Lady’s Itinerary for 2 Days in Luang Prabang

Everybody loves Laos. I’ve read innumerable travel blogs extolling the country, its people, and its culture. So after visiting Siem Reap last week, I continued my Southeast Asia travels with 2 days in Luang Prabang, Laos’ northern gem.

2 Days in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s famous for its beautiful Buddhist temples and monasteries. It’s also known for its laid-back ambiance, welcoming locals, and abundance of markets, restaurants, bars, and shops.

Laos was my 84th country. I arrived on a flight from Cambodia excited to spend 2 days in Luang Prabang, but wondering if the city would live up to the hype. I couldn’t wait to find out.

Where to Stay in Luang Prabang

My accommodation, the Kiridara, was a boutique hotel that had offered me a complimentary room for my 2 days in Luang Prabang.

The Kiridara was located just five minutes from the airport, and upon arrival I found myself in a tranquil haven with beautiful peaked roofs on a hill overlooking Mount Phou Si.

The hotel had a gorgeous swimming pool, a restaurant where I ate great breakfasts every morning, a fitness center, and a spa with spacious treatment rooms.

Speaking of rooms, my room was large with high ceilings, a big bed, a desk, a TV, wardrobes, a bathroom, and a terrace overlooking the pool.

It would have been nice if the bed had been covered with a mosquito net, but other than that I loved it.

Things to Do in Luang Prabang, Laos

After setting my bags down, I took one of the hotel’s complimentary tuk tuks into the city. Five minutes later I was at the night market, which immediately became one of my favorite places in Luang Prabang.

Two long rows of colorful mats stretched out under tents for several blocks, and everything from brilliant silk scarves to large paper umbrellas was laid out on top of them.

But the market wasn’t the only place to shop in Luang Prabang. The main street, which was one of three running along the peninsula between the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River, was packed with boutiques.

I explored the locally-made goods at Ma Te Sai, the beautiful carved wooden bowls at Caruso Lao, and the clothing at Anakha as I made my way down the road each day.

Restaurants in Luang Prabang, Laos

Walking around helped me work up an appetite, which I sated with trips to several restaurants during my 2 days in Luang Prabang.

The first was a mediocre meal at Blue Lagoon, a restaurant that came highly recommended but was deeply disappointing.

Thankfully it was redeemed by a complimentary lunch on the expansive grounds of the Amantaka hotel.

I enjoyed a traditional meal of spicy bamboo salad (a bit hot for my weak taste buds), excellent red curry with chicken, and a rich mango-and-lime tart.

I didn’t just eat at restaurants, though. On the second night of my 2 days in Luang Prabang, I stumbled upon a narrow passage that was a foodie extension of the night market.

On one side were huge tables with all kinds of noodles, rice, vegetables, and meats, and on the other were picnic tables. I took a plate, piled it with food, and paid less US$2 for what was a very good dinner.

Things to See in Luang Prabang

Food and shopping covered, I focused on the cultural elements of the city for the remainder of my 2 days in Luang Prabang.

Temples and monasteries were dotted throughout the city, their gilded rooftops adorned with dragons and their interiors rife with Buddha statues.

My favorite of the temples was one high up on Mount Phou Si. In fact, it wasn’t just one temple; the whole hillside was covered in golden statues, rock caves with shrines, and footpaths lined on either side by the silver scales of mythical beasts.

Monks in Luang Prabang

Back down on the ground, I woke up early one morning during my 2 days in Luang Prabang to see the daily procession of monks in their bright saffron robes. They collected alms from people lining the street.

Most of the people giving rice and other food to the monks were tourists, which I found a bit strange, but there were a few locals in the mix as well.

As the orange robes and yellow sashes made their way down the street, the monks also doled out some of their food to small children.

Massage in Luang Prabang

After getting my spiritual and cultural fix during my 2 days in Luang Prabang, I focused on my physical needs. Or wants, rather.

One afternoon while I was reading by the pool at the Kiridara, I was offered a complimentary mini massage by one of the staff therapists. It was incredibly relaxing, and the perfect poolside treat.

The following day I was invited to the spa at the Amantaka for a relaxing Lao massage. My therapist worked out all the tension that had accumulated in my shoulders while I carried my heavy bag around Southeast Asia.

The treatment was followed by a relaxing cup of tea and a plate of fresh fruit in a secluded garden terrace outside the room.

2 Days in Luang Prabang

Between the peaceful and relaxing ambiance of the city, the vibrancy of the markets, the splendor of the golden temples, and the gentle flow of the Mekong River, I wanted to stay in Luang Prabang forever.

Having arrived skeptical that the city could be as mythical and inspiring as I’d read, I left firmly in the ranks of those who love it.

The next stop on my Southeast Asia travels was Bangkok, a busy city a world away from the peaceful haven of Luang Prabang, but one that made me appreciate Laos all the more.

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