Laos Guide: Luang Prabang
In my previous post, I wrote about my journey into Laos from Thailand. It was an unforgettable journey, and the people that I met made it all the better. Check it out here if you haven’t yet.
Luang Prabang
WHERE TO EAT
Once we finally reached Luang Prabang after a two-day journey we were ready for some solid land and a good meal. When you aren’t eating enough or drinking enough on those boats, it’s important to get proper food and water once back on land. I recommend some of Laos’s fresh spring rolls, a little better than pasta and a few too many mojitos (which is also an option). If you’re looking for a good Italian spot, La Silapa has phenomenal food, and they can make their pastas Gluten Free.
If you’re feeling more local fare, Tamarind has a great selection of vegetarian and vegan options as a healthy take on local cuisine. They also have a great riverside spot where you can eat and enjoy the view. Local hot spot, Utopia has great breakfasts and make for a great hangout spot throughout the day into night as well. Their food is awesome, and the view of the river is great for a warm day.
A Luang Prabang post would not be complete without a nod to their market street where there is food galore. They have this little alleyway that has every type of Asian food imaginable, and market stalls crammed into both sides selling you vegetables, meats and desserts. I fell in love with this spot for their coconut pancakes. They also made coconut waffles, perfect for the vegan/gluten free types that struggle to find options elsewhere. It was here in Luang Prabang where I learned to love to eat. Food had massive amounts of flavor, and places like these allowed you to try a few options in a sitting. Safe to say, we went back here a few times during our stay.
NIGHTLIFE
Utopia has the best nightlife. There is an area close to the bar where you can listen to the music, there is an area for you to sit on the sand, there is spots on the outskirts where you can have more private conversations. This bar has it all. There are also a number of restaurants that have a pub feel that are on the main streets that you can go to.
In Laos, Bars close at 11:30. It’s a little early for those that want to go out (and celebrate being off a boat), so there is a great option that Luang Prabang has to offer, Bowling! Off in the middle of nowhere is a bowling alley where an eager taxi driver will gladly take you after the bar closes. We had an unforgettable time at the bowling alley until close to 1:30 AM, which was when our driver took us back to our hostel for the night.
WHAT TO DO
What is there to do in Luang Prabang? Tons! There are countless hikes, waterfalls, motorbike adventures and places to visit. There are also lovely little cafes and market stalls with woven ware if you want to keep your time there low-key.
If you didn’t take the boat into Laos, there are sunset cruises available and you can get out on the water to watch the sunset, which really is quite beautiful. There is a night markets every evening that you can check out and go shopping at and pick up souvenirs. There are great deals on everything here, whether you need to buy or not. I bought a few pairs of cotton trousers that I wore throughout the rest of my travels here. What you’re likely looking for in this country is flowy, breezy and versatile.
We went to the Kuangsi Falls on our first day there and spent a few hours tours around the many pools, waterfalls and little hike up to the top. It sometimes feels a bit touristy, but it depends on the time of day. I recommend first thing in the morning or last thing to avoid the crowds. We went a little later in the day and ended our trip with a dip in one of the freezing cold pools.
If you aren’t feeling too templed-out from Thailand, Luang Prabang has a beautiful Golden City Temple (Wat Xieng Thong) that is easily accessible and can be combined with a Royal Palace Museum tour for a an explorative day.
Mount Phousi is also an option to visit. A little bit of a trek from Luang Prabang, in a car and on foot, it’s a great place to discover and watch the sunrise or sunset. I found a great guide to Mount Phousi here if you’re interested in learning more from The Common Wanderer. I ended up spending my days exploring the town of Luang Prabang, eating amazing vegan gluten free food and getting to know my travel companions a bit more.
OTHER HELPFUL LAOS TIPS:
I’d recommend places to stay, but Booking.com does a great job at recommending the best places to stay. I recommend staying in the town as it’s very walkable. Our hostel Sunrise Hostel had a great view of the river and it was right beside Utopia, but still relatively quiet.
Renting a motorbike is easy here, it’s about $10 CAD/ $7 USD a day to zip around. The roads aren’t great outside of Luang Prabang, but it’s not the worst I’ve experienced. There isn’t a ton of traffic on the road, so its not a bad place to learn how to ride either.
Getting a SIM card is pretty easy from any road side market looking stall, same is spending a few kip and topping up your data. It’s incredibly cheap here, and 1.5GB can put you back only a couple of dollars. Worth it for the ability to Google Map and find the nearest GF/VG spot for lunch. Also really handy when you are in the middle of nowhere bowling and you need to be able to locate the nearest civilization (aka safety).
The currency is Kip. It’s easy to get out money at ATM’s that seem to be everywhere.
Headed to Luang Prabang? Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!
Love, E