Holidays To Luang Prabang

Holidays in Luang Prabang situate you in the crown jewel of Laos. This former royal capital, with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop, retains a unique charm that’s becoming all too rare in Southeast Asia.

Magical and charming, Luang Prabang has preserved its long-standing reputation as a stronghold of Laotian culture. The entire city of Luang Prabang became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. The city is home to more than 30 Buddhist temples, including some of the most beautiful in the country. Among them is the stunning 16th century Wat Xieng Thong. This perfectly preserved structure is covered in gold and situated in lavish gardens tended by Buddhist monks. As evening falls, walk down to the riverside and lose yourself in the night market, where you can pick up souvenirs and eat your fill of sticky rice.

Luang Prabang holidays: explore a magical city

The morning alms ceremony (known as tak bat) has taken place for centuries. Each day the city’s monks walk down to the centre to receive an offering of food from the residents. Buddhist monks from different temples each take a different route, so you’ll see this exchange wherever you stay. It’s a moving gesture that shows the connection between the monks and ordinary people.

For the perfect day trip head out to the Kuang Si Falls, which are less than an hours’ drive out of Luang Prabang. In a forest glade a stunning waterfall tumbles into a series of limestone pools. If you’re feeling limber you can leap from the rocks, swim or simply sit in quiet reflection and listen to the roar of the waters. A sunset cruise along the Mekong River is an unmissable way to end your evening in Luang Prabang. Aboard a traditional boat you can sip a drink as the sun falls below the mountains and the calls of tropical birds echo in the forests around.