Sights and landmarks in Luang Prabang

Sights and landmarks in Luang Prabang

1. See

   Alms ceremony

   Sai Bat

   Monks at dawn collect alms of rice from kneeling villagers (and early-rising tourists). Ask your guesthouse host to assist you the day before in preparing if you'd like to get up and give alms in the morning. The alms giving ceremony is one which, while picturesque, is not without its detractors. Unscrupulous local merchants have used the eagerness of tourists to participate in this tradition as a means of making easy money. They sometimes sell unsuitable, stale and even unsafe food, resulting in monks falling ill after having consumed the offerings, Hence the growing resistance to continuing the tradition. The government, however, has made it clear that the monks must continue the custom or be replaced by lay persons clothed in saffron robes in order to keep up appearances, thereby maintaining tourist revenue. If you wish to participate in this ceremony, prepare the food or fruit yourself. Avoid giving food of dodgy quality. Another problem is the rampant photography: while a photo might look nice in your collection, think about how it must feel for the monks to have hundreds of tourists photographing them every day. Some lowlifes even stand next to the monks, blinding them with flashbulbs. Consider watching this old tradition from a distance instead of degrading it.

   Daily 05:00-06:00

2. See

   Bear Rescue Centre

   Operated by the Free the bears charity with various enclosure for endangered Asiatic black bears, both Moon and Sun bears, that have been rescued from poachers. Small gift shop.

   No entrance fee but donations welcomed

3. See

   Heuan Chan Heritage House

   A museum with one of the few remaining pre-colonisation houses. It also features an area to dress in costumes, learn different crafting technique and quite a good cafe for lunch.

   Closed · opens 9 am·30,000 kip

4. See

   Kuang Si Butterfly Park

   A butterfly park near Kuang Si waterfalls. On the shuttle to the falls it will pass on the right. A short walk from the entrance to the falls.

   11:00-16:00, closed Thursdays·$10

5. See

   Kuang Si Falls

   ຕາດ ກວາງຊີ

   The stunning Kuang Si Falls are Luang Prabang's top natural attraction. Cascading through multi-level limestone terraces, the color of the water usually varies between milky blue and a deep turquoise, although after heavy rains they can temporarily turn brown. Tuk-tuks, private or shared, green bus from Thatluang Park (45k kip one way), tours drop you at the parking area, from where free electric golf carts next to the ticket booths shuttle around 1 km up the hill at the park entrance. From here, take the signposted "Foot Trail" to the right, which takes you through the Bear Rescue Centre (below) to the base of the waterfalls. There are three tiered pools that are safe for swimming, although you'll want to wear sandals or reef shoes since the rubble can be sharp. There are some basic toilets can be used as changing rooms, as well as the pleasant Green Jungle restaurant that serves up fried rice and the like ($2 and up). If you keep going up, you'll get to the main waterfall that cascades down from a height of nearly 60 meters, a gorgeous sight especially after rain when it fans out. The paved road to the left of the park entrance leads directly here, so it's also where all the tour groups are shunted, and there are plenty of picnic tables if you've packed a lunch. A small trail to the left leads via 542 steel steps to the top of the waterfalls, where you'll find a few more pools with a swing and a guy with a boat offering a 200 m punt up the river for 20,000 kip per person. There is also a treetop cafe with great view over the surrounding jungle hills (30,000 kip to enter) and a zipline that brings you back down to the lower basins (US$25). Beware that the signposted route way down the other side of the falls is much steeper than the way up and can be extremely muddy and slippery, so do not attempt this after rain or without proper shoes. A seat on a shared tuk-tuk to the falls and back including 3–4 hours waiting time costs around US$6, as does a cheap scooter rent

   Closed · opens 8 am·Foreigners: 60,000 kip, Lao nationals: 10,000 kip

6. See

   Ock Pop Tok Living Craft Centre

   An informative free tour to all visitors (last tour at 16:30). Operating as a fair trade traditional weaving centre, you can take classes in bamboo/textile weaving, dye your own silk, draw your own batik or just relax at the Mekong garden cafe. A free tuk-tuk departs daily from the Ock Pop Tok shop in the city at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00, with other times possible by agreement.

7. See

   Pak Ou Caves

   The famous "Buddha caves" are north of the city on the Mekong and can be reached by road (approximately 1 hr), with a car there and back including waiting to you costing up to 500,000 kip, or river boat (around 1.5 hr). Alternatively, you can hire canoes and a guide for the day, which would allow you to view the beautiful scenery and visit the caves without throngs of other tourists. It's also possible to finish the trip at the "whisky village" where the local Lao lao (rice spirit) is made. There are two caves, one on the entry level and another, the upper caves, on top of the hill. A very steep climb, but worth the effort. A torch is needed to see the upper cave. Simply cross the river at Pak Ou village for 13,000 kip per person (25,000 kip if you're the only one on the boat), walk up the hill and turn right, crossing the school grounds, to find your way to the caves. Motorcycle parking at Pak Ou village 5,000 kip.

   20,000 kip

8. See

   Phou Si Hill

   ພະທາດພູສີ

   Phou Si Hill dominates the city, and you can get a great view of the whole area from the summit. There are trails from both sides of the hill, including one just across the road from the Royal Palace/National Museum, and it's about 320 steps to the top. Sunrise and sunset are the most sensible and rewarding times to go. There is a near-panoramic view from the top. The ticket office closes at 18:30, so climbing to the top is virtually free afterwards, which gives you about 30 minutes before it gets dark. If you take the south path down, you'll go past several temples including one claiming to enshrine the Buddha's (rather large!) footprint.

   20,000 kip (children free)

9. See

   Royal Ballet Theatre

   ຫໍຄຳ Haw Kham

   Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening there is a show featuring one part of the Lao epic Phra Lak Phra Ram. The show is about an hour long and in Lao with story and dance sequences. There are Lao, English and French synopsis available at the ticket desk. The ticket desk opens at least 1/2 an hour before the show and is accessed by entering Royal Palace Museum entrance gate. The museum is closed at this time so entry is free. Curiously the ticket desk is not attended while the museum is open, although they do have the schedule and current ticket prices. Also, the website has a form for tickets, but they do not seem to respond to it.

   Oct-Mar: 18:00, Mar-Oct: 16:30·200,000 kip, 50% for children

10. See

    Royal Palace National Museum

    ຫໍຄຳ Haw Kham

    The former royal palace, now a national museum. It is not a national history museum however. You pass through the state rooms and the private rooms of the royal family and can see the collection of official cars. No photos, videos, bags, or shoes allowed, free locker provided. No bare shoulders, midriffs or knees; you can rent a cloth for 5,000 kip at the locker room if needed. Also on the grounds of the palace is the former royal temple.

    08:00-11:30 and 13:30-16:00·30,000 kip

11. See

    Tad Sae Waterfalls

    Tiered waterfalls which are not as big as Kuang Si, but very beautiful. You can bathe there and elephant rides are available.

    15,000 kip

12. See

    Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre

    This small, but perfectly formed museum is dedicated to the ethnic cultures of Laos. Find out more about the groups that make Laos unique and enrich your visit to Luang Prabang. Closed on Mondays, and occasionally other times for exhibitions. On site shop and cafe, with an outlet shop close to the Ock Pop Tok shop.

    30,000 kip

13. See

    UXO Lao Visitor Centre

    A small information centre with samples of the various UXO (unexploded ordnance) that has been found, information about the scope of the problem and a room with a documentary to watch. Makes the issue just a bit more salient when you see it.

    Mon–Fri 08:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00·Free (donation box)

14. See

    Vipassana Temple and Park

    Wat Phon Phao;ວັດໂພນເພົາ

    This golden temple, highly visible from Phou Si, is a shrine for Buddhists who practice Vipassana meditation.

15. See

    Haw Pha Bang

16. See

    Wat Sensoukharam

17. See

    Wat Xieng Thong

    ວັດຊຽງທອງ

    The oldest monastery in town and one of the most beautiful.

    Closed · opens 6 am·Foreigners: 30,000 kip, Lao nationals: 5,000 kip

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Luang Prabang (CC BY-SA 4.0).