How to Spend 48 Hours in Luang Prabang, Laos

Before the sun reaches its apex, making walking unbearable, check out some of Luang Prabang’s temples, the most impressive in all of Laos. With several dozen to choose from, you can’t go wrong, but favorites include Wat Xieng Thong, the Royal Temple and museum and Wat Mai. Be sure to dress appropriately by covering the shoulders and knees and removing your shoes before entering any buildings.

After lunch, it’s time for a swim. Go with a tour operator in a mini-van or grab a tuk tuk to the banks of the Nam Khan. Settle on a price beforehand and ask your driver to wait for you to take you back to town. Hop on the boat for a nominal fee and hike up to the top of the falls. Tad Se is most magnificent in the beginning of the dry season in October and November.

Several restaurants in Luang Prabang offer traditional cooking classes where you can create your own delicious meal. Some courses are all-day affairs while others are a few hours in the late afternoon and end with dinner. Check out the classes Tamnak Lao, The Terrace Restaurant or Tamarind. Create traditional dishes such as Luang Prabang salad, laap, jeow and of course, sticky rice. Take home the recipes to replicate in your own kitchen when you’re back home.

Take in the Laos jungles across the Mekong in Jom Phet, also written Chompet, on two wheels. Rent a bicycle from any number of tour operators in town. Tiger Trail specializes in sustainable eco travel and rents mountain bikes. Take your bike across the ferry and cycle the 23-kilometre (14-mile) dusty dirt road loop through the less-developed side of the Mekong. Visit Ban Chan to check out the pottery and cycle through the mountains.

After cycling, come back to town to eat a Lao feast at one of two excellent restaurants on the Nam Khan side of the peninsula. Bamboo Tree and Tamarind Cafe are next door to one another, both offer cooking classes and tasting menus featuring the best of northern Lao cuisine. Enjoy the sausage, chicken in lemongrass, buffalo jerky and spicy sauces. If you’re vegetarian, no problem! Both of these spots offer great no-meat options as well.

Leisurely stroll through town after lunch to check out the handicrafts, souvenir shops and abundance of beautiful textiles made by local villagers from various tribes in Laos. Of particular note is Ock Pop Tok, meaning east meets west. It functions as a cooperative and training organization helping keep local traditions alive, train the next generation of weavers and get final products in front of potential customers. Check out their shop in town or venture to their living craft center to try your hand at dying textiles or weaving.

When you’re ready for a break from the hot Lao sun, check out La Silapa Italian & Lao Kitchen. The patio in the back is perfect for siping prosecco. Make your way to Amigos Mexican Restaurant for the best tacos in town. The Lao and Australian husband and wife duo who run Amigos in Luang Prabang have a second location in Vang Vieng where they also have a farm. All of the ingredients are locally sourced and made in Laos. The patio is adorable with Christmas lights and tons of plants. Drink a Beer Lao or two and enjoy.

Amigos | © Regina Beach/Culture Trip