14 Things to Do in Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang, Laos (B)

The tropical town of Luang Prabang, in the heart of Laos, has a relaxed sleepiness during the heat of the day and comes alive at night, with bustling markets, bars and plenty of places to eat. Rich in culture and arts, delicious food and a short tuk-tuk away from serene waterfalls and caves, there is enough in this town to last you a couple of weeks, if not longer.

Each morning, as the sun is rising, monks walk in a single file down the street in their brilliant orange robes collecting offerings from all the buddhist worshippers, who kneel on mats along the side walk. Little boys trail after them, getting food donations if they can. If you’re prepared to get up at 5.30 am, this is a ritual worth witnessing.

This hill stands in the middle of town and a steady trail of people walk up and down at all times of the day. The best views occur at sunrise and sunset, but otherwise, go early before the heat of the day hits. There is also a small temple at the top.

The Royal Palace Museum is full of richly patterned mosaics, wooden floorboards, golden thrones, drums and gongs, living quarters and the royal car collection. You can the make your way to the Wat Xien Thong Temple, where you will see similar colourful mosaics and elaborate patterns. From here, you can walk down to the river, lined with palm trees and check out the bamboo bridge. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).