The Best Luang Prabang Tour 4 Days

The meeting point is Luang Prabang Airport, where you’re welcome to the city, and then take a transfer to a local hotel (early check-in is subject to availability). Then, you will take a glimpse of the UNESCO-listed heritage site filled with architectural, cultural, and religious landmarks. Know that Luang Prabang was once listed as “Best City” in the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2015.

For the next hours, you are free at leisure, so let’s enjoy a free and easy trip around the charming city for great at-a-glances.

Breakfast will be served in the hotel.

The first attraction on the agenda today is Royal Palace Museum, which was constructed in 1904 for King Sisavang Vong and his royal family during the French colonial period. The museum houses collections of Buddha statues, prized arts, paintings, royal portraits, friendship flags, etc.; its architecture is also remarkable.

Then, a Mekong River cruise trip begins, offering a beautiful view of the laidback country on its way to the consecrated Pak Ou Caves. It is a cluster of two caves preserving numerous age-old gold-lacquered Buddha statues of various sizes and shapes left by generations of local townsfolks. Enroute, the cruise will stop at Ban Xanghai Village to learn about local rice wine. Next, the group will stop by the ancient Wat Sene and the adjacent Wat Xieng Thong (Temple of the Golden City). The significant Wat Xieng Thong stores Buddhist relics and ancient scripts in a compound of halls.

Later, if time permits, you can get to know the local arts and crafts in Ban Xangkhong (the Thai Lue village), just outside of the city. Also, the adjacent Ban Xienglek is worth visiting to learn about traditional Saa paper. In the late afternoon, pay a visit to Wat Prabath to watch the sunset. Shopping pastime should be a perfect way to conclude a day tour, so do it in the local Night Market which sells handmade textiles of the hill tribes.

NOTE: If you’re interested in cultural diversity in Laos, let’s go to the engaging and culturally rich Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (TAEC) (closed on Monday).

Get up a bit early to attend the daily morning alms-giving ceremony. By giving alms to local Buddhist monks, you will receive good blessings in return. This practice could be dated back to the 14th century, which is a unique culture in Laos. Next, stroll around the local morning market next to the Royal Palace Museum. There, you can find a variety of stuff from rice to vegetables, fruits, chicken, or fish.

Breakfast will be served in the hotel.

The next destination today is the famous Phousi Hill. The Hill has a height of 100 meters, and you need to climb 329 steps to reach the summit, in which the views of the city and the Mekong are awesome. Later, you will stop by UXO Visitor Center where you can read documents about the secret wars in Laos; yet this center is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Another beautiful natural site of the day is Kuang Si Falls, known for its three tiers of cascading water and turquoise swimming pool. After a drive transfer, you will arrive at the stunning falls and it’s time for sightseeing, relaxing, and swimming. After that, you can start a happy trek to the ethnic village of Ban Thapene and discover some hidden waterfalls which seem unknown to the crowd.

If you’re interested, spend an hour or more in the Bear Rescue Center, which is home to Asiatic Black Bears saved from various dire circumstances. This is a sanctuary of rescued bears, in which you can buy souvenir T-shirts to make donations. The next site is Ock Pop Tock Living Crafts Center, which opens free tours every half-hour for a glimpse of the Laos textile world, natural dyes, skilled weavers, and flagship shops. Also, this is an ideal place to watch the sunset in Luang Prabang.

Drive back to your hotel by late afternoon.

Enjoy a scenic drive to the Elephant Village Camp, in which you receive a warm welcome and briefing about elephants in Laos. There will be good chances for you to try feeding the elephants on the spot. Next, proceed to explore the elephant village consisting of an elephant hospital, museum, gallery, and dung paper-making facility.

Then, it comes the exciting activity of the day: the One-on-One Elephant Riding Experience where you can be a mahout to ride a real elephant.

The next thing to do is a boat trip to the stunning Tad Sae Waterfall, in which it’s relaxing to get soaked in crystal-clear water. Bring your swimsuit! Note that the water level is subject to the seasons. Later, have a buffet lunch at the Elephant Camp Restaurant (a vegetarian menu is available). Around 1:00 PM, you will leave the camp for a drive back to your hotel in the city. The next hours are your free time for ease until your departure.

The Luang Prabang Tour 4 days 3 nights is concluded.