The highlights in Luang Prabang
Destination
There are many interesting visiting sites for your trip to Luang Prabang:
The best places to visit.
- Wat Xieng Thong: Wat Xieng Thong, once known as “The Temple of the Golden City”, holds great cultural, historic and architectural importance. It is serenely situated near the tip of the peninsula at the confluence of two rivers, with a grand staircase leading up from the Mekong. For centuries it was considered the ceremonial gateway to the town, with visiting dignitaries and soon-to-be-crowned kings arriving via these steps. It was one of US President Obama's stops on a daytrip to Luang Prabang in September 2016.
King Setthathirat, who ruled from 1548 till 1571, built Wat Xieng Thong in 1559. Incredibly, over the years it has survived war and raids including the sacking of the city in 1887 by the Black Flag Army. Up until 1975, it was the site of coronation ceremonies for Lao kings.
- Royal Palace Museum: Also known as the National Museum or Haw Kham (Golden Hall), the original ornate residence was built over five years from 1904 as a new home for King Sisavangvong after the previous royal digs were destroyed during the Black Flag attack. Construction took place during Laos' French period and the architecture reflects a fusion of the two countries' very distinctive styles
- Mount Phou Si: Many people gather here to watch the sunset or sunrise and it can get very crowded. You can see the City panorama from this peak. is a 100m high hill in the centre of the old town of Luang Prabang. It lies in the heart of the old town peninsula and is bordered on one side by the Mekong River and on the other side by the Nam Khan River. The hill is a local religious site, and houses several Buddhist shrines.
- Pak Ou Caves: lies 25 kilometres upriver from Luang Prabang in a cliff 15 metres above the water, they left behind a Buddha idol. Over time they added up, and the caves are now filled with thousands of Buddha images in varying sizes and styles. There are two caves, upper (Tham Theung) and lower (Tham Ting), with the latter being the main attraction. The journey to Pak Ou is much easier now than it once was, with a small boat landing and stairs leading up to the caves. If you’re travelling by boat, there is usually a stop at one of the handicraft villages along the way. The most popular stop is Ban Xang Hai (aka the Whiskey Village) where you can sample fresh lao lao, the potent local brew, and pick up a couple of bottles for later.
- Khouang Si Falls: The most popular of the waterfalls is Kuang Si which is located about 30 kilometres to the southwest of town. The first glimpse you get of these falls is of the lower sections, where the bright turquoise water gently tumbles over small limestone ledges. Impressive yes, but better is to come. As you move further up the falls, you come across people swimming in a large lagoon and swinging from a tarzan vine. Walking further up the hill past more and more impressive falls shaded from the intense sunshine you come to an opening where the main waterfall comes into view.