Luang Prabang Transportation

Luang Prabang Transportation mainly includes two parts, how to get in Luang Prabang and How to get around Luang Prabang. As one of the most important tourist cities in Laos, transportation in Luang Prabang is relatively convenient.

How to Get in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is one of the most important transportation hubs in Laos, and there are mainly three ways to reach Luang Prabang, including aircraft, train and long-distance bus.

By Air

There is only one international airport in Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang International Airport, about 4 km east of Luang Prabang Ancient Town. The airport is very small, with only one floor. There are international flights to Bangkok, Siem Reap and Hanoi, as well as domestic flights to Vientiane and Pakse. The airport is equipped with restaurants, stores, ATM machines and money exchange offices.

Airport official website: http://www.luangprabangairport.com/

Airport Transportation

Luang Prabang International Airport is located 4 km from the city center and it is recommended to take Sawngthaew/red car to and from the airport, or you can have the hotel you booked provide a pick-up service.

  • By Tuktuk and Minivan: There are many Tuktuk cars in front of the airport, which can seat 6 people and take about 10 minutes to the city center, so it is the most convenient transportation. Minivan to downtown is usually 50,000 kip, you can negotiate the price.
  • Hotel Transfer Service: Many hotels and hostels offer a free transfer service from the airport to your accommodation. It is advisable to contact the hotel when booking, provide your flight number and landing time, and confirm with each other before you get on the plane.

Flying from China

There are direct flights from Kunming and Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province, China. Alternatively, you can fly from some Chinese cities to Vientiane to Luang Prabang with connecting flights.

Direct Flights

Lao Airlines offers direct flights from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China, and Vietnam Airlines and China Southern Airlines offer direct flights from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, several times a week. Please contact the respective airline offices for more information.

  • There is a weekly flight from Xishuangbanna to Luang Prabang, which takes about 50 minutes. Specific flight information is available on the official website http://www.ceair.com/.
  • Lao Airlines flies from Xishuangbanna to Luang Prabang every week, the flight takes about 70 minutes. Specific flight information is available on the official website http://www.laoairlines.com/.

Transit Flights

There are flights to Luang Prabang from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc., which require one or more connections in China or Southeast Asian countries. Some of the more common ones are: Hong Kong Airlines (connecting in Hong Kong and Bangkok), Bangkok Airways (connecting in Bangkok or Hanoi), Vietnam Airlines (connecting in Siem Reap or Hanoi), etc.

Recommended Route

Departing from Chinese inland by air, Kunming-Vientiane-Luang Prabang air route is recommended. Since Lao Airlines and China Eastern Airlines offer several flights between Kunming and Vientiane, if you are departing from Beijing or Guangzhou, China, you need to make a stopover in Kunming.

Flying from other Countries

It is convinient to fly to Luang Prabang from other countries or cities in Southeast Asia, with direct flights from Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand and Hanoi in Vietnam. Bangkok Airways operates a daily flight from Luang Prabang to Bangkok. Lao Airlines operates several weekly flights to and from Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Lao Airlines also offers flights from Luang Prabang to Vientiane and Houay Xay, Laos.

Flying from Vientiane

Lao Airlines operates almost daily flights between Luang Prabang and Vientiane, and Lao Central Airlines operates several flights between Luang Prabang and Vientiane each week.

By Train

Since China-Laos Railway had been put into traffic, travelers can get into Laos from Yunnan province, China. Taking trains from Boten (China-Laos Border) to Luang Prabang are convenient and fast.

Train Schedule (Vientiane – Luang Prabang – Boten)

Train Number Depart Arrival Duration Intermediate Stations
C82
(Fast Train)
Vientiane (07:30) Boten (11:02) 3 hours 28 minutes Vang Vieng(123km, 08:25-08:29);Luang Prabang(238km, 09:23-09:31);
Muang Xay(339km, 10:17-10:21);
Na Teuy(393km, 10:47-10:51)
K12 (Ordinary Train) Vientiane (08:00) Boten (13:10) 5 hours 10 minutes Phonhong(64km, 08:39-08:43);Vang Vieng(123km, 09:20-09:24);
Kasi(167km, 09:53-09:57)
Luang Prabang(238km, 10:43-10:49);
Muang Nga(293km, 11:22-11:26)
Muang Xay(339km, 11:55-12:01);
Na Moh(378km, 12:27-12:38);
Na Teuy(393km, 12:51-12:55)
C92
(Fast Train)
Vientiane (09:20) Luang Prabang (11:13) 1 hour 7 minutes Vang Vieng (123km, 10:15-10:19)
C86
(Fast Train)
Vientiane (10:10) Muang Xay (13:45) 3 hour 35 minutes Phonhong (64km, 10:41-10:45);Vang Vieng(123km, 11:13-11:17);
Luang Prabang(238km, 12:25-12:31)
C84
(Fast Train)
Vientiane (15:05) Luang Prabang (17:10) 2 hour 5 minutes Vang Vieng (16:11-16:15)

Train Schedule(Boten – Luang Prabang – Vientiane)

Train Number Depart Arrival Duration Intermediate Stations
C81
(Fast Train)
Boten
(12:15)
Vientiane
(15:52)
3 hours 37 minutes Na Teuy(13km, 12:24-12:28);Muang Xai(67km, 12:54-12:58);
Luang Prabang(168km, 13:45-13:53);
Vang Vieng(283km, 14:45-14:49)
K11
(Ordinary Train)
Boten
(14:00)
Vientiane
(19:15)
5 hours 15 minutes Na Teuy(13km, 14:11-14:15);Na Moh(28km, 14:28-14:32);
Muang Xay(67km, 14:58-15:02);
Muang Nga(113km, 15:31-15:35);
Luang Prabang(168km, 16:10-16:16);
Kasi(239km, 17:11-17:15);
Vang Vieng(283km, 17:44-17:48);
Phonhong(342km, 18:25-18:29)
C91
(Fast Train)
Luang Prabang
(11:40)
Vientiane
(13:40)
2 hours Vang Vieng(12:32-12:36)
C85
(Fast Train)
Muang Xay
(14:25)
Vientiane
(17:48)
3 hours 23 minutes Luang Prabang(15:13-15:19);Vang Vieng(16:39-16:43);
Phonhong(17:11-17:15)
C83
(Fast Train)
Luang Prabang
(18:20)
Vientiane
(20:20)
2 hours Vang Vieng(19:12-19:16)

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By Road

From China

  • Entering Luang Prabang from Kunming: There are daily international buses to Luang Prabang from Kunming Railway Station, Long Distance Bus Terminal and Kunming Nanyao Bus Terminal, which take about 24 hours. The international bus stops at the Luang Prabang South Coach Station and it is a ten-minute ride by Tuktuk to the downtown of Luang Prabang.
  • Entering Luang Prabang from Xishuangbanna: There is a line from Xishuangbanna Passenger South Station to Luang Namtha via Mengla, the drive is 6 hours, and it takes 12 hours to continue to Luang Prabang from Luang Namtha, which is a long journey, it is recommended to rest for one night.

From Vientiane and Vieng Vang

  • There are daily long-distance buses departing from the northern bus station in Vientiane, with departures concentrated between 6:30 and noon, and a few in the afternoon, taking 11 hours.
  • There are long-distance buses departing from the northern bus station in Vang Vieng from 9:00 a.m. daily, with intervals of 1-3 hours, and there are two types of buses: mini buses and luxury buses. The road from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang is in good condition and the scenery along the way is breathtaking. (The specific time is subject to the current day)

From Luang Namtha

There are daily long-distance buses departing from the long-distance coach station, 10 km south of Luang Namtha city, at 9:00 a.m. and minibuses departing at 8:00 a.m. It takes 8 hours and about 100,000 kip.

From Houay Xai

There are daily long-distance buses departing from the coach station, 5 km east of Houay Xay, via Luang Namtha and Oudomxay, departing at 9:00, 11:30, 13:00 and 17:00, with the 17:00 departure being a luxury bus with blankets provided and more comfortable seats.

By Ferry

Luang Prabang is located by the Mekong River, so the water transportation is available. The only route that has been opened is Luang Prabang - Houay Xay, for the fast ferry and slow ferry. Fast ferry travel time is about 8 hours. The slow ferry trip is for two days, the first day driving 7 hours to reach the Oudomxay province, get off the boat to find a hotel to stay and rest, the next day starting at 7 am driving 7 hours to Houay Xay. Slow ferry is recommended, because the price is cheaper and more comfortable than the fast boat, and you can also enjoy the beauty of the Mekong River along the way.

Many tourists choose to arrive or depart from Luang Prabang by ferry, which takes longer than land transport, to enjoy the beautiful water scenery. There are daily ferries from Luang Prabang to and from Houay Xay, Pakbeng and Nong Khiaw in Laos.

There is daily slow ferry departure to Luang Prabang from Houay Xay, which departs at 11:00 a.m. and takes 2 days, with tickets available from 8:00 a.m. that morning. Every week there are several classes of luxury slow ferry departure to Luang Prabang, named Luangsay cruise (http://www.luangsay.com/), more expensive, but including three meals, with a guide, beautiful scenery along the way. (The specific time is subject to the day)

How to Get Around Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang covers an area of less than 10 square kilometers and the Tuktuk is the main mode of transport to get around the ancient town, or a little further afield to the Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls. A motorcycle or bicycle is also a good way to get around Luang Prabang, and the gentle terrain is ideal for riding, with rental rates based on the number of days. If you only want to explore the ancient town, it is easy to reach on foot.

By Tuktuk

Th Sisavangvong street, Luang Prabang coach station and popular sightseeing spots always have many Tuktuk vehicles available. The price is usually 5,000-20,000 kip, and the price will increase if you go further away, so you can bargain or find a carpool.

By Bus

There are two long-distance bus stations in Luang Prabang: the south bus station and north bus station, with inter-provincial and inter-city buses to all parts of the country. Generally speaking, buses to areas north of Luang Prabang depart from the North Bus Station; while buses to the southern areas depart from the South Bus Station. Hotels and scenic spots are some distance away from these two bus stations and are not convenient to get to.

Long distance buses depart from South Station to Vientiane (60,000 kip, about 11 hours, 6 buses per day), stopping at Vang Vieng (50,000 kip, about 7 hours) on the way. Travel agencies also sell VIP express coaches to Vientiane (75,000 kip, about 9 hours).

By Motorcycle

In Luang Prabang, motorcycles are the means of transportation for most Lao people. Motorcycles are available for rent at a number of hotels and stores in the Lao PDR, with rental rates ranging from 150,000-300,000 kip per day, or by the hour. Most of the motorcycles are rented from the Narang mini-bus station, it is cheaper to rent directly there.

  • Deposit your passport when renting a motorcycle: You need to deposit your passport when renting a motorcycle, you do not need to provide your driver's license. It is generally not recommended to rent a motorcycle, as many roads in Laos are not smooth and not clearly marked, making it easy for traffic accidents to occur, for which you will be solely responsible if they occur.
  • Check the bodywork when renting a motorcycle: Check the condition of the bodywork before renting the motorcycle, whether it has been damaged or brake failure and other problems, if so, it is recommended to replace it to avoid disputes when returning the motorcycle. You can also take photos to prevent unscrupulous businessmen from deliberately trapping.
  • Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle: It is important to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle, and there may be penalties for not wearing one if you are caught by the police, although there are still a significant number of locals on the street who do not follow this rule.
  • Do not overspeed or overload: Some areas of Luang Prabang have uneven roads, so be careful when riding and pay attention to road signs and passing marks. Don't try to save money by taking more than one person on a motorcycle, as you will not only be punished by the police, but also put yourself at risk.
  • Lock your car when parked on the roadside: Luang Prabang is very crowded, especially in the popular urban areas. Although Laos has a good security system, there are still some thieves in tourist areas. Remember to lock your motorcycle when parked on the roadside and do not park it overnight.
  • Protect your money: When riding a motorcycle in more remote areas, it's best to carry or fasten your belongings to your motorcycle to prevent biker duos from robbing you.

By Bike

Luang Prabang is not a big city, so it is worthwhile to rent a bike to get around the ancient town. You can usually get a good bike at the hotel you're staying at, either for free or for $1/day, or for a better mountain bike, which is more expensive. You can rent a bike at the Mekong River for about 20,000 kip.

By Water

Luang Prabang, right next to the Mekong River, is also well connected by water. There is a ferry port on the banks of the Mekong River directly opposite the Royal Palace Museum, where you can take a slow boat or speed boat to the other side or to the surrounding villages or take a boat tour of both sides of the Mekong. Boats to the surrounding Pak Ou caves depart between 8:30 and noon.

By Red Car

In the city, a songthaew/red car costs about 10,000 kip. For more distant attractions such as Kwang Si Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves, most travel agencies represent day trips to these two places. You can also see many red car drivers with leaflets about waterfalls and caves soliciting customers by the Royal Palace on Th Sisavangvong Street, and you can find someone to share a car to get there for about 40,000-50,000 kip.

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