The stunning and peaceful settlement of Luang Prabang, found at the meeting-point of two rivers (Mekong and Nam Khan), is the historic capital of Laos. Tourists who fly into Luang Prabang International Airport - one of few international airports in the country - can look forward to a city that could have come out of the pages of a fantasy novel. Visitors who avail of Luang Prabang motorcycle hire can experience the kind of scenery that has to be seen to be believed.
Although a city by name, the setting is very much of a rural type, and you don’t have to travel far by scooter from the centre to see the jaw-fropping Pak Ou caves, or the splendid Kuang Si falls. One attraction worth getting on your rental scooter for is the aromatic local cuisine. Due to its riverbank location, Luang Prabang offers a range of delightful fish dishes, cooked in coconut milk and local condiments.
Those who don’t enjoy fish might prefer to sample some of the hearty meat stews, while one of the local delights is the traditional Laotian whisky, lao lao, which is bottled at nearby Ban Muang Keo. If you choose to hire a scooter in Luang Prabang, then you could make a day trip to the capital Vientiane which, like Luang Prabang itself, is home to beautiful Buddhist temples but also has a touch of French-colonial architecture. Some excellent scooter rides can also be taken around the streets of nearby Muang Xay, the capital of the Oudomxay province.