Luang Prabang in Laos is a gorgeous city. There is a lot to see in such a small space. We have created a mini walking tour of Luang Prabang so you can see exactly what we saw on our walk through Luang Prabang.
If you haven't been yet, hopefully this will send you on your way to experience Luang Prabang for yourself!
This walking tour is best started as early as possible in the morning. It gets very warm in Luang Prabang. Bring some water, an umbrella and sunscreen. And comfy shoes.
By the way, all photos in this post were taken with a very smudgy and dirty lens on the iPhone. Enjoy!
Click here if the map / picture thing doesn't load properly
Contents
The base of Chomsy Hill – Wat Phousi
There is nothing like climbing 328 steps to get your heart started first thing in the morning. It is a beautiful climb past gorgeous trees and garden. If you are feeling exhausted by the time you reach the “rest area”, relax and admire all the sporty people who use the stairs as exercise every day. To gain access to the higher parts of Chomsy Hill to view Wat Phousi, expect to pay 20,000 Kip. Totally worth it. Looking over the city is lovely. Luang Prabang is larger than you think.
Even though you can walk down Chomsy Hill on the opposite side of where you come back, return down the hill on the side you came up.
Luang Prabang Royal Palace National Museum
Depending on what time it is when you start this walk, it may be too early for you to visit the Royal Palace Musem. For future reference, to go the museum, which is actually pretty awesome, will cost you 30,000 Kip for entry. It is open between 8:00am and 11:30amopen between 1:30pm and 4:00pm. Bags and umbrellas and cameras are not allowed inside the museum. They provide a locker system for you to store your stuff for free.
Checking out Wats on Sisavangvong Road and Sakkarine Road
The temples along these roads are gorgeous and well looked after. We witnessed novices (boys training to be monks) painting the temples, sweeping and washing floors, and simply caring for their temples beautifully.
Along Sisavangvong Road is where the Luang Prabang's night market is held. Every night of the year. It normally starts around 5pm in the afternoon. Here you can find awesome hand made crafts, beautiful silver jewellery and some of the best ginger / carrot / orange / chocolate cakes you will ever find in Laos.
Wat Xieng Thong – A masterpiece
Donate (or pay) 20,000 Kip each and view the lovely painted temples and buildings in this temple grounds. A lot of the paintings depict farm and real life. Very nice to view.
If you have viewed enough Wats (Temples) for awhile, walk around the peninsular, checking out the river as you do so.
The other side of Chomsy Hill
Enjoy the walk along the other side of Chomsy Hill. The river to your left is the Nam Khan River. This is a lovely walk, Once the weather cools down, particularly in the late afternoon and early evening, this walkway becomes the hangout place for local Lao young adults. Lots of music playing from their phones, talking and giggling. A lovely sight.
Bamboo Bridge
If you are game, you can ride your motorbike across the bamboo bridge to the other side of Luang Prabang. Or you could just walk the bridge if you are not a dare devil.
The Bar Area of Luang Prabang
A little bit further down and you will reach the happening bar area of Luang Prabang. These bars and restaurants provide awesome drink specials every night of the week as well as good food to soak it all up.
Dara Market
The Dara Market is a cool place to shop. You will find bags galore, computer equipment, mobile phones, bicycles, electric bicycles, everything you could need in Luang Prabang. People tend to bypass the Dara Market as the night market of Luang Prabang gives them the shopping fox they need. Visit Dara Market. You may find a cool little bargain.
Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre
Heading back towards Sisavangvong Road on Kitsalat Road, you will see a small sign advertising the “Traditional Arts & Ethnology Museum”. This is well worth the stop. A Museum, Cafe and a shop in one place. The museum, cafe and shop are closed on Mondays but open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm. It costs 20,000 Kip to enter the museum but the cafe and the shop is free to access. Visiting the museum is a must. More about this place in a future post.
Baguettes and Fruit Shakes
Back at the corner of Sisavangvong Road, a number of street stalls will be setting up to sell you a baguette and a fruit shake. Do yourself a favour, sit down, enjoy a freshly blended fruit shake and a freshly made chicken, cheese and salad baguette. You deserve it.
Mekong River
Our last stop on this walking tour of Luang Prabang is the Mekong River via the local street side food market. The bbq meat in Laos is unbelievably tasty and fresh. Whatever meat you want, you can get here. Cooked fresh. Chicken? Beef? Squirrel?
We hope you enjoyed our walking tour of Luang Prabang in Laos. It is such a beautiful city filled with awesome things to see, do and taste… Come visit Laos!
1 thought on “Luang Prabang Walking Tour”