Neighbourhood Tour

The Wats of Luang Prabang

1. Wat Xieng Thong: Built in 1560 by King Setthethirat, this magnificent temple has the classic architecture of Luang Prabang, with ornate roofs that sweep low to the ground. It also has many other buildings including a funeral chapel.

2. Wat Sensoukharam: Wat Sensoukharam is also known as Wat Sen. This temple is located in the Old Quarter area in Luang Prabang. The temple was originally built in 1718 with 100,000 stones from the Mekong River, for that the name in Laotian means “Temple of 100,000 treasures”.

3. Wat Mai: Several large temples are situated around Mount Phou Si’s base. Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham (“New Monastery”), is only a century old and has steep-tiered red roofs with a stunning gold interior.

4. Wat Visoun: Nearby Wat Visoun Narath (or Wisunalat), is also known as Makmo or watermelon, because of its domed roof. Surrounded by trees, it is not the most highly decorated Wat in the city, but its crumbling old stone is beautiful nonetheless.

Sites in Luang Prabang

5. Mount Phou Si: Mount Phou Si, topped with a gold-roofed stupa, is the hill just below the Nam Khan River, next to Sisavangvong Road. It is a great place to start looking around. You will get an amazing view over the city as you set out and many shrines along either of the hill’s two paths. Do not miss 14th century Wat Pra Buddhabaht, with its traditional Buddha footprint grotto, on the way down.

6. National Museum: This Royal Place Museum also known as “Haw Kham” was once Lao’s Royal Palace. It is a house with lot of historical items. Every item tells a story so you will learn quiet a lot about Laos History and Laos Royalty. Built in 1904, it was built for King Sisavangvong and his family during the French colonial era.

7. Night Market: Luang Prabang’s night market is something not to be missed when visiting this charming city. It is an amazing sight and offers the most extensive collection of handicrafts in the country. The market is open daily from 5pm to about 10pm. It is located along Sisavangvong Road from the Royal Palace Museum.

8. Traditional Art and Ethnology Centre: The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is a museum in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. It is the only independent non-profit museum and resource centre in Lao PDR dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of the traditional arts and lifestyles of the country’s many and diverse ethnic groups.

9. OCK POP TOK (Living Crafts Centre): Set in a tropical Mekong garden, it opens doors to learning about Lao textiles and crafts. Bringing alive our concept of East meets West, the LCC is a place where you can meet silk weavers, craft artisans and silkworms, learn about textiles and take classes.

Sites around Luang Prabang

10. Kuang Si Waterfall: Take a leisure tour through the National Park with Black Bear rescue centre towards the Kuang Si Waterfalls by private Tuk Tuk or Mini Van. Enjoy feeling the mist of the cool, turquoise waters of the different waterfalls.

11. Tad Sae Waterfall: The Tad Sae Waterfall is a stepped waterfall with lime deposits, about 15km southeast from Luang Prabang. You can get there by Tuk Tuk or Mini Van. It is an ideal place for a nice picnic or just to enjoy nature.

12. Pak Ou Caves: The Pak Ou Cave in Luang Prabang is a grotto with hundreds of devotional Buddha images inside. It is situated next to the river and can be reached by slow boat or Tuk Tuk. There are a few interesting villages in the area on its way that tourists can visit. Each village has its own special industry. For example making rice wine, making ceramic, weaving or blacksmithing.

13. Elephant Village: Elephant Village is a privately-owned elephant camp and tour destination approved by the Lao government and operated by International specialists and volunteers who focus on protection and rehabilitation of elephants in Lao PDR.

14. Outdoor Adventures Tours: Tiger Trail Outdoor Adventures Laos offers Fair Trek tours, a project with the aim to support remote villages in Laos by generating alternative income, support inter-cultural exchange, education and development.

15. Luang Prabang Fair Trek: Fair Trek is a project set up in 2007 by Tiger Trail Outdoor Adventures in Luang Prabang. The aim of the project is to generate alternative income, support inter-cultural exchange, education and development for the remote villages in Laos.

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