Last updated on July 26th, 2023 at 02:49 pm
Luang Prabang is a charming city in northern Laos that is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and relaxed atmosphere. Laos is a true gem and is often over-looked by those travelling south-east Asia. If you are planning a trip here, read on to find out how to spend 2 days in Luang Prabang…
Go To:
- How to get to Luang Prabang?
- Where to eat in Luang Prabang?
- Where to stay in Luang Prabang?
- Day 1 in Luang Prabang
- Day 2 in Luang Prabang
These recent blogs may be helpful for you on your travels around Asia, have a read:
How to get to Luang Prabang?
There are a few ways to get to Luang Prabang, Laos. The most common ways are:
- By plane: There are direct flights from Bangkok, Hanoi, and Siem Reap to Luang Prabang.
- By bus: There are overnight buses from Vientiane (the capital of Laos), Huay Xai (town in Laos at the border near Northern Thailand) and Hanoi (Northern Vietnam). Watch my recent video on how to get the over-night bus from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang.
- By boat: You can also take a slow boat from Huay Xai, a town on the Mekong River, to Luang Prabang. This is a common way for backpackers to get to Luang Prabang. It takes 2 days, stopping for a night in Pak Beng half way.
- By train: If you are coming from Vang Vieng or Vientiene, you can get a train which is a fast and comfortable way to travel. The LCR ticket app is useful for booking tickets.
Whether you are coming from Thailand, Vietnam or Laos, you can enquire at a local booking agent about your options. Be sure to price around a few places if you want the best price.
Once you arrive in Luang Prabang, you can get around the city by walking, cycling, renting a scooter or taking a tuk-tuk.
Where to eat in Luang Prabang?
Here are some of our favourite places to eat in Luang Prabang:
- Two little birds cafe – yummy smoothie bowls
- Joma bakery – lunch & good coffee with soya milk option
- Coffee Express – great coffee, plus it has soya milk
- Timeless cafe or La Benetton – yummy sandwiches
- Secret pizza – great pizza
Where to stay in Luang Prabang?
Funny Riverside Backpackers Hostel
If it is a budget hostel you are looking for, then funny riverside backpackers hostel is a good choice. A bed in a dorm costs about €5 per night. Book a room here.
Soutikone Place house 2
Soutikone Place is a really good option for a private room at a cheap price. It is in a good location & breakfast was included. Plus, it has air conditioning. It was basic and clean. Rooms cost about 245,000 kip or €12.
Satri House Hotel
Looking to treat yourself? Then check out the Satri House Hotel. This 5 star hotel is located a bit further out from the main sites, but it offers a spa and outdoor pool. This works out at about €140 per night.
Day 1 in Luang Prabang
Morning
Start off your 48 hours in Luang Prabang with a walk through the old town. Take in the sights of the traditional Laotian architecture and stop to visit some of the many temples and monasteries.
Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most important temples in Luang Prabang. The temple is known for its intricate architecture and beautiful murals. You can check out the royal palace too.
Afternoon
If you fancy a budget friendly ride in a boat on the Mekong River, then you can easily go to the ferry crossing and get on a 5 minute boat to the other side for just 10,000 kip. You can see the village at the other side where barely any tourists visit. Or there are longer boat trips you can book, including a sunset tour that will be more expensive.
Evening
Climb Mount Phousi for sunset. It is located very close to the town. The climb to the top takes about 30 minutes, with just over 300 steps and the views from the summit are amazing. It costs 20,000 kip to enter.
Day 2 in Luang Prabang:
Morning
Watch the Alms giving ceremony on the streets of Luang Prabang. Alms giving is a Buddhist ritual where laypeople offer food to monks in the morning. It is a meaningful experience that shows respect for monks and their practice. It starts at around 5:30 and you can see it happen by many of the temples in the town.
Take a day trip to Kuang Si Waterfall. The waterfall is located about 45 minutes outside of Luang Prabang and is a beautiful sight. You can swim in the turquoise pools or relax and enjoy the scenery. It gets better, there are also rescued bears that you can see on the way in. These were so cool to see!
Entry to the waterfall costs 25,000 kip. The cheapest way to get there is to rent a scooter, ours cost 150,000 kip that we got from our accommodation ‘Soutikone Place House 2’. You can also choose to go by private or shared tuk-tuk which will be more expensive.
P.S. don’t forget your travel insurance, in case anything goes wrong, I use safety wing (great value and peace of mind).
Evening
Head back to Luang Prabang and visit the night market. This is a great place to buy souvenirs and crafts. There are also a number of food stalls selling local delicacies so grab something to eat if you wish.
This 2-day itinerary is just a suggestion, and you can tailor it to your own interests and preferences. If you are interested in history and culture, you may want to spend more time visiting temples and museums. Or if you are more interested in nature, you could head to the Pak Ou caves.
No matter how you choose to spend your time in Luang Prabang, you are sure to have a memorable experience in this beautiful city.
I hope this blog post on ‘2 days in Luang Prabang’ has helped you plan your trip to Luang Prabang. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading,
Lisa
- Don't forget to get travel insurance before you set out on your adventure. Safety Wing is a great choice and so reasonable.
- If you are looking for accommodation, then Hostelworld or Booking.com are good options with plenty of accommodation choices.
- Looking to book tours, entry tickets and more, check out Get your Guide.
- Follow me on instagram @wandererlane 🙂Â