3 Days In Luang Prabang Itinerary: ULTIMATE Guide

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

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How Many Days To Spend In Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a beautiful city with plenty of things to do. It’s a highlight of Laos for many visitors. You won’t want to leave this spot with any regrets!

Depending on how long you plan to backpack Laos, whether that be one week or one month, it is best to spend a minimum of three days in Luang Prabang.

This will give you enough time to see the impressive waterfalls, explore the temples, admire the township, and relax in one of Southeast Asia’s quaintest spots.

Personally, I have spent a mixture of time in this city, from 3 nights on my first visit, which honestly left me craving more, to 1 week on my most recent trip. This spot is a great base if you work online or are just looking to slow down your travels a bit.

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Day One: Temples & Markets

On your first day, you will explore some of the most popular temples, getting a good overview of the city and its surroundings.

In the evening, check out the popular Luang Prabang Night Market for street food and souvenir shopping.

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Morning- Temple Hopping

There is no better way to start your time in Luang Prabang than by exploring the many temples. Before setting off, make sure to grab yourself a delicious breakfast.

Personally, I found it rather difficult to find an affordable breakfast spot, though our favorite quickly became Joma Bakery Cafe.

Now you are fueled for the daytime to check out some of the best temples:

The impressive Wat Pa Phai is a great temple to visit. It has a gold and red wooden fresco depicting life here in the 1800s. This temple is a little bit forgotten by tourists, so there will not be many other people there, but it is worth checking out.

Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham is another awesome temple to check out. It is the largest temple here you can explore and is extremely grand. The interior and exterior are covered with black and red lacquer with gold leaf.

The Royal Palace is next, though it is more of a museum than a temple. Here, you can see religious objects, weapons, statues, screens, paintings, and even Laos’s crown jewels.

Situated slightly outside of the main town, though within walking distance, Wat Xieng Thong is one of my personal favorites. This is the most historically significant temple in the city and one of the highest symbols of Buddhism in Laos.

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Afternoon- Pak Ou Caves

You can either take a tuk-tuk back to the center of town or walk and grab lunch. If walking, good recommendations are The Belle Rive Terrace if you’re craving Asian or Popolo for Italian.

I think the Pak Ou Caves is one of the best trips from Luang Prabang. It allows you to see this important historic and sacred site and experience life from the water.

You can either organize your trip to Pak Ou Caves in advance from a tour agency or just turn up at the main dock opposite Saffron Coffee.

If you aren’t traveling solo, you might prefer to charter your own boat which will cost you around $25.00 / 500,000 LAK. However, be aware that you will need to bargain hard for a decent price.

Joining a shared boat at the dock (though these leave early morning) will cost around $7.50 / 140,000 LAK. The entry to the cave is not included either and will be an extra $3.00 / 60,000 LAK.

Visiting Pok Ou caves in the afternoon will allow you to escape the crowds and truly appreciate the beauty. The lower cave is full of Buddhas and has gorgeous views out to the Mekong River, while the upper cave is a literal cave (bring your phone light) with Buddhas as well.

To the upper cave, you will need to climb a couple of hundred steps, so wear comfortable shoes. The journey will also take around 4 hours in total.

Check out my 2 weeks in Laos Itinerary!

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Evening – Night Market

Bet you have worked up an appetite after all those stairs at Pak Ou Caves.

No worries, after you’ve headed back to your accommodation, got cleaned up, and are no longer sweat-drenched it’s time for dinner with a visit to the Luang Prabang Night Market.

Just head towards the Royal Palace, and you will find the roads transformed, now covered in gazebos with goods lined up.

Of course, the night market is my favorite spot to eat here, so I had to include it! This is a budget traveler’s dream, with meals setting you back just a couple of dollars.

Whether you are craving a sweet treat, delicious noodles, sticky rice, or a simple baguette, you can get it all here.

A popular option and one of my favorites is the vegetarian buffets you can find down the side alleys. Just keep an eye out for the big signs.

After dinner, it’s the perfect time for some souvenir shopping!

There are so many different things being sold, including toys, jewelry, clothing, and more. Honestly, it can get a little repetitive, but you will undoubtedly find something to bring home.

Just be aware that you will need to barter for decent prices.

Now, time to get a little bit of rest before an adventurous day tomorrow.

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

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Day 2: Kuang Si Falls & Mount Phousi

Get ready for a day of adventure. We venture to some of the most popular things to do in Luang Prabang, Kuang Si Falls, and Mount Phousi.

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Morning- Kuang Si Falls

You can start the morning as early or as late as you like, as today’s main activity will be visiting Kuang Si Falls. Just make sure to have a good breakfast before you depart, as you will need the energy.

If you want to try somewhere new, check out Saffron Coffee for a delicious bite of mango and coconut French toast.

These days, the main way to get to Kuang Si Falls is by going on an organized tour. These can be pre-booked through basically any accommodation or travel agency.

You can also book some full day options available online.

For example, the Cruise to Pak Ou Caves & Kuang Si Waterfalls tour has an average 4.8 star rating. On this tour, you will visit Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls on a boat.

The price is $48.00 per person, including lunch, entrance fees, transport, and water. You can book on GetYourGuide or Viator (slightly cheaper).

On arrival at Kuang Si Falls, you will first pass a bear sanctuary. These bears have been saved from people using them for medical reasons and now call this place home.

After that, you will reach the lower pools, which are perfect for swimming. There is also a changing room available here.

Further up the path, you will find the magnificent main waterfall of Kuang Si Falls, which is quite a sight.

There are plenty of viewpoints from which to appreciate the beauty, and there is even a path to the top.

Be aware it is quite steep, and in my opinion, there is nothing overly special at the top, so if you’re limited on time, just give the climb a miss.

Visiting Kuang Si Falls In Luang Prabang Laos: The Most Incredible Waterfalls!

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Afternoon- Relax And Shop

You can choose to have lunch at the food vendors near Kuang Si Falls or back in the city. However, it is likely you will not have enough time at the falls, so waiting will be your best bet.

An excellent option to eat in Luang Prabang is called Khaiphaen. This restaurant provides training opportunities for locals wanting to enter the hospitality industry.

Afterward, I highly recommend checking out some of the shopping around Luang Prabang.

There are some excellent social enterprises in the town center so your money will help the community. An extremely popular option is Ock Pop Tok, which specializes in textile goods.

Make sure to relax by popping into one of the many spas that line the streets and splurge on a massage.

Massage prices in Luang Prabang are among some of the cheapest I have seen in Southeast Asia, so there is no excuse!

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Late Afternoon- Mount Phousi

Mount Phousi is undoubtedly one of the best spots to watch the sunset, so you will want to head up at least an hour before it sets. Because of its popularity, you should head up a bit earlier for a good spot.

There is an entry fee of $1.50 / 30,000 LAK, which you will need to pay at a booth about halfway up.

The climb consists of over 300 stairs, and there are two access points on each side of the mountain.

Apart from the impressive view at the top, there is also a temple called Wat Chom Si. If you are not a fan of crowds you can always visit Mount Phousi for sunrise while most are still sleeping.

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Evening- Utopia and Bowling

After your climb down make your way to dinner with a view at Viewpoint Cafe. Located on the banks of the Nam Kham River, this is the perfect place to spend an evening.

Grab a Lao beer and a meal while taking in the beautiful sights.

If you want a bit more of a late night, you can finish the evening at the main party place in Luang Prabang and go bowling.

Well, this is exactly how it sounds, a bowling alley, basically in the middle of nowhere, providing a party sanctuary when the midnight curfew has begun.

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

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Day 3: Discover Local Culture

On the third and final day, it’s time to discover the local culture of this gorgeous town.

Start the day early with the giving of alms, in the afternoon participate in activities that will take you out to a local village, and in the evening watch a unique storytelling performance.

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Morning- Giving Of Alms And Morning Market

The Giving of Alms is a controversial subject in Luang Prabang, especially with tourists getting involved.

You will now see signs along the streets stating the do’s and don’ts during the morning ritual. Please be an informed tourist by respecting the monks and this religious practice.

Even though I say you should check out the Giving of Alms experience, please do not partake in it.

I recently traveled around Laos with an ex-monk turned tour guide who now calls Luang Prabang home. He advised me that only Buddhists should partake in the ceremony.

Each morning, at sunrise, the monks walk down the streets while the locals kneel and offer alms, usually in the form of food.

Tourists watching this practice are fine, though they do not respect it. Many people will use flash photography, get right up in the monk’s face, and try to take ‘selfies’.

This is obviously inappropriate behavior which resulted in negative connotations with tourists participating in the ceremony.

Instead, stand on the other side of the street, give the locals and monks space, and respect this practice. Turn your camera’s shutter off and be as silent as possible.

You can also head off the main street and into a more local area for a more authentic experience.

After the Giving of Alms, head to the impressive Morning Market held in the town center. This is the perfect place to watch the locals begin their day and indulge in a traditional breakfast.

If this does not sound like your thing, then why not try Le Bistro Ban Vat Sene? This is a popular breakfast spot for tourists and ex-pats. They offer a mixture of Lao and Western cuisine to suit any pallet, as well as set menus.

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Daytime- Experience Local Life

On your last day, I recommend doing an activity that will give you some insight into life here in Laos. Now, depending on your interests, I will let you decide what best suits you.

Rice Farming Experience: I chose this on my recent trip to Laos. We booked this half-day trip, and it was interesting. We did all the steps involved in the rice process, from planting, transplanting, drying, cooking, and finally, tasting. The tour included many snacks and even some rice wine at the end. Oh, plus, we got to plow with a water buffalo!

Cooking Class: I think the perfect way to finish exploring a destination is through a cooking class. I really wanted to do one for vegetarians in Luang Prabang, where it would be a real local experience. Not only are you cooking Laos food, but you are also using traditional cooking and preparing techniques to create the dishes, such as cooking straight over fire.

Chompet: If you don’t like tours or guided experiences, then definitely make the trip to explore Chompet on your own. This small rustic village is perfect for anyone wanting to get slightly off the beaten track and explore away from the typical tourist hotspots in the city center.

The best option to get to Chompet from Luang Prabang is to take the ferry from the unofficial pier called the cross-river ferry port on Google Maps. The ferry, which is just a simple local fishing boat, costs $0.20/5,000 LAK.

Once in Chompet, it’s best to walk around and explore at your own pace. The only really must-do thing here is to see Wat Chompet on the hill.

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Evening- Garavek Storytelling

Finish off your Luang Prabang itinerary by heading to Garavek Storytelling for a unique performance.

It does not officially begin until 6.30 pm, but it is best to purchase tickets when they first go on sale at 6.00 pm so you can reserve a seat by leaving something on it.

Next, simply head across the road to purchase drinks before it starts.

Prepare for an intimate performance of Lao folklore during Garavek. The hour-long show features an older gentleman playing an instrument called a khene while a younger man tells stories.

It is a truly unique experience, and with only 30 seats, it makes for a special evening.

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Luang Prabang Travel Tips

Now that you know what exactly to do here, let’s get into some helpful hints and travel tips you may want to know.

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Where To Stay In Luang Prabang

There are plenty of great places to stay in Luang Prabang, including 5-star resorts, awesome hostels, and guesthouses.

When I recently visited, we stayed on the cutest sidestreet just minutes from the town center and steps from the Mekong River.

It was an excellent spot to base yourself, and you can also find some budget guesthouses and nicer hotels here.

One of these is Villa Pumalin, which has a lovely indoor pool and wooden rooms starting from $30.00 per night.

In terms of hostels, I absolutely love staying at La Casa Hostel here in Luang Prabang. They have massive but comfortable dorm rooms with just a small number of beds, and they’re all decked out in traditional Laotian decor. You also get free breakfast and water included in the price!

La Casa Hostel A chill hostel with friendly staff. Dorms start from $6.50 per night inclyding breakfast. BOOK NOW	Barn Laos Luangprabang Hostel More of a luxe hostel with great facilities. Dorms start from $10.00 per night including breakfast. BOOK NOW
Villa Vieng Sa Vanh Hotel A great location and with rooms starting from $45.00 per night including breakfast. BOOK NOW	Villa Pumalin A walk from the city attractions, starting from $26.00 per night with breakfast. BOOK NOW

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Traveling To Vang Vieng From Luang Prabang

There is now a train that can easily take you between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng in an hour, the most difficult part is actually buying tickets. Luckily, you can easily pre-book online at 12.Go Asia.

This means you no longer have to travel on a bus or shared shuttle, which takes AT LEAST 5 hours and even longer on a bus.

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FAQs About The Ultimate Luang Prabang Itinerary

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Wrap Up: Best Way To Spend 3 Days In Luang Prabang

So now you know exactly how to spend your time in Luang Prabang it’s time to book that trip to Laos.

You will no doubt have a truly unforgettable experience.

From exploring the ancient temples and bustling night markets to the local culture. Get ready to embrace the city and have an incredible time doing so!

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Any Questions? Let Me Know In The Comments!

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