Blaire's Been - Luang Prabang, Laos
So I can count on one hand the number of places that struck an emotional chord with me. Yes, I get to go to the most beautiful places in the world and do the coolest things, but there is something special about a destination that speaks to your soul. There isn’t really a true reason why this happens, but I think part of the secret sauce is to make sure the experiences are authentic. This sums up Luang Prabang, Laos to a T.
Of course I’ll talk about the amazing hotels in Luang Prabang, all of which are great partners of BPK and places where I can offer exclusive amenities and VIP service at, but I most importantly want to describe the destination and experiences offered in this beautiful country.
Once I arrived, I went through the Visa fast track (ok, sometimes this is a bit of overkill, but it’s truly NECESSARY here!) and quickly went to my first hotel I had time to settle in and then that evening went to meet some village elders for a Baci Blessing. I just thought this experience would be one where people in the town would wish me well, but it was way more than that. This emotional experience involved prayers from strangers who truly wished the best for us followed by a ceremony where they each tied a string on our wrists. The intent was to keep the string on your wrist for at least a few days and afterwards, you take them off and leave them at a Buddhist temple. From there, we enjoyed local food and desserts offered by the people in the town. While this sounds cool, the most impactful experience was looking at the Laotian people in the eyes as they tied the string around my wrists and recited a prayer in my honor. It was powerful.
The next day was an incredible yet different experience - with ELEPHANTS! We went to an elephant conservatory meant to rescue elephants from abuse in riding camps or something similar. We started the experience by feeding the two elephants some bananas to have them get comfortable with us. Afterwards, we literally went on a walk with the elephants. I’m talking no leashes or handlers pulling the elephants, an actual walk! We traversed a hillside where the elephants would meander off to enjoy some leaves then get back on the path. We pet the elephants and interacted with these gentle giants, and it was one of the most surreal and special experiences ever.
After the fun day with the elephants, we rested and then went to the Mekong River for a sunset cruise on a private boat. We enjoyed some champagne as we watch the sky light up in oranges and pinks. It was so clam and special. Can you believe at this point that I’ve only been in Luang Prabang for 24 hours?!
The next day in Luang Prabang was just as adventurous. We began our day by visiting the Kuang Si waterfall which was more and more stunning with each level we climbed. And I say “climb” loosely as it really isn't much of a trek to get to the most beautiful vantage points. I wore tennis shoes but you could have easily done the walk in sandals!
After the waterfall, we went to a dairy farm that was down the street. We had the opportunity to milk buffalos which are sent to the Dairy Farm from local farmers in order for these buffalo to make more milk and provide to the families. After visiting the buffalos and the many other animals on property (bunnies, pigs, roosters, to name a few), we enjoyed some cheese and ice cream from the farm. This was PERFECT for the hot day!
And to conclude our day, we went to the Lee 7 Farm to learn how to make rice noodles. And when I said make rice noodles, it’s not like a standard cooking class where the dough is ready and you twist it thinly and put it into hot water… no… we started with step 1: planting the rice! I followed a water buffalo to plant the rice in water that was about knee deep. From there, we picked rice, separated the rice from the plant, flattened the rice, churned it into flour, and turned that flour into noodles. Let me tell you, it was hard work!!! I was definitely sweating and couldn't believe this is something that the Laotian people do daily! Once the meal was prepared (yall it took at least 2 hours! maybe even 3!) we enjoyed the fresh rice noodles dish with vegetables picked from the organic garden and with the sweet family that owned the farm. The Lee family was so gracious for welcoming us to their beautiful home and farm and showing up the ropes. We talked a lot about their education and their former jobs before working on their family farm full time. It was so incredible getting to know local people and building friendships!
That night, we took to the streets of Laos to enjoy the amazing food. Luang Prabang was described to me “as a beach town that isn’t on the beach”, and that’s exactly what it felt like! It had such an incredible and laid back vibe that I absolutely loved.
The following morning, we woke up very early to do Morning Alms which is where the Buddhist monks collect food from the local people. Monks are not allowed to buy food or prepare their own food, so they rely on the food provided from the people in the town. We had a special section complete with a beautiful rug and chairs to sit on. It felt like a very VIP way to experience this local tradition, which I highly recommend! Feeding the monks was so powerful and special! Afterwards, we walked through the local markets before returning to our hotel to rest and prepare for our journey to our next stop.
OK… so enough about the MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCES while in Luang Prabang! ha!! I want to also talk about the most incredible hotels I stayed at/visited while there!
Rosewood Luang Prabang
Yall….. this place is a WOW! I’m telling you, every detail was perfect and the décor was on point. Probably my dream hotel in terms of design! The Rosewood Luang Prabang is located on the “outskirts” of the city but is like a 15 minute tuk tuk ride from the city center. The property felt so serene due to the waterfall and river that ran through the property. There were a few different types of room categories to choose from. I stayed in one of the hotel rooms, which was way more than that. Again, the styling was perfect! These rooms were on the river and even had fishing poles in each room! The next room category was the Waterfall Rooms which were my favorite. You had a private plunge pool that overlooked the waterfall on the river, and the rooms were a super cool teal color. Lastly, there were the tented rooms. These are NOT good for anyone with mobility issues because you definitely need to walk up many stairs to access these rooms. But these are super cool, romantic and secluded with awesome views!! The common spaces at the Rosewood were perfect too, my favorite being the main restaurants and the elephant bar. Yall… I can’t say enough! I loved this hotel!
Belmond La Residence Phou Vao
I also had the pleasure of staying at the Belmond and absolutely loved it too! This resort was located closer to town (about a 7 minute tuk tuk ride) but still felt secluded. The rooms were comfortable and simple, and the resort felt very Asian with the dark bamboo floors and white walls. The pool area overlooked the mountains in the distance and was also the place where the breakfast buffet was set up (which you get to eat at for free when booking with BPK!) The resort’s staff were so friendly, and it was just a pleasant stay!!
Amantaka
I stopped by Amantaka which is an incredible resort located right on the edge of town. From the street, it is unassuming, but when you step onto the grounds, there’s a huge pool anchoring the resort with many rooms around it. This property felt peaceful and quiet. The rooms were large with many having their own plunge pools, and the common spaces were light and bright.