🇱🇦 Laos – Luang Prabang: Travel and Backpacking Nov 2019

Disclaimer

The information in this blog is accurate as of November 2019.

CONTENTS

• 🤔 – What to Expect
• 🌅 – Activities
• 🍛 – Food
• 🚇 – Transport
• 🛌 – Accomodation

🤔 What to Expect

• Gorgeous Hilly Landscapes.
• Bumpy and Uneven Pavements.
• Stunning views of the Mekong River.
• A Morning Market to put you off your breakfast.
• 2-3 nights maximum.

🌅 Activities

Morning Market

• Locals selling local produce including fruit, vegetables, herbs, meat and drinks.
• The protein on offer was not for the faint hearted as you could have yourself crickets, chickens feet, cow/buffalo hooves, silk worms and even bats!
• There were also meats more familiar to Western palates e.g. chicken, liver, pork, fish, seafood and beef.
• People chopping up vegetables on the pavement – no table, no board, just the pavement.
• As always, keep your belongings close and be prepared to barter.

Kuang Si Waterfall & Bear Rescue Centre

• 20, 000 kip entrance fee plus 40, 000 kip minivan service per person (bought from guesthouse). There are other transport options available however this is one of the cheapest with longer time to spend at the waterfall.
• Beautiful blue lagoons to swim in.
• Magnificent views of the Kuang Si Waterfall cascading over the rocks.
• Two Pathways up to the top of the waterfall. One is for wet season and the other dry. The wet season is more of a climb in parts not recommended for those without proper shoes or who have mobility issues.
• Once at the top, there are stunning views overlooking the surrounding mountainside.

• A Bear Rescue Sanctuary is situated on the walk through to the falls.
• No additional entrance fee.
• Donations are welcomed and souvenirs available to buy.
• The Bear Rescue Sanctuary looks after Asiatic Black Bears who have been rescued from bear bile farming where their bile is extracted to be used in Chinese medicine.

Mount Phousi

• 20,000 kip entrance fee – not really worth the money in our opinion.
• 300 steps.
• Views over the city, particularly wonderful at sunset however also extremely crowded.
• A temple at the top however not much to comment on.

Slow Boat on the Mekong River

• Bought as part of a trip including Whiskey Village and Pak Ou Cave for 100,000 kip per person plus entrance fee of 20,000 kip for cave.
• Similar trips can be bought from your agents and sellers near the river bank.
• Stunning views of the greenery and mountains as you float down the Mekong River.
• See elephants bathing at the river’s edge.
• Watch locals complete their daily routines whether bathing, working or fishing.

Whiskey Village

• A village of wooden stalls with only 2 that are ‘whiskey’ or should I say rice wine.
• Should have been called the scarf village as this was what most stalls sold.
• Some gorgeous scarves to be seen and you can catch the locals making them.
• There is also a village temple but we only had 15 minutes so couldn’t really explore. Doubt there’s much though.

Pak Ou Cave

• 20,000 kip Entrance Fee. Totally not worth it.
• Lots of steps.
• Lots of locals begging/ selling.
• Lower temple more interesting than upper however neither stand out.
• Upper temple is very dark.
• Lots of Buddha statues – all shapes and sizes.
• Wish we’d stayed on the boat and not bothered with the caves – the views were so much nicer!

Night Market

Another place, another market selling the same stuff most others do, for example magnets, bracelets, paintings, lanterns, street food etc.

Other Things To Do

• See the Alms giving to the monks at 5.30am daily.
• Visit some of the local temples (we were templed out after Thailand).
• Visit the Royal Palace which is now a museum.
• Learn about Laos ethnic cultural heritage and livelihoods at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre.

🍛 Food

Bamboo Gardens

• Cheap and delicious food.
• Cost around £5 each time we ate here for 2 mains and 2 beverages.
• Friendly waitresses.
• Tooled away off the main road.

Utopia

• Moderately priced eatery. We spent almost £16 on 2 breakfasts, 3 softs and 1 beer (even though it was only 8.30am, after the journey we’d had Arran needed it).
• Good breakfast menu with different options on offer.
• The place has a hippy feel.
• Nice views over the Mekong River (minus the digger and truck) and possibly could be peaceful.
• Think of themselves as tranquil by day and party by night.

Pha Khao Lao

• Cheaply priced food – 2 mains and 2 beverages for £10.50.
• Plenty of choice. Food was tasty.
• Larger than meets the eye restaurant with outdoor decking. Not much of a view but sweet.

Local Sandwich Shops

• Great for a cheap sarnie, between 10,000 and 15,000 kip.
• Plenty of choice for vegetarians and meat eaters alike.
• There are plenty located throughout the city.

🚇 Transport

• Local taxis/ tuk-tuk vans are available on every corner. Barter though as we’ve heard they are rather expensive.
• Minivans, often organised for day trips, available in tour shops and at the accomodation. Price varies dependant on destination location and company.
• Hire a scooter for the day costing around 80,000 to 100,000 kip plus buying your petrol.
• Hire a bicycle for around 20,000 kip for the day.
• Walk. The city is small enough to cover on foot.

🛌 Accommodation

Thavisouk Guesthouse

• kip per night.
• Private bathroom, with refridgerator and fan, air con was extra.
• Interesting pink and white lights with a green bedside lamp. 😂
• Only hot water in the morning.
• Good location.
• Offers amenities, transport and trips.
• Seemingly friendly staff.
• Wouldn’t stay again.