Luang Prabang

Sights

• Old Town – Temples and colonial houses on a peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Wat Xieng Thong – The town's most magnificent temple, with sweeping low roofs.
• Alms giving – Monks walk the streets at dawn – watch quietly from a distance and without flash.
• Mount Phousi – Steps up the hill in the middle of town – popular at sunset.
• Royal Palace Museum – The former royal residence, home to the revered Pha Bang Buddha.
• Night market – Textiles and crafts from the hill peoples, calm and unhurried.

Food & nightlife

• Sticky rice and laap – Sticky rice eaten with your fingers, with a spicy minced-meat salad and herbs.
• Khai Paen – Crispy Mekong river weed with sesame – a local snack.
• Night market food alley – Buffet stalls and grilled fish at small prices.
• Sunset by the Mekong – A Beerlao at a riverside bar.

Day trips

• Kuang Si Falls – Turquoise pools for swimming and a bear rescue centre.
• Pak Ou Caves – A Mekong boat trip to caves filled with Buddha statues.
• Mekong slow boat – Two days on the river towards the Thai border – a backpacker classic.

Good to know

When to go

November–February

Getting around

A small airport and a station on the fast railway to Vientiane; the old town is compact and easy on foot or by bike.

Tipping

Service is usually included – rounding up is a nice gesture.

Power

Plug type A/B/C/E/F, 230 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Laotian Kip (LAK)

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