Comparison · Luang Prabang vs Ubud · Laos / Indonesia
Luang Prabang vs Ubud
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 lower day-to-day costs; choose Ubud for Rice terraces and Balinese dance. Luang Prabang is generally less expensive, and the two are about 3,469 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 3,469 km
- Less expensive
- Luang Prabang
- Best time for Luang Prabang
- November–February
- Best time for Ubud
- April–June and September
Side by side
| Luang Prabang | Ubud | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Laos | Indonesia |
| Known for | Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and Kuang Si Falls | Rice terraces, Balinese dance and Sacred Monkey Forest |
| Best time to visit | November–February | April–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$140 | $80–$170 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 35°C (95°F) | April, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 27°C (81°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | LPQ | DPS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Luang Prabang for…
Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and lower day-to-day costs. 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…
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Choose Ubud for…
Rice terraces and Balinese dance. Ubud is a cluster of villages in the hills of Gianyar regency, about 35 km north of Bali's airport, that grew into the island's centre for painting, dance, yoga and food. The town itself runs along Jalan Raya Ubud, Monkey Forest Road and Jalan Hanoman, with…
Top sights compared
| # | Luang Prabang | Ubud |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wat Xieng Thong | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary |
| 2 | Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham) | Tegallalang Rice Terraces |
| 3 | Mount Phousi | Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) |
| 4 | Morning alms giving (Tak Bat) | Pura Taman Saraswati |
| 5 | Night market | Campuhan Ridge Walk |
Food compared
| Luang Prabang | Ubud |
|---|---|
| Luang Prabang khao soi | Babi guling |
| Or lam | Crispy duck |
| Fried river weed | Bebek betutu |
| Jeow bong | Nasi campur Bali |
Which is cheaper?
Luang Prabang is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $60–$140 per person there, against $80–$170 in Ubud (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Luang Prabang on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 3,469 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 Ubud cheaper?
Luang Prabang is usually less expensive: about $60–$140 a day mid-range against $80–$170 (estimates).
+Is Luang Prabang or Ubud better for a first trip?
Pick Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and lower day-to-day costs, or Ubud for Rice terraces and Balinese dance.
+How far is Luang Prabang from Ubud?
About 3,469 km in a straight line.