Add dates

Luang PrabangCruises & boat tours

Our most recommended Luang Prabang Cruises & boat tours

Luang Prabang: Cruise to Pak Ou Caves & Kuang Si Waterfalls

1. Luang Prabang: Cruise to Pak Ou Caves & Kuang Si Waterfalls

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.

Luang Prabang: Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner

2. Luang Prabang: Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner

Enjoy the best views of Luang Prabang at sunset on a private cruise on the Mekong River. Experience a traditional tuk-tuk ride, sail along the Mekong, and enjoy a delicious hot pot dinner. After getting picked up from your hotel by tuk-tuk, head to the boat jetty behind the Royal Palace and set sail for a 2-hour cruise along the Mekong River. Listen to your local guide explain the history of the Mekong and its residents as you sail. Drinks and snacks are available to purchase. The cruise is timed to catch the sunset, so you can relax on the boat terrace and take in views of the sun setting behind Luang Prabang and Chompet. You can also have your photo taken by the guide. After dusk, return to land and hop back on the tuk-tuk for a quick drive to your dinner venue, Sin Dat Hot Pot and Barbecue Restaurant. Have fun cooking your own meal for dinner as the locals do before getting dropped off back at your hotel in the evening.

Luang Prabang: Kuang Si Bike Ride & Long-Tail Boat Cruise

3. Luang Prabang: Kuang Si Bike Ride & Long-Tail Boat Cruise

Get picked up from your hotel in Luang Prabang in the morning. Choose a great bike at the local partner's bike shop in Luang Prabang before setting off on a scenic, 30-kilometer paved-road ride along the Mekong River to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfall. Enjoy the medium-grade ride which lasts 2-3 hours with some hills, making several stops to explore the local villages along the way. When you arrive, marvel at Kuang Si Waterfall which spans a large area through some of the lushest jungle around Luang Prabang. Explore the easy walking trails which wind past numerous pools and water cascades where you can relax and swim. Enjoy a provided lunch at the waterfall as you soak up the scenic views and tranquil atmosphere. Make use of the small private changing rooms near the waterfall allowing you to change into your swimming suit. You can also see up close Asiatic bears at the Bear Rescue Centre along the jungle walk to the waterfall. After plenty of recreation time at the waterfall, hop back onto the bikes for a fun downhill ride to the Mekong River. Then, board a long-tail boat for a 1.5-2 hour scenic cruise up the Mekong River back to Luang Prabang. Finally, ride the short distance back to the bike shop to wrap up a great day.

Full-Day Private Guided Pak Ou Caves & Ethnic Village Tour

4. Full-Day Private Guided Pak Ou Caves & Ethnic Village Tour

Set off into the Mekong River after being gathered from your hotel, passing scenes of fishermen and wildlife on the way. Once you arrive at the Pak Ou Caves, head to Tham Ting, the first cave. The smaller cave is illuminated from the entrance, making it a popular place to burn incense and offer prayers. As your guide leads you through the dark cave with a light, catch sight of the Buddha icons, numbering in the 1,000s that fill the place.  After your excursion through the caves, hop aboard your boat and make your way to the village of Ban Xanghai. Here, you can witness the traditional method of making lao-lao, the local rice wine. A short drive then takes you to Ban Phanom, which is famous for its handwoven textiles. Watch the craftsmen deftly work at their looms, weaving silk and cotton into intricate patterns. Conclude your day of adventure with a leisurely boat trip back to Luang Prabang.

4 activities found
Sort by:

You might also like...

Immersive experiences

Frequently asked questions about Luang Prabang Cruises & boat tours

What are other things to do than Cruises & boat tours that are worth visiting in Luang Prabang?

The other unmissable things to do in Luang Prabang are:

Which Luang Prabang Cruises & boat tours are taking additional COVID-19 precautions?

These Luang Prabang Cruises & boat tours are taking additional COVID-19 precautions:

Other Sightseeing Options in Luang Prabang

Want to discover all there is to do in Luang Prabang? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Luang Prabang

Thanks for the nice tour. Everything worked well, good organization and all employees were very friendly, courteous and helpful. Thanks for the cozy and lovely day, would definitely do it again for the price! Please remember tips, they really try! Start at the hotel with a new minibus. Comfortable boat tour including coffee, tea or water. Boat in fair condition and toilets were well maintained. Our tour guide Worn was very accommodating and answered as many questions as possible. Buddha Caves were visited. Very tasty food on the elephant Manifa Farm (try the pumpkin soup) followed by feeding the free-roaming elephants, no sticks, no chains... all very natural, elephants let themselves be stroked against banana bribery, ;) Visiting two villages Was a waterfall visit gg. afternoon, so very empty, but already cooler return journey with a new minibus with air conditioning.

Two hour boat cruise on Mekong See a lot of great scenery with refreshments Lower cave was cool Climbed to upper cave , not worth the effort Arrived very scenic area for lunch Lunch was very good Then came the elephant Feeding her bananas was awesome Into car to travel to waterfall There are four layers of the fall Don’t leave at stage two thinking u have seen it all Absolutely beautiful Bears were an extra treat, watching them play Then only 35 mins back to LP. Great day and value for money. Oh and pit stop to try local whiskey and chance to buy it from village.

Mr. Pong was a lovely tour guide, who tried everything to make you feel comfortable. The tour was really nice, especially the waterfall and watching the sunset from the boot. Be aware that the roads are really bad.

Waterfall and boat trip are excellent, be prepared for a long minibus journey

Great trip. Lots of things to see. Highly recommended.