Luang Prabang

Tours

Enjoy a private or shared group boat tour to the Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Waterfalls departing from Luang Prabang. You will be picked up at your accommodation and travel straight to the pier. Hop onboard a long tail boat for a relaxing journey aong the Mekong River. Enjoy the views from the water as you pass by local villages and fishing communities. After the first hour and a bit, the boat makes its first short stop at the popular Ban Xang Hai, also known as ‘the whiskey village’. Explore the village, see the process of making Lao Lao, the country’s beloved rice whiskey, and taste the finished product. Continue by boat traveling slowly along the Mekong in the direction of the glorious Pak Ou Caves. Arrive at a small boat landing dock where stairs lead you straight up to the cave. These limestone Buddhist caves have been a place of worship for thousands of years, over this time a collection of Buddha statues and idols have filled these spiritual natural caves Enter the Ou River to visit the limestone cliffs. Then, after a 30-minute boat ride down the Mekong River, arrive at Manifa Elephant Camp for lunch. Enjoy a full buffet-style lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong river and free-roaming elephants. After lunch break, travel by car to the Kuang Si Waterfalls. Enjoy 2 hours of free time to explore the three-layered Kuang Si Waterfalls. Walk the trails of the nature reserve and swim in the refreshing turquoise water pools and visit the bear rescue center. Depart for Luang Prabang, with a short stop at Ban Na Uan Hmong village on the way. Return to the city with drop-off at your hotel.

Please note: The number of boats allowed to depart from Lao ports is regulated solely by the Lao government and is beyond our control. During the high season (November to February), some days may be very busy, and the boats can become crowded, which may affect comfort.We kindly ask for your understanding and encourage you to plan and prepare accordingly before booking this trip. You must stay on the boat for at least 6 hours. If you have health conditions such as knee pain, heel pain, or osteoarthritis, please consider this before booking. Day 1: 05:00–05:30 AM: Pickup by VIP van (10 seats) from your accommodation or a central meeting point in Chiang Rai. 06:30 AM: Cross the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge No. 4 (Bokeo Province) by bus. 08:30 AM: Begin the peaceful boat trip to Pakbeng, taking in the beautiful landscapes of Northern Thailand as the scenery changes to the calm waters and lush shores of the Mekong River. 05:00 PM: Arrive in Pakbeng (accommodation is excluded). You can book a hotel and enjoy dinner at a riverside restaurant. You need to take all your luggage from the boat and bring it back tomorrow. 09:00 AM: Continue the boat trip to Luang Prabang. Listen to the sounds of water and birds, allowing you to relax and reflect on the journey. If the boat is too crowded, we recommend arriving early to reserve a seat. 05:00 PM: Arrive at the slow boat terminal in Luang Prabang, where you can visit beautiful Buddhist temples and explore the town. End Of Services The shared taxi from slow boat terminal to Luang Prabang downtown area is 2 USD per person

Explore Laos’ one of the most respected holy sites Pak Ou Caves on this half-day river cruise. We depart Luang Prabang boat pier in the morning. Float down the Mekong river and see many scenery of countryside. We will enjoy a 3-hour morning boat trip. Stopping by a local village "Ban Xang Hai" for tasting their unique homemade local rice whisky and rice wine. A local tour guide will accompany throughout the tour. Tour guide will explain the history and culture of Pak Ou Caves. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Afterward, we enjoy buffet lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Mekong surrounded by tropical forests. Return to Luang Prabang city by minivan at 2:00 pm The afternoon tour will start by car taking you to San Hai Village for lunch. Then visit the cave by boat and continue cruising to Luang Prabang. It is the same except that the order and time of the itinerary changes. The tour date is reschedulable until 7 pm day before. Please contact us by email or message or visit Manifa Travel office (opposite of Villa Santi Hotel)

Explore Luang Prabang with a knowledgable local guide. Visit various highlights to discover why Luang Prabang is considered one of the most facinating place in Asia. There are 3 tour options available: Half-Day City Tour, Half-Day City Tour + Kuang Si Falls, and Full-Day City Tour, all of which allow you to add on the extra activities of joining the early morning alms-giving ceremony and exploring the morning market by choosing the 6am starting option. Customization of private tour destinations is available upon request and consultation in advance (1) Half Day city tour (2) Full day city tour, Morning city tour + Afternoon tour: Paper village, UXO Center, Wat Visoun, Wat Mai (3) Morning city tour, afternoon Kuang Si Waterfalls, Hmong village The 6 AM tour option begins with hotel pickup and an opportunity to join locals in participating a centuries-old traditional daily almsgiving ritual, followed by a visit to the morning market. Return to your hotel for breakfast and a rest before resuming your tour with a second pickup. After breakfast in your hotel, make your way to a small park on the peninsula tip. Get a brief introduction to Luang Prabang, standing where the Nam Khan River meets the Mekong River. From there, walk to Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Laos. Learn about the typical architecture of Luang Prabang temples with their characteristic low sweeping roofs. Join local pilgrims for a glimpse into the daily Buddhist beliefs of the people. Then, go temple hopping in the neighborhood. Continue to the Royal Palace to see a collection of historical items. Every item tells a story, so listen as your guide tells you about Lao history and royals. Admire a mix of traditional Lao motifs and French Beaux-Arts architecture. The morning tour ends with everyone climbing Mount Phousi and enjoying panoramic views of Luang Prabang from the top. If you would like the tour to continue for one day with us, we offer 3 options; (2) After free time for lunch in the city, visit the paper village of Ban Xang Khong on the Mekong River. Learn about the history of war at the UXO Lao Visitor Center, visit Wat Wisunarat, the oldest temple, as well as Wat Mai, the largest temple in Luang Prabang (3) After free time for lunch in the city, visit Kuang Si Waterfalls. 2.5 hours of free time. Visit a Hmong village on the way back to Luang Prabang.

Discover Laos' varied and scenic landscapes on this guided tour. After getting picked up from your hotel in Luang Prabang, head north to the Nam Ou Riverside where you will begin your kayak tour. This is an easy river for kayaking where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the tranquil countryside and see naturally-formed limestone cliffs.  Kayak your way towards Pak Ou, where you will visit the famous Pak Ou Caves – 2 linked caves crammed with thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. Enjoy a guided tour of the caves before starting the second section of your kayak on the Mekong River. Paddle down the Mekong for 30 minutes to reach your lunch destination. Sit down to a delicious buffet lunch as you admire breathtaking views of the Mekong. After lunch, continue to the Kuang Si Falls and enjoy some free time to explore these unique 3-layered falls. You could go for a walk through the trails of the surrounding nature trails, take a dip in the refreshing turquoise water pools or pay a visit to the bear rescue center. Finally, begin the journey back to Luang Prabang. Stop at Ban Na Uan hmong village and get the chance to experience Hmong village life, meet some of the local people and see their traditional embroidery crafts. Get dropped off back at your hotel at the end of the day.

On this activity, you will learn how to make a traditional home-cooked Lao dinner, as well as attend a Baci ceremony to celebrate a special event, a marriage, a homecoming, a birth, or one of the annual festivals.  Begin by meeting your driver at the lobby of your hotel in Luang Prabang at 4:00 PM. Stop at the local food market to learn more about the fresh ingredients and herbs that local people use in their daily cooking. You will then learn how to cook 5 typical dishes using the local ingredients, before eating together with the locals in the traditional Lao style. After your dinner enjoy a show of traditional music performs by local musician in the Hmong traditional costume. As you listen to the music, admire the breathtaking views of the rice fields surrounding the building.  Then, you will witness a "Baci" ceremony, which is a local custom performed when a mother has recovered from childbirth, when a sick person has been cured, or when monks are entering the temple. The ceremony can take place any day of the week and all through the year, but preferably before noon or before sunset. After this final experience is finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Please note: The number of boats allowed to depart from Lao ports is regulated solely by the Lao government and is beyond our control. During the high season (November to February), some days may be very busy, and the boats can become crowded, which may affect comfort.We kindly ask for your understanding and encourage you to plan and prepare accordingly before booking this trip. You must stay on the boat for at least 6 hours. If you have health conditions such as knee pain, heel pain, or osteoarthritis, please consider this before booking. Day 1 09:00-09:30 am: Pickup by a 10-seater air-conditioned VIP van. 01.30 pm: Visit the famous White Temple (entrance ticket and lunch not included). Note: Occasionally, we may not be able to stop at the temple during rush hour or if it’s too late on the way to the border. In such cases, we will stop at a local restaurant along the way instead. 04:00 pm: Cross the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge No. 4 by bus. 05:00 PM: Arrive at the Laos border control to complete the visa process. 06:00 pm: Check-in at Huay Xai in Laos. 1 room for 2 people if you are booking 1 person, you will have own room Day 2 08:00 am: Breakfast.Please bring jacket with you just incase the weather is cold 09:00–09:30 am: Take a boat trip to Pakbeng. 05.30 pm. Arrive at Pakbeng (accommodation not included). You have to take all your luggage from the boat and bring it back tomorrow. Day 3 09:00 am: Take the boat trip to Luang Prabang.If the boat is too crowded, we recommend arriving early to reserve a seat. 05:00 pm: Arrive at the slow boat terminal in Luang Prabang. End Of Services The shared taxi from the slow boat terminal to the Luang Prabang downtown area is 2 USD per person.

Start with a convenient pickup from your accommodation in Luang Prabang, relax in a comfortable van as you travel through scenic countryside to Ban Xang Hai, where you begin your 14-kilometer bike journey along the Nam Ou and Mekong Rivers to the Nam Ou Bridge. Ride through lush, scenic countryside on a well-maintained Trek Merlin 7 mountain bike. A truck will accompany you along the way, so you can cycle with peace of mind. Two-thirds of the route is unpaved and flat except for a 100-meter climb up and down. Admire rice fields, charming villages, and colorful temples along the way. Stop at villages, rice paddies, a primary school (weekdays only), and a market for a glimpse into local life. After your bike ride, you can shower, change, and refuel with a delicious buffet lunch at Manifa Elephant Camp before heading back to Luang Prabang. After lunch, you can choose to extend your tour and add on an afternoon activity. This includes kayaking on the Nam Ou and Mekong rivers (visiting the Buddha caves of Pak Ou) and a 1.5-hour sunset cruise back to Luang Prabang.

Join this foodie walking tour around Luang Prabang with your guide and discover all the tasty food spots that the locals love. Sample traditional snacks, learn about monks' Buddhist traditions and visit a food market and a temple. Start your walking tour at downtown cafe (Joma Bakery), your guide will meet you on foot. Walk through Luang Prabang morning food market to learn about the ingredients of Lao food. Smell the sweet aroma of spices and freshly cooked food as you walk around. Learn all about the rich, spicy flavor of Lao food from your guide. Taste one of Lao's special specialty dishes; the Luang Prabang. Need a morning coffee Don't worry, kick start your day with a Lao hot coffee. Visit a temple in the UNESCO town to learn about Buddhism from a Monk and get the blessing.

Enjoy a half-day relaxing experience combining a bamboo weaving workshop and a traditional Lao cooking class. Begin with pick-up from your hotel by tuk-tuk at 8.30 AM for the morning session or 4.00 PM for the evening session. Head to a rustic pavilion modeled on a traditional Lao house, located in a picturesque setting on the outskirts of Luang Prabang.  After a warm welcome, your guide will explain how bamboo is a key part of Lao culture. Discover how numerous items found in traditional Lao households are actually made from the versatile bamboo plant, such as fishing tools and musical instruments. Then, try your hand at weaving a souvenir mat made from strips of the bamboo plant. Your patient teacher will guide you through the techniques that have been used for hundreds of years. Learn how to sharpen knives and cut bamboo into strips, then make a small mat using an overlapping weaving process. After admiring your finished creation, learn how the bamboo plant also plays a vital role in everyday Lao cuisine. In a hands-on demonstration, assist a chef in cooking local dishes such as bamboo shoot soup, bamboo shoot steamed in banana leaf, and bamboo shoot dip. Once the activity is completed, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Luang Prabang.