Comparison · Luang Prabang vs Siem Reap · Laos / Cambodia
Luang Prabang vs Siem Reap
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 and Morning alms giving; choose Siem Reap for Angkor Wat, Bayon faces and nightlife. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 748 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 748 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Luang Prabang
- November–February
- Best time for Siem Reap
- November–February
Side by side
| Luang Prabang | Siem Reap | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Laos | Cambodia |
| Known for | Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and Kuang Si Falls | Angkor Wat, Bayon faces and Ta Prohm tree roots |
| Best time to visit | November–February | November–February |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$140 | $60–$130 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 35°C (95°F) | April, 36°C (97°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 27°C (81°F) | December, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | LPQ | SAI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Luang Prabang for…
Wat Xieng Thong and Morning alms giving. 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 Siem Reap for…
Angkor Wat, Bayon faces and nightlife. Siem Reap is the small riverside town that serves the Angkor Archaeological Park, whose temples — Angkor Wat, the faces of the Bayon, the tree-gripped Ta Prohm — begin about 6 km north of the centre. Most visitors spend two to four days touring the temples…
Top sights compared
| # | Luang Prabang | Siem Reap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wat Xieng Thong | Angkor Wat |
| 2 | Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham) | Bayon and Angkor Thom |
| 3 | Mount Phousi | Ta Prohm |
| 4 | Morning alms giving (Tak Bat) | Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King |
| 5 | Night market | Baphuon |
Food compared
| Luang Prabang | Siem Reap |
|---|---|
| Luang Prabang khao soi | Fish amok |
| Or lam | Lok lak |
| Fried river weed | Khmer noodles |
| Jeow bong | Pork and rice |
Which is cheaper?
Luang Prabang and Siem Reap cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $60–$140 in Luang Prabang and $60–$130 in Siem Reap (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Siem Reap on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 748 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Luang Prabang or Siem Reap cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $60–$140 in Luang Prabang and $60–$130 in Siem Reap (estimates).
+Is Luang Prabang or Siem Reap better for a first trip?
Pick Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong and Morning alms giving, or Siem Reap for Angkor Wat, Bayon faces and nightlife.
+How far is Luang Prabang from Siem Reap?
About 748 km in a straight line.