Luang Prabang can be described as one of the jewels of South East Asia. It's serene and probably the most restful city that I can remember.
What to do in Luang Prabang - A 3 days Itinerary
Luang Prabang can be described as one of the jewels of South East Asia. It's serene and probably the most restful city that I can remember.
Go with my Luang Prabang itinerary! The itinerary provides you with a day by day structure, recommendations for places to visit, tips on what to book in advance and where to stay.
We had an opportunity to travel to this beautiful town and experience it. Luang Prabang definitely impressed us with its mix of amazing temples, mighty Mekong River and fantastic food. No surprise that Luang Prabang is one of my favourite places to visit in Southeast Asia.
Use my guide to discover the culture, heritage, historical landmarks and architecture that entice thousands of tourists to visit Luang Prabang every year. You may like to incorporate this itinerary with things to do in Luang Prabang.
Day 1 / AM
Have breakfast at the hotel or grab some food on the street while you are walking to your destination. Start your first day by visiting Vat Mahathat. This is one of the most important temples in the town. I particularly like the front area with its façade and gilded main door. There are two statues in front of the temple which represent a water god and a large stupa just behind the temple. The entrance to this temple is on Chaofa Ngum Road.
Continue your walk towards Sisavangvong Road, the town centre. While you are walking do check a few buildings e.g. Luang Prabang Tourist Information Centre and stop to grab a snack. Go to the Wat May Souvannapoumaram. This is a stunning temple with gorgeous golden murals on the walls depicting scenes of the life of the Buddha. This temple is located on the main road, Sisavangvong Road.
Lunch // Novelty Cafe is a great stop for lunch for its location. It is also a good place for afternoon tea and to watch people walking by. It serves baguette sandwiches, bruschetta, salads and pastries.
More reading // Things to do in Luang Prabang
Day 1 / PM
After lunch and a rest, head to the National Museum which is located next to Wat May Souvannapoumaram. This museum's architecture seems to be inspired by European rather than Lao examples. It houses the Royal collection and religious articles. Simply walk around the garden because it's free; if you enter the museum then you have to pay a fee.
Next, cross the road to begin your climb up to the top of Phousi Hill. However, before your climb, stop at Vat Pha Huak, a small temple but with nice wall paintings. Mount Phousi Hill is a must visit sight in Luang Prabang. You have to climb the 328 steps to get to the top. It is worth the climb because you're rewarded with gorgeous views of the town, the layers of mountains and the rivers. It's a popular place for seeing sunrises and sunsets too.
Dinner // For dinner head to the night market buffet area. It's a great place to try Lao street food. The food prices are reasonable. After dinner you may like to walk around and buy some things from the night market.
Day 2 / AM
After breakfast, start your exploration early by going to the Chomphet District; Ban Xieng Maen Village and Chomphet Village are accessed by ferry or boat across the Mekong River. The ferry landing is located just behind the National Museum. You might want to hire a bicycle if you plan to do a full circle trail but if you prefer to walk, this is a good option too.
This walking and exploring may take most of your morning and afternoon. It depends on what you want to do and see here. Start your walk from Ban Xieng Maen ferry dock where you can see local people selling their produce. On your walk, stop at Wat Xieng Mene, Wat Chompet, Wat Long Khoun, Wat Sakkarin and end up trekking to Wat Had Siaw.
Each of the temples has its own unique history which you can learn about when you visit. Do climb the 123 steps to get to the top of Wat Chomphet. You will not regret it once you get to the top because the views are amazing. To return to the town you can come back to Wat Long Khoun where there is a boat available to cross the river. You have to haggle the price.
More reading // A Perfect Guide to visit Chomphet
Day 2 / PM
End your second day by visiting the night market. There are over 100 vendors selling local crafts and products. Haggle politely to get the best price. You can do this after or before your dinner depending on the time you finish at your first location. It's a good spot for sunset watching too. Climb the steps that lead to Phousi Hill, a very short walk and stand on top. You can walk around to enjoy the town's surroundings and enjoy the gorgeous colours of sunset.
Dinner // Have you dinner at the Bamboo Tree and Vatsene Restaurant which is located on Sakkaline Road. It serves a very good dinner.
Day 3 / AM
Start day 3 early by venturing to the morning market. This is the place where the locals sell and buy. It's a great place to have breakfast If want to escape your hotel. After finishing your breakfast then you can explore the market.
Continue your morning by going to Wat Xieng Thong. A must-visit temple and the most favourite temple for tourists. It's a stunning temple! After finishing at Wat Xieng Thong, walk to Wat Sene to see the standing Buddha statues, drum tower, and beautiful racing pirogue. You can go inside the temple to see the interior which is good. Wat Sene is only a short walk from Wat Xieng Thong.
Lunch // Walk to Cafe Croissant d'Or serves French food. A great place to sit for lunch and coffee after a long day walking.
Day 3 / PM
Walk or take a tuk tuk to Wat Manorom. It is located at Manomai Road, on the outskirts of the town centre. It has the largest number of resident monks, making it one of the most important temples in the area. There are interesting murals telling stories of the Buddha.
Continue your walk towards Kingkitsarath Road where Wat Aham is located. A small temple but still an interesting one to explore. This temple is just a short walk from Wat ViSounnarath and That Mak Mo or the "watermelon stupa". Wat ViSounnarath is one of the oldest temples in Luang Prabang and houses important Buddha statues.
Return to town centre and end your day 3 activities by experiencing a walk on one of the bamboo bridges. The bridges only exist during the dry season. One of the bamboo bridges crosses over to Phon Sa Ath Village. Explore the village to get a picture of local life and maybe you can interact with the locals too.
Dinner // End your day 3 at Tamnaklao Restaurant for your dinner. The restaurant is located on Sakkaline Road. The food here is tasty and the service excellent. The time we had dinner here the tables were mostly occupied by customers.
More reading // The Ultimate Guide to Visit Temples in Luang Prabang
Travel Practical Information
A well prepared pre-planning and research will help make your travels easy. It also helps you to understand what you are looking for and do in a destination. Here is all the information you might want to use and consider if you plan your own trip to Luang Prabang.
Location of Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is located in northern Laos at the heart of a mountainous region.
Place to Stay
There is a range of accommodation choices in Luang Prabang, from hostels to luxury hotels. We spent our five nights at Sanakeo Boutique Hotel & Spa. We had a cosy room with a balcony. The bathroom was good with a separate bath and shower. A great selection for breakfast too. The hotel is located about 20 to 30 minutes walk from the town centre.
Getting to Luang Prabang
There are a few options that you can explore to get to Luang Prabang. It depends on your location. Here are the main options:
By flight. We flew directly from Kuala Lumpur to Luang Prabang with Air Asia. Flying to Luang Prabang International Airport is easy because it is well connected to other main cities in Southeast Asia. Air Asia, Bangkok Airways, Lao Airlines and Vietnam Airlines to name a few fly to Luang Prabang.
By minivan. Take a minivan to Luang Prabang from Vang Vieng or Vientiane. The cost of a minivan from Vientiane to Luang Prabang is 180,000 Kip and takes 8 to 10 hours. A minivan from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang costs 100,000 kip and takes 4 hours. These services run five times a day, 7am, 9am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm.
By cruise. Another alternative is to cruise to Luang Prabang from Houay Xay in Thailand. A two day slow boat runs along the Mekong River to Luang Prabang. This journey is described as one of the best boat journeys in Southeast Asia. It's slow but enjoyable.
Getting around Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is a small town and you can get anywhere on foot. Transportation is necessary when you’re visiting places outside of town.
Bicycle. You can find a lot of bicycle rental shops all over Luang Prabang. This is one of the common ways to get around the city.
Tuk-Tuk. Tuk-tuk rides can be fun to get around the town and the cost is slightly cheap too. You can find them on the streets easily.
Taxi. The only time you’ll really need a taxi to get around is if you’re travelling to and from the airport.
Ferry/boat. There are ferries or boats operating as early as 8.30am that commute across the Mekong to different destinations.
The best way to get around the town is on foot. It allows you to enjoy the charms of the town, otherwise you might miss it. It also allows you to set your own pace.
Best time to visit Luang Prabang
The best time to visit Luang Prabang is during the dry season from October to April. The weather is more comfortably dry and cool. Due to the advantage of weather, it can also get somewhat crowded, particularly in January and during the time of festivals.
How long to spend in Luang Prabang
I suggest the minimum stay in Luang Prabang is three full days. There are so many things to do and see in the city. If you have an extra day, do go beyond the city centre because you can't afford to miss the villages in their natural landscape. Luang Prabang is a laidback city, and it's the perfect place to slow down and to enjoy all it has to offer. The number of days you stay depends on your travel plans, travel budget and things you want to see.
What to wear
Lightweight and loose-fitting clothes are the best all-round option in Laos, including cottons and linens to combat the humidity. While shorts are acceptable throughout the country, have something to cover elbows and knees for temple visits.
To structure itinerary for 3 days in Luang Prabang
Three full days in Luang Prabang is a perfect amount of time to explore the town. You could see many of the stunning sights which it has to offer. The real joy of travelling in this town is simply walking around the street and ending up at one of the cafes.
The first day of this itinerary focuses on the main town area; the second day focuses on the Chomphet District; and day three takes in visits in the peninsular area of the town and the town's outskirts. If you visit the sights on foot you will pass lots of amazing places. The itinerary is only my suggestion and of course you might like to stop off at other places before going to the recommended destination.
The aim of this Luang Prabang itinerary is to give an overview of the tourist highlights and how to visit them leisurely. You can squeeze as many as activities you want to do in a day but I think this itinerary gives just the right number of activities you can do in a day. Obviously if you have more than three days, then you can see more or take things more leisurely.
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