What to see in Luang Prabang: best 4 temples and activities

The city of Luang Prabang is located in northern Laos. It is situated between the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River, is surrounded by mountains and is full of beautiful temples that are worth visiting. In terms of population, it is the third largest city in Laos, after Vientiane and Savannakhet. In 1995 UNESCO named Luang Prabang as the first World Heritage Site in Laos.

This city surprises you with its tranquility, its temples and its people. The Pearl of the Orient, according to the Lonely Planet, is one of those cities that you have to visit if you go on a trip to Laos and that you can even change your travel plans to stay a few days longer. In this post I make you a list of what to do and what to see in Luang Prabang, let’s get started!

What to do and what to see in Luang Prabang:

1. Visiting the best temples of Luang Prabang:

With more than 50 temples, Luang Prabang is the main religious and spiritual center of the country. There are of all colors: old, newer, on top of the mountain, next to the river, huge temples, smaller temples where you can talk with the monks, etc..

Here is a list of the best temples to see in Luang Prabang.

Wat That Chomsi Temple

Wat That Chomsi is located in the heart of the city, next to the night market, atop Mount Phou Si. It’s a perfect spot to watch the sunset over Luang Prabang and enjoy the views, though be prepared to climb stairs.

The viewpoint can get crowded, but the panoramic views, both during the day and at sunset, are well worth it. Entrance is free.

Van Xieng Thong Temple

The beautiful Van Xieng Thong, built in 1559, is the most famous in the city and one of the most important temples in all of Laos. It is a place of worship for monks, a sanctuary for Buddhist relics, a space for the celebration of religious rites and a sample of traditional architecture.

Vang Xieng Thong Temple was the place where the kings of Laos were crowned until 1975 when the monarchy was overthrown. It is in the center of the city, so it is usually quite crowded. Still, for its beauty, it is worth it. The entrance costs 2 euros. Ideal for photographers.

Wat Wisurant Temple

Wat Wisurant is the oldest temple in Luang Prabang, dates back to 1513. It is characterized by its rounded stupa and a different style from other temples in the city.

It is located in a quiet park where one can relax for a while and enjoy watching the ceremonies of the Buddhist monks. Free admission.

Haw Pha Bang Temple

Haw Pha Bang, was started in 1963 and finished in 1990. It is adorned with a beautiful exterior and inside there is a golden Buddha. It is next to the night market and the Wat That Chomsi temple. The entrance fee is only 1 euro.

Also, as I mentioned before, do not hesitate to visit the smaller and unknown temples, where there are almost no tourists. There you will be calmer and you will be able to have a good chat with the monks living a unique experience.

2. Doing Yoga in Luang Prabang

We enjoyed our days in Luang Prabang so much also thanks to the fact that we found a place near the river where we could practice yoga. The classes were free (with voluntary donation) and organized by the Utopia Bar. Surely, if you go and ask, they still do yoga classes since it is a place with quite a few expats living in Luang Prabang or tourists who stop for a few days and can make some money during their trip through Asia.

We were doing Yoga on a platform overlooking the Mekong River, so the place was ideal to connect even more to that spirituality that permeates throughout Luang Prabang. Besides connecting with the place, it’s a great activity to meet people and socialize a bit during your Laos trip.

3. Nightlife: Utopia Bar and Bowling

Although it is a very quiet town, its also gets quite lively at night. The Utopia Bar, at night, was transformed into a chillout bar full of tourists, where you could also play beach volleyball, as there was a huge sand court. Spectacular!

We liked to go there for a drink, but we were soon encouraged and ended up in a famous bowling (Luang Prabang Bowling Ally), where many foreign tourists and expatriates follow the party. We also took the opportunity to go to a Laotian disco on the outskirts and it was a pleasant surprise.

4. Walking around the Night Market

Apart from the temples, at night, the Night Market is held in the center of the city. It’s definitely the best night market I’ve seen so far, and there are many… 

In the night market, you can find mostly Laotian style clothes and very original and curious decorations. There are also local delicious dishes. We found in an alley a curious buffet; for one euro you could eat anything you could put on your plate. ¡Amazing!

Next Destination: From Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng

Another place that is usually visited in Luang Prabang are the Kuang Si Waterfalls. They are on the outskirts of the city, about 30km away. We did not visit them because of the dry season, but if you go in monsoon season, it is certainly worth a visit.

So far, I only have good words to describe the people of this country. Always polite, kind and treating us with a lot of sympathy. When we used up our days in the pearl of the east we went to Vang Vieng, a city famous for its caves and the tubing festival.

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