Laos in 3 Days: Your Relaxing Luang Prabang Itinerary

I take a deep breath in, exhale, unwind, and enjoy the serene majesty of the Mekong River every time I sit on its shores in the historic town of Luang Prabang, Laos. This isn’t a place I thought I would visit multiple times, yet each time I leave, I can’t wait to return.

Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, but Luang Prabang’s position at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers make its waterways the centerpiece of the country’s beauty. Streets lined with picturesque temples, monks participating in morning alms, longboats cruising along the river, tuk-tuks and scooters maneuvering narrow streets, and vendors selling their wares to passersby all add to this UNESCO World Heritage site’s charm. Are you ready to add Luang Prabang to your travel list? Here’s how to make the most of your three day visit.

Day 1: Check in and Start Exploring the Town

We arrived on a direct flight from Bangkok on AirAsia. This is a budget airline with tight seating and no recline. Cheap AirAsia flights worked out perfect on this trip for flights of 90 minutes or less, but I wouldn’t recommend longer. It also may be worth it to splurge on bulkhead seats for extra space if you’re claustrophobic like me.

Note: You will likely need a visa for Laos. It’s very easy to get online in advance so you can zip through the airport on arrival.

Pro Tip: Luang Prabang has a very small airport, so we suggest arranging for transportation in advance. You can also take out some local currency at the airport or use the ATM in town – as many places operate on a cash-only bases (but the hotel restaurants mostly took credit cards).

We checked into our beautiful villa at Le Sen Boutique Hotel and were just blown away by how relaxing the whole experience was from start to finish. I think our specific room was the only villa on the property – the rest were regular rooms – and if it’s available, you should definitely book the villa if you are traveling as a couple. Note that the only shower was outdoors, and it was peaceful, private, and luxurious.

Le Sen is a bit of a walk into town and Luang Prabang doesn’t have the greatest sidewalks, but the hotel offers a shuttle that is easy to coordinate if you’re not up for an adventure on foot. We had no problem walking everywhere, but we know we’re pretty adventurous in this way!

After getting settled in and walking around town a bit, you can spend the evening soaking in the sunset at Mt. Phousi Viewpoint before exploring the vibrant night markets.

For dinner try 3 Nagas Restaurant for traditional Lao cuisine in an inviting atmosphere that’s close to the town’s attractions.

Day 2: Morning Alms, Mekong, and Temples

Today is all about exploration. We recommend rising early to (respectfully) witness the morning alms ceremony.

Every morning at sunrise, the monks and novices walk through town in their orange robes and accept food offerings from the community. It is a beautiful and peaceful ceremony that connects you to the ancient roots of Luang Prabang. Tourist are welcome, but we highly encourage you to read about the etiquette of participating respectfully so as not to disrupt this spiritual tradition. Your hotel staff can help you work out the logistics of participating or observing. The exact time will vary depending on time of year and sunrise.

Next, you can embrace the tranquility of Luang Prabang by wandering the streets and exploring the temples.

For lunch, you must check out The Belle Rive Terrace (Note: Belle Rive and 3 Nagas are part of hotels by the same names, which were runners up to Le Sen for us. If you want to be in the heart of town, they both seem like great options — we just loved the luxury and tranquility of Le Sen).

After lunch, you can grab a few beers and watch the longboats go by. Maybe get a massage, do a cooking class, explore more temples, or read a book and relax.

For dinner tonight: Tamarind is an absolute must. Literally everyone at our hotel, our tour guide, and locals we met recommended this place for visitors to try Lao cuisine. It’s upscale for the area but still comfortable and delightful.

Day 3: Explore Laos By Longboat

We decided to embark on a full day private slow boat tour to explore Pak Ou Cave, a pottery village, and Kuangsi Falls. This was an absolute highlight of our trip to Southeast Asia, and we highly recommend it.

We hired a private long boat for our day of adventure and discovery on the Mekong River. Our guide met us at our hotel in the morning to take us on the boat and dropped us off at the hotel at the end of the full day itinerary.

Our guide, Anong Nong (or just Nong), was so amazing, and we got to genuinely connect with him and learn all about life in Laos. Everything about this relaxing day of exploration on the Mekong was so memorable.

Pak Ou Cave was even more spectacular than we imagined (and it was totally fine for us claustrophobic folks – nothing too enclosed).

The pottery co-op was super interesting to learn about. We bought a few things to support the local community and project.

The Kuangsi Falls were absolutely gorgeous.

You can bring your bathing suit and go for a swim at the falls.

We also observed the sun bears that are cared for by Free the Bears wildlife charity. We are very conscientious about wildlife encounters, and this was a good one — a true sanctuary for rescued cubs that cannot be reintroduced to the wild.

For dinner tonight: We recommend chilling at Le Sen either at the lovely restaurant or with room service in the gorgeous villa. The mango sticky rice is fire 🔥

An observation before we end

Sadly, a multibillion-dollar dam project threatens Luang Prabang’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and could change the tranquil beauty of the surrounding area. While I’m happy to see things have changed a bit for the better in terms of infrastructure since my first visit over a decade ago, I do hope Laos finds a way to maintain the special serenity of this area that makes it so unique.

Next Up: This post was part of our longer blog that you can read on how to plan a luxurious two-week adventure to Southeast Asia.

Have you been to Laos? Is it on your list? Let us know in the comments.