3 Best Hostels in Luang Prabang, Laos – Banana Pancakes & Sunset Views from the Swimming Pool

Important Update: Due to the current pandemic, all of our top 3 hostels in Luang Prabang have permanently closed. Right now the situation in LP is uncertain, and we will update this guide once things are clearer. In the meantime, check out all open hostels in LP using Hostelworld.com and Hostelz.com.

If you’ve been searching for where to stay in Luang Prabang, look no further. Welcome to the only guide you’ll need to the 3 best hostels in Luang Prabang!

It can be hard to choose a great hostel when there are so many choices.

This ancient city in northern Laos happens to have over 35 hostels on offer. From backpacker vibes to chilled atmosphere.

Laos is a great destination for budget travellers, too.

It’s amazing what can be enjoyed for a few coins. Think swimming pools and free breakfast.

Our selection is sure to excite.

Your shortcut:

1. Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel – perfect for solo travellers
2. Sabai Sabai Hostel Backpacker – great for female solo travellers
3. Downtown Backpackers Hostel – top pick for backpackers

It’s time to get your Zen on and enjoy the beautiful Mekong River and many Buddhist temples in the area.

This guide is perfect for YOU, when …

• tired of bad and crappy hostels
• want to avoid the “young party kids”
• happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience

Within no time you will fall in love with Luang Prabang, like one of our readers did unexpectedly.

And if that’s not enough, we have a fantastic 5 star hostel in nearby Vientiane, Sailomyen Cafe & Hostel.

You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.

Quick Introduction to Laung Prabang

Average price for a bed: Hostels in Laung Prabang are CHEAP and cost 3€ – 5€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 10€ up to 14€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.

Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.

Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.

Private rooms: Unfortunately, it seems private rooms are not really common in Luang Prabang hostels. As you’ll see, none of our top 3 hostels have private rooms.

However, many of the mixed dorms have great beds including privacy curtains and lockers.

We suggest booking a small 4-6 bed dorm if you like quiet and privacy. Female solo travellers can opt for female-only dorms.

Couples remember: 10 Do’s and Don’ts to Sex in Hostels

If you really need that private room, ThaViSouk Family Home is a good option for couples and small families.

Party Hostels in Luang Prabang: There is no big party scene in Luang Prabang, and so no party hostels to be found. Sorry!

However, there is a great place called Utopia Bar. Head here for ‘Zen by day, Groovy by night’. Eat, drink, relax and soak up the nightlife.

Tip: Head to Vientiane if you seek party life. The place to stay is Sailomyen Cafe & Bar – our only 5 star hostel in Laos.

New to Hostels? Read our full hostel starter guide here. We especially recommend reading:

• how to book hostels (and websites to use)
• 23 items for the hostel packing list
• Are hostels safe? 13 safety tips for hostels

The 3 Best Hostels in Luang Prabang

Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Luang Prabang.

1. Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel
2. Sabai Sabai Hostel Backpacker
3. Downtown Backpackers Hostel

We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.

1. Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel

It’s really no surprise that many people are saying Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel is the best hostel in Luang Prabang.

And we’re inclined to agree.

Not only is it clean and affordable, there is an outdoor pool and free breakfast included in the price!

You heard it here first: there is no hidden agenda.

The super friendly team want to offer a memorable hostel that doesn’t cost the earth. Nothing more, nothing less.

And boy have they managed to pull it off!

The pool is large enough for a proper swim and is covered from the scorching sun.

Alongside that, there is plenty of space to sunbathe and relax in the big garden.

For a change of scenery, head up to the roofed terrace to enjoy views over the Nam Khan river. A top spot to relax.

There are only dorms here ranging from 4 bed female to 8-16 bed mixed. Each room has:

• Ensuite bathroom
• Air-conditioning & fan
• Privacy curtain, lamp & socket per bed
• Lockers
• Free Wi-fi

You can admit it – you didn’t expect the dorms to be this swanky in Laos, right?

Reception is open 24/7 for all your needs and questions. The staff love to share knowledge and get to know their guests. We love that.

Location: close to the must-see night market and Utopia bar just next door. All major sights are within walking distance.

This is one of the best hostels in Luang Prabang for

• Solo travellers

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

2. Sabai Sabai Hostel Backpacker

Our #2 recommendation, Sabai Sabai Hostel Backpacker, has been through extensive renovations in 2018 to create a fantastic space for travellers.

That’s because these guys take feedback seriously. Great, right?

After listening to their guests, Sabai Sabai…

• Constructed a new rooftop pool
• Built en-suites for all dorm rooms
• Extended air-con usage (8pm-11am)

Hold on a second… rooftop pool?!

Oh yes! Whilst cooling off from the hot Laos temperatures, enjoy a beautiful sunset from here.

As for the rooms, choose between mixed and female-only dorms.

Note: sorry couples, no privates here.

We especially love the bunks. They’re super sturdy and have individual lamps that offer a warm light.

Whilst there are no curtains, the walls between beds offer a nice bit of privacy from your roomies.

This is one of the greatest hostels in Luang Prabang for social butterflies.

You’ll see what we mean when you check out the on-site sports bar and bistro.

All seating is outside and there is a great menu and fridge full of cold drinks. Grab a beer and make new friends – simple.

This is also where you can enjoy a free breakfast each morning to kick-start your day.

Location: the city of Luang Prabang is 2km from Sabai Sabai, so you can expect to be in a safe, quiet neighbourhood. It’s just 900m to the night market.

This is one of the coolest hostels in Luang Prabang for

• Female solo travellers

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

3. Downtown Backpackers Hostel

Who said basic can’t be enjoyable? Downtown Backpackers Hostel is a nice option for budget travellers that enjoy banana pancakes.

Yep, the free breakfast is very filling thanks to the stack of banana pancakes and fruit salad.

Because when you’re on holiday, you can treat every morning like a weekend. There’s a song there, somewhere.

Those holiday vibes flow easily at our #3 recommendation because of the…

• Unlimited free tea & coffee
• Friendly, helpful staff
• Market on the doorstep
• Free Wi-Fi

As for the social side of things, there is a great shared space that includes a pool table and outside seating.

It’s a lovely area to retreat from the sun and wind down after exploring.

As for the rooms? There are mixed dorms available with 4, 6, 8 and 10-beds.

Hopefully you’ll agree that although basic, they’re great value for money. Some inclusions:

• Little locker & shelf above bed
• Privacy curtain
• Ready-made bed
• Lamp & socket
• Big windows, generous space

Couples looking for a quieter stay should opt for the 4-bed dorm as there are no private options.

Just remember: 18 Unwritten Hostel Rules you’ve to know

Location: this is a top location close to all of the main attractions, including the night market which is only 300m away.

This is one of the greatest hostels in Luang Prabang for

• Backpackers
• Budget travellers

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

What about cheapest hostels in Luang Prabang?

In case you haven’t already noticed; hostels in Luang Prabang are cheap. It’s quite astonishing what you get for your money here!

If you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Luang Prabang.

1. Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Luang Prabang
2. Order the listing by price

Simple as that.

Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels

Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.

Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.

Best Hostels in Luang Prabang for Solo Travellers?

What is seriously the best hostel in Luang Prabang for solo-travellers?

Well, that’s easy: all of the hostels we’ve mentioned in this guide are great for solo travellers!

That’s because they all offer purely dorm rooms and wonderful shared spaces that offer great socialising opportunities.

Yet if we had to pick our favourite, we’d go with Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel.

For one thing, the hostel name represents the place perfectly.

1. Swimming pool? Check
2. Riverside views? Check
3. Spot to see the sunrise? And the sunset!

This is also the closest hostel to the fabulous Utopia Bar for solo travellers looking to enjoy local nightlife.

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

How to book?

We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations.

Hostelworld is the most popular website when it comes to hostel bookings.

Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld

On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

Here is the overview:

1. Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Sabai Sabai Hostel Backpacker: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Downtown Backpackers Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
4. Ahem Backpackers Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld

We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!

All of Luang Prabang best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish hostels, secure your room or bed as soon as you have your travel dates fixed.

Any Discounts?

Currently, we have no special hostel discounts in Luang Prabang. I know, it’s a pity. You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive our newest hostel discounts always to your inbox.

You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.

All 3 Hostels put on a map + sights

Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Luang Prabang hostels on a map.

Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.

We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:

• Phousi Hill
• Wat Xiengthong
• Royal Palace Luang Probang
• Night Market Luang Probang
• Dara Market Luang Probang
• Tat Sae Waterfalls

Flights to Luang Prabang?

We enjoy Skyscanner, Omio.com and Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over Luang Prabang.

This new website has super cool features like a so-called radius search. Just draw a circle over Asia and find the cheapest rates for the area.

Here is our review of Kiwi.

More guides

Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Luang Prabang.

We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:

• 3 best hostels in Hanoi, Vietnam
• 3 top hostels in Hong Kong
• 3 coolest hostels in Bangkok, Thailand
• 3 best hostels in Pai, Thailand
• best hostels in Chiang Rai, Thailand
• 3 best hostels in Manila, Philippines
• best hostels in Yangon, Myanmar
• best hostels in Siem Reap, Cambodia

You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.

We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.

Over to you

Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts?

Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome Luang Prabang hostels should be as informative and useful as possible.

Your question will help me to understand what I have missed to mention.

Therefore, drop us a comment, we are keen to help you!

Last note: Our commitment

This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.

We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!

Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.

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