Luang Prabang One-Day Itinerary
Nestled between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers is Luang Prabang, a charming province in northern Laos. This UNESCO World Heritage town is loaded with history, temples, nature, and colonial-esque architecture. Although you can easily spend 2-3 days here, I have created a one-day Luang Prabang itinerary for those who are short on time. This itinerary fits in all of the major things to do, making it a busy but incredible day.
Find an in-depth Laos travel guide here that includes tips and tricks for traveling around the country.
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Luang Prabang Itinerary
In the Morning…
5:00 AM: Chug a Coffee & Head to the Morning Market
The morning market next to the Royal Palace takes place from 5:00 to 10:00 in the morning, selling mostly fresh produce, dried fruits, nuts, etc. The market's early hours make it the perfect place to grab some items as an Alms Giving offering before heading to the ceremony itself.
5:30 AM: The Alms Giving Ceremony
Located in the old city center, this spiritual practice involves orange-robed monks walking the streets in a silent, single file, gathering offerings from the community (sticky rice, fruit, and other traditional foods) as a form of respect, blessings, and gratitude. After the collection of alms, the monks return to their temples with the offerings. The ceremony lasts around 1 hour.
Respectful Tips:
The ceremony takes place at 5:30/6:30 (Summer/Winter) in the morning, so be sure to get there early! This itinerary is set for summer hours. If you are here during winter, you can start your itinerary one hour later!
It is in complete silence and is a spiritual event, so be sure to remain silent and dress appropriately (knees covered, shoulders covered, mid-sections covered, and hair tied back). Silence your phone and other electronics that might make small noises as well.
Once you find a spot, remove your shoes and kneel among the other people paying respect to the monks. Women need to keep their heads low to the monks to show respect. Eye contact and touching are forbidden.
Bring donations so you can partake in the event and place them directly in the monk’s wooden baskets yourself. The morning market provides plenty of options for donations.
If you want to capture photos, keep some distance from the procession and turn off your flash. Do not follow the procession as you capture photos.
Post Ceremony: Breakfast and Kuang Si Waterfall
Since you will leave the Alms Giving Ceremony from the historical city center, I suggest heading to Saffron Coffee for breakfast. They open at 6:30 AM and offer excellent pastries, breakfast items, and coffee to keep you going.
Once finished, hop on your motorbike or hire a taxi and start your 40-minute drive to Kuang Si Waterfalls. These beautiful, turquoise falls open at 8:00 AM for swimming, hiking, rope swinging, and other activities. It costs around 20,000 Kip to enter, and food and drink options are available for purchase at the entrance. These falls can get extremely crowded with tours, so heading here right at 8:00 AM is ideal. If you prefer a less touristy option but still want to see a waterfall, I suggest heading to Tad Sae Waterfalls instead.
Plan to spend around 3-4 hours between travel time and exploring the falls.
In the afternoon…
Explore the Royal Palace Museum & Temples:
Temples: There are over 30 temples to explore in Luang Prabang. With limited time, I suggest checking out the oldest temple, Wat Xieng Thong. This temple is open between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Admission is 20,000 Kip per person.
Royal Palace Museum: The next stop is a great way to learn about the history of Laos. The Royal Palace Museum has three main sections: the palace itself, which contains the main museum exhibits; the temple; and the “garage,” which contains means of transportation for the Royal Family. I spent around 1-2 hours reading and exploring the grounds.
Price to Enter: 30,000 kip
Hours of Operation: 8:00-11:30 and 1:30 - 4:00
Closed on Some Holidays and Tuesdays
Dress Modestly. Shoes must be removed before entering and bags must be kept in a locked locker area.
No photography allowed. I saw one man attempt to take photos of some of the vehicles and the guard stormed angrily over to him, yelled at him, and took his phone / went through his photos to delete them entirely.
an Early Dinner & Sunset Hike
Yuni Yupoun
You have quite a few options for dinner located near The Royal Palace and your next stop, Mount Phousi. It makes the most sense to stay local to this area to save time walking around. Here are some options I recommend:
Bouang Asian Eatery: Vegan, Asian-French Fusion
Dyen Sabai Restaurant: Beautiful outdoor seating with vegan options
Note: Do not follow maps on this one. There is a quick 1-minute ferry ride located here for 10,000 Kip per person that gives you a credit towards the restaurant.
Yuni Yupoun: The sister restaurant to Dyen Sabai, incredibly fresh vegan dinner options
After dinner, it is time to head to your sunset spot. Being another picturesque Laos town, a Luang Prabang sunset is an experience you cannot miss.
Mount Phousi is a temple that sits on a hill 100 m over the historic city center. Being bordered by a river on either side makes it the ideal place to take in the sunset from all sides of the hill. This spot can get quite crowded so be sure to get there early leaving plenty of time to explore and find a spot for the sunset.
The fee to go up the 300 steps to the top is 20,000 Kip. There are two ways to ascend: one on the side in front of the Grand Palace and the other on the side facing the Nam Khan River. For those short on time, I recommend going up the side by the Grand Palace (the museum you explored earlier).
Note: This is a spiritual temple so be sure to cover shoulders, knees, midsections, etc.
In the Evening…
Head to the Night Market:
If you are not too exhausted from the busy day, you can head to the Night Market post-sunset. The night market lights up the entire Sisavangvong road with tents filled with vendors selling jewelry, textiles, carvings, clothing, knick-knacks, fresh baked goods, crepes, etc. It opens from 5:00 - 11:00 at night leaving you plenty of time to explore before heading to bed.
PHEW! That was a jam-packed day so make sure to get to bed early before you continue your adventure the next day!
Have a Second Day or additional ½ Day?
Experience Authentic Handicraft
Want to get in touch with your creative side whilst experiencing a native handicraft? Head to Laos Pottery House, a local family-owned business where you can experience a village tour, a pottery class, and even a delicious local meal depending on which option you book. This tour must be pre-booked.
I did the 1-hour pottery workshop which included a short tour, pottery making, tea, and bananas. I got to take some pottery home as well. The price for this 1-hour tour is 15 USD per person.
How to get there…
Take the 5-minute public ferry boat ride to cross the Mekong River. The boat ride costs 20,000 Kip per person. Vehicles are allowed on the ferry as well for an additional fee. Once on the other side of the river, you can either walk 45 minutes to the pottery town, hire a taxi, or bring your motorbike rental and ride the 6 minutes there.
I chose to walk there (I was with my boyfriend). The walk was essentially down one road with trees on one side and local farms on the other. I felt safe the entire way with a few motorcycles passing me on the way down. On the way back, I chose to take a boat down the river arranged by the pottery house. The cost was around $3-5— be sure to bring cash.
Pssst… check out the little pup who greeted us when we arrive to the pottery village.
Experience the Orange Robe Tour
This is an incredible opportunity to sit with former novices and monks to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of Buddhist monk life and to ask all of those burning questions privately and respectfully. I asked every question you could possibly imagine.
Following, the monk will give you a tour of a local temple and offer you an opportunity to experience the different levels of meditation. The tour can last 1-2 hours depending on which you book and is around $20-30.
General Information: Luang Prabang
Where to Stay:
Luang Prabang: If you plan on walking everywhere I recommend staying in or near the historic district. There are some lovely options available along the Nam Khan River as well. Being short on time, the closer you are to the historical center, the better.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler:
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: Chitlatda Bila House
Best Low-Budget: Luang Prabang Villa Sirikili River View
Best Mid-Budget: Chaluenxay Boutique Hotel
Best Luxury: 3 Nagas Luang Prabang - MGallery Hotel Collection
Best Time to Visit:
November - March. March and April are usually the burning season which can cause smokey air and drier vegetation. May to October is the rainy season.
How to Get to LP:
Flying: You can fly right into Luang Prabang International Airport, located around 4 km from the historical city center of LP.
Train: Already in Laos? The Laos-China railway is an excellent option for simple travel throughout Laos. From Vang Vieng, the train is an easy 1 hour or so ride. For more information on schedules and pricing click here!
Other Options: Taxi, Shared Van, or Bus. From Vang Vieng, a taxi takes around 4-5 hours to Luang Prabang without stopping.
Slow Boat: (Chiang Mai/Rai to Luang Prabang) The slow boat trip takes around 3 days and docks in Luang Prabang. You travel by boat for 12+ hours each day and make two overnight stops in Huay Xai, Chiang Khong, or Pak Beng. I have not done this myself.
How to Get Around in LP:
As mentioned Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Site, making it completely walkable and free from trucks, buses, etc. If you plan to stay within the city center you do not need to rent any transportation. However, if you intend to explore further, below is some information for you.
Bicycle: Not going too far? Bicycles are a great option as well for those looking for a cheaper, more active lifestyle while traveling. Many hostels and accommodations offer bicycles for a cheaper price than rental places and some even do it for free with your stay!
Motorbikes: Unlike Vang Vieng, most roads around Luang Prabang are quite safe and well-maintained for drivers. There are loads of rental shops in the town. Your accommodation may even have some for rent as well. Expect to pay around $5-6 USD per day (around 120,000-150,000 kip).
Tuk-Tuk: Using a taxi to get around is always an option in Southeast Asia, but they can be quite expensive. If you prefer this option, I would recommend picking one driver and paying them for the day. I have never used a tuk-tuk or taxi during any of my travels in Southeast Asia.
Vegan Food Options:
Saffron Coffee (Vegetarian-Friendly Coffee House)
Bouang Asian Eatery (Vegan, Asian-French Fusion)
Formula B (Baked Goods and Funky Drinks)
Le Banneton Café (French Bakery)
Two Little Birds Cafe (Vegan Breakfast)
Bamboo Garden Restaurant (AMAZING Local Food)
Dyen Sabai Restaurant (Beautiful Outdoor Seating with Vegan Options)
Yuni Yupoun (Sister Restaurant to Dyen Sabai, incredibly fresh vegan dinner options)
