8 Things in Luang Prabang that you can't miss – experience the best of Luang Prabang

It's always interesting to learn about the country you're travelling in, and one of the best ways to do it is by visiting a local museum. Housed inside a former royal residence, the Royal Palace Museum offers visitors a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Due to its royal status, visitors are required to remove their shoes and walk barefoot inside.

After leaving the restaurant or club at night, don't be surprised if waiting tuk-tuks offer to take you to the bowling alley. This might seem like an odd suggestion, but it's actually a popular pastime in Luang Prabang. Laos has a daily curfew with most establishments closing around 11 pm, this is so that residents can wake up early to perform almsgivings. While the curfew is strictly enforced for some reason, the bowling alley in Luang Prabang remains open till well into the morning. The bowling alley contains a fun mix of tourists and locals, not to mention that drinks here are insanely cheap too.

Tak Bat is the daily tradition of paying alms to the monks. It's a serene sight to witness as single files of monks wrapped in their bright orange robes carry metal bowls to collect offerings from locals. The monks are lined up by seniority, so the oldest is usually first and the youngest last. Locals and even tourists place offerings into their bowls, these can be in the form of food, flowers or even incense.

To be honest, this is more of a hill than a mountain, but the panoramic views are worth the climb to the summit. There are 335 steps going up from the base, so it's not strenuous at all. In addition, there's a small temple at the summit that you can visit and offer prayers.

A journey down to Pak Ou caves is a must, to view the many Buddha structures varying in shapes and sizes. If you are staying at one of the larger Luang Prabang hotels that can organise an excursion for you, like Avani+ Luang Prabang for example, do make the effort to visit the caves.

The most famous attraction in Luang Prabang is probably the Kuang Si waterfalls. You can easily opt to rent a bike or join a tour group to the falls, but the best way to experience it is to hire take a tuk-tuk.

You cannot visit the city and check out the night market. Similar to most south Asian night markets, this one is hectic, with dozens of vendors calling out for your attention. But, you can also find some great bargains here and delicious street food too.

While Thailand might be world-famous for its massages, a traditional Laotian massage is just as relaxing and possibly even cheaper. Perfect after a long day of walking or climbing, the four-hand massage will have you relaxed and asleep in no time.