Things to do and see in Luang Prabang

Thing to do and see in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is the Laos Capital and also often called the ‘Heart of Laos’ and many visitors choose to come here instead of Vientiane as it is known for its gorgeous countryside and scenic views across the majestic Mekong River.

Luang Prabang also lies on the Nam Khan River, meaning that you can take to the water on a trip here and this is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which tells you everything you need to know about the splendor of the city.

Another reason to come to the city is to check out the temples as you will be spoilt for choice on a trip here and can take in the gorgeous religious architecture at almost every turn. If you want to get out of town, then you can find spots that include lush waterfalls and pools.

1, Luang Prabang Alms giving,
Ever since Luang Prabang’s founding, its temples have harbored small communities of Buddhist monks, altogether numbering in the hundreds across the city. You can see most of them emerging at the crack of dawn: a silent queue of orange-attired boys and men, holding out their alms bowls to receive food or money from devotees lining the street.
The tak bat morning ceremony fulfills the mutual obligations of ordinary Buddhist devotees and the sangha (monastic community): by receiving, the monks receive their basic needs, and by giving, an ordinary Buddhist earns merit on the road to Nirvana.
Even non-Buddhists are allowed to take a spot at the giving queue, with vendors selling sticky rice or other foods to place in the begging bowls. If you prefer to observe instead, remember to keep a respectful distance – don’t touch or obstruct either monk or devotee as they perform this age-old ritual.
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2, Luang Prabang Morning Market,
Get up with the sun, out the door and to Luang Prabang’s morning market. As opposed to the night market that’s geared toward tourists, you’ll see many locals buying their groceries at the morning market. Vendors sell all manner of produce such as galangal, kefir leafs and lemon grass, and fruits like passion fruit, dragon fruit and the smelly-sweet durian. Perhaps the most interesting to foreigners, though, is the protein. Live fish, ox blood, insects, bats, and pigs heads are all available for purchase.
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3, Climb to the top of Mount Phou si, 
One of the main attractions in Luang Prabang is Phousi Mountain.
To get to the top you will need to walk up some 355 steps to get to the viewing platform but from here you will be able to look out over the city and take in the views. There is also a small temple at the summit of the mountain which is actually a small hill rather than anything too taxing. With that in mind, it is well worth the trip to the top for the panoramic vistas of famous spots in Luang Prabang.
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4, Bring home your souvenir from Luang Prabang Night Market,
The Handicraft Night Market is the Perfect Place to find some souvenirs and is located in Sisavangvong street (right in front of Laos Group Tours Office).
As you would expect from the name, the market starts up after dark and you will find a number of sellers who have amazing local handcrafts such as silk pieces, textiles, clothes, jewelry, ceramics and bamboo carvings. The market is mainly meant for tourists in the area, but it still makes a great spot if you are looking for gifts.
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5, Take a Mekong sunset cruise 
Whether you get on a boat for 10 minutes on your way from Luang Prabang to the Botanical gardens, or for 11 days travelling up the Mekong from Luang Prabang to the Golden Triangle with Mekong River Cruises, you’re bound to have a greater appreciation for Southeast Asia’s largest river. Catch the sunset and watch the fishermen casting their nets against the karst mountain backdrop. ticket are selling all the time at Laos Group Tours office 
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6, Visit Pak ou cave and feeding/bathing the elephant trip
Pak means mouth and the two caves at the mouth of the Ou River are Tham Ting and Tham Theung. The caves have been spiritual places for centuries and were thought to be occupied by spirits by the animists in the region even before Buddhists began bringing wooden Buddha statues to the cave. Bring a headlamp and enjoy the river views on the way up and down the Mekong.
Options it is possiple to do Pak ou caves and feeding/bathing the elephant trip in halfday or fullday in a Elephant Campt right oposit the caves, Laos Group Tour sell ticket or tour to cave at all time in day
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7, Take a trip to Kuang Si waterfall
Kuang si waterfall, there is a massive cascade of water that pours into several stepped, scenic pools at the bottom. The turquoise-aquamarine pools of water look almost unearthly, and very welcoming for swimmers too. Shaded by nearby trees, the pools make great swimming holes for sweaty visitors. Afterwards, take a snack break at one of the tables at the lower level pools.
Set some 18 miles’ drive south from Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Falls shuttle bus ticket are available at Laos Group Tours office in Luang Prabang in cluding pick up and drop off back to city center.
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8, Tad Sae waterfall 
You can make a great full or half-day trip. Visit during a weekday if you want to minimise interactions with the crowds. For those interested in hiking, Tad Sae offers many streams and trails to explore. Visit from August to November for the best views and dress modestly if you’re going swimming. You’ll notice local Lao people swim fully clothed or covered in a sarong. Pack a picnic lunch and some Beer Lao and enjoy the views.
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9, Luang Prabang Cycling,
Cycling is a great way to experience the beautiful Luang Prabang countryside, with day tours taking you around the old town, across rivers, through rural villages, and past mountains. Trips can be booked through Laos Group Tour Office in the town centre, and are normally limited to 20 people per trip.
Adventurous riders might enjoy a more challenging tour on a special off-road route to remote villages, exploring the rural side of Luang Prabang, Most cycling tours in Luang Prabang take about 4 hours and include an English speaking guide, lunch and cycling equipment.
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10, Laos buffalo Dairy Farm
A hobby turned into a prospering business, the Laos Buffalo Dairy Farm,  hosts travelers who want to see water buffalo making dairy products.
The dairy was started by expat guesthouse owners who complained about the high price of cheese in Luang Prabang; by renting buffalo from local farmers instead of buying , Laos Buffalo Dairy keeps production costs low while spreading the benefits around the local community.
Word of mouth has gotten around, and now Luang Prabang’s top hotels call on Laos Buffalo Dairy to fill up the local dairy shortfall. The product list includes mozzarella, ricotta, feta and yogurt, with a few other cheeses in development (buffalo milk is fattier than cow’s milk, so any new products undergo a tortuous trial-and-error process).
Laos Group Tours staff will be happy to arrange a visit to the dairy, where you can see their cheese-making process, or get to know the water buffalo working the farm.  
View location here

11, Taking a local guide trip round the city, Places to visit Wat Mai, Royal Palace Museum, Wat Choumkhong.. Lao Wooden house, Wat Xieng Thong, UXO Lao Visitor Center,

12, Chill out at Utopia Bar 
After a full day trip around Luang Prabang, there is nothing better than resting and relaxing at Utopia Bar – the most highlighted spot of the city’s nightlife. Set on the Nam Khan riverbank, this bar is the wonderful place to enjoy the peaceful natural scenery from their tropical gardens or bamboo river decks. Activities you can enjoy at Utopia include beach volleyball, shisha pipes, live music and movies

13, Learn to cook laos food
If you want to learn how to make delicious Laotian food then you need to take a cooking class while you are in Luang Prabang.
There are a number of different places where you can learn to cook, but one of the most famous is called Tamarind and you get to learn in an open kitchen which looks out over scenic fields.
There are a number of different classes that you can take but if you opt for one in the morning then this is also paired with a market trip so that you can learn all about the delicious local produce for which Laos is famous.
Some of the dishes that you can learn to make include laap or laab which is the national dish of Laos and is made of minced meat in a kind of salad.
You can also try your hand at making mok pa which is a kind of fish cooked in banana leaves.

14, Visit TAEC Museum
If you want to learn more about the ethnic minorities in and around Luang Prabang then make sure you come to the TAEC Museum.
The building itself is a work of art and it actually used to be a mansion during the French colonial period and would have been built in the 1920s.
Now the mansion houses a small and compact museum that still manages to fill you in on the history of these amazing tribes.
Even though the museum only has three main rooms, it has galleries that are dedicated to the farming industry as well as exhibitions related to costumes and jewelry.
There is also an onsite shop where you can buy some local souvenirs and all the profits are funneled back into the local community.

15, Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre
The Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre of Luang Prabang is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the many ethnic groups existing in Laos. Located in a restored heritage building along Kingkitsarath Road, it is the only non-profit museum in Laos. 
This cultural display of arts and lifestyles reflect a very diverse ethnic population. Permanent exhibitions feature traditional textiles and clothing, jewellery, religious artefacts, handicraft tools, and household objects. The museum offers visitors a rare glimpse into the life of Laotian people giving a greater understanding to their richly diverse culture with quotes, photos and videos bringing the exhibits to life. 

16, Visit Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden
Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden has the claim to fame of being the first of its kind to open in Laos.
This also means that it’s a great spot for anyone looking for somewhere to relax and unwind in the center of the city.
As well as just getting to stroll around the gardens, you can also learn all about the orchids that grow here as part of a guided tour.
As if that wasn’t enough, then there is also the chance to try some free herbal tea that is brewed in the park as well as attend a bamboo handicraft tutorial.

17, Butterfly Park
Run by Dutch couple Olef and Ineska, the Kuang Si Butterfly Park is a delightful, well-manicured place to spend a few hours. Ticket options include just entry, entry plus coffee and cake, or entry plus lunch. The coffee is excellent and the dutch apple cake is moist. You can dip your feet in the aqua water filled with carp while you enjoy the treats. Many species of butterflies live in the enclosed portion of the butterfly gardens. Visitors can also see caterpillars and chrysalises on display.

18, Watch a show at Garavek Storytelling
The word ‘garavek’ means ‘mythical bird’ in Lao and you can learn the story of this magical creature by taking in a show at Garavek Storytelling.
Here you will find an old performer who plays the lyre and who tells the story of this legend along with an English narrator.
There are a number of ancient folk stories told throughout the hour long performance and this is a great place to come if you are visiting Luang Prabang with children who will be mesmerized by the tales.
Bear in mind that this is a very popular attraction in the city so you need to book a seat in advance to avoid disappointment.

19, Be a farmer for a day at Living Land Company
The Living Land Company is a community-run organic farm supplying fresh vegetables, herbs, salads and rice to Luang Prabang hotels and restaurants. You can take a day trip to the farm and experience the life of a farmer. There’s a beautiful Lao-style house overlooking rice terraces and the organic vegetable fields. The farm aims to offer an alternative to the current slash-and-burn farming methods which result in unusable land following harvest

20, Trekking Luang Prabang
Trekking is one of the most popular things to do in Luang Prabang’s countryside. There are miles of hiking trails to suit all fitness levels, and you’ll likely pass spectacular waterfalls and indigenous wildlife, as well as gain a fascinating insight into rural folk living in hill tribe villages. 
Descendants of the Mongolians, the Hmong tribe live on chillier, higher hills while the Khmu tribe is found in lower regions with treks to their villages taking you through the lush tropical jungle. There are a few companies offering trekking tours which you can book upon arrival. 

21, Luang Prabang Bowling Alley
The Luang Prabang Bowling Alley is famed for being a late-night drinking hole and the town’s only 10-pin bowling venue. Loud Asian pop music, local whisky, and Beerlao are as popular as the game, which costs 20,000 kip per person per game.
The bowling alley is one of the few places in Luang Prabang where you can grab a drink after the strict midnight curfew. It’s located on the outskirts of town, so you might want to arrange for a tuk-tuk to pick you up. 

Thing to do and see in Luang Prabang
1, Luang Prabang Alms giving,
2, Luang Prabang Morning Market,
3, Climb to the top of mount phou si, 
4, Bring home your souvenir from Luang Prabang Night Market,
5, Take a Mekong sunset cruise 
6, Visit Pak ou cave and feeding/bathing the elephant trip
7, Take a trip to Kuang Si waterfall
8, Tad Sae waterfall 
9, Luang Prabang Cycling,
10, Laos buffalo Dairy Farm
11, Taking a local guide trip round the city, Places to visit Wat Mai, Royal Palace Museum, Wat Choumkhong.. Lao Wooden house, Wat Xieng Thong, UXO Lao Visitor Center,
12, Chill out at Utopia Bar 
13, Learn to cook laos food
14, Visit TAEC Museum
15, Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre
16, Visit Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden
17, Butterfly Park
18, Watch a show at Garavek Storytelling
19, Be a farmer for a day at Living Land Company
20, Trekking Luang Prabang
21, Luang Prabang Bowling Alley
The Luang Prabang Bowling Alley is famed for being a late-night drinking hole and the town’s only 10-pin bowling venue. Loud Asian pop music, local whisky, and Beerlao are as popular as the game, which costs 20,000 kip per person per game.
The bowling alley is one of the few places in Luang Prabang where you can grab a drink after the strict midnight curfew. It’s located on the outskirts of town, so you might want to arrange for a tuk-tuk to pick you up.