Gorgeous Luang Prabang town. It’s a lovely place to visit with kids, such a great experience for your family. Just be careful what you eat and where.
Walking is a great way to explore Luang Prabang as the town is small and compact, you’ll find new delights every few paces, just get lost and enjoy the experience.
This unique town will be one of your highlights of Laos travel.
My kids, at 6 and 8 years old, having a fabulous time in Laos and Luang Prabang, at Kuang Si Waterfall. Pak Ou Caves in another fun excursion, more on these further down the page.
What is there to see and do in Luang Prabang as a family. The town itself has enormous charecter and is dotted with spectacular religious sites and palaces. Here are a few things to do, and places to see.
Luang Prabang Street Scene.
Browse The Shops and Galleries of Luang Prabang
Boutique shops and galleries sell contemporary pieces while the old Laos is seen in some gift shops and market stalls.
You’ll discover shops dedicated to traditional vintage Laos costumes and fabrics, like the one above, stunning pieces representing the many local tribes.
There are plenty of shops, small, and more up-market, selling local arts and crafts in Luang Prabang.
Silver holds a special place in Lao culture, it can keep away evil spirits, bad luck and ill-health. Young children traditionally wear small items close to their bodies so the silversmiths’ technique is well-developed in Laos and Luang Prabang has long been a centre for this craft.
Traditional woven rice steamers for cooking sticky rice, the delicious Laos speciality
You’ll find relics of the war everywhere in the form of recycled and up-cycled bomb casings.
Luang Prabang Night Markets
The markets in Luang Prabang are some of the biggest and best in Southeast Asia.
The Monks’ Alms Walk
The monks’ daily morning procession in Luang Prabang.
This custom isn’t unique to Luang Prabang, but it’s fairly unusual to see monks processing to collect alms in such numbers. It’s always been a highlight of Luang Prabang. Please give them their space and be respectful, some are quite young boys.
The Old Bridge in Luang Prabang, Test Your Nerve
The old bridge, now used only by motorbikes, was built over a century ago under French rule.
Test your nerve by crossing the Nam Khan River on the footpaths which run either side of the main motor bridge, one way foot traffic only.
Kids crossing the old bridge in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang Temples and Monasteries, Explore and Discover
With over 30 temples and monasteries, you will never stop exploring new sites. Check out the largest, most famous religious locations, but try to find the smaller ones too, their beauty is incredible.
Always dress and behave respectfully when visiting religious sites.
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Wat Mai or New Monastery, above, is one of the biggest and arguably, most beautiful, sites in Luang Prabang. It is on the main road near the night market and Royal Palace.
Bars, Restaurants and Cafes in Luang Prabang
After a morning of exploring, find a spot to sit a while. There are no shortage of places to enjoy a coffee, a bite to eat, or even a refreshing (and remarkably cheap) Beer Laos.
Enjoy a local Laotian dish like larp for lunch.
We have to recommend this place, Utopia, for its beautiful riverside terrace and ultra-cool decor.
But if the backpacker scene isn’t for you, try the chic cafes and bakeries on the main street.
Cute cafes in Luang Prabang. You can get Western, Laotian, and other cuisines.
Places To See Near Luang Prabang
There are some great things to do in and around Luang Prabang that are family-friendly. The two tours below look very fun for kids! The waterfalls, Kuang Si, is spectacular and you can enjoy a swim. Why not combine them with water buffalo farming or elephants?
Pak Ou Caves are another must-see not far from Luang Prabang. We did take our kids here, but if you worry about small boats or kids tripping or hurting themselves in caves, maybe it’s not for you. My kids thought it was great fun.
At Pak Ou Caves you cross the Mekong by boat, before exploring the Buddha-filled caves and then climbing up the hill to see another cave system.
Kid-Friendly Hotels in Luang Prabang
A lot of the budget guest houses and hotels in Luang Prabang tend to have 3 beds. A double and a single in their family rooms. They generally allow a young second child to stay free. If you’re on a tight budget and co-sleep, this would probably be your cheapest option.
If you’d like to spend a little more on your accommodation, there are plenty of options and good news, hotels are cheap in Luang Prabang. Not the cheapest in Laos, Luang Prabang is quite lux, but still very affordable.
Soutikone Place House 2 was the cheapest accommodation we could find in Luang Prabang with 2 double beds. It costs around $43 US. See it here.
For a cheaper stay, with a pool, try Villa Oasis, it only has 3 beds in its family rooms, but it’s also only around $60 US per night.
For a luxury stay in lovely Luang Prabang, there are plenty of options. The 5 star Pullman Luang Prabang has 2 bedroom villas in a stunning setting. It’s not cheap! I can’t find another 5-star that has provision for families other than the option of booking 2 separate rooms. This is probably the best hotel in Luang Prabang.
The Slow Boat to Luang Prabang With Kids
The slow boats to Luang Prabang have been operating for as long as travellers have been going to Laos. My husband and I have taken this 3-day boat trip. We opted not to do this with the kids. We thought it would be boring for them and not very safe. But of course, it’s up to you!
Luang Prabang is a gem of a travel destination, as is all of Laos. It’s a country I’m drawn back to again and again.
We also suggest you take a look at this company to get a quote for all kinds of the more tricky adventure or extended travel insurance.
Try Stayz / VRBO for an alternative way to find rentals on homes/apartments/condos in any country!
About the author
Alyson Long
Alyson Long is a British medical scientist who jumped ship to chase dreams. A former Chief Biomedical Scientist at London's West Middlesex Hospital she started in website creation and travel writing in 2011.
Alyson is a full-time blogger and travel writer, a published author, and owns several websites. World Travel Family is the biggest.
A lifetime of wanderlust and over 6 years of full-time travel, plus a separate 12 month gap year, has given Alyson and the family some travel expert smarts to share with you on this world travel site.
Today Alyson still travels extensively to update this site and continue her mission to visit every country, but she's often at home on her farm in Australia.
Hi! Great post! my family will be traveling to Laos soon from Thailand. I was wondering if you are taking malaria pills while you are there? I am not quite sure if they are needed? Thanks for your feedback! Keep up the great posts!
No, we didn’t Gina, but I think they are recommended. Because we travel long term, we can’t take them and I figure if we’re avoiding mozzies for Dengue anyway, we may as well be extra careful and avoid the malaria ones. But it is a risk and your personal comfort level should be the decider.
I only left Laos to come to the states two years ago and boy do I miss it.
Your post made me miss Laos!
Good, that’s the idea!
Hi! Great post! my family will be traveling to Laos soon from Thailand. I was wondering if you are taking malaria pills while you are there? I am not quite sure if they are needed? Thanks for your feedback! Keep up the great posts!
No, we didn’t Gina, but I think they are recommended. Because we travel long term, we can’t take them and I figure if we’re avoiding mozzies for Dengue anyway, we may as well be extra careful and avoid the malaria ones. But it is a risk and your personal comfort level should be the decider.