Mount Phou Si, sometimes known as Phou Si Hill is a 100 meter high hill located in the old town center of Luang Prabang. It is situated at the heart of a long peninsula in between the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River. It is a very important Buddhist site and home to many shrines and temples.
There are several ways to climb up the hill. The most popular one is the path opposite the National Museum. As you climb up on the naga (mystical serpent deity) stairs, you will come across the abandoned temple of Wat Pa Huak. It is on a wide boulevard and overlooks the National Museum. A stupa and a sim (ordination hall) are all that is left here.
About halfway up the hill and overlooking the Nam Khan River is Wat Tham Phou Si. The chedis here look quite similar to the ones found in Thailand.
As you continue on and climb the very last of your 328 steps, you will reach the summit of the hill, where a gilded stupa built on a large rock outcropping awaits. Right next to the stupa is a small wiharn (chapel) for prayers. This spot offers excellent panoramas of Luang Prabang, making the climb to the top worth the effort. Reaching the summit of the hill while the sun is rising or setting makes the moment even sweeter and your snapshots looking even better.
After relishing the view and experiencing the stupa at the top, it is time to make the climb down. Not too far from the top of the hill is an old, rusty and seemingly out of place Russian anti-aircraft gun. It was probably dragged up and stationed there to protect the city during the Second Indochina War.
As you make your way down, you will come across the 14th century Wat Pra Buddabhat, otherwise known as Temple of the Buddha Footprint. The name alludes to the temple having a footprint of Buddha, albeit a reconstructed but still realistic looking one. A seated Buddha image and a Kuan Ou (Water Goddess) shrine watches as you enter from the hillside. You can reach the grotto where the footprint is located by crossing a stairway which starts from the temple’s sim. Several stupas dot the area near the ordination hall. There is also an old wiharn located nearby.
On your way down and around the Kuan Ou statue is a stairway leading to another temple called Wat Wisumalat. You will also come across Wat Tham Phou Si before finally reaching the banks of the Nam Khan River.
On your first day in our Essential Luang Prabang tour, you will ascend the 328 steps to the top of Phou Si Mountain for a bird’s eye view of this UNESCO World Heritage City. Experience the city’s rich culture and heritage in this tour as we take you to Luang Prabang’s numerous temples, its National Museum and Pak Ou Caves. Luang Prabang is also an excellent city to explore by electric bicycle. You can spend a whole day exploring the city with our Luang Prabang by Electric Bike tour. Cycle past temples, sample delicious local food and learn about the country’s ethnic minorities on a fun-filled and educational day. You can also contact us if you would like us to tweak any of our tours to fit your needs.
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