Luang Prabang tour: Temples, palace & Mount Phousi sunset

Wat Xieng Thong and four other temples in a single morning, then the palace and a museum of Lao hill-tribe cultures.

This 8-hour guided tour of Luang Prabang takes you through the city's most significant temples (Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visoun, Wat Mai and others), then through the Royal Palace Museum on the Mekong's banks and the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, ending with a climb up Mount Phousi's 328 stairs to watch the sunset and browse the evening hill-tribe market. A professional English-speaking guide leads the route. Lunch and hotel pickup are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Royal Palace Museum1h · entry included
2. Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre30m · entry included
3. Mount Phousipass by

Explore Luang Prabang's culture and temples

• Visit the Royal Palace Museum
• Walk to Wat Mai and Wat Sensoukarahm temples
• Tour Wat Xieng Thong temple
• Visit Wat Visoun temple and Watermelon Stupa
• Pass Wat Aham and visit Wat That stupa
• Explore Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
• Climb Mount Phousi stairs and watch sunset
• Shop at hill-tribe evening market

The experience

The tour starts at the Royal Palace Museum, known locally as Haw Kham or the Golden Palace, which sits on the Mekong River facing Mount Phousi. The palace holds historical artifacts tied to Lao history and culture. From there you walk to three temples in succession: Wat Mai, with its golden bas-relief; Wat Sensoukarahm, which has a dazzling golden façade; and Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in the city. Built in 1560 by King Setthathirat at the peninsula's end near the Mekong, Wat Xieng Thong is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.

The afternoon shifts to the city's holiest temple, Wat Visoun, rebuilt entirely in 1887 after destruction by the Black Flags from Southern China. Its courtyard holds the Watermelon Stupa, shaped like the fruit it's named for. You then pass Wat Aham, built in the 1500s, and Wat That, which houses the ashes of King Sisavang Vong inside its central stupa. The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre follows, a museum dedicated to Laos' ethnic minorities with displays of traditional costumes, tools and artifacts alongside written histories. A chance to understand the diversity of Lao peoples (note: closed Mondays).

The day ends with a climb of 328 stairs up Mount Phousi to watch the sun set over the city and surrounding hills, followed by time at the evening hill-tribe market. This colorful market sets up around 5pm along the main streets and is where to find souvenirs. Lunch is included during the tour, and a tuk tuk brings you from your hotel at the start and returns you at the end.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• lunch.
• hotel pickup and drop-off by tuk tuk.

Options for this experience

3 options

Up to 9 people · Guide in English08:00

Up to 6 people · Guide in English08:00

Up to 15 people · Guide in English08:00

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Bravo Indochina Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour option for 1–3 people if you want a flexible pace through the temples and the palace, or the 4–6 person private tour if you're traveling with a larger group but still prefer a dedicated guide. The group option with 7–9 people keeps costs lower while following the same route and timing.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

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 is it the highlight of this tour?

Wat Xieng Thong is the most revered temple in Luang Prabang, built in 1560 by King Setthathirat at the peninsula's end near the Mekong River. It is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics and is the centerpiece of the morning temple route.

What does the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre show?

The centre is dedicated to exploring the rich diversity of Laos' ethnic minorities, with displays of traditional costumes, tools and artifacts alongside in-depth descriptions and written histories. It is closed on Mondays.

How does the tour end, and what is the evening market like?

After climbing Mount Phousi to watch the sunset over the city and surrounding hills, you visit the hill-tribe evening market, which sets up around 5pm along the main streets. It is a colorful market where you can shop for souvenirs.

Does the tour include meals and transportation?

Lunch is included during the tour. Hotel pickup and drop-off by tuk tuk are also included, so you do not need to arrange your own transport to and from the starting point.