Location: Luang Prabang
Top Things to do in Luang Prabang
Top 10 Hidden Gems Things to do in Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province
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. Motolao - Day Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 50 reviews
We at MOTOLAO provide exclusive on-road and off-road motorcycle or 4x4 tours in Laos. Our customized tours provide a chance to journey on a road of self-discovery and encounter life-changing moments along the way. Exploring Laos by motorcycle or 4x4 is the perfect way to experience deep Lao culture and discover breathtaking landscapes not found anywhere else. Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride.
3. The Living Land Farm
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 884 reviews
This charming community farm just outside of Luang Prabang overlooks wonderful Rice Fields and Mountains. Rice is planted all year round and they welcome guests who want to learn about Rice planting and other farm activities like bamboo weaving, sugar cane pressing, black smithing. Visitors get to try most of the activities or can just watch. Rodolphe and Susan, the two buffaloes help with the ploughing of the rice paddies and guests can have a go too. The half day programme starts at 08.30 and finishes with a tasting of rice based snacks. The farm is shared by 9 families who also grow organic vegetables and flowers. Lunch is available too and includes a selection of typical Luang Prabang dishes and fruit. Proceeds from the Rice Experience go to supporting over 60 students with their studies and they operate free English classes for the whole village. They have a small Homestay unit made from an old granary. Booking is necessary and pick-up and return by tuk-tuk is included.
Reviewed By ashems13 - Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
From start to finish, this experience was a brilliant one! The staff at the Living Land seem to love their jobs which made it so nice to experience. The process of growing and harvesting rice is so interesting and it was exciting to be able to try it all for ourselves - it’s definitely a hands-on day out!! To top it off, we had the most delicious lunch made from the organic fruits and vegetables from the farm as well as sticky rice. So tasty and impressive!
4. 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.
5. Green Jungle Park@Hoi Khua Waterfall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 80 reviews
Nature and park. Garden with more than 1,500 species of flower. Buffalo and a pair of ostrich are onsite and guests can feed them. Picnic huts are provided for groups or family. Adventure activities include zip lining, trekking and multiple rope courses. Accommodation in Luxury Camp@Green Jungle Park is open for booking. Perfect for company or school team building program.
Reviewed By globetrottinggran
A great way to spend a day with lots of walkways, play areas for children, refreshment stops, a lovely flower garden and a “go ape” for the adrenalin junkies.
6. The Weaving Sisters
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 65 reviews
We are Mone and Keo, two of the 6 Katu weaving sisters, and our hometown is deep in the south of Laos. We have been weaving our whole lives. Our studio is also our home, and we are happy to welcome you and share what we have learned from our ancestors. We can speak English, Katu, Lao and Thai.
Reviewed By mjlothar - Geneva, Switzerland
These ladies run a fantastic business, both a shop with great Katu handmade weaving creations and daily workshops where people can create headbands, camera straps, coasters and scarves. I bought several products from them and visited their shop on various occasions during my month long stay in Luang Prabang. Do not trust the review written by the previous reviewer. This man never visited the shop and wants to hurt the Weaving Sisters business. They are nothing but professional ladies with the utmost integrity and talent.
7. MandaLao Elephant Conservation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 498 reviews
We are Luang Prabang's first and only non-riding elephant experience. Please join us for an unforgettable trip that will not only benefit the well being of our elephants but be a highlight to any Southeast Asian adventure.
Reviewed By SophieB179 - Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Sorry to be a bit eco Nazi about things but if you want to ride elephants or have animals take part in your tourism experience in any way - change your mind set. Mandalao are leading the way in Laos in showing that this is how tourism must become. I have read reviews saying but the elephants aren’t free, it’s still cruel. You know what, yes it is that anything has to be kept safely away from humans who want to exploit them in logging industries or other areas. These elephants are kept safe though and that my friends, is a start. For them to be free in the world in 2019 is a death sentence. Rant over. You are taken to the centre from your hotel and met by the owner who gives you a very informative talk about the site and elephant conservation in general. Then you are given bowls of food to make balls of to give the elephants, it’s things like baby banana, sticky rice and tamarind and lots of sea salt. You make the balls then go over on a boat and meet your elephants and mahouts. The elephants eat from your hands and then accompany you on a stroll through the jungle. They stop and mooch around, ours demolished a tree whilst we were there, showing off their strength as they reached for their favourite leaves higher up in the trees. We hugged their trunks and had photos, could touch them and stand with them, sense their individual personalities and get a real sense of the power these animals hold. They are very calm to be around and I was certainly filled with awe from beginning to end. The mahouts are local men employed by the centre. They do not whip or hurt the elephants at all, but they do have a stick of bamboo with them that they gently guide them with. They know people do not want to see cruelty and I was super alert for it but saw absolutely none, the men were to be commended. But to go back to my original point, compared to the life the elephants had before on logging plantations where they were poorly fed, overworked and abused to the life they have now, seeing a man with a stick to guide an elephant to walk with humans is a lot less harsh to accept then the alternative. I have no qualms in saying these elephants were happy, well fed and looked after, and safe. If you are an eco or ethically minded tourist this place is for you. If you’re not - become one! ????
8. Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 859 reviews
Opened in 2007, TAEC is a museum with permanent and temporary exhibitions about the diverse ethnic groups of Laos. Permanent Exhibitions highlight the Akha, Kmhmu, Tai Dam, and Hmong ethnic minorities. Interactive and immersive, TAEC's newest special exhibition, "Voices of the Wind: Traditional Instruments in Laos" features wind instruments and their role in communication, ritual, and courtship. Through recreations of a Hmong instrument-maker's workshop, a Tai Dam healing ceremony, and interactive video kiosks, visitors can enter a world rarely seen by the general public. The adjacent TAEC Museum Shop features fair trade handicrafts from 12 provinces of Laos supporting over 600 ethnic artisans from all over Laos. Approximately 50% of the price of the products goes back to our village producers. TAEC also boasts a kids activity centre, ethnobotanical garden, and patio cafe with cold refreshments making the museum a perfect destination for children and adults.
Reviewed By marylouisemarino - Washington, United States
If you're curious about the ethnic diversity and cultural heritage in Laos, the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center is the place to go. Their free tour is very informative, their displays are engaging and beautifully curated, their staff always welcoming and their shop is enticing. I have visited TAEC numerous times on my trips to Luang Prabang to ethically source textile accessories and home accents and they are wonderful partners to work with.
9. Elephant Village Sanctuary & Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,849 reviews
Elephant Village in Luang Prabang, Laos was set up in 2003 and is now owned by a group of passioante Lao nationals. Our sales office is located on the main street in town close to the National Museum and our beautiful elephant camp is located next to the village Ban Xieng Lom. Elephant Village focuses on three objectives:1. Saving Elephants 2. Community Support 3. Nature Preservation. We take elephants out of the very dangerous logging industry and provide them with an alternative way of earning their income. We try to help the elephants which desperately need help the most such as older elephants and elephants which have injuries due to accidents. We currently have 14 elephants in our care including 2 baby elephants which will never have to work in the logging industry. We are also home to a female elephant called Mae Uak, who was injured when she stepped on a 'UXO' (Un-Exploded Ordinance) some time ago, before we rescued her. She is now happily living in our herd.
10. Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 570 reviews
The Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre is where the fascinating world of Lao textiles comes alive! Set in the grounds of a stunning tropical garden on the Mekong, it's the perfect place to learn more about this unique Lao art. We offer free guided tours where you can meet our weavers, artisans and even the silkworms. We also offer a range of classes in weaving and dyeing, which as our reviews show, are an unforgettable experience. Our Silk Road Cafe by the river is the perfect place to relax and enjoy our "east meets west" inspired menu, or simply enjoy the stellar sunsets with a refreshing drink.
Reviewed By chicnbliss - Hong Kong, China
OCT POP TOK LIVING CRAFT CENTRE BACKGROUND/CONTEXT One of the best ways to explore Laos Culture is through a weaving class at the Oct Pop Tok Living Craft Centre. The place Oct Pop Tok, literally translates to “East meets West” is the This place is founded by two women dating back to 1999, Englishwoman Joanna Smith and Laotian Veomanee Douangdala. They operate base on principles on fair trade and sustainable business, with the mission to elevate the profile of Lao textiles and artisans. Not only that it is created by two unique women, the place is run by women and for the women in Laos. Furthermore, it supports the local villages and Laos artisan community. I was fascinated by the type of textiles that are presented on their website and the classes they have to offer to experience what it’s like to be weaving. So I signed for a half day class. I must say with this experience I have become profoundly respectful of the women who does them daily, and appreciate even more the textile products that are made manually. (Include picture of venue and the gardens) LAOS TEXTILE WEAVING Laos Silk Weaving is an ancient tradition that is passed from mother to daughter for centuries. They start at a very young age, the instructor who taught me started at 3 years old. It is also the dominate form of artistic cultural expression in Laos. Patterns, techniques and colors are intricate and varies from region to region, and ethnic groups. These regions also have different techniques for dye-ing the silk and cotton. In the Central Laos, they are known for using natural indigo dyes and diamond patterns - a symbol of protective the mythical creature naga. At Oct Pop Tok, they also practice natural indigo dyes, ranging in beautiful colors. These includes Sappan Tree that dyes a violet range of colors to Lemongrass and Tumeric for beige to yellow – orange hues. (Include picture) CLASSES For visitors to experience this Lao Weaving Culture, Oct Pop Tok offers a variety of classes, varying from dyeing class, to bamboo weaving to silk weaving class. I was mostly interested in the weaving so I signed up for the half day class experience. It was to weave a placemat. MY WEAVING EXPERIENCE There were two types of weaving classes, a half day which you weave a silk placemat or a full day class where you weave a silk scarf. After contemplation (since it was over 35 degrees that day) I decided to do a half day class. Introduction + Choosing the color They start with greeting you and bringing you to a basket of silks and introduce you to the silks, types, patterns, and then what you will make that day. And then together with your guide you get to pick two colors for the weave, so you will have your customized product at the end of the class. I love the Purple Maroon color, and contrast it with a golden orange. The guide said it was perfect! Spooling the silk You will then be guided to a spooling area where the instructor (a very nice lady at my age) demonstrates how to spool the silk skeins. They then watch you do it and guide you with the techniques. Mind you, I am not the most patient person and this process really do takes patience, sitting there and just spinning the spool just at the right speed!!! It was fun Setting up the Pattern After you do a few the instructor will do the rest as you will then go to the assigned loom to do your weave. For the pattern its very intricate so she will set it up. It is literally hundreds of strings arranged in a very intricate way. Learning the Weave I learn to weave, moving the raft (looks like a little boat with the silk spool in it) left and right in between the loom strings, switching foot paddles, banging it at the end to make it tight. It was fun!!!! They also keep coming to check on you, and bring you lemonade. Two other girls next to me from America are weaving a scarf. Learning the Pattern Weave The challenging part was to get the pattern part where the two colors are being weaved. The technique is delicate, much like playing piano (I play the piano well). For EACH WEAVE, you have to change a string to set the pattern, and for each change of color, there’s a piece that you need to turn up and down for it to work. It was actually very orchestrated, rhythmic, most therapeutic and fun!!!! I enjoyed it very much After 3 hours of weaving, I was finished! (show photo) The instructor helps you to weave in the tassels at the front and end, packing it in a nice recycled paper bag, along with a voucher for 10% discount if you make any purchases in their shop. I got some bamboo straws, they are fantastic and I’ll never have to use any plastic or paper straw again. Tour after class The guide then gave me a tour of the center, showing me the hut with the batik art, the area where their professional weaver women are doing much more intricate patterns on the loom, the silk warm farming, the dye-ing process and sample, as well as the yard where they hang the silk dry after dye-ing It was a a lovely experience. After an afternoon of hardwork I decided to take beerlao and sit by the Mekong River at their Silk Road Café to enjoy the scenery for a bit. HOW TO GET THERE : Free tuk tuk ride back from their shop in the town center to the living craft. That was the day I decided to do more venture so I asked them to drop me off at the entrance of Mount Phousi which the tuk tuk driver did. Was very kind of him. I highly recommend you to take a class or at least a visit to their living craft center, the view itself is already worth the go. But if you can do the class, you will come out feeling accomplished and amazed.
