Luang Prabang Tour & Kuang Si Waterfalls: Temples, Pools
Temples at dawn, waterfalls in the afternoon, mountains at sunset.
A full-day private tour of Luang Prabang combines the city's temples, royal palaces and riverside views with an afternoon trip to Kuang Si Waterfalls, where you swim in emerald pools and visit a bear rescue center and Hmong village. A local guide leads the morning walk through Buddhist sites and tells the stories painted on temple walls. The afternoon is free time before heading to the waterfall. Temple entrance fees, the waterfall, and Hmong museum entry are included. Pickup is available in most options.
Options for this experience
4 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Luang Prabang city and Kuang Si Falls
- Optional morning alms giving
- Optional visit to morning market
- Free time for breakfast
- Introduction at riverview park
- Visit Wat Xieng Thong temple
- Temple hopping at Wat Sene
- Visit Royal Palace Museum
- Climb Phousi Hill for views
- Free time until afternoon
- Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls
- Visit bear rescue center
- Visit Hmong village
- Royal Palace Museum 1h
- Mount Phousi 30m
- Golden City Temple 40m
- Kuang Si Falls 2h 30m
What’s included
- Local guide in English or Japanese.
- air-conditioned vehicle with pickup.
- Kuang Si Waterfalls and Hmong museum entrance fees.
- all taxes and fees (temple entrance fees on some options only, check your selection at checkout).
Times
- Every day 05:30 08:30 09:00 09:30
Before you book
Operated by Manifa travel
Prices and times updated 11 days ago
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The experience
The day starts early if you choose the 5:30 am alms-giving option, where you watch monks collect offerings from locals in a living Buddhist ritual that has shaped Luang Prabang for centuries. After that, the morning market opens along quiet streets near the Royal Palace, selling everything from rice and fresh vegetables to the day's catch. You return to your accommodation for breakfast and free time until 8:30 am, when the main tour begins at the riverbank where the Nam Khan meets the Mekong.
From there, a local guide walks you to Wat Xieng Thong, the ceremonial gateway to the city, where you climb the grand staircase as ancient dignitaries once did. The temple, known as "The Temple of the Golden City," sits at the peninsula tip with views of both rivers. You then move through the neighborhood to Wat Sene, built in 1718 with 100,000 stones from the Mekong, and visit the Royal Palace Museum, which displays Lao artifacts in a French colonial building from 1904–09. The morning ends at Mount Phousi, a 150-meter hill in the center of town where you get 360-degree views across the city, its temples, and the mountains beyond. You have free time after this to rest and eat before the afternoon excursion.
In the afternoon, you head to Kuang Si Waterfalls, where the water cascades into emerald pools you can bathe in. The site includes a bear rescue center. On the way back to Luang Prabang, you stop at a Hmong village to meet the ethnic minorities and see how they live. The journey covers roughly 12 hours from start to finish, with an air-conditioned vehicle and driver throughout. Some options include a sunset cruise back on the Mekong, returning around 6:30 pm.
Is this one for you?Choose the 5:30 am alms-giving option if you want to witness the Buddhist morning ritual before the temples fill with other visitors. The private format means your guide can adjust the pace and spend extra time at sites that interest you most. If you prefer to sleep in, the standard 8:30 am start still covers the main temples and gives you the full afternoon at the waterfall without rushing.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
In English, at 05:30, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30. In Japanese, at 05:30 and 08:30.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is Wat Xieng Thong and why do you enter it like an ancient dignitary?
Wat Xieng Thong, known as "The Temple of the Golden City," was the ceremonial gateway to Luang Prabang for centuries, where foreign dignitaries arrived and departed. You climb the grand staircase from the Mekong to enter through the main gate, following the same path those dignitaries took.
Can I swim at Kuang Si Waterfalls?
Yes, you have time to bathe in the emerald pools at Kuang Si Waterfalls. The site also includes a bear rescue center you can visit.
What happens at the Hmong village?
At the Hmong village on the way back from Kuang Si, you meet ethnic minorities and get a glimpse of their daily life and culture.
Is lunch included in this tour?
Lunch is not included. You have free time in the middle of the day after the morning temple tour ends, which you can use to eat at a restaurant of your choice.
Do I need to pay extra for temple entrances?
Temple and museum entrance fees vary by option. Some options include fees for Wat Xieng Thong, the Royal Palace Museum, and Mount Phousi. Others do not. Check your selected option at checkout to see what is covered.
What time does the tour start?
The main city tour begins at 8:30 am at riverview park on the peninsula. If you choose the alms-giving option, that starts at 5:30 am, and you return for breakfast and free time before 8:30 am.
Luang Prabang Tour & Kuang Si Waterfalls: Temples, Pools
12h · EN +1
from US$ 44 per person
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