Any backpacker making the rounds of Laos and greater South East Asia, will at some point roll though Luang Prabang.
It’s a great place to begin your Laos backpacking trip.
More and more backpackers every year visit Luang Prabang to take in its UNESCO historical quarter, thriving markets, and killer sunsets found atop local mountains.
Locals have taken notice. The results have been mixed. There are now many accommodation options for backpackers in Luang Probang.
But which places fall into the best hostels in Luang Prabang category? How does one steer clear of the less desirable options?
To answer that question, I have written this in-depth guide to the best hostels in Luang Prabang. This hostel guide answers all of your accommodation questions so you can focus more of your time on backpacking Laos and all it has to offer.
No matter what type of traveler you are, there is sure to be a hostel on this list that peaks your interest.
I have broken down the best hostels in Luang Prabang into categories so that you can easily book the perfect spot for yourself with the least amount of effort.
Let’s get to it…
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Luang Prabang
- Overall Best Hostel in Luang Prabang – Sunrise Hostel
- Best Cheap Hostel in Luang Prabang – Sa Sa Lao
- Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Luang Prabang – DownTown Backpackers Hostel
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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The 13 Best Hostels in Luang Prabang
Though not a huge city, Luang Prabang does draw in a bit of a backpacker crowd. As such, there are a number of cool budget accommodations across Luang Prabang and its areas and neighbourhoods. Before you book a hostel, think about where to stay in Luang Prabang and what vibe you’re after; in the central areas tends to be more lively while the outskirt villages are good for some peace and quiet.
Sunrise Hostel – Overall Best Hostel in Luang Prabang
It’s very nice here at the overall best hostel in Luang Prabang. Can you guess the decor? Correct: it’s polished plaster walls and metal-frame bunk beds. We do like that style, to be fair. But with you can tell that it’s been recently done since that’s only become the thing to do in Southeast Asia’s backpacking scene in the past few years. The dorms are air-conditioned, have en-suite bathrooms, there’s a free breakfast offered, and a super chill area by the riverside to hang out in. Staff are friendly and very helpful. All in all, for a super decent price, you get a fair bit. Great shout for the coolest hostel in Luang Prabang.
Sa Sa Lao – Best Cheap Hostel in Luang Prabang #2
A really beautiful place by the river with a paradise-like garden and things like that – sounds great right? Well, it is, as long as you’ve got some hardcore DEET though. There are a lot of mosquitoes around and they’re just the WORST, right? So you’ll want to… somehow avoid those. It’s laid-back here – probs something to do with it being quite far out of town, but this Luang Prabang backpackers hostel amazingly provides a free tuk-tuk service in the morning. It’s hot at night with no AC. But that’s the pay-off isn’t it: being in nature – lovely, but at the same time… being in nature, yuk.
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View on Osprey View on REIThaViSouk Family Home – Best Cheap Hostel in Luang Prabang #3
A great location, a really tasty free breakfast, very clean facilities – this is ThaViSouk Family Home. The dorms are keeping up with the times with metal frame beds, individual reading lights and whatnot, but the private rooms are still these classic ones you find all over Southeast Asia with hardwood furniture and all that sorta stuff. Not a bad thing, just a comment on aesthetics. It’s basically a classic Luang Prabang backpackers hostel, and the family that runs it is super nice. Can’t really fault nice people, can you?
DownTown Backpackers Hostel – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Luang Prabang
A little basic but nicely done, DownTown Backpackers Hostel is a teensy more pricey than other offerings in Luang Prabang – but, honestly, not by much. And although it is a little bit basic, we can all agree that the showers here are amazing. Everyone likes a good shower. Puts you in a good mood. Nothing worse than a drippy old shower. Another thing that’s good about this place is the vibe, which is a mix of chilled and sociable, making it probs the best hostel for solo travellers in Luang Prabang – last thing you want is to feel isolated, but there are plenty of ops to meet people and chat here.
Aham Backpackers Hostel – Best Cheap Hostel in Luang Prabang #1
Budget backpackers in Laos are already going to have an easy time! A lot of things are already quite cheap, and that includes accommodation – so it’s easy to find a budget hostel in Luang Prabang. Just about pipping the others to the post though is this one, Aham Backpackers Hostel, as our best cheap hostel in Luang Prabang. Not only is it just slightly cheaper overall than all the rest, it’s also about what it offers for this price: free breakfast, which is decent; the WiFi is also pretty great; there’s a gym next door you can use for 10,000 kip (bargain); and it’s pretty clean and modern inside. Downside: dorms are pretty cramped.
Nocknoy Lanexang Guesthouse – Best Hostel for Couples in Luang Prabang
Wowww… the private rooms here are really pretty luxurious. They’re so nice, in fact, with all their hard wood furniture and huge beds, that it’s actually difficult to believe they’re private rooms in a hostel. Go figure. It’s for these loooovely rooms that we’d say Nocknoy Lanexang (that’s a mouthful) is the best hostel for couples in Luang Prabang. Overall the price of these are a little more expensive than what you’d usually pay in LP, but then again – these are pretty nice rooms. Perfect for a couple wanting to splash out a little extra for a little more lavishness. Wouldn’t you?
Mad Monkey Luang Prabang – Best Party Hostel in Luang Prabang
Did someone say party? The Mad Monkey Luang Prabang Hostel got you covered! Chill out with your friends around the infinity pool soaking up the sun and hostel life by day, and head to the adjacent onsite fire pit as soon as the sun sets for some crazy parties, cool events and, most importantly, signature cocktails. The whole place has a very modern and clean vibe, making you feel super comfy right upon arrival. The dorms are air-conditioned, equipped with good beds and clean bathrooms. In case you want to head out for a great night or some food, you won’t have to walk far since the hostel is located pretty much as central as it could get.
Muenna Guesthouse 1989 – Best Hostel with a Private Room in Luang Prabang
We’re not sure what’s 1989 about this place but what we do know is that it’s set in a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l traditional Lao villa, which makes coming back to this place after a day looking at the various temples of Luang Prabang real nice. Mostly because of the traditional feel of it, we’d say Muenna Guesthouse is the best hostel with a private room in Luang Prabang – not only is it pretty cheap in comparison to other private rooms (see above), it’s also comfy and the hostel itself is in a great location. No free breakfast or much of a social atmosphere, though.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More Best Hostels in Luang Prabang
Vongprachan Backpackers Hostel
Bars: in walking distance. Night market: in walking distance. Mt Phousi: in walking distance. All of the fun things to do in Luang Prabang are close by. Yep, it’s the location of this top hostel in Luang Prabang that wins it the most points. Somehow the place can lack in vibes even when there’s quite a few people staying there, but we reckon that just depends on the groups of people staying – it always does! Other than that the free breakfast is amazing, their laundry service is like heaven on earth, and the staff keep everything really very clean and tidy indeed. One downside is that the common area closes at 10pm – c’mon, what?!
Fan Dee Hotel
Fan Dee Hotel is a bit of a garden oasis that’s a fair walk from town – fine if you like walking, not so fine if you don’t. But this youth hostel in Luang Prabang is really for people who wanna chill and be IN nature, you know? It’s all bamboo bungalow style accommodation – with dorms, too. They have lovely little wooden platforms with thatch roofs, hammocks and chairs right over the river’s edge, which make for super chilled afternoons. At the same time, if you don’t like what else nature can offer – spiders, lizards, whatever else – you might want to consider something less garden-y.
La Negrita Hostel
Bamboo bungalows for private rooms and the main house for the dorms, this recommended hostel in Luang Prabang is easily one of the cheapest on offer, so if you’re on a shoestring sorta budget this might be one for you. Sure, the beds are a little bit hard and – ok, maybe there’s no aircon. But that’s ok, you can deal with it. You can also rent bicycles and motorbikes through the hostel, which makes things extra convenient for you. The staff are also really lovely and there’s free coffee, tea and water literally whenever you want it, and we love a lil’ extra for our money.
IQ Inn by Xandria Hotels
IQ Inn by Xandria Hotels might not exactly have the catchiest name going, but it is pretty nice. The rooms are all polished floors and modern – the private rooms here especially feel quite hotel-like, which is nice if that’s what you’re going for. The dorms are good too – industrial-style metal-frame bunk beds. It’s a trend, innit. You can get free tea and water all day long here, and a free breakfast will come your way if you leave a review (freebies are always a good way to travel cheap). And if you wanna meet people the ‘common room’ is mainly just the outside area next to the door. A decent Luang Prabang backpackers hostel.
Rancho Tranquilo
Not the cheapest – but is it the most tranquilo? Hmm. Well, the garden is pretty beautiful, we have to admit that much, making it a really nice place to relax in – the library (or book exchange, let’s be honest) + loads of hammocks = chill afternoons spent reading. An American family runs this place, and they’re really friendly people, which adds up to a nice, warm and welcoming atmosphere. There is no AC in the dorms, and fans don’t reach the top bunks, so, yeah, it can get pretty sweltering up there. 10/10 breakfast though- waffles, pancakes, fruit, juice, tea/coffee – good stuff.
What to Pack for your Luang Prabang Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Luang Prabang
There you have it my friends. My list of the 12 best hostels in Luang Prabang has come to an end.
Where you stay in any adventure is crucial to its overall success. A visit to Luang Prabang is no different.
After reading this guide you are now armed with all of the best options. If you follow my advice, you will certainly not find yourself staying in a disappointing hostel.
The keys to the best hostels in Luang Prabang are now in your hands. Booking the right hostel for own needs should now be super easy!
Luang Prabang is such a fun place to travel to. If you are arriving in Luang Prabang on the slow boat cruise from Thailand, it might be the first taste of Laos that you get.
The goal of this hostel guide was to ensure that you have a kickass time here by finding your own personal best hostel in Luang Prabang. Hopefully by now you are all sorted and ready to enjoy this special place.
Still having trouble deciding on which hostel is right for you? When in doubt I typically recommend that you just book my top pick for overall best hostel in Luang Prabang: Sunrise Hostel.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
FAQ about Hostels in Luang Prabang
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Luang Prabang.
How much does a hostel cost in Luang Prabang?
The average price of hostels in Luang Prabang can range from $6 – $12+ per night. Of course, the private rooms are on the higher end of the scale than the dorm beds.
What are the best hostels in Luang Prabang for couples?
Check out these top-rated hostels for couples in Luang Prabang:
Elephant Botique Hotel
Downtown Hostel
Soutikone Place House 2
What are the best hostels in Luang Prabang near the airport?
These best cheap hostels are 8 minutes by car from Luang Prabang International Airport:
Sa Sa Lao
Fan Dee Hotel
Travel Safety Tips for Luang Prabang
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Luang Prabang has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Laos for a wealth of info!
- Check out the best places to stay in Luang Prabang before you arrive.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Southeast Asia backpacking guide.
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