Luang Prabang - what I've done and advise you to do

1. Take a Beer Lao facing the Mekong' sunset

On the late afternoon, we start our first evening in Luang Prabang by walking along the Mekong. We reach a small restaurant located on a terrace above the river. What an unusual place ! Above the Mekong, a fresh Beer Lao tastes better. A nice atmosphere is then settled by the soft light of the Sun who touches the wild mountains and begins to disappear behind... a privilege.

2. Chill at the Indigo House rooftop

Right at the market's entrance of Luang Prabang, stands a cafe you can not miss due to its deep indigo color. In front of, a bakery stall full of delicious cakes is waiting for you. After grabing your chocolate muffin, cinnamon roll or mango cake, I advise you to order a coffee inside (local, excellent!) and bring it up the stairs, to install yourself on the rooftop.

A soft and colorful mattress on the floor ? A cosy sofa ? Or a bar chair offering a wonderful view over the town until the mountains ? Your choice !

3. Eat good and cheap at the market stall

To save money (for spending more on the Night market to shop incredible souvenirs) I recommend you to eat for super cheap at one of the numerous street food stalls at the entrance of the market. They all serve (approximately) the same menu : salty and sweet crepes, big sandwiches, fruit shakes... Order your meal and take a seat at their tables dans le coeur de Luang Prabang.

4. Enjoy the amazing night market of Luang Prabang (best of our lives)

If Luang Prabang has a soul, it resides on its Night market. Four long and fabulous chains of colorful stalls which sell basically everything you want bring back home : tea, coffee, traditional scarfs, ethnic clothes, notebooks, and other cool souvenirs (like these amazing slippers below!)

While looking everywhere to find treasures, you walk endlessly, realizing more and more that it's the market you dreamed of.

5. Learn about monk retreat and meditation at the Buddhist Heritage Project

http://buddhist-heritage.org/

Walking in a narrow street, we randomly cross a free photography exhibition about the Buddhist retreat and meditation of the monks from Luang Prabang. Among inspiring black and white pictures, are also some explanations about these traditions.

6. Visit the beautiful Vat Xieng Thong (Temple)

After so many temples we've visited, we still find the faith to, at least, see Vat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang's most famous temple. For 20 000 kip, it's a short and agreeable sightseeing in Buddha's company.

Vat Xieng Thong

Vat Xieng Thong

Vat Xieng Thong

7. Update your idea of paradise at the Khoun Moung Keo waterfall

In every tour agencies is recommended the most famous waterfall near Luang Prabang : Kuang Si. It looks, in deed, wonderful. With our scooter we drive to the site on the morning. It's a long (1h) but beautiful way in the nature. When we finally reach it and arrive on the parking we suddenly face the hell : countless minivans, scooters, Chinese buses, tourists everywhere...

Without an endless reflection, we turn back. Before, on the way, we crossed a sign for another waterfall, we decide to try this one. Khoun Moung Keo waterfall is unknown. Thankfully for us, who have it as our little secret for the day (we don't cross anyone else there). But unfortunately for the people who are depending on the few kips (20 000) you give them to chill there. They are more than nice and really care about the few of comfort they can offer you.

This waterfall is unbelievable. The first time of our life that we can swim or even see water with such a color.

I let you discover it through the pictures.

8. Awaken the child inside you and enjoy Tad Sae Waterfall (By Tobias)

"There is absolutely nothing which can keep up with this place." That's what we say to us after we leave Khoun Moung Keo waterfall. With Mallaury on the back of the motorbike still raving about the first waterfall, for me the best has yet to be discovered.

We decide to drive to the more far away Tad Sae. When we arrive at a big river, we are told to park the bike here and that a boat will brings us to our destination. As it's just reachable by a traditional Lao boat, it's quite an adventure and a perfect retreat into nature. Especially after seeing the overcrowded entrance of the more famous Kuang Si waterfall, this seems to be more what we are searching for.

Our boat docks at a small wooden pier. When we walk up to the waterfall, my jaw drops lower and lower by every step we take. We discover a place, which deserves no other description than Paradise

The stream flows down through the forest over smooth limestones into countless pools of different size. The water is crystal clear, light blue and has a cool temperature which makes it just perfect for swimming. A wooden stairway brings you up to the top, from where you can flow yourself down with the water to the largest pool.

There are so many pools, some in size of a bathtub, some really big that you'll always find a tranquil place to lay down in the water. We have so much fun, sliding from one level to the other while finding the way down. Our luck neither leaves us on this day, as there are relatively few tourists, giving it a very laid-back atmosphere. In another pool further down, a travel lodge is washing their elephants. This is for sure one of the most amazing places I ever saw and we already know this is a day, we'll never forget.

Too bad it's getting late... so after enjoying this natural wonder for a few hours, we take the boat again over the river to our motorbike and head back to Luang Prabang.

On the way back, we make an unexpected encounter on the side of the road. We don't really know what he's doing there, as he's standing on a huge parking lot, without rope or anything. Whatever, it was impressive to see and we leave questioning ourselves what he's doing there.