Luang Prabang, Laos

October 30 – November 1, 2025

We flew into Luang Prabang, Laos from Thailand. Luang Prabang is a relatively small city with a tiny airport, but it is a popular tourist destination for the nature and outdoors activities. We stayed in Laos for four nights – two in Luang Prabang and two in Vang Vieng.

Sunset over the river as we arrived to town:

Lots of local street food:

A moat in our hostel!

We found a restaurant popular amongst locals – fast, tasty, and cheap! ~$2 for each of our meals.

Our hostel was fantastic with a nice pool area, caught up on some work before our activities for the day:

We had a driver pick us up and take us to Kuang Si falls. It was a bumpy, hour long ride in the back of a truck, but the falls were amazing. They had a bear sanctuary for sun bears, native to SE Asia.

The waterfall was extensive – lots of smaller falls areas with swimming spots :

The main waterfall was massive with a strong breeze from all of the water coming down:

Above the waterfall was the most unique cafe I’ve been to – a cafe 4-5 flights up into the trees.

Amazing views and a crazy tree house cafe:

A hectic truck ride back into town as we were going straight to a sunset river cruise:

Erin, Sophie, Brian, and I on the cruise:

Local kids paddling in the river:

The cruise had some interesting festivities with the local staff having us write down a wish and an eventful drop of the wishes (on bamboo leaves) by a skeleton man. It also happened to be halloween, so we got to celebrate as boat captains for the evening.

Before heading to Vang Vieng, I got a haircut in town and spoke a little bit of Mandarin with the guy cutting my hair as he is from northern Laos (near the Chinese border).