After breakfast, transfer to the nearby pier to board a private long tail boat for a scenic 2 hour ride up the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves.
Located upstream from Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Caves, locally called Tam Ting, contains thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues crammed into two caves carved out of a towering limestone cliff. The statues range in size from a few centimeters tall to the size of a human, and the view from the mouth of the cave provides sweeping scenes of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. The caves are also a destination for local pilgrimages, especially during the Lao New Year period of Pii Mai.
After visiting the caves, return downstream to Luang Prabang. You might like to stop along the way back at Ban Xang Hay, a village that specializes in making rice wine.
The city tour begins in the afternoon with your guide who will enable you to learn more about this town registered on the World Heritage Patrimony List since 1995.
Your tour starts at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Your walk continues to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. During Pimai, the Laos New Year, the Prabang normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum is brought and put on public display in this temple. Next, walk to WatSensoukarahm, built in 1718 it has a beautiful dazzling golden façade. Finish with a visit to the most photographed temple, WatXieng Thong. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat while the library was added in 1828.
At the end of the day, climb the 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside. Return to your hotel via a stroll through the evening hill tribe market, where you may find plenty of local souvenirs to buy such as handicrafts and textiles.
Overnight in Luang Prabang
Distance and journey time:
Boat trip to Pak Ou Caves (25 km): 2 hours
Remark: boat trip to Pak Ou Cave Joining boat in cases of 1Pax
