Half-Day Luang Prabang Dawn Alms-Giving Tour: Tak Bat Ceremony, Morning Market & Ban Xang Khong Paper Village
Day tour
International tour
Spiritual tour
Cultural tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang
Ban Xang Khong
1N (Participation Duration)
Car,Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/12
0 booked
Tour description
Every morning at first light, hundreds of orange-robed monks from Luang Prabang’s temples quietly walk in lines through the streets to receive sticky rice and food offered by local residents. The Tak Bat ceremony has existed for hundreds of years and is part of Lao spiritual life—not a performance.
Your guide will take you to a quiet section of the street, explain the meaning of the ceremony and how to participate respectfully: keep your distance, do not use flash photography, and if you wish to make an offering, buy sticky rice from local residents. Afterwards, stroll through the morning market beside the Royal Palace, where Mekong River fish, wild vegetables and khai phen river weed are sold, and have breakfast with khao piak sen (rice noodle soup) or khao soi.
The final part of the tour is Ban Xang Khong Village across the Nam Khan River, famous for saa paper made from mulberry bark and its traditional silk-weaving workshops, where you can decorate a flower paper sheet yourself.
Your guide will take you to a quiet section of the street, explain the meaning of the ceremony and how to participate respectfully: keep your distance, do not use flash photography, and if you wish to make an offering, buy sticky rice from local residents. Afterwards, stroll through the morning market beside the Royal Palace, where Mekong River fish, wild vegetables and khai phen river weed are sold, and have breakfast with khao piak sen (rice noodle soup) or khao soi.
The final part of the tour is Ban Xang Khong Village across the Nam Khan River, famous for saa paper made from mulberry bark and its traditional silk-weaving workshops, where you can decorate a flower paper sheet yourself.
Meeting point:
View on map
Khách sạn của quý khách tại phố cổ Luang Prabang
Đón và trả khách tại khách sạn trong khu phố cổ và trung tâm Luang Prabang. Vui lòng gửi tên khách sạn sau khi đặt tour.
Detailed itinerary
Morning (05:15): The guide picks you up at your hotel and walks with you to a quiet street, introducing the ceremony and appropriate etiquette.
05:45: Witness (or participate in offering alms during) the Tak Bat alms-giving ceremony.
06:45: Explore Luang Prabang Morning Market and learn about local specialties.
07:30: Enjoy a Lao breakfast (khao piak sen or khao soi) and Lao coffee.
08:30: Travel by vehicle across the Nam Khan River to Ban Xang Khong Village: see saa paper being made, visit a silk-weaving workshop, and make your own flower paper.
10:15: The vehicle takes you back to your hotel. 10:30: Tour ends.
05:45: Witness (or participate in offering alms during) the Tak Bat alms-giving ceremony.
06:45: Explore Luang Prabang Morning Market and learn about local specialties.
07:30: Enjoy a Lao breakfast (khao piak sen or khao soi) and Lao coffee.
08:30: Travel by vehicle across the Nam Khan River to Ban Xang Khong Village: see saa paper being made, visit a silk-weaving workshop, and make your own flower paper.
10:15: The vehicle takes you back to your hotel. 10:30: Tour ends.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour price includes
• English-speaking local guide throughout the tour
• Private tuk-tuk to Ban Xang Khong
• Lao breakfast and coffee
• Saa paper-making activity
• Bottled water
• Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Old Quarter
• Private tuk-tuk to Ban Xang Khong
• Lao breakfast and coffee
• Saa paper-making activity
• Bottled water
• Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Old Quarter
Tour price excludes
• Offerings (sticky rice, snacks—if you wish to participate, approximately USD 3–5)
• Shopping expenses
• Tips for the guide
• Travel insurance
• Shopping expenses
• Tips for the guide
• Travel insurance
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation with a 100% refund when notified at least 24 hours before departure. Cancellations made within 24 hours of departure are non-refundable. In the event of bad weather or attraction closures required by the authorities, we can help reschedule the tour or provide a full refund.
Other notes
Alms-giving ceremony (Tak Bat): please keep your distance, remain silent, do not use flash photography, and do not block the monks’ path; if making an offering, you should buy sticky rice at the local market and kneel or sit lower than the monks.
Dress code: when entering temples, the Royal Palace and historical sites, please wear clothing covering the shoulders and trousers or skirts extending below the knees, and remove your shoes before entering the main sanctuary.
The tour is normally led by an English-speaking local guide; guides speaking Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Thai, etc. can be requested (please inform us when booking, subject to guide availability).
The price applies per guest and is based on a private tour for groups of 2 or more guests. Larger groups receive better rates; please contact us.
Visa: international visitors need a Lao visa (apply for an e-visa online before travel or obtain a visa at international airports and international border crossings); citizens of ASEAN countries are visa-exempt according to regulations. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months.
Illustrative photos: Luang Prabang Alms – User:(WT-shared) Burmesedays, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Luang Prabang Monks Alm Dawn 01 – Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Une jeune tisserande à Ban Xang Khong (4337178479) – dalbera from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Une exposition de soieries à Ban Xang Khong (4337923490) – dalbera from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Luang Phabang, tàak bàat (giving alms) ceremony at the That Luang (6172931022) – Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
Dress code: when entering temples, the Royal Palace and historical sites, please wear clothing covering the shoulders and trousers or skirts extending below the knees, and remove your shoes before entering the main sanctuary.
The tour is normally led by an English-speaking local guide; guides speaking Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Thai, etc. can be requested (please inform us when booking, subject to guide availability).
The price applies per guest and is based on a private tour for groups of 2 or more guests. Larger groups receive better rates; please contact us.
Visa: international visitors need a Lao visa (apply for an e-visa online before travel or obtain a visa at international airports and international border crossings); citizens of ASEAN countries are visa-exempt according to regulations. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months.
Illustrative photos: Luang Prabang Alms – User:(WT-shared) Burmesedays, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Luang Prabang Monks Alm Dawn 01 – Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Une jeune tisserande à Ban Xang Khong (4337178479) – dalbera from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Une exposition de soieries à Ban Xang Khong (4337923490) – dalbera from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Luang Phabang, tàak bàat (giving alms) ceremony at the That Luang (6172931022) – Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $32 |
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