Getting around · Luang Prabang · Laos
Getting around Luang Prabang
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The old town peninsula is about 1.5 km long and best explored on foot or by bicycle. Tuk-tuks and minivans handle trips to Kuang Si Falls and the train station, and boats ply the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves and across to Chomphet. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- LPQ
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Walking
Every temple, the palace, the night market and the riverside are within a 20-minute walk of each other on the peninsula.
Cycling
Many guesthouses rent bicycles, ideal for reaching Ock Pop Tok, the paper-making village and the far side of the Nam Khan.
Bring a light for evening rides; side streets are poorly lit.
Tuk-tuk
Tuk-tuks and shared minivans gather near the night market and post office for trips to Kuang Si Falls, the airport and the train station; prices are negotiated.
Shared minivans to Kuang Si are cheaper than a private tuk-tuk; agree return times in advance.
Boat
Long-tail and slow boats run from the Mekong landings to the Pak Ou Caves and on sunset cruises, and a small ferry crosses to Chomphet. Slow boats also travel upriver over two days to the Thai border at Huay Xai.
Train
The Laos–China Railway links Luang Prabang with Vang Vieng in about an hour and Vientiane in about two, with cross-border trains continuing to Kunming. The station is outside town, about a 20–30 minute ride from the old town.
Trains often sell out; buy tickets a few days ahead through the official app or at a station.
From the airport
Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ) is about 4 km from the old town, a 10–15 minute ride. Taxis and minivans at fixed prices are booked at a counter in the arrivals hall, and many hotels offer pickups.
Do you need a car?
No. The town is walkable and day trips are easy by tuk-tuk, minivan or boat; drivers can be hired for longer excursions.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Kuang Si Falls | About 45 minutes by road | Shared minivan, tuk-tuk or bicycle for the fit |
| Pak Ou Caves | About 2 hours upstream by boat | Boat from the Mekong landing, or road plus a short river crossing |
| Tad Sae Waterfall | About 30 minutes by road, then a short boat | Tuk-tuk to the village landing, then a boat across the river |
| Nong Khiaw | About 3–4 hours by road | Minivan or private car |
| Vang Vieng | About 1 hour by train | Laos–China Railway |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Luang Prabang?
No. The town is walkable and day trips are easy by tuk-tuk, minivan or boat; drivers can be hired for longer excursions.
+How do you get from the airport to Luang Prabang?
Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ) is about 4 km from the old town, a 10–15 minute ride. Taxis and minivans at fixed prices are booked at a counter in the arrivals hall, and many hotels offer pickups.
+What is the best way to get around Luang Prabang?
Walking: Every temple, the palace, the night market and the riverside are within a 20-minute walk of each other on the peninsula.