Town, Laos
Getting around Luang Prabang
How to get around Luang Prabang
The Old Town is walkable and small. Use tuk-tuks or shared songthaews for the airport, train station and waterfalls, and rent a bicycle for local rides.
Ways to get around Luang Prabang
| Option | Fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tuk-tuk | 20,000–50,000 LAK in town | Agree the price first; shared rides to Kuang Si are cheaper |
| Bicycle rental | About 20,000–40,000 LAK a day | Flat Old Town, easy to ride |
| Laos–China Railway | From about 200,000 LAK to Vientiane | Station is about 10 km outside town; fast trains to Vang Vieng and Vientiane |
Ride-hailing apps in Luang Prabang
A 5 km ride costs about ₭30,000–60,000 ($1.3–2.7).
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| inDrive | Works in some cases; few drivers, so tuk-tuks are the norm |
- No metered taxis. Use tuk-tuks, hotel-arranged cars or shared vans, and agree the fare before getting in.
Arriving in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang International (LPQ)
Airport is about 4 km from the Old Town; fixed-price taxi or tuk-tuk 50,000–100,000 LAK, 15 min.
Driving and onward travel
- Scooters: Rentals around 100,000–200,000 LAK a day. Laos requires a local or valid licence; insurance is rarely included. Mountain roads are risky.
- Driving: on the right. Carry a 1949 IDP and your home licence; in any crash, foreigners usually pay compensation regardless of fault.
- Onward travel in Laos: The Laos–China Railway links Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and the Chinese border; trains sell out, so book ahead. Elsewhere it's buses, minivans and Mekong slow boats.
Quick answers
Is there Uber in Luang Prabang?
No. Use inDrive instead.
What's the best way to get around Luang Prabang?
The Old Town is walkable and small. Use tuk-tuks or shared songthaews for the airport, train station and waterfalls, and rent a bicycle for local rides.
How do I get from the airport to Luang Prabang?
Airport is about 4 km from the Old Town; fixed-price taxi or tuk-tuk 50,000–100,000 LAK, 15 min.
Is Luang Prabang walkable?
Very walkable.
More about Luang Prabang
Going to Luang Prabang solo?
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Sources
Fares are typical 2026 prices; check the operator for today's fares. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.