Our guide will walk with you to the bike shop where you will be fitted with bikes and head for the most famous Lao coffee shop where you sit by the Mekong River enjoying coffee and share the local Lao pastry Khanom Khrok.
Next head to the nearby morning market where locals from the countryside around Luang Prabang sell their goods. Discover different meats, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices and learn from your guide how they are used in Lao kitchens. Each year previously unknown varieties of plants are discovered at this morning market. A few local delicacies will be sampled, as well.
We then cycle to the Wat That Luang area to eat Khao Poon, a coconut noodle style soup, which is a delicious, rare find in Luang Prabang! A short distance away at Ban Vieng Xay village, we sit at a local street restaurant and try a variety of food including Naem Khao (a rice noodle crepe, filled with minced meat, mushrooms, and assorted herbs, cut in little pieces, served with a dipping sauce containing minced nuts, lemon, chili, coriander and sweet fish sauce) and Khao Piak Khao (a local rice soup, that is usually eaten in the morning, slowly cooked with pork meat and meat broth, rounded with crushed black pepper and chopped coriander). Depending on your taste, an egg and / or fresh chili can be added to this meal.
To burn some calories, we cycle across the “old” bridge to the other side of the Nam Khan River. After passing by the “German Butcher”, a stop at the scenic meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers for some photos and a quick drink of water is in order. Continuing on, we cycle through Ban Xieng Lek village to check out local weaving and Saa paper handicrafts. Here is where you see local shops and a non-touristy side of town.
A new restaurant made 100% of bamboo nestled on another river, the Nam Khan, is the next stop. The food is to die for, and we’ll have more top-quality local Lao food. Your taste buds won’t know what hit them!
In the afternoon, our guide will take you on an in-depth cycling tour of the city.
The walk is oriented towards the lesser-known parts of the town including charming lanes showing the more traditional atmosphere of the heritage town.
Along the way, we will see the four different types of buildings categorized by UNESCO.
The first one is the traditional Lao house which is made from tropical hardwood or bamboo and built on stilts.
The second is a half wood and half cement house built after the arrival of the French.
The third is the traditional French colonial building that are similar to those found in Vietnam and Cambodia.
The last form of architecture you will see is the old Chinese shop houses that were built to be used for both commercial and residential purposes.
We then return the bicycle at the shop and return to your hotel.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
What is Konglor famous for?
Because of its vibe. Kong Lor is a sleepy little Lao village with one of Lao’s most exciting natural attractions that’s far from sleepy