Luang Prabang | The Adventure Travel Site

Exploring the Mystical Caves of Luang Prabang – Into the Limestone Labyrinth

Tucked away in the mountains and along the riverbanks of northern Laos, Luang Prabang’s caves are sacred spaces, natural wonders, and mysterious hideouts that make your trip feel like a true adventure. Here’s a look at the top caves to explore.

Pak Ou Caves

Located at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers, Pak Ou is famous for its thousands of tiny Buddha statues crammed into dimly lit nooks. Getting there is half the fun—you’ll glide along the Mekong by boat, soaking in jungle views before arriving at this spiritual cavern. The vibe? Peaceful, mysterious, and totally photogenic.

Tham Ting

Technically part of the Pak Ou complex, Tham Ting is the lower cave that greets visitors first—and it sets the tone beautifully. With soft natural light spilling in from the entrance, it’s a serene spot to pause, light incense, and marvel at the countless Buddha images lining the ledges. For those mapping out things to do in Luang Prabang, a stop here brings a perfect balance of spirituality and scenic beauty.

Khuang Si Butterfly Park & Secret Cave

Just a short trek from the ever-popular Kuang Si Waterfalls, this lesser-known cave adds a hidden layer to your waterfall adventure. Surrounded by vibrant flora and fluttering butterflies, it feels like stepping into a secret garden before descending into the cool, quiet cave below. It’s not big, but its hidden charm and natural surroundings make it totally worth the detour.

Jakub Hałun, 20171112 Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park 2140 DxO, CC BY-SA 4.0

Tham Sakkarin

Far from the tourist trail, Tham Sakkarin is a cave often overlooked—and that’s exactly what makes it special. With fewer crowds and a more rugged, natural vibe, it’s perfect for those craving a bit of raw exploration. You’ll need a guide, a headlamp, and a little courage—but the payoff is a cave experience that feels all your own.

A Complete City Guide to Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is relatively a small town, but for a small town like this in geographical terms, it has so much to see and do. French Colonial streets, temples and bustling night markets are just some of them.

When to go to Luang Prabang?

Between November to May falls the best time to visit Luang Prabang, and this is also the period during which every hotel in Luang Prabang gets fully booked with guest reservations. The weather is so pleasant at this time and is suitable for every sightseeing activity that you wish to undertake.

松岡明芳, Phou si Luang Prabang Laos プーシーの丘ラオス・ルアンプラバーン DSCF6777, CC BY-SA 3.0

How to get around?

As mentioned, Luang Prabang is a small town and you can simply get anywhere on foot. But if you are visiting any places outside, you can use a hired bicycle, Tuk-tuk or a taxi for your convenience.

What to see and do?

If you are staying at properties such as Avani+ Luang Prabang there are several places nearby that you can visit such as the Night Market, Mount Phousi Viewpoint and the Mekong River. In addition to that, you may also take a Lao cooking class or witness the alms ceremony to the monks.

calflier001, LUANG PRABANG MARKET LAOS FEB 2012 (6992417213), CC BY-SA 2.0

How about the costs?

An average mid-range traveller will have to spend around $80 as his daily cost including food, transport, sightseeing and accommodation costs. If you are a backpacker, you can actually settle for less.

The Royal Buddha Image Phra Bang

The Royal Buddha Image in Phra Bang is located in Luang Prabang which is one of the oldest cities in Laos that was founded more than 1200 years ago.

History

Luang Prabang was once known as Lan Xang and was the first capital of Laos during the 14th century. It was ruled by the Khmers and the Champa and finally by the French. It was a troubled region for most of its time in the history books.

Budgiekiller, Buddhist temple at Royal Palace in Luang Prabang, CC BY-SA 4.0

Geography

The province of Luang Prabang covers 16,875 sq. km. and borders Vietnam on one side. The capital is located on a very narrow peninsula bisected by two rivers, one of which is the Mekong.

Landmarks

If you are booking into a local hotel like Avani+ Luang Prabang and are looking for options in things to do in Luang Prabang, you start by exploring the famous landmarks in the area like Wat Manorom, The Royal Sitting Buddha, Phra Bang and many more.

The Buddha Image

Phra Bang is an 83 cm high standing Buddha statue. It is said to have been cast in ancient Sri Lanka and brought to Laos but the features put it somewhere in Khmer origin.

Phosi Market

Brimming with life, the Phosi Market is a scene where vendors have their fresh produce and other goods on display on mats on the floor or on small tables to capture the eye of potential customers. Now…some items may look appealing and some not, but then it’s all about the experience here.

The biggest market

Phosi Market is the largest market in Luang Prabang with three-quarters of it always full. There are over a hundred sellers offering customers a wide choice of various items. How about a visit to experience what the place has to offer for yourself?

Food and spices

The local spices are readily available here and freshness is guaranteed. The air here might seem a bit heavy with smells of food and spices wafting through the air as there is very less space for air circulation.

Grocery items

There is a large variety of fresh vegetable to buy here. The butchery section of the market is no place for the faint of heart, still, one may find all sorts of meat here. Pig blood curd is one of the most unusual foods to find here.

Getting here

If you are lodged at a centrally located hotel in Luang Prabang, getting here would be easy via a taxi. For those who fancy a stroll, the market is a 22-minute walk from Avani+ Luang Prabang and other city hotels.

Mount Phou Si

Ever heard of the sacred mountain in Luang Prabang with a challenging flight of 300 stairs with a magnificent panoramic view as a reward? Yes, this article speaks of none other than Mount Phousi which is a must-see attraction here. Here are a few things to know if you plan on visiting the mountain.

Gerd Eichmann, Luang Prabang-Phou Si-06-gje, CC BY-SA 4.0

Entrance fees and timing

The entrance fee for the mountain is about 20,000 kip. The fare will be collected once you are halfway uphill. Also, the mountain is open for sightseeing from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm.

A Sacred Mountain

Mount Phousi translates to “sacred mountain” or “sacred hill”. It bears great significance to the Buddhists in the local area. On the stairways, flower vendors and bird vendors sit, selling. their blessing offerings to visitors. Remember to dress appropriately and respect the peaceful atmosphere here.

Wat Chom Si

This is a temple with a golden stupa on the top of the mountain which was built in 1804. With the temple is a grotto that shelters a big statue of Buddha which is worshipped by the locals with offerings and prayers.

Best time to visit

Mount Phousi offers breath-taking views of both the sunrise and the sunset. However, if you want to avoid the mad rush of crowds, its better to be there before sunrise. This would be even more convenient if you are lodged at Avani+ Luang Prabang or another hotel in Luang Prabang a short distance away from the property.

Gerd Eichmann, Luang Prabang-Phou Si-14-Sonnenuntergang-gje, CC BY-SA 4.0

Green Jungle Park

If you are a person who likes to involve some nature activities in your vacation then visiting the Green Jungle park is a must.

About the park

What was once rubbish and garbage dump is now a beautifully preserved forest. With an amazing waterfall that acts as a backdrop to this park, the view here is nothing short of splendid. The conservation society in this area has shown how people can change nature for the better when they set their minds to it.

Location

The green jungle park is located about 30 kilometres away from the city and you have to travel south to access the area. If you are staying at the hotel in Luang Prabang the likes of Avani+ Luang Prabang you can get yourself a cab and also get the directions from the help desk.

Activities inside the park

Within the park, you will find that there is a zipline activity space that stretches out to about 900 metres along with rope courses and monkey bridges. Partaking in these would be fun for everyone in the group.

Food and drink

Within the green jungle park, you will also find that there is a cafe where you can have a few snacks and a cold drink after you enjoy the activities, look around the flower gardens, take a dip in the natural swimming pools and explore the produce market.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+