Phousi Hill in Luang Prabang: sunset views, tough climb, and how to do it safely

11/12/2025

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If you stay in Luang Prabang even one night, you’ll see Phousi Hill right away – the small green hill with a golden stupa glowing above the old town.

It’s both a Buddhist site and the classic viewpoint over the rivers and mountains.

I climbed it myself, and the view at sunset really was unforgettable – but it also took more effort (and patience in the heat) than I expected.

This guide explains what the climb is actually like, who will enjoy the sunset mission (and who probably won’t), how to get to the top by the two main routes, what to pack if you wait for sunset, and when it’s better to just enjoy the view from somewhere easier in town.

If that sounds like the kind of honest, practical information you’re after, read on.

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Is Phousi Hill in Luang Prabang worth the climb?

Phousi Hill (often written “Mount Phousi”) sits right in the middle of Luang Prabang and is one of the town’s main landmarks.

At night, the golden stupa on top is lit up and you can see it from almost anywhere in the old town.

The hill itself is only about 150 metres high, but because there are no tall buildings around it, you get a full 360° view over the town, the surrounding mountains, the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers.

On a clear day, you really feel how Luang Prabang is wrapped in rivers and hills.

From the summit, the sun sinks behind the mountains on the Mekong side, turning the river gold and the ridgelines pale and hazy.

It feels calm and almost other-worldly – a truly beautiful sunset, if you can handle the climb and the crowds it attracts.

When I reached the top, the first thing I noticed was how tiny the town looked below, and how quiet it felt for a moment even though I knew the streets were busy.

If you like iconic viewpoints and don’t mind sweating a bit, Phousi Hill is worth adding to your Luang Prabang itinerary.

ADVICE ADDED

If you hate crowds and standing in one place for a long time, you may enjoy it more at a non-sunset time or might prefer other, easier viewpoints in town.

Phousi Hill opening hours, ticket price and basic info

Address	Ban Pakham, Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang, Laos
Hours	06:00–19:00
Entrance fee	30,000 kip (foreign visitors) 10,000 kip (Lao citizens)

You pay the entrance fee at the base before you start climbing.

Bring cash in Lao kip, as this is the simplest way to buy your ticket.

Phousi Hill is in the very centre of Luang Prabang, so you can easily walk there from most guesthouses in the old town.

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How early should you go to Phousi Hill for sunset?

Because it’s so famous as a sunset spot, Phousi Hill can get extremely crowded in the late afternoon.

The actual viewing platforms at the top are quite small, and the number of good sunset spots is limited.

If you want to stand at the front with a clear view of the sun setting over the Mekong, plan to arrive at the summit around two hours before sunset.

That is usually the only way to secure one of the “best” positions.

The hard part is not just the wait, but the heat.

There’s almost no shade near the best viewpoints, and you’ll be standing in direct sun with lots of people around you, unable to open an umbrella without blocking someone’s view.

Waiting in the same place for that long can be physically demanding.

I remember thinking, “This is beautiful, but it’s also a serious test of patience and heat tolerance.”

ADVICE ADDED

If that kind of wait sounds miserable to you, it’s completely okay to skip the race for the perfect sunset photo and enjoy a more relaxed view from somewhere else.

What to pack if you wait for sunset on Phousi Hill

If you decide to claim a sunset spot early, go up prepared.

A little planning makes the wait much more bearable.

Consider bringing:

A hat to protect your head from the sun
A light long-sleeved layer to cover your shoulders and protect from sunburn
Enough drinking water
A folding fan or handheld electric fan to help you cool down

ADVICE ADDED

Think of it like going to an outdoor concert in the hot sun: if you prepare well, you’ll enjoy the experience much more.

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Best Phousi Hill routes: Royal Palace side vs Nam Khan River side

There are several small paths on the hill, but in practice there are two main routes to the top, and the minor paths eventually merge into one of these.

A nice way to experience Phousi is to climb up one route and come down the other so you don’t miss anything.

Route 1: 328 steps from the Royal Palace Museum (main route)

The most common way up starts right in front of the Royal Palace Museum on Sisavangvong Road.

From here you climb about 328 steps in a fairly direct, straight route to the summit.

There isn’t much to see along this staircase, so most people just focus on getting to the top.

If you walk at a normal pace, you can reach the summit in about 10 minutes.

After watching the sunset, you can walk back down the same way.

You’ll come out directly in front of the Royal Palace again – and by that time, the night market along the main street will already be open.

Coming down from the hill into the lantern-lit night market after sunset feels very atmospheric; I really enjoyed that “sunset + night market” combo.

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Route 2: Gradual stairs from the Nam Khan River side

The second main route begins from the Nam Khan River side.

This path is more gradual and has small Buddha statues, a reclining Buddha and other religious features along the way, so you can enjoy the climb as part of visiting a temple area.

Compared to the Royal Palace side, it’s less steep, so you can take 20 minutes or so to climb slowly and look around.

The staircase entrance is located along the Nam Khan riverside; check your map app for “Phousi Hill stairs” on the river side and you’ll find it easily.

There are also other approaches, including a staircase behind the temple Wat Siphoutthabat, but these all eventually join the same path to the summit, so you don’t need to worry too much about taking a “wrong” route.

Is it safe to climb Phousi Hill in the rainy season?

During heavy rain, the stairways on Phousi can turn into something like a waterfall.

The water rushes down the steps and makes them very slippery.

In this situation, it’s not safe to climb, so it’s better to choose another day and avoid the hill until the rain eases.

In the rainy season, days with heavy showers are common, so think of any clear or dry window as your chance.

When the sky finally opens up, it can be a great moment to head for the hill.

ADVICE ADDED

If the ground already looks soaked and the steps are wet, trust your instincts—there will always be another sunset, but you only get one pair of knees.

Temple rules on Phousi Hill: what to wear and how to behave

Even though many people think of Phousi mainly as a viewpoint, it is first of all a sacred Buddhist site.

The temple at the summit is called Wat Chom Si, and monks use the hill as a place of practice.

Because of this, visitors are expected to behave as they would at any other temple in Luang Prabang:

No drinking alcohol or being visibly drunk on the hill
Avoid overly revealing clothing – cover shoulders and thighs as a basic rule
Even though sunset feels romantic, please avoid kissing, hugging or holding hands at the summit, especially in front of monks

Think of Phousi Hill as a temple with a viewpoint, not a viewpoint that happens to have a temple.

Showing respect here is just as important as getting a good photo.

ADVICE ADDED

A simple way to check yourself is to ask, “Would I do this inside a temple hall?”—if the answer is no, it’s better not to do it on Phousi either.

Easier sunset spots in Luang Prabang if Phousi sounds too hard

Phousi Hill isn’t the only place to watch the sunset in Luang Prabang.

There are plenty of other sunset spots in town.

One easy option is simply to watch the sunset from along the Mekong riverside.

The riverbank here has a wide open sky, and you can enjoy the scenery without climbing hundreds of steps or holding your place in a crowd for two hours.

Instead of forcing yourself to spend a long time waiting on Phousi Hill, you can also choose to keep sightseeing around town and then watch the sun go down from a more relaxed, easily accessible spot.

ADVICE ADDED

It’s not flashy luxury—it’s the quiet kind, where you just sit by the river or look out over the town and feel like the landscape is yours for a little while.

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Final thoughts: climb Phousi Hill with respect and realistic expectations

Phousi Hill is one of those places that almost everyone feels drawn to once they arrive in Luang Prabang.

It’s a rare spot where you can see the whole town, both rivers and the surrounding mountains at once.

At the same time, sunset on the hill can be hot, crowded and physically demanding.

If you decide to go, go prepared for the heat, choose a route that suits your pace, and remember that you’re visiting a sacred temple as well as a viewpoint.

I found that going up with the right mindset—ready to sweat a bit, patient about the crowds, and respectful of the temple atmosphere—made the experience much more meaningful.

If this is the kind of experience you want, Phousi Hill will likely make you happy.

And if it’s not, Luang Prabang still has plenty of gentler sunset moments waiting for you down by the rivers.

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