5 days in Luang Prabang

Day by day

1. Day 1: Wat Xieng Thong and Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham)

   Wat Xieng Thong, Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham) and Mount Phousi, then Night market in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wat Xieng Thong

      Visit early in the morning, before the tour groups arrive, and walk round to the back of the main hall for the mosaic. (1 hour, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham)

      Bags and cameras go into lockers; shoulders and knees must be covered, and shorts are not allowed. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Luang Prabang khao soi

      Noodle shops on the side streets off Sisavangvong Road, mostly in the morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Mount Phousi

      Sunset is very crowded; sunrise or late afternoon gives the same view with space to breathe. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Night market

      Bargain gently, and look for weavers selling their own work; prices are lower than in the boutiques.

2. Day 2: Morning alms giving (Tak Bat) and Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham

   Morning alms giving (Tak Bat), Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham and Wat Sene, then Sunset boat on the Mekong in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Morning alms giving (Tak Bat)

      Keep at least a few metres away, never use flash, and only take part if it is meaningful to you, with rice bought from a trusted source rather than street hawkers. (30 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham

      Look closely at the golden facade in the late afternoon sun, when the reliefs are easiest to read. (30 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Or lam

      Lao restaurants in the old town that specialise in local cuisine.

   4. Afternoon

      Wat Sene

      Visit after the alms round, when novices return to the compound and the light is soft. (20–30 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Sunset boat on the Mekong

      Hire a private long-tail boat for an hour on the river as the sun drops behind the hills.

3. Day 3: Wat Visoun and Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre

   Wat Visoun, Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre and UXO Laos Visitor Centre, then Dinner above the Nam Khan in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wat Visoun

      Combine it with the neighbouring Wat Aham and the herbal sauna nearby. (30–45 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre

      Visit before shopping at the night market to learn how to recognise authentic textiles. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fried river weed

      The morning market sells it dried; restaurants in the old town serve it fried.

   4. Afternoon

      UXO Laos Visitor Centre

      Entry is free; donations support clearance work in the provinces. (45 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Dinner above the Nam Khan

      Book a terrace table at one of the riverside restaurants for Lao set menus by candlelight.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Kuang Si Falls

   About 45 minutes by road each way. Getting there: Shared minivan, tuk-tuk or bicycle for the fit.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Kuang Si Falls

      About 45 minutes by road (Shared minivan, tuk-tuk or bicycle for the fit); about 30 km.

   2. Day

      Kuang Si Falls

      A series of limestone cascades tumbling into turquoise pools, some open for swimming, beneath a high main fall. Best for families, first-timers and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Luang Prabang

      Dinner: try Jeow bong.

5. Day 5: Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre and Mekong sunset cruise

   Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre, Mekong sunset cruise and Morning market, then Early swim at Kuang Si in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre

      Book a natural-dye class to take home a scarf you coloured yourself; free tours of the workshops run through the day. (2 hours to a full day, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Mekong sunset cruise

      Shared sunset boats are inexpensive; hire a boat privately for a group or a quieter evening. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Jeow bong

      Restaurants serve it as a dip; jars are sold at the morning market and souvenir shops.

   4. Afternoon

      Morning market

      Go straight after the alms giving, around 6:30am, when the stalls are fullest. (30–45 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Early swim at Kuang Si

      Arrive at opening time to have the turquoise pools almost to yourselves.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Old Town centre keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Xieng Thong end of the peninsula ($$$) suits couples, quiet stays and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 12–13 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.9 hours in December to 13.3 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Luang Prabang
• 2 days in Luang Prabang
• 3 days in Luang Prabang

Questions travellers ask