Luang Prabang is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage town nestled along the Mekong River. We spent three days and four nights exploring and thoroughly enjoyed everything it had to offer. Here’s how we spent our time.
Day 1: UXO Museum and Sunset River Cruise
On our first morning in Luang Prabang, we visited the UXO (unexploded ordnance) museum. UXOs are unexploded weapons, like bombs, grenades, and mines. It was shocking to learn that Laos is the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world, with 260 million bombs dropped by the US during the Vietnam War—equivalent to one bomb every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, for nine years.
The museum offers an eye-opening look at how and why Laos was bombed so extensively, as well as the devastating, ongoing impact these bombs have on local communities. It’s estimated that 80 million unexploded bombs remain hidden across the country, making Laos one of the most contaminated places in the world. This issue continues to hinder poverty reduction and development efforts.
Inside the museum, we watched several interesting documentaries and took our time reading the exhibits. It was a relaxed yet informative way to spend the morning, and I came away with a deeper understanding of the country’s history.
After a morning at the museum, we headed to Coffee Express. This was one of the best coffee shops I’ve ever been to. The almond croissants here are unbeatable and they have a lovely garden area overlooking a small pond. Luang Prabang is full of cafés and bakeries selling fresh pastries, reflecting its history as a French colony from 1893 to 1953, so I’d definitely recommend trying some pastries whilst you’re here.
In the evening, we joined our roommates for a sunset cruise on the Mekong River. We booked with SaSas for just £8, which included a free drink and spring rolls. They even let us bring takeaway food, so we enjoyed our dinner while cruising along the river—a perfect end to our first day.
Day 2: Chompet District Trail (Optional: Sunset at Mount Phousi)
On our second day, we hopped on the public ferry for a two-minute ride across the river to Chompet District. This area is a significantly quieter than Luang Prabang and feels really off-the-beaten-track. Just a few minutes from where the ferry drops you off, there is a beautiful forest trail you can follow which takes you through local villages and 8 different temples. It’s definitely worth spending half a day here, enjoying the peace and quiet—a welcome break from the bustling city.
The ferry costs just 10,000 kip (about 36p) each way—be sure to take the public ferry rather than a private boat to avoid inflated prices. The ferry runs frequently, so you won’t have to wait long and it only takes a few minutes to reach the other side.
The trail itself costs 20,000 kip per person and includes access to eight temples. Many of them are quite old and unkempt, but this only adds to their charm. The loop takes a couple of hours to complete, including stops, and is well signposted.
After a couple of hours enjoying the trail, we took the ferry back to Luang Prabang and had lunch at Bamboo Garden Restaurant. We ate here every day because the food was just that good!
If you’re up for it, you could climb Mount Phousi in the afternoon- apparently it’s a great spot to watch the sunset. Unfortunately, we were so tired from our travels that we spent the afternoon relaxing on the terrace at our hostel instead.
In the evening, we wandered through the night market and treated ourselves to a delicious French pastry from one of the stalls.
Day 3: Kuang Si Waterfall, Bear Rescue, and Hidden Cave
On our final day, we ventured to Kuang Si Waterfall, about an hour from Luang Prabang. You can get there by tuk-tuk, tour guide, or moped, and the entrance fee is 60,000 kip per person. I’d recommend going as early as possible (the park opens at 8am) to avoid the large crowds and have the swimming pools to yourself!
When you arrive, you’ll be taken in a golf buggy to the start of a short forest trail leading to the waterfall. The trail passes through the Free the Bears rescue center, a government initiative to protect bears from the illegal wildlife trade. It’s a purely observational sanctuary, so you can watch the bears play, eat, and nap in their natural habitat as you walk towards the waterfall.
After around 5-10 minutes, you’ll arrive at the waterfalls where there are several pools for swimming. We had a refreshing swim in the main pool—even though the water was freezing, it was worth it.
After a relaxing swim, we climbed the 500 steps to the top of the waterfall. Here there is a café which offers incredible panoramic views, plus they have really comfortable sofas and egg chairs – great after all those steps. It does charge 30,000 kip entry but this includes a soft drink and it’s so quiet up there that it felt worth it.
Nearby the café, we discovered a 3km trail leading to a beautiful quiet spot by the river and a large cave. You’ll see it signposted if you walk behind the café towards the top of the waterfall. The quiet walk through the forest feels like a hidden gem as we didn’t see anyone else along the way. At the end of the trail, we found the tranquil Spring Restaurant by the river. We enjoyed a peaceful lunch relaxing by the river before continuing to the cave.
Just around the corner from the café is a large cave, which costs only 15,000 kip to explore. The entry fee includes head torches and a free banana. The cave was eerily silent and dark (until a pair of backpackers jumped out at us—luckily I was wearing my brown shorts that day…) Everywhere we shone our torches, we spotted hidden Buddha statues in the rocks. It was such a unique and fun experience, especially since it felt so off the beaten track.
We took a different route back, crossing the river via a small bridge by the café. This path, which runs along the river, was equally scenic and quiet.
Our day at Kuang Si Waterfall was a highlight of our trip to Laos, and our time in Luang Prabang as a whole was brilliant.
