Emily Benjamin | Photography

Friends had told me that besides the Pak Ou Caves and the Kuang Si Waterfalls, there was very little to do in Luang Prabang. Most young travellers use it for a base before heading south to go tubing – all-you-can-drink for a day while riding rapids in an inflatable tyre. The older tourists in Luang Prabang seemed to be doing something similar – although they walked from restaurant to cafe to wine bar, sampling the finest in Laos, French and Western cuisines that this small city has to offer. After four days there, I can agree that there isn’t a lot to do here – a few monk processions, restaurants and a swim in the pristine paradise of Kuang Si Waterfalls – but it was still a beautiful few days spent relaxing, shopping, eating and sleeping. Well… fending off mosquitoes in our room, as well!