Comparison · Luang Prabang vs Pokhara · Laos / Nepal
Luang Prabang vs Pokhara
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 松岡明芳, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and a milder winter; choose Pokhara for Phewa Lake, Annapurna views, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Pokhara is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,059 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,059 km
- Less expensive
- Pokhara
- Best time for Luang Prabang
- November–February
- Best time for Pokhara
- March–April and October–December
Side by side
| Luang Prabang | Pokhara | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Laos | Nepal |
| Known for | Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and Kuang Si Falls | Phewa Lake, Annapurna views and Paragliding |
| Best time to visit | November–February | March–April and October–December |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$140 | $50–$110 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 35°C (95°F) | May, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 27°C (81°F) | January, 20°C (68°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | LPQ | PKR, KTM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Luang Prabang for…
Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and a milder winter. Luang Prabang occupies a narrow peninsula where the Nam Khan river joins the Mekong in northern Laos. The former royal capital is a UNESCO World Heritage town of more than 30 Buddhist monasteries, French colonial shophouses and wooden Lao houses, small…
Choose Pokhara for…
Phewa Lake, Annapurna views, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Pokhara is Nepal's second city and its main base for the Annapurna region, set around Phewa Lake at about 800 metres with the fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range rising behind it on clear days. Lakeside, the strip of guesthouses, cafés and…
Top sights compared
| # | Luang Prabang | Pokhara |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wat Xieng Thong | Phewa Lake |
| 2 | Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham) | Tal Barahi Temple |
| 3 | Mount Phousi | Sarangkot sunrise |
| 4 | Morning alms giving (Tak Bat) | Tandem paragliding |
| 5 | Night market | World Peace Pagoda |
Food compared
| Luang Prabang | Pokhara |
|---|---|
| Luang Prabang khao soi | Dal bhat |
| Or lam | Thakali khana set |
| Fried river weed | Momo |
| Jeow bong | Thukpa |
Which is cheaper?
Pokhara is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $50–$110 per person there, against $60–$140 in Luang Prabang (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Pokhara on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,059 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Luang Prabang or Pokhara cheaper?
Pokhara is usually less expensive: about $50–$110 a day mid-range against $60–$140 (estimates).
+Is Luang Prabang or Pokhara better for a first trip?
Pick Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and a milder winter, or Pokhara for Phewa Lake, Annapurna views, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife.
+How far is Luang Prabang from Pokhara?
About 2,059 km in a straight line.