A part of Northern Laos with the Mekong and Nam Song river running town the small town, Luang Prabang offers panoramic views of mountains, waterfalls to dip your toes in on a hot day and markets for you to feast in.
Three days are enough time for you to check out the key sights and attractions in Luang Prabang while enjoying the chill vibes of this laidback town.
Day 1
There are no shortages of cafes and breakfast places in this town. Many coffeehouses serve up Laos coffee, Arabica coffee that is grown on the Bolaven Pleateau in Southern Laos. The Lao don't usually drink their coffee black, brewing it in the coffee sock before mixing in with powdered milk, evaporated and condensed milk. The result? Cafe nom (milk coffee). A sweet, malty yet strong coffee drink; a perfect way to kick start your day. Try Saffron Coffee with the beautiful terrace overlooking the Mekong, making a great breakfast/coffee place. The coffeehouse partners with over 800 Lao coffee growers and you can also find their beans in supermarkets or gift stores, ranging from 35k kip to 45k kip (5.60 SGD - 7.20 SGD).
Walk through the streets of Luang Prabang and visit any of the many beautiful temples and monastery in town. Wat Xieng Thong is the most famous site and has an entrance fee of 20k kip (3.20 SGD) to view the mosaics. Wat Pa Phai is less touristy with its gold and red decor and Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham is the largest temple in Luang Prabang (entrance fee of 10k kip, 1.60 SGD). Next to see is the Royal Palace, home to religious objects, weapons and the crown jewel of Laos. Visiting the grounds of the Royal Palace is free and there is an entrance fee of 30k kip (4.80 SGD) if you wish to enter the building.
Indulge in a Mod-Lao lunch at Tamarind. The restaurant is pretty hyped on social media and is said to be "the best place to discover Laotian cuisine". You can get the ala-carte dishes or try a bunch of small plates with their tasting platter. A selling point is that they are extremely accommodating and provide alternatives should you wish to try the tasting platter but do not agree with eating certain dishes. I tried the tasting platter with Or Lam, Kai Pen, Jeow, Soop Pak and sticky rice. They swapped out the red meat dishes and components and replace them with other small plates. Check out what these are in my Lao's food checklist here.
Continue your stroll down to the town center and grab a fruit shake (5k kip - 12k kip, around ~1 SGD) to quench your thirst in the typical SEA heat. Pay a visit at the fair-trade shops around town, featuring work by local weavers and artisans. Lots of cross stitched work and Hmong crafts to be purchased. To gain some insights on the country, visit TAEC (Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center) that will give you a peep at the hilltribes' life in Laos or UXO Laos Visitor Center which covers the topic on bombies during the Vietnam war.
Head up to Mount Phousi for the sunset view over the Mekong River. As it is the best viewpoint in the city, get ready to squeeze with the other tourists. You can also head there earlier to get or what Singaporeans would say "chope" a good viewing spot. Be prepared for the 300 plus stairs to get the top and bring along a torch as it is not extremely well lit.
End the day at Luang Prabang night market, which is a stone throw away from Mount Phousi. Vendors will start setting up their stalls around 5pm and you can grab either coconut pancakes for 5k kip or fruit shake for 10-15k kip depending on which end are you starting from. The market occupies a large portion of Sisavangcong Road and you can get herbs, tea, souvenirs and apparels. Haggling is a must when at any SEA market and it always help when you buy a couple/wholesale.
Head over the night market food street before leaving. The food alley is located along a narrow street beside Indigo Cafe and the coconut pancake stands. You will be greeted by the smell of grilled meat, the pounding of mortar while vendors make papaya salad and the familiar welcome "sabai dee". Good place to fill your stomach after all the walking - order up some grilled meat and Laotian salad to go with your sticky rice or head further in for a 20k kip one plate, one price 20k kip vegetarian buffet. The rules are simple - heap up as much food as you can on one plate and pay 20k kip. If you want meat, it is another cost. Great way to sample as many dishes as you want at one place and one price! Get the fried eggplant/ banana dish - the batter is sweet and savoury relative to the goreng pisang batter we have here in Singapore. There are many articles warning tourists from purchasing baguettes at the night market and my friend informed me as well. Keep the baguette for another time!
Day Two
Grab a Laotian coffee with porridge or fried donuts for breakfast at Pasaniyom Coffee before going to the Morning Market. Here you can find vendors sitting on mats and laying out all kinds of vibrant produce. Interesting finds in this market ranges from squirrels to grilled wasp larvae. Also if you missed out on buying Kaipen (seaweed) and Bael from the night market, there are a good number of stores that display herbs and tea for you to purchase. Buy some black ginger and sorelle, or snacks like Kaipen and fried banana shoots. I learnt my lesson in not purchasing them at the morning market, as I was under the assumption that I can find these easily in Vang Vieng and Vientiane. Needless to say, I thought wrong.
Head out to Kuang Si Waterfall to get to the falls at the opening time. Hire a driver or tuk-tuk for that 40 minutes journey from town (around 40k kip for a return trip). Klook has a shared shuttle ticket for around 8 SGD but you can get it cheaper during Klook's promotions. The four tiered waterfall with turquoise water is a must-do in most visitors'plans. Climb to the very top for the best view before swimming in the cool water. Visit the bear sanctuary close to the entrance, home to several black bears that were saved from poachers. Entrance fee into the falls is 20k kip.
Definitely try to pack food and have a picnic at Kuang Si Waterfall or head back to town for a late lunch after a morning of swimming and sunbathing. Utopia will be a fantastic place to have lunch as you laze on the sun beds facing the Nam Kham river. Bring your kindle or a book and simply ride along with the lounge music as you chill your way into the evening while you wait for the place to get buzzing.
As you join the crowds leaving Utopia at closing time, you will be met outside by tuk-tuk drivers offering lifts to the bowling alley. It should cost 10,000 kip per person if you go in a group. The bowling alley stays open until 2am, with alcohol flowing over the bar and even an archery range outside. It’s a little bizarre, but also a must-do to complete your Luang Prabang experience, and a great way to let your hair down at the end of your stay.
Day Three
If you are an early bird, join in the Buddhist alms-giving where monks by the hundreds come out to collect alms. The ceremony starts from 5.30 am in the morning. To participate, firstly dress appropriately to respect the culture and purchase food for the monks.
You are still in time for the Mekong River cruise. Head over to the jetty, opposite of Saffron Cafe, for the 8.30am for the Mekong boat service (65k kip). Stop by Whisky Village and Pak Ao Cave during this 3 hours cruise up and down the river.
Time for lunch! Slurp on some Laotian noodles at a noodle stall. Here are a few options that you can get Khao Poon (spicy rice vermicelli), Khao Soi (fermented rice noodles) and Khao Piak (tapioca noodles) for 15-20k kip: phozaapsamthep noodle soup, ຮ້ານ ເຝີ ປ້າແກ້ວ ວັນສີ, and Nangvong Noodle Shop. Chill off at another cafe as you pen down your travels in a travel journal. Take your pick from Novelty Cafe, Zurich Bread Cafe, Joma Bakery Cafe or Dao Coffee.
I do enjoy pampering myself with massages whenever I'm in SEA as they are so much cheaper than back home. This might be the first time that I would not recommend going for a massage. Firstly, cost wise, the cheapest package are comparably similar or pricier than in Vietnam or Thailand (140k kip for 90 minutes traditional massage, 22 SGD). The set up for both places that I visited are extremely basic and even dingy, though they do offer tea and/or fruit post-massage. I tried a couple of traditional Laos massage that is akin to Thailand massage and I didn't enjoy any of them. Honestly felt like they were a waste of time and money, the pressure and technique felt pointless most of the time before the masseuse hit a sweet spot... and promptly moved on. Between the both, I would recommend MK Wellness Centre should one insist and to go for a leg massage instead of the full body package. For better service and quality, prepare to pay more at more pristine places. If not, keep this budget for Vientiane or for other activities in Luang Prabang.
Cross the private bridge on Nam Khan River for 7k kip and head to the other side for dinner. The walk will be lovely with the cool evening breeze and the lights twinkling to illuminate the area. Bonus if you caught the sunset while crossing (honestly Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng sunsets got me obsessed with the pink hues in the cloudless sky). Alternatively, visit the less That Luang Night bazaar, or Phosi Market. Head back and rest before leaving this idyllic town.
If you have more time...
Living Land Lao Rice Farm - Owned and operated by seven local families, this hands-on program provide tourists and visitors the first-hand experience of farming. From ploughing, planting to harvesting, enjoy your meal after all that hard work on the organic farm. Book your tickets for the 4 hours farming experience (around 60-70 SGD) via the website straight or via Klook.
Laos Buffalo Diary - Join a tour in the mini farm, home to buffaloes. Get a chance to cuddle up with these friendly beasts and even give them a day-spa experience when it's bath time. Other activities include learning how to milk a buffalo and bottle feeding calves. Walk in tours are at 50k kip per person for a 45 minutes experience or 100k kip for the guided tour around the farm. Though, better to book at least an hour before the tour to secure your spot. Do try the homemade Buffalo Milk Ice Cream for 15k kip a scoop since you're there.
Tamarind Cooking Class - There's nothing quite like bringing home a bit of the culture from the country you have just visited and the knowledge of making traditional Lao dishes is the perfect take-away from Laos. Pick up and drop off is provided as well as Tamarind's recipe book when you book a spot in the cooking class. Tour the local market before your morning master class on a beautiful garden pavilion for 290k kip. Secure your spot online or book through Klook
Hiking at Chomphet - Take a ferry ride (5k kip) across the Mekong for a quality hike. The other side of the Mekong is much less visited, making it a breather from the touristy town. Follow this map to figure out which route you would like to take, trails can range from 1 - 10km.
Garavek Storytelling - For a unique experience, enjoy an evening of cultural insights and entertainment by Garavek. The simple two-man show leverages on a khene and fantastic storytelling to provide visitors an engaging stage performance. Tickets go on sale for 50k kip every day. There are only 30 seats, so be sure head in to secure the best seat with an unimportant item at 6pm before getting a drink as the show only starts at 6.30pm.
Transportation
Definitely not my favourite city when it comes to transportation, especially after being spoilt by Grab and GoJek in the neighbouring SEA countries. Upon landing in Luang Prabang international airport, the only possible way out was the airport taxi which sells a seat for 50k kip (8 SGD!!!) and will only depart when there are three passengers in the car. I was hoping to flag down a tuk tuk but with no avail.
Within the city, you would hear whistles and "tuk tuk?'" calls from drivers. I am someone who values transparency so I would rather walk than be charged for more than I am supposed to pay. Being a compact town doesn't make it hard to explore the city. If walking is not your thing, rent a motorbike or a bicycle from one of the many bike rental stores or at your accommodation. Rates are in a per day basis and should cost below 30k kip.
Alternatively, ask your accommodation to book a tuktuk for you should you require one. Villa Rattanakon helped me secured a tuk tuk to the main bus station for 20k kip. For tourist attractions like the waterfalls, you can compare the quotes from tuk tuk drivers and shuttle transfers by local companies before choosing the cheapest option.
For intercity buses to Vang Vieng or straight to Vientiane, book your bus tickets from your accommodation directly or if you have anxiety like me, use 12go.asia to purchase online ticket. Print the confirmed tickets just in case and show these tickets at the counter of the international bus station. They would recommend coming at least 60 minutes as the minivans usually wait around til the vans are filled, so it really depends on your luck! You either can get on the mini bus immediately or wait for 1.5 hours before leaving Luang Prabang. Also should you have car sickness, have some pills on hand as the roads on route Vang Vieng are extremely bumpy. The 4.5 - 5hours journey consist of a toilet break and a 15 minutes stop at a rest station to grab some lunch (20k kip for the noodles).
Cost Breakdown
Laos was not as cheap as I expected it to be, having travelled to Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam the year before. It is still affordable but I find that certain items or products are of the same cost in Singapore and that didn't really gel well with me.
Also disclaimer, I may or may not have balled a little because it was my birthday weekend.
Accommodation: 484k kip (78 SGD) for a double bed room with breakfast and welcome drink & fruit for 2 nights at Villa Rattanakon (Got upgraded to the superior double room though)
Transport: 70k kip (11 SGD) for airport shuttle and tuk tuk to Naluang Bus Station
Food and Drink: 258k kip (42 SGD) for about 2 days proper
Activities: 230k kip (37 SGD) for two 90 minutes traditional Laotian massage sessions
Total Trip Cost for 3D2N: 1,042k kip (168 SGD)
Solo Scorecard - 2
(1 - Perfect for Solo Travelling, 5 - Would not recommend for solo travellers)
The locals have basic to intermediate level of English proficiency which is definitely helpful whenever you travel in a foreign country, let alone one with a non-Latin language. Since the town is so small, walking around with GMaps is sufficient. I felt safe there and wasn't afraid of being pickpocketed compared to other countries, and the locals are friendly too. Also the general laid back atmosphere of Luang Prabang makes it an ideal destination for solo travellers who are looking for a break from the hectic daily life back home.
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