Luang Prabang, Laos

At a glance · 5 reasons to go

Why Luang Prabang, Laos.

1. 1

   Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage town where gilded wats, French-colonial shophouses, and the Mekong meet in a setting of unusual serenity.

2. 2

   At dawn, the Tak Bat alms-giving ceremony sees hundreds of saffron-robed monks process silently through the streets to receive offerings of rice.

3. 3

   The Kuang Si Falls cascade in tiers of turquoise pools through the jungle — the best swim in Laos — with a bear-rescue sanctuary at the base.

4. 4

   Climb Mount Phousi at dusk for the panoramic sunset over the Mekong, then browse the nightly handicraft market below.

5. 5

   A slow boat up the Mekong, or down to the Pak Ou caves filled with thousands of Buddha statues, is the classic way to feel the river’s rhythm.

Read this before you go

Seguridad