Finding magic on Luang Prabang’s doorstep.
The car ferry
I have always enjoyed crossing the Mekong on the car ferry or boat to the ‘other side’. I often go for a walk over here in Chomphet District in the Village of Xiengmene. Chomphet district is a poor area and many projects are needed in this area. See recent posts for recent projects in this area.
The boat ride takes about 5 mins and it’s like going to another world.
I had been sitting in a care on the Mekong river having a leisurely breakfast for a change and decided to head over to Xiengmen.
View to Chomphet district from Mekong Cafe
It always seems a few degrees warmer in Chomphet so it’s a good idea to take water and sunscreen. I try and remember to take a rubbish bag so I can pick up the chip packets, plastic bags and bottles that always seems to litter the path going through the jungle.
From the car ferry, turn right and walk up the hill taking the first path on your right. It is paved, I believe it was done as part of the UNESCO heritage project so it is an easy walk.
You can buy water, drinks and snacks along the way. The first temple is Wat Xiengmene Saiyasetharam. All the villagers here charge for entry to all temples. It is a nice temple, undergone quite a bit of change in recent years. Walking along further is Wat Chomphet. This temple is up on the hill and can be seen from Luang Prabang.
This is a lovely spot to rest and look back across to Luang Prabang. There are some seats and a table near the river.
Inside Wat Chomphet
After, continue walking to Wat Longskhoune, another interesting temple with a large Buddha statue on the Mekong river.
From here you walk through the jungle to a few other temples. There are a few local houses. One sometimes has mangoes so stop and buy a bag if you like.
From the last temple you can walk up through the jungle on a path past many statues and down to a road on the other side that lops around.
Statues in the jungle
I sometimes walk back the same way, my purpose after all is exercise, or catch a boat from here back to the end of the peninsula where the Mekong and Nam Kham meet.
I did this when I first came to Laos in 2011 and it has always been a highlight for me so I try and take visitors here too to get out of Luang Prabang and experience something a little different.
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