Location: Luang Prabang
Top Things to do in Luang Prabang
Things to do in Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province: The Best Classes & Workshops
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the former capital of Laos, and you'll see everything from golden-roofed temples to vestiges of colonial French architecture here. Buddhist monasteries abound in Luang Prabang, and early every morning, monks process through the streets collecting alms (their food for the day). If you want to watch or participate, though, ask your hotel for a brief etiquette lesson first—you have to distribute the food in a specific manner.
Restaurants in Luang Prabang
1. Big Brother Mouse
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 274 reviews
Help eager young Lao students practice their English through informal conversation. Learn more about their lives and culture, and tell about yours. (Free 2-hour drop-in practice, 9:00-11:00 am and 5:00-7:00 pm.)
Reviewed By 558JohnB558 - Melbourne, Australia
These guys published the first children's books in the Lao language. They welcome visitors to join in informal English conversation with local students.It's a truly marvellous experience and deserves support.
2. Traveling Spoon
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Traveling Spoon provides travelers with private, authentic food experiences, from homemade meals to cooking classes and market tours, with local hosts in their homes.
3. Tour Luang prabang-Mr Service
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
I am Chanthy ( Mr Service ) owner of the MONK TOUR PROJECT LAO, offering services to the community by minivan for tours and transport in the whole Laos with a fair price for everyone in the world.
4. Localguides Asia Travel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Localguides Asia Travel assembled by Southeast Asia expert tour guides, we invent a new true local travel experience, Our expertise about educational trip. we offer customer for most affordable trips and travel with friendly local community whom hosts your holiday.
5. Tamarind Cooking School
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 654 reviews
Tamarind Restaurant in Luang Prabang offers day and evening cooking classes in open air pavilions overlooking lily ponds just outside of town. Participants in day classes are taken there after a visit to the fascinating main market, where they are introduced to the unusual and intriguing ingredients that are the basis of Lao cuisine. From there it is off to Tamarind Gardens to cook Lao dishes in the authentic Lao style. Evening classes are shorter. Individual work stations allow you to follow the instructions of an entertaining and informative Lao teacher, whilst a bevy of staff clean up after you. The sessions end with a sumptuous meal, where you eat the fruits of your labours! Transport to and from Tamarind Restaurant and recipe book all included. Vegetarians welcome.
Reviewed By WendyS555 - Randalstown, United Kingdom
We did the evening class, as we had visited the market many times, and didn’t need a guided tour of it. Bit of a bumpy ride to the school! We washed our hands, and started cooking straight away, making jeow, a spicy dipping sauce. It was great fun, and something I will do at home. We also cooked fish in a banana leaf, and lemongrass stuffed with chicken. I got a thumbs up from our teacher for mine! There was confusion over the drinks. I knew you had to pay for beer and wine, but most people didn’t. Don’t they check TripAdvisor before booking?? A price list was left on the end of the table, but it wasn’t pointed out. This would have been helpful. We finished by eating what we personally had cooked, everyone got their fish, and their lemongrass, so that was lovely. The staff had added some soup and salad, but it wasn’t really needed. Sig, our teacher was excellent, kept an eye on everyone. A very pleasant way to spend an evening ,
6. Morning Glow Laos
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
A locally owned tourism company offering one to three day mountain trek tours. Sleep under millions of stars and wake up to a breath-taking sea of clouds!
7. Garden of Eden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 136 reviews
Make your own jewelry while learning from local artists. Learn traditional techniques, using a variety of different materials including recycled paper and silk! Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere on the balcony overlooking the river. Can't find what you are looking for? Make your own design! We can make custom orders to suit your taste. All levels are welcome in our classes.
Reviewed By ellapepper
My family and I had an amazing morning making beautiful handmade jewellery with fantastic company. The products were affordable and the instructors knowledgable and kind. I've come home with a beautiful set of earrings, a ring and a bracelet which I am proud of and where constantly.
8. The Bamboo Experience
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 132 reviews
The Bamboo Experience is a local family run workshop where you will discover Lao culture through bamboo products, activities & Lao foods using bamboo shoot as main ingredients. You will also be connected with our local community to learn about their way of life! To book the class you should contact us one day in advance or at least at 6pm the day before coming to our workshop. We offer two classes per day either daytime 8:30am - 13:30pm (lunch included) and/or evening 16:00pm - 21:00pm (dinner included). We can provide pickup from/to your hotel (to be confirmed when you make the booking).
Reviewed By Janb0211
This is a fabulous experience with many activities included. Learn about bamboo, cook sticky rice pudding, take part in Baci celebration, dinner and traditional music performance.
9. Backstreet Academy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 180 reviews
Explore Lao culture through our exclusive collection of travel experiences - craft a crossbow, hunt with local villagers or learn wood carving, the backstreets offer the richest interaction with the culture and people of a place. Immerse yourself in the de facto Lao experience where the local backdrop retains its integrity and originality and discover a side of the city you never knew.
Reviewed By milliesmum2016 - Christchurch, New Zealand
I can't recommend Backstreet Academy enough, really. This company offers fantastic opportunities to experience local life and customs and meet some local people who are simply willing to share their lives with you for a while. I went to meet a local family to learn about Lao cooking at their home and at Phousi Market. I had such a great time with them, cooking and discussing food and cookery. We started out at the market with a shopping list based on our lunch menu and then went home to cook in their wonderful outdoor kitchen. Hard work, it was too -all over open flame with lots of chopping and pounding to be done. Then we ate the fruits of our labour washed down with LaoLao. Transport was included to and from my accommodation, as was an emailed copy of the recipes we made. But this is only one of the options Backstreet offer. There is a whole suite of differnt activities to choose from they operate out of other countries as well as Laos. The one criticism I have is that, as a solo traveller, I did feel penalised because some of the activities depended on their being at least two of you, to operate. Thsi applied particularly to overnight type activies, where accommodation was involved. The really nice thing about Backstreet, though, is that you can be sure that your money really going to assist local families, as opposed to some off-shore business venture with no vested interest in the local community.
10. Cooking School at Sofitel Luang Prabang
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By Bouffer9 - Gold Coast, Australia
4 of us joined Chef John on a trip to the markets at 8am. Chef John was most informative, pointing out to us delicacies that were extremely foreign (like larvae). This was a wonderful snapshot of village life and Chef John was most interesting. Armed with special ingredients and fortified by a buffet breakfast, we donned aprons in the Sofitel kitchen at 10.30am, an immaculately clean, open sided space and under Chef John's guidance, chopped, diced and cooked up 4 dishes. These were then transported to the Governor's Grill, the restaurant at the Sofitel and we feasted on our efforts (which were outstanding due to Chef John's guidance and intervention) plus Chef John's desert, which he prepared for us. It was so much food we had difficulty finishing it. This was simply a most enjoyable experience from start to finish. Chef John made it FUN! Wonderful value for the market tour, the cooking class, recipe book and a sumptuous meal.
