Markets & Day trips
Off the beaten tracks and the MUST SEE spots. You can't miss the famous Kuang Si Waterfalls & its deep blue lagoons, part of UNESCO World Heritage. A stroll in Ban Xieng Mene will give you a glance of a more authentic Laos.​
Day trips
KUANG SI WATERFALLS
Beautiful all year round. The water drops 50m over 3 tiers of naturally sculpted limestone. It then flows through jungle cascades and pools that make great swimming spots. Climb the 500 steps to a treehouse with coffe shop!
Back in the village find Carpe Diem restaurant, stop at the Buffalo Dairy Farm for a tour or icecream. Get there by Minivan, Tuktuk or Motobike. Public tuktuks leave from the postoffice or book a private tuktuk or minivan through us.
All transport waits at the carpark and brings you back. Allow 4 hours for the whole excursion. Or hire a motobike and really take your time. We love Cafe Na Khoun in the rice fields, 9 km from Luang Prabang.
HANDICRAFT VILLAGE
Cross the Nam Khan river to find a variety of handicrafts. Take one of our bikes and ride across the ‘old’ bridge and turn left. First stop the Weaving Sisters in Ban Phanluang - they offer a class on aback strap loom.
Continue along the river road, the road bends 90 degree left and up a hill on the right you can find Pottery P70, offering classes and a great little restaurant. Continue up the hill turn right. Descend into Ban Xang Khong, famous for silk, cotton textiles and paper made from the bark of the Saa (mulberry) tree.
Take a quick 1 hour class to make paper, stores sell books, picture frames, lamps from paper. Find the delicious Tea House Cafe with beautiful garden. There is even a small textile museum in the Lao Textiles Shop.
JUNGLE TEMPLE WALK
Scenic walk on the other side of the Mekong. Take the ferry to the other side and enjoy the countryside contrast to town. Climb to Chompet Stupa for views back to Luang Prabang and the mountain ranges beyond.
Continue north along a recently completly bricked path, through temple grounds, continue north to another temple. Old Chinese murals and a walking meditation building are some of the highlights.
Fancy a local meal? Stop in at cucumber island's grass roofed restaurants.
The ferry leaves from behind the Royal Palace. ​​​​
Animals & wildlife
Nam Khan Horses
Stables
Your kids will love this! Saddle up and take a journey through the beautiful Lao countryside on horseback. Nature's perspective is different on a horse, so enjoy this experience and visit local villages, meet the friendly Hmong horses and trot through some of Laos scenic forests.​Recommended for 3-year-olds and up.
Buffalo​ Diary Farm
5 km before Kuang Si Waterfall, is a socially responsible and sustainable farm that aims to improve the rural prosperity, welfare, nutrition, and health of the local population, with a focus on buffalo farming.
To support the farm, visit the buffalos! They even have an ice cream hut on the road. You can book a tour of the farm or stop and taste some of their cheeses.​
Manifa Elephant Camp
Just before Pak Ou Cave on the banks of the Mekong is Manifa Camp. Go to interact, or just to observe the elephants. They are committed to ensuring that your experience benefits the elephants.
Book the Mahout experience and take the elephants to the Mekong for theair daily bath. The experience includes a Lao buffet lunch. Their office is on the main street opposite Villa Santi Hotel.
Free the Bears
Hear the moving stories of the rescued bears, meet the bears and help the Bear Care Team prepare food and enrichment treats. You'll be delighted watching the bears search and gobble down the treats you've hidden.
Get special behind-the-scene access to a Bear sanctuary with their 'Bear Care Tour'. An exciting and once-in-a-lifetime experience.​
The Gibbon Experience
Located in Ban Houaxay, North of Laos, at the border with Thailand, you'll have the chance to spot gibbons from lofty treehouses and zip lines in Nam Kan National Park.
The Gibbon Experience is a tourism-based conservation project; the classic experience is 2 nights, 3 days.​​​