Wat Xien Thong is the most impressive temple on the main road in the old town and it is beautiful. But there are a lot of temples in the town and if you like visiting them, you are going to have a wonderful time.
3. Pak Ouv Caves
I did a boat trip both ways to the Pak Puv Caves and it was wonderful. Visting the second cave involves climbing stairs. The caves and the Buddhist shrines are impressive but it was the boat ride that stole my heart!.
2. Kuang Si Waterfalls
Kuang Si Waterfalls are located about 30 kms from the Old Town and they are fabulous. You can swim in some of the pools and the water is delicious. You can climb to the top of the water falls but I did not find the view worth climbing 524 steps. There is a zipline on the top but I didn’t try it. There is a bear sanctuary on the premises and your tickets include it. Zipline viewpoint is not included in the price of the ticket.
1. The cruises on the Mekong River
I didn’t expect to enjoy my trips on the river so much! The return trip to the Pak Ouv Caves, The return by boat trip from Kuang Si water fall, the sunset cruise and the boat ride to the Ban Chan Village, all of them were superb! I now want to do a multi day river cruise in some part of the world!
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