Luang Prabang is a must-see city in Laos, and the top Luang Prabang tourist attractions comprise a long-awaited list. Historically, it was the former royal capital and seat of the Kingdom of Laos until the Pathet Lao gained control in 1975. Geographically, it lies around 300km north of the Vientiane capital city. The city compound consists of 58 adjacent villages. Among these, 33 villages were designated as the UNESCO Town of Luang Prabang World Heritage Site in 1995. The compound is noted for its unique and well-preserved architecture, culture, and religion, besides the French colonial remnants of the 19th-20th century. The heart of the city is famous for significant Buddhist pagodas and monasteries. Meanwhile, the alms-giving ceremony is one of the unique rituals practiced in this city which guests can attend and receive blessings in return. There preserve charming landmarks and interesting cultural activities in the ancient city, so it’s no doubt it effectively attracts tourists and Indochina fanciers. Beyond the cityscape, Luang Prabang owns the historical and natural attractions of waterfalls and caves for outdoor expeditions and adventures. Luang Prabang was once ranked as “Best City” in the Wanderlust Travel Awards in 2015.
Preparing a list of what to see in Luang Prabang would be an interesting task. To aid your research, below are the must-see highlights, whether you stroll around the destination or ride a bike. Note that you’re getting to an ancient UNESCO-listed city, so there would be no skyscrapers. Rather, the spaces are for the age-old houses and serene streets in which the Laotians enjoy their laid-back lifestyle.
Royal Palace Museum
The 1st Luang Prabang tourist attraction must be the Royal Palace (the official name is Haw Kham). The Royal Palace was erected in 1904 for King Sisavang Vong and his family during the French colonial era. After the King’s death, the palace and its grounds were last occupied by Crown Prince Savang Vatthana and his family. In 1976, the communists overthrew the monarchy, so this site was then converted into a national museum and opened to the public in 1995. On the palace grounds nowadays, visitors can find several buildings around the palace, a lotus pond, two cannons at the entrance, and the statue of King Sisavang Vong outside of the conference hall. The palace features a mixed architecture of traditional Laos motifs and French Beaux Arts style. Its layout is in a double-cruciform shape. Also, above the entrance is the symbol of the Lao monarchy, which is a three-headed elephant sheltered by a white parasol. Getting to Luang Prabang National Museum, visitors can expect to witness the collections of the prized arts, Buddha statues, paintings, royal portraits, royal car collections, and friendship flags. The bedrooms and living quarters of the royal family are preserved too, together with the royal seals and medals. Haw Prabang, especially, is the house of the Prabang Buddha statue, which is a must-see. You will need to buy an entrance ticket to enter the museum. The site is worth a visit remarkably if you are interested in the history of the city as well as the royal lineage.
Wat Xieng Thong
Wat Xieng Thong (Temple of the Golden City or Golden Tree Monastery) is a Buddhist temple constructed between 1559 and 1560 by King Setthathirath. It is one of the most important monasteries in Laos and has critical meanings of religion, tradition, art, and royalty. It was once a royal temple under the shieling of the royal family (before the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was established). Wat Xieng Thong served multi-functions namely the place for kings to be crowned, for monks to worship, store Buddhist relics and ancient scripts, celebrate religious festivals, and showcase traditional architecture. On the first visit, the golden outer wall of the temple will surprisingly attract people while its interiors are filled with sacred Buddha statues. Among all, “Wat Xieng Thong Sim” is the central shrine hall decorated with gold stenciling. The ceiling of the “Sim” shows the dharma wheels representing Buddhist law and the reincarnation circle. Other structures complementing the “Sim” and filling the compound include the library, monks’ living spa, boat house, and other small temples. To enter the site, a payable entrance fee is applied.
Kuang Si Falls
Known for the three tiers of cascading water and turquoise pool, Kuang Si Falls is a famous natural attraction of Laos, around 29km south of Luang Prabang. The three-tier waterfall is frequently visited by both local and international tourists whenever they want to relax and have a picnic nearby a stunning site of nature. The fall has a drop of 60m flowing into a turquoise pool before continuing downstream into the jungle river. There are walkways and bridges for visitors to explore the site. Also, most of the pools of Kuang Si Falls are open to swimming, so tourists find it great to tour here. Taking pictures of the falls is one of the best activities to do as there are online galleries of its attractiveness. Nestled in a lush tropical jungle, the three-tiered cascading waterfall preserves its serene beauty. The perfect blend of the crystal blue water and the green verdant tree establishes a spectacular landscape, which is precious on earth. The destination is perfect for a 20-minute trek, out of the city, where you can unwind yourself in the turquoise swimming pool. If you are a bit adventurous, try swinging the ropes tied on the trees, and then jump into the water beneath. The best time to get to the natural Luang Prabang tourist attraction – Kuang Si Falls is from December to around April and May when the cascading falls present their best look without the heavy rain.
Pak Ou Caves
Pak Ou Caves is the collective name of a cluster of Tham Ting (lower cave) and the Tham Theung (upper cave) overlooking the Mekong River. The group of two caves is around 25km to the north of Luang Prabang. There preserve numerous ancient Buddha statues and miniature Buddhist sculptures inside the caves. Hundreds of small and wooden Buddhist figures are scattered around the wall shelves, and they appear in various positions (mediating, teaching, walking, reclining, etc.). This is a significant religious site in Laos, which is a must to visit on Laos Tour, outside the Luang Prabang city. Legend said that the Buddha statues in the caves were left by generations of local townsfolks. To access the site, people need to take a boat trip via the Mekong. Or they can take a tuk-tuk to the village opposite the cave cluster, and then pay for a ferry ride across the Mekong. Yet, a boat trip is recommended as it’s a scenic voyage. Pak Ou Cave has been popular among tourists, so it’s now at the top of the best sites to see in Luang Prabang. The trip highlights are a scenic boat trip, stunning limestone cliffs enroute, and the mystery of hundreds of Buddha statues inside the sacred caves.
Morning Market
Luang Prabang Morning Market is much more interesting than you might ever think. The market lets you mingle with Laotians who are trading and shopping, and then you can shop like the locals for a real flavor of the local culture. The morning market consists of several stalls lined dynamically on the streets nearby the Royal Palace. It starts quite early and closes by mid-morning. Getting there, tourists will easily find stalls of rice, vegetables, steamed fish, and tables for wares. It’s known that the local vendors gather in the market before dawn on foot while some others travel across the Mekong River by riverboats. Overall, if you are after Laos food like steamed Mekong river fish in banana leaves, fresh fruits, seaweed sheets, etc., visit this market. Others being sold on the ground include sacks of rice, dried and salted fish and squid, vegetables, and more. Feel free to pick, bargain, and buy. To attend the trading vibe, you’d better arrive at this Luang Prabang tourist attraction early. Know that the market is not primarily for tourists, so local vendors do not take credit cards – bring your cash!
The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (TAEC)
Preserving cultural diversity in Laos, the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (TAEC) is in the center of Luang Prabang. This engaging and culturally rich center was established in 2007 and since then, it has inspired visitors to explore Laos’s ethnic culture and people through special events, exhibitions, and craft workshops. This site serves as a museum, learning center, and workshop for people to get to know the ethnic culture and artisans of Laos. The handicraft stores are filled with colorful items for displays and sales while the exhibitions show exquisite and fascinating insights into the culture of the Akha, Hmong, Tai Dam, and Kmhmu ethnic groups. There have been tours to this center, experienced by many foreign tourists who appreciate listening to the on-site presentations and observing the object displays. The museum-guided tour often lasts 30 minutes and is presented in English. During the tour, visitors will hear the stories behind the exhibits and raise their questions regarding Laos’s diverse ethnic groups and culture. This center helps preserve the cultural diversity and heritage in Laos.
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Center
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Center is home to more than 20 Asiatic Black Bears, which have been saved from a variety of dire circumstances. The center was established in 2003, in collaboration with the Laos Department of Forestry. It originally consisted of three bear houses that could accommodate 25 rescued bears. The site has been visited by over 200,000 tourists on their way to the famous Kuang Si Falls. As time passes, more bear houses are in preparation for additional rescues and growing cubs. The sanctuary of bears is open to tourists and welcomes volunteers to help care for the rescued wildlife. The best time to visit the bears is around 1:00 PM as this often coincides with the feeding time when you can see the bears searching for food and treats around the large, forested enclosure. Also, the center provides a lot of information about the bears and details of the dire bile farm industry, one of the causes why the bears were hunted. In the center, you can buy souvenir T-shirts as a way to make donations to the bears center. It’s an educational and memorable trip to visit and watch the bears playing and eating.
Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Center
The Living Crafts Center by Ock Pop Tok offers a perfect way to explore Laos through textiles. The center is set in a lush tropical garden and on the banks of the Mekong, which is serene and picturesque. It opens a fascinating world of Laos textiles for tourists to see, learn, and buy items. Upon arrival, visitors can observe how skilled weavers are weaving silks into beautiful products. The site is ideal for a 30-minute free and easy tour where tourists roam around the center to know how to make Laos textiles from silkworm to the finished beauty. There will be live demonstrations on how the natural dyes are created, plus the most common weaving techniques in the country. The weaving rooms are open to the public so people can watch how the master weavers are creating masterpieces. The visit to the Living Crafts Center also lets you try weaving textiles on your own. Then, you can shop, eat, and even stay in this address for rich cultural exchange opportunities. The “textiles hand on” classes will guide you through the how-to, and you can try bamboo weaving and natural dyeing. There are flagship shops that house collections of textiles for fair trade.
Phou Si Hill
The mountain of Phou Si has a height of 100m. It is in the center of the old town peninsula and bordered by the Mekong and the Nam Khan Rivers. Not only Phou Si Hill is famous for its serene nature but also for the Buddhist shrines, which make it an important religious site for entire Laotians. On the way to the hill, there lie many Buddhist temples for worshipping till reaching the top. Halfway up the hill, you will find Wat Tham Phou Si temple. And at the summit is Wat Chom Si, which is also a Buddhist monument. From the top spot, the view of the town and countryside beneath looks panoramic. Therefore, walking Mount Phou Si is always a good idea to challenge your sports spirit, make it better, and receive praiseworthy rewards. Making the hike up will let you watch the beautiful sunset, which is worth a trip. It normally takes 15-20 minutes of hiking to reach the top, which is doable for most fitness levels and ages. On the way up, the stunning view of the local markets and even the Royal Palace can cheer your eyes up. The view from this Luang Prabang tourist attraction is even more gorgeous during the sunset.
Nahm Dong Park (10km from Luang Prabang)
Nahm Dong Park has an area of 18 hectares featuring beautiful plants, verdant greenery, exquisite flora and fauna, flower gardens, and water. Around 10km from Luang Prabang, this Park stands out as a perfect picnic site to stay close to the serene and pristine nature of Laos. Besides picnic areas and huts, the park preserves the off-the-beaten-track hiking routes and waterfalls which cook up amazing ecotourism activities. Other things to do on the spot include making mulberry paper, zip-lining, swimming, and honey-making. Included in the park is the age-old sacred Tham Ting Cave which houses thousands of consecrated Buddha statues. Also make sure you don’t miss the centerpiece of the site, which is Nam Dong Falls! Zip-lining is one of the most exciting activities to do, as there are six stations of Zip-line to access the tree houses and enjoy the stunning view beneath. It fits your back-to-nature adventure that is worth a half-day tour.
Luang Prabang tourist attractions are not just about temples and museums; rather, the city is far more interesting with the adjacent natural and cultural attractions.
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