Luang Prabang
A royal town on a spit of land between the Mekong and the Nam Khan, temples and wooden houses under Mount Phousi, and an airport ten minutes from the old streets.
- Arrival
- Luang Prabang International · LPQ
- To the town
- About 10 minutes by car
- Private jets
- Customs at LPQ, open 07:00 to 18:00
- Best time
- November to March
The city
Between two rivers.
The old town fills a peninsula where the Nam Khan runs into the Mekong, with mountains on every side. Wooden houses and temples stand beside brick buildings from the French years, and UNESCO has protected the whole ensemble since 1995. The Rosewood, outside town in the Nahm Dong valley, holds three MICHELIN Keys, the highest mark the guide gives a hotel.
From November to March the town is at its gentlest: December and January stay at 26 or 27 °C in the afternoon, and each month brings less than 40 mm of rain. After that the Mekong country turns wet: April passes 100 mm, and August nears 300.
- Wat Xieng Thong A 16th-century monastery, the most elaborate group of buildings in the town.
- Mount Phousi The sacred hill at the centre of the old town, with the rivers and roofs below.
- The Mekong The great river that wraps one side of the peninsula, joined at the town by the Nam Khan.
Arriving
A short runway in the hills.
Luang Prabang International lies about 4 km from town, some ten minutes by car from the old quarter. Customs clear arrivals on the spot, so an international flight can land here directly.
- Ho Chi Minh City 1 h 50
- Hong Kong 2 h 00
- Tokyo 5 h 35
- Sydney 10 h 30 long-range jet
- Rome 11 h 20 long-range jet
When to go
November to March.
A dry season and a wet one. From November to March rain is rare and afternoons are warm, at 26 to 32 °C. The heat tops out at 33 °C in April and May, just as the wet half of the year begins; it lasts until October.
- 27° J 16
- 30° F 20
- 32° M 33
- 33° A 110
- 33° M 161
- 32° J 257
- 31° J 241
- 31° A 299
- 31° S 182
- 30° O 121
- 28° N 40
- 26° D 12
Where to stay
In the valley and in the old town.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
Where to book in town.
No MICHELIN Guide covers Laos. These are Fodor’s Choice restaurants and the signature restaurants of the Rosewood and Amantaka, all open in 2026.
- Manda de Laos Fodor’s Choice Lao $$$ Norrassan Road, by the lotus ponds
- L’Elephant Fodor’s Choice French and Lao $$$ In town
- The Great House Signature restaurant, Rosewood Luang Prabang French and Lao $$$$ Rosewood, Nahm Dong valley, outside the town
- The Restaurant at Amantaka Signature restaurant, Amantaka Lao and French Amantaka, old town
Elsewhere in Laos
More reasons to come.
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