Luang Prabang: A mountainous town in Northern Laos
Luang Prabang is situated in the heart of Northern Laos, surrounded by mountain ranges, greenery and vibrant nature.
It is a popular backpacking destination within Laos which most travellers use as a base for travel to and from Northern Thailand. You can discover how to travel from Thailand to Luang Prabang here.
There is a lot to see and experience in Luang Prabang for such a small town but I am going to narrow it down to the top 5 things to do. You will find spectacular waterfalls, interesting and devastating history, local culture and stunning scenery.
1. Kuang Si Waterfall
At the top of the list we have Kuang Si Falls, which is one of South East Asia’s most majestic waterfalls. Of course, it is very touristy but it is 100% worth the trip as it really is a magical place.
Visiting Kuang Si Waterfall
You can visit Kuang Si Waterfall between 08:00 and 17:00 every day. I recommend arriving at 07:45 to avoid the crowds which begin to accumulate around 08:40 from tour groups.
The entrance fee is 25,000 Kip (£0.95) and includes a visit to the bear sanctuary located next to the waterfall.
To make the most out of your visit, I recommend hiring a motorbike and driving yourself in the morning before crowds gather. The journey takes about 45 minutes through winding uphill roads. If you are not a confident driver, you will easily be able to book a tour through a tour operator.
Exploring Kuang Si Waterfall
We were surprised by how big Kuang Si Waterfall is, it is not just the one large cascading waterfall that you commonly see photographed. You will find many cascading falls which lead into beautiful blue swimming pools. Due to the size of Kuang Si, you are best spending at least half a day here.
The picture above reveals my favourite swimming spot at the waterfall. You can jump off the tree trunk into the refreshing blue pool below.
FYI: The water is absolutely freezing! We arrived at 07:45 am and the outside temperature was below 20 degrees so we were already a little chilly, I recommend jumping in straight away or you will really struggle getting in!
Climb to the top of Kuang Si Waterfall
Once you reach the main waterfall at the top, you will come across a wooden bridge where you can view the waterfall. If you carry on walking to the left of the bridge, you will be able to hike up a steep dirt path for about 15-20 minutes to reach the top of the waterfall.
The path is very steep, I actually witnessed quite a few people slip and fall over! I recommend wearing appropriate footwear as flip flops will not be great, but I did do it barefoot myself!
At the top of Kuang Si Waterfall you will come across a jungle pool to swim in and a rope swing – all worth the steep walk up.
Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre
Included within your entrance fee is the Bear Rescue Centre who have rescued many black bears from awful circumstances and re-homed them here at Kuang Si Waterfall.
Take a minute to read the information and get an up close view of the rescued bears. It is a non profit organisation so if you are able to purchase a souvenir it will really help with funding to look after the bears.
2. UXO Centre
The UXO Visitor Centre in Luang Prabang gives an important insight to the devastating effects of unexploded bombs and mines that still remain in Laos. You will learn about the important work that Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO) are undertaking in order to remove the remaining unexploded bombs within the country.
It is free to visit the UXO Centre but any donations are appreciated and there are also souvenirs available to provide funding support. Visiting times are between 08:00 and 12:00 and 13:00 – 16:00.
You can easily walk to the UXO Centre, it is situated behind the Chao Anouvong Monument.
UXO Facts
- Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world.
- Over 2 million tons of explosive devices were dropped on Laos between 1964 and 1973.
- The United States conducted over half a million bombing missions in attempt to block the flow of North Vietnamese arms and troops.
- Over 266 million submunitions (a group of smaller weapons carried as a warhead by a missile) were released from cluster bombs in Laos.
- It is estimated that 30% of submunitions are unexploded in Laos. These remain in the ground and cause death, disability, severe injury as well as hindering the growth of the economy.
- An estimated 80 million submunitions failed to explode.
3. Tad Sae Waterfalls
Tad Sae Waterfall is a true retreat hidden away in nature, only accessible by boat. This is what I would call a true hidden gem. As everyone is drawn to the popular and magnificent Kuang Si Falls, people forget about this waterfall which is a tranquil paradise.
Tad Sae is best visited during the wet season of August – November but it is still worth visiting during peak season. Don’t expect the magnitude of Kuang Si but expect untouched nature, beautiful jungle pools to swim in and hidden waterfalls with no one else in sight.
Upon arrival, at the end of January, during the dry season, I found Tad Sae to have minimal water flow – you could actually walk over a lot of the dry rock formations that would usually be covered by water. But don’t be put off, there is more to explore here than the main waterfall.
Tad Sae is located 16 km from Luang Prabang. It takes about 25 minutes to drive here by motorbike which you then leave at the car park before boarding a small longtail boat for the rest of the journey.
The boat costs 15,000 Kip (£0.57) from Nam Khan riverbank. Enjoy scenic views as you travel to Tad Sae. An entry ticket to the waterfall costs an additional 15,000 Kip.
If you really want to enjoy the surroundings all to yourself, I recommend arriving at 08:00 am. It is also better to visit on a weekday as the locals tend to crowd around on weekends.
We came across a couple who were very disappointed exclaiming that there was no water flow but what they had not explored was the jungle area behind the main waterfall at Tad Sae. Here, you will come across these beautiful pools of clear water surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
I suggest that you spend an hour or two exploring the jungle trails as you will find some of the most beautiful nature here and opportunities for swimming in the depth of the jungle. I must point out that we did come across many spider webs in the shape of a funnel so if you are arachnophobic you may want to skip the hike to waterfall 3!
I really found Tad Sae to be a paradise in nature. Just walking around the jungle trails, surrounded by the most beautiful trees and jungle pools makes Tad Sae a must visit in Luang Prabang.
We barely came across a soul all morning whilst exploring here. The only people we did come across were accumulated around the main waterfall and did not look so impressed – we advised them to walk behind and explore the jungle trails.
4. Watch Sunrise at Phousi Hill
Another one of the best things to do in Luang Prabang is to watch the sunrise from Mount Phousi, a small mountain located right in the centre of the town.
It is 100 metres tall and offers the best 360 degree view of Luang Prabang. From the top, you will be able to see the Mekong River, Luang Prabang, Nam Kham River and the beautiful mountains which surround the view.
Mount Phousi is a temple, literally Phou Si meaning ‘sacred hill‘ so remember to dress respectfully when visiting. If visiting at sunrise, you are going to want long clothes anyway as the mornings can be cold in Luang Prabang.
The entry fee is 20,000 Kip (£0.75) and the opening hours are 06:00 – 19:00 although these are not strictly followed. Most people will either visit at sunrise or sunset.
We visited at sunrise but due to the clouds we unfortunately did not get the best view but it was still worth the early start.
There are two different paths to chose from when walking up Phousi Hill, one with 328 steps (opposite the Royal Palace Museum) and the other with 355 steps on Thanon Phousi. I recommend taking one path up and the other down to ensure you see everything.
5. Explore Luang Prabang's Night Market
A visit to Luang Prabang would not be complete without one or more stops at the local night market.
This was our favourite night market in Laos, you will find a good variety of vendors here from amazing street food to souvenirs, clothing, accessories and local ‘Lao Lao’ alcohol – some even infused with snakes!
You will come across locals selling key rings, bracelets, cutlery and other jewellery made from aluminium from the bombs that USA dropped on Laos.
I recommend buying one of these as it supports the local community and transforms something evil into something beautiful – also, what a unique souvenir!
We visited this smoothie stand (located at the end of the night market to the left) every evening during our stay at Luang Prabang. The smoothies are huge and cost only 20,000 Kip (£0.75) – great for those of you on a backpacking budget like myself!
Other Recommendations
- Watch the Alms Giving Ceremony at dawn.
- Visit the Royal Palace.
- Explore the Morning Market.
- Take a rice harvesting class at Living Farm.
- Visit the Old Town.
- Cross the Bamboo Bridge.
- Explore the Mekong River by boat.
- Take a trip to Pak Ou Caves.
- Enjoy a cooking class.
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Great information and helpful ideas for making the most of a visit to this area.