Luang Prabang City

Luang Prabang is a former capital of Laos and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. 

Enjoy a one day City sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang with a local guide to see the temples, markets and museums in the quiet, peaceful surroundings in the Old City, situated on the peninsula formed by the confluence of the rivers Mekong and Nam Khan. 

Your escorted sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang with our minivan tour service will take you to visit the some of the many beautiful temples and important historical buildings and museums as well as numerous restaurants, patisseries and bars where you and your family can rest after a busy city tour, or take a relaxing break between visits. You will have numerous opportunities for shopping in the tourist shops and markets - our local guide will be happy to advise you.

MinivanLuangPrabang's minivan tour service specialises in arranging guided sightseeing day tours of Luang Prabang City, as well as sightseeing tours throughout Laos, and holidays for families and small groups; our tour operator will be able to accommodate all of your wishes with one of our tailor made tours with our local guide.

Enjoy a massage and spa, learn to cook at one of the many cooking schools, shop for local handicrafts and artefacts, see live performances and experience the life and culture of Laos. 

Whatever your itinerary, we can promise you a day tour par excellence.

Find more photos of Luang Prabang ......

and Festivals in Laos here ......

The morning alms giving ceremony in Luang Prabang is a longstanding part of the culture of Buddhism in Laos. Your sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang will start early to see the ceremony.

Sai Bat, often referred to as Tak Bat, happens early every morning in Luang Prabang. Food, mainly in the form of sticky rice, is offered to monks and novices in their saffron robes carrying their alms bowls, 'bats', as they walk barefoot past those offering alms; the ceremony takes place in complete silence. Many tourists watch the procession of over 200 monks and novices in Sakkaline Road, but there are many other places in Luang Prabang where monks and novices receive alms.

Our driver can bring you to see the Sai Bat, and our local guide or driver can arrange for you to offer alms to the monks and novices if you wish. Then on to the morning market before going to a patisserie or back to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast climb aboard the minivan with our loca driver for your full day City sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang.

Visitors wishing to offer alms or to watch the procession should observe the local customs. 

The City of Luang Prabang is famous for its many ancient Buddhist Temples (Wats). Our local guide will be able to describe the more important details of the temples and other buildings which make up your sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang. Amongst the more notable you should not miss are - 

Wat Xieng Thong

The Buddhist architecture of Wat Xieng Thong Temple, built in 1560, is the most beautiful in Luang Prabang. Wat Xieng Thong has seen the coronations of many Lao kings. 

Monks,  Novices and Nuns live in the monastery; they use the temple for pray Buddha in the early morning and evening everyday,  with particular services on important ceremonies in Buddhism.

Don't miss the mosaic denoting the tree of life on the outside wall of the temple.

The temple lies near the confluence of the River Mekong and the Nam Khan.

Wat Mai

Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham is the full name of the temple and is usually known as Wat Mai. It is situated in the centre of Luang Prabang, a short distance from the Royal Palace.

The construction took several years in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries with many additions after the main building was finished.

Wat Mai houses the Pra Bang during the Songkran Festival in mid April each year.

Monks,  Novices and Nuns live in the monastery; they use the temple for pray Buddha in the early morning and evening everyday,  with particular services on important ceremonies in Buddhism.

Wat Visounnarath

Wat Wisounarath is the oldest temple in Luang Prabang, dating back to the early 16th century. The stupa in the shape of a lotus flower is often thought of as a water melon.

The Visounnarath Temple is in the centre of Luang Prabang city and provides living for Monks, Novices & Nuns. They pray Buddha in the early mornings and late evenings, with particular emphasis on Buddhist festivals.

The Royal Palace Museum in the old city was originally built in 1904 as a royal residence for King Sisavangvong after the previous royal residence was destroyed.

The Phra Bang is now housed in a new temple, Wat Haw Pra Bang, immediately on your right as you pass through the main entrance from Sisavangvong Road.

The main museum building houses some of the most important exhibits of Lao Buddhism, and much of the original private residence is preserved as it was when the king left in 1975.

The Royal Palace Museum, also known as the National Museum, has many artefacts from Laos including the Pra Bang - the Buddha image from which the city derives its name. The Royal Palace was built in 1904 for King Sisavang Vong during the French colonial time. The extensive grounds of the Palace stretch from the river, where official guests could disembark, to the foot of Mount Phou Si.

The Palace became a museum when the Lao People's Demo cratic Party was formed in 1975.

During the Songkran festival each April, the Pra Bang is carried in a procession from Wat Haw Pra Bang, recently built to house the Pra Bang and sited just inside the main gates of the Palace grounds,  to Wat Mai where people traditionally  sprinkle scented water on the Buddha. The festival marks the Lao New Year - Pi Mai.

Find more photos of Luang Prabang ......

and Festivals in Laos here ......

Float down the River Mekong on a sunset cruise and capture great photographs of the sunset.

 Lai Heua Fai is one of the biggest festivals in Luang Prabang which marks the end of the three month Buddhist Lent and shows respect to the Lord Buddha.

Boun Lai Heua Fai is a celebration for the Phanang Naga which is held during Boun Xouang Heua - full moon at the end of October or the beginning of November. It is believed that the festival brings good luck. The boats are made by various villages throughout Luang Prabang Province, and are paraded through the city during daylight. As night falls the boats are again paraded through the city and launched on the river, when they are set alight as offerings to the spirits. Arrangements of flowers are also floated on the river to deter bad luck and to give thanks to the spirits of the water. The Naga are ritually chased out of the fields and streams and back into the Mekong River. 

This takes place annually over a period of seven days at the end of December and beginning of January. The dates each year depend on the moon calendar.

Everyone dresses in Hmong traditional costumes and form lines facing each other; they then throw balls to and fro - a long-standing way of boy meeting girl.

This elephant procession took place in April 2019 at the start of the Songkran Celebrations to mark the Lao New Year, Pi Mai. These pictures were taken by our local guide.

Each year during Songkran, Lao New Year or Pi Mai, there is a big parade from Wat Xieng Thong to Way Mai. There are one or two pictures from the 2021 parade here. The Lao New Year celebrations last from April 12th to 18th - the main celebrations are from 14th to 16th April. Be prepared for the water which you will not be able to dodge!

Find more photos of Luang Prabang New Year (Pi Mai) here ......

Every year, in January depending on the date of the full moon, many, many monks and novices gather at Phoukhay Temple in Luang Prabang for the annual Vipassana Meditation.

Monks gain wisdom and understanding through meditation enabling them to reach their ultimate goal of enlightenment and nirvana.

The Boat Racing Festival happens at the time of the New Moon at the end of August/beginning of September each year. The opening ceremony takes place at 9 a.m. on Nam Khan River bank in Luang Prabang.

The spectators enjoy Racing,  Music, Food, Drinks and plenty of excitement whilst watching the races.

See more photographs of the Boat Racing Festival  here 

Visit the Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre on the outskirts of Luang Prabang  and add an extra dimension to your sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang.

Our local guide will help you understand all about the weaving process - from silk worms, spinning silk thread, the making of natural dyes and dyeing right through to the superb finished products using traditional Lao weaving techniques.

The Shop focuses on the textiles woven by the onsite weavers and is a shopping paradise.

There are many traditional Lao villages in or near Luang Prabang where you can see skilled craftsmen and craftswomen making paper, weaving, wood-carving and other trades. Our local guide will be able to explain the processes to you. We can arrange for your sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang to visit any craft which particularly interests you.

The city of Luang Prabang hosts a myriad of bars, cafes and restaurants which provide cuisine from many nationalities. 

Mr. Bounthieng. our local guide, will be able to recommend local restaurants, cafes or bars to suit all tastes. 

At the end of a busy escorted tour of Luang Prabang, what could be better than relaxing in a restaurant or bar overlooking the River Mekong or the Nam Khan, and eating in one of the many city centre restaurants where you can enjoy food from many countries - or MinivanLuangPrabang's minivan tour service  will take you to visit the night market. The more adventurous of your group will want to enjoy meals from the large number of street food vendors durig your sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang. And you will easily be able to find more shopping opportunities after you have eaten.

Our local guide can provide further information for your family on the many additional activities and sights in Luang Prabang City. 

In particular there are opportunities for trekking with spectacular views, and boat trips along the River Mekong.

You sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang will be an experience which you will never forget.

Find more photos of Luang Prabang ......

and Festivals in Laos here ......

MinivanLuangPrabang's minivan tour service specialises in arranging custom guided tours in Luang Prabang and throughout Laos for small groups and families by private hire minivan with English and Thai speaking driver, and our tour operator will do his best to accommodate all of your wishes. Self guided sightseeing tours with our English and Thai speaking driver are also available.