2 Days in Luang Prabang
2 Days in Luang Prabang, Laos
If you’re making a trip to Southeast Asia or Laos, Luang Prabang needs to be on your list of destinations. Because we were initially wary of going out of our way to visit Laos, we did not have much of an agenda or understanding of the unique culture in this country. Luang Prabang reminds me of Southern France (specifically Aix-en-Provence) mixed with a cozy ski village during the summertime.
Accommodations:
Will and I stayed two nights at an adorable and affordable guesthouse, Souk Lab Xang Guesthouse, which was in the heart of the city along the Mekong River, followed by our splurge night at Villa Maly. The staff here was extremely warm and welcoming, and they also offer complimentary bikes as it’s a little further away from the center of town. However, it is a short walk from the Night Market, which is something everyone should experience at least once while visiting Luang Prabang. Both places were delightful, and I’d highly recommend either of these options.
Day 1:
There is no shortage of coffee in Luang Prabang. Every corner is adorned with beautifully designed buildings inspired by French architecture, so grab a cup of coffee and pastry and walk the streets along the river.
Kuang Si Falls should be a top priority of things to do while visiting LP. Grab a round trip tuk tuk, which will take roughly 40-minutes (make sure you don’t get one that wants to fill it with other people as this will take a lot of time). The earlier you get to the falls, the better! We were there when it opened, and we were able to get great photos with no one in the background. There are several levels, so when you think you’ve seen it all, it keeps going. Pro tip: there is a great little hiking trail that goes around the waterfall that takes about 30-minutes. If you are able, definitely do this as it offers great views of the city. After you spend several hours of being in the fresh water and people watching, head back to your tuk tuk, but make sure you stop by the Bear Rescue Centre.
Once you get back to town, grab a bite (see below for our favorite restaurants!) and rest up for your hike up Mount Phousi. There is a small fee upon entrance, but it is worth the view for sunset. After your hike, head to the night market and walk along Sisavangvong Road for some great street food and shopping. You can grab a buffet dinner for only $1 USD. Don’t miss the coconut pancakes, these were by far our favorite street food in Laos.
Day 2:
We started our morning off by observing the Alms Giving Ceremony, which is a sacred ritual that occurs each morning at 5:30am. The tak bat, which is when the monks collect food from the locals, is truly a site to see. Many tourists have begun to not respect this tradition, so to learn more about the dos and don’ts of participating in this tradition, please read this guide.
While our initial plans were to go to the Pak Ou Caves and the Royal Palace Museum, we were pretty exhausted at this point in our trip. These two items are definitely worth looking into. We ended up using the free bikes from Villa Maly, took it around town, laid out by the pool, and tried the Lao food. Nonetheless, two full days is the perfect amount of time to spend in this beautiful city, and I long to get back to this peaceful, slow city.
Food Recommendations:
Breakfast:
Le Banneton: For a delicious French inspired breakfast, grab an almond croissant and coffee after experiencing the Alms Giving Ceremony.
Saffron Coffee: There are several locations offering food and coffee all day.
Lunch:
Big Tree Café: They have an adorable patio and art gallery upstairs. Go for happy hour and fresh spring rolls.
Coconut Garden: We were told to go here by a local as the original owners were the chef for the royal family. The tradition has continued and is still run by the family. Be sure to get a table in the back garden area, and come with an empty stomach!
Xiang Thong Noodle Shop: This was one of our favorite meals on our trip. Xiang Thong opens early and runs out early, so be sure to go early morning/afternoon! We never frequent restaurants twice while traveling, but we did for the delicious rice noodles with pork!
Dinner:
Tamarind: We had read a lot about Tamarind and every time we passed by, it was packed. For an authentic Lao meal, go here and order a set menu where the kind staff will explain each dish and how to eat it. This is on the pricier side compared to most meals here, but it was worth it. Make reservations in advance.
Tangor: For great people watching and a change from the traditional Asian dishes, go here! We ate amazing fresh fish on the front patio and had some great cocktails.
Bars:
Utopia: To see a glimpse of what the wilder days looked like in Laos, Utopia preserves a very laidback atmosphere where you sit on pillows overlooking the river. They have great food and drink specials (and people watching!). Their saying is PDR, meaning ‘please don’t rush.’
Icon Klub: We were so upset as Icon Klub was closed due to it being the slow season, but this bar came highly recommended. If you go, let me know how it is!
Our favorite guide book for traveling to Southeast Asia - shop here:
Read more about other detailed itineraries here. Please feel free to send me any questions, or if you’ve been, let me know what you did!
Until next time,
To see what inspired CoCo Zentner to create a series around her travels to South East Asia, visit her Pinterest Page here or check-out her Instagram page at @cocozentner_art to stay up to speed with what inspires her.