"Laos 2008 - Luang Prabang" Luang Prabang by ytanay

Luang Prabang Travel Guide: 1,005 reviews and 2,508 photos

I was in Laos in 2007 and the people and place so captured me that I had to return. This time the main destination was Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

I had an itinerary planned out prior to leaving, which I'd followed up until the Elephant camp. Every step was carefully planned out because I'd read that there were so many things to see and do. For example, there's the sunset from Mt. Phousi, the night markets, Kuangsi waterfall, Pak Ou caves, Tad Sae waterfalls, the museum. I was to have 5 days in Luang Prabang and I wanted to do it all. The first day was just travelling from Vientiane to LP by bus (10 hours). Second and third days were reserved for the Elephant camp, located 15km outside LP. So that meant I had another 2 days left to see the waterfalls, the caves, the temples and the museum.

Luang Prabang is a place full of tourists and rightly so. Tourists come and go, they're always on the move to see the next place of interest. Locals are found mostly in the shops or at the stalls on the streets. They're gentle, laid back and friendly. Many speak only a few words of English but they smile a lot and they smile even wider if you try to speak a few words of Lao. So, after my experience at the elephant camp, instead of rushing off to see the waterfalls or cave, I decided to stay back in town and just enjoy the local atmosphere. I walked around mostly without a map ( the place is not that big anyway) and it was interesting getting lost. You tend to find and see things that may not be in any guidebooks.

It turned out that I spent my 2 days in LP wondering along the riverbank, meeting locals, crossing the river to another village (i'm not sure if that's listed in any guidebooks because I didn't use one thereafter but I didn't see many tourists. There were only a handful and they didn't come in groups.), visiting random temples and just plain walking around. And because I walked so much, I also went for massages, at least once each day. Sad to say, I didn;t find any good massage place in LP. The best one I've had so far is in Vientiane, across from the Mali Namphu guesthouse.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience. My only gripe is that I'd gone to Tamarind restaurant a day too late and so didn;t have a chance to join their cooking class. I was to leave the next day.

But I shall return.

  • Last visit to Luang Prabang: Jan 2008
  • Intro Written May 22, 2008
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Reviews (11)

Best shakes and crepes in LP! - Luang Prabang Best shakes and crepes in LP! Restaurants (3)

You can find freshly blended fruit shakes al over Laos but the best so far is a liittle stall set up in front of a... more travel advice

Grilled skewered sticky rice - Luang Prabang Grilled sticky rice...yummy! Restaurants (3)

I've read that there are a couple of good restaurants in Luang Prabang, namely L'Elephant, Tam Nak Lao, Indochina... more travel advice

Located across Wat Nong Temple - Luang Prabang Introduction to Lao food Restaurants (3)

Tamarind is run by an Australian lady and her Laotian husband. They offer different set menus which are excellent as an... more travel advice

Bamboo bridge - Luang Prabang Paper making village Things to Do (3)

Take a walk across the bamboo bridge to the paper making village. You have to pay 4000Kip to use the rickety bridge. more travel advice

Travelogues (1)

Comments (4)

  • Reply
    IreneMcKay's Profile Photo
    Jan 26, 2013 at 1:58 AM

    Interesting page. You are the first person I've come across who mentioned he pper making village. Irene

  • Reply
    cachaseiro's Profile Photo
    Sep 8, 2010 at 5:34 AM

    Brilliant tips you put up there. Luang Prabang is an absolutely wonderful place.

  • Reply
    vinc_bilb's Profile Photo
    Feb 27, 2009 at 11:10 PM

    Great pages! I like your ecotourism willingness and your picture with the big gray baby. A 2-day package with elephants (and tigers??) makes me dreaming. Thks for sharing

  • Reply
    chiabh's Profile Photo
    Oct 20, 2008 at 3:18 PM

    hi yvonne... nice write-up on lp... have you been to kuala gandah... ~chia

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