Laotian Luxury in Luang Prabang
Sometime you need a bit of luxury in your life. Luckily the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang has plenty to offer for those seeking something sumptuous. Follow us as we depart from our regular budget backpacking and indulge in the high end staying at a fantastic hotel and eating at the bougiest of bistros.
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Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you want to splurge, sometimes you just want a little luxury in your life! We are not usually ones for the finer things, we specialise in long term backpacking travel, cheaper accommodation and street food, so a stay at an incredible luxurious hotel is not very “on brand” for us! On brand or not, after a year of hostels and guesthouses a bit of much needed indulgence was very welcome.
Luang Prabang is an unbelievably beautiful UNESCO World Heritage City in the heart of northern Laos. This wonderfully preserved city is full of cafe’s restaurants, historic buildings, temples and museums . It was for these reasons we decided it was a good place to meet up with my parents after a year away and, thanks to them, we found ourselves in the lap of luxury. Luang Prabang is a great place for a getaway.
Staying In Luxury - Satri House Luang Prabang
The stunning Satri House is about as far away from budget hostels as you could hope to get. Converted from a French colonial villa it is secluded, elegant and serene. It is also, paradoxically, near to all the attractions in the historic town as well.
Luang Prabang is one of Laos larger cities and sprawls out from the historic heart; a tiny, Manhattan-like peninsula that juts out between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Satri house lies at the southern end of the old town, within walking distance from all the Old Quarter sights.
The hotel itself is incredibly luxurious without being ostentatious with elegant pools, a spa, manicured Laotian style gardens and an excellent restaurant serving high end local and international food.
The rooms are massive, with four poster beds and are full of bespoke furniture, antiques and charming accents. The bathrooms are unsurprisingly opulent with full baths and walk-in showers.
The hotel could organise anything you needed; from a driver to an exclusive private breakfast at the stunning Kuang Si waterfalls the friendly concierge was happy to help.
The staff overall were borderline psychic, always there when you needed but never hovering or intruding. Our rooms would be made up or turned down without us ever noticing the staff come or go, the only sign would be a clean room, the blinds being drawn and a selection of Laotian sweets being left on the dresser! The staff are also very helpful and accommodating; When we mentioned one evening that we were a little peckish, they brought out trays of delicious Laotion small plates to the hotel bar for us!
Satri house was a world away from what we were used to on our great adventure but was an incredible get away. It was perfect for the parents, who definitely require a little more comfort when traveling around the world. Satri house is not a backpacking budget option in any shape or form, but , if you have the money, it is the definition of luxury and one of the relatively few truly high end hotels in Luang Prabang.
To book a stay please click here.
Other Luxurious Luang Prabang Hotels:
There are of-course other luxury accommodation options than Satri House in Luang Prabang. Another similar level of luxury can be found at the Maison Dalabua, the Angsana Maison or the Villa Maly Hotel. At the very top of the price range there is the Avani + Luang Prabang . For those looking for a more out of town “resort” style hotel check out the Pullman.
We haven't stayed at any of these but they are all beautiful, centrally located high end hotels with pools. For a full list of higher end hotels check out the map below:
Just select your dates and filter by star rating and/or budget.
Luxury Dining in Luang Prabang
Manda De Laos
Set over a UNESCO preserved Laotian lily pond (that is a fun sentence to say out loud), Manda De Loas serves fine dining takes on authentic Laotian cuisine. Offering tasting menus as well as a la carte , Manda De Laos is the poshest, and most famous restaurant in Luang Prabang. It is the partner restaurant to the Maison Dalabua Hotel and we would definitely recommend booking in advance.
Gaspard
Owned by the same family group as Manda De Laos, Gaspard is a gorgeous french restaurant set in a preserved wooden house and garden in the old heart of Luang Prabang. We had our first meal out with the parents here and can highly recommend the food! There is also a fully stocked bar serving fine wines and spirits.
L’Elephant
Another delicious French restaurant, L’Elephant is right in the heart of the old town. Despite its traditional French menu and elegant setting the food remains very reasonably priced.
Popolo
It was strange to find what may be the best pizza we have ever eaten in Laos but that is the wonder of travel! Popolo was a fantastic Italian restaurant that utilized the local buffalo mozzarella to amazing effect. We had our first wine in months here, served in a carafe and it was a wonderful evening. We would especially recommend the “French Kiss” pizza and the Burrata starter.
Leaving Luang Prabang
Most travellers come to or leave Luang Prabang by one of four methods:
By Train:
Laos new high speed train network arrows through the country. From Luang Namptha in the north the line flows south through Luang Prabang and the popular Vang Vieng before eventually terminating at the Laotian capital of Vientiane. It is comfortable and quick and you can book tickets here. The station is set a little out of Luang Prabang so you will need a ticket that includes a transfer to the station (the ones in the link usually have this included).
By Bus / Minivan:
Very affordable and convenient, the bus networks connect to pretty much everywhere in Laos. They are not the most comfortable mode of transport as the roads are quite often bad but they are the most common and cheap way to get around the country. To book bus tickets click here. When booking buses check if they pick up from the town itself or from one of the bus stops outside of Luang Prabang. If the bus/minivan starts from outside the main city you will have to arrange transport to the bus station.
By Plane:
Luang Prabang Airport connects the city with the outside world with regular flights to Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia as well as other international hubs. Check out the flights here.
By Boat:
The most famous way into or out of Luang Prabang is by boat. The slow boats run up and down the Mekong all the way from the Thai border at Huay Xai two days away. We have done the ferry journey in both luxury and budget styles and can highly recommend it. The boats (luxury or not) stop for a night at the half way point of Pakbeng. Check out our article on staying in this tiny town here.
There is something truly magical about floating down the Mekong watching the people and life play out on the water's edge. If you are in Luang Prabang or Northern Thailand you really shouldn’t miss this experience.
Experiences in Luang Prabang
There is so much to see and do in Luang Prabang. The Old Quarter has a wealth of ancient temples, craft centres and museums all of which are easily explorable by foot. It is a fantastic city just to let go and let your feet take you. The old streets and buildings are wonderful just to walk around and soak up the atmosphere.
In regards to specific destinations, you should definitely not miss an expedition to the nearby, world famous, Kuang Si Falls or the short uphill climb to the temple on Phousi Hill.
Luang Prabang is famous for the daily ritual of the alms giving ceremony where at dawn the streets are lined with saffron and maroon clad monks receiving donations of sticky rice and other food. It’s an experience not to be missed whilst in the city.
A trip to the Kuang Si falls is an absolute must!
The UXO museum is also a necessary, if uncomfortable, lesson in Laos sad recent past. No trip to Luang Prabang would be complete without at least a small trip along the Mekong river, for those not interested in the two day upriver exit, there are lots of sunset cruises or day trips available as well. There are too many other museums, temples and open houses to list here, just get out and explore!
If you are looking for some curated tours, more in depth history or just want to combine a few sites into a day out, check out Get Your Guide who offer many tours and activities in the area:
Comfort and Luxury in Luang Prabang - Conclusion
Luang Prabang is a great place to spoil yourself. There are plenty of comforts to indulge in as well as beautiful places to stay and fantastic food to eat. The Old Quarter is absolutely beautiful and full of crafts, museums and temples to explore on foot. It was a great choice for a holiday for my parents and allowed them to experience a little of the adventure of Laos whilst still having all the comfort and luxury of a properly indulgent holiday. Laotian luxury is also relatively good value; the food, accommodation and service we received at Satri House would have cost double what it did if it was in any neighbouring country. We are not usually overly bougie travellers (although we will indulge from time to time), but we adored our luxurious interlude in Luang Prabang.
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Thanks for reading,
John and Ellie x
#adventuresofjellie
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