In the center of Luang Prabang sits Mount Phou Si, and perched upon the top of that little mountain is the magnificent Wat Chom Si, one of Luang Prabang’s gorgeous temples. 100 meters high, Mount Phou Si is a bit of a trek, but the views from the top are the ultimate prize for dragging yourself up the mountain.
When you look out upon 360 degree views of the Mekong River, the Nam Khan River, the farms, rice paddies, and the town and smaller villages around it, the steep stairs leading up the hill fade from your memory, the direct sun beating down on your face doesn’t bother you as much, and the extreme humidity seems to dissipate.
On the way back down the mountain, we saw Buddhist statues, shrines and altars in caves and on the mountainside, and a group of carefree children scampered playfully around the mountain, pausing only to flash us toothy grins and practice their English with a shouted “Hello!”
Seeing Laos from this perspective made me feel thankful we could be there to witness those beautiful views, thankful we have strong enough legs to take us up and down a mountain, and thankful for a camera to capture it all so we could remember it forever.
The views from the top of Mount Phou Si were breathtakingly beautiful–where in the world are some of your favorite viewpoints?
Beautiful!
My favorite view is probably from Sacre Coeur in Paris!
I agree with the Sacre Le Coeur in Paris, but I also thought of something right in our home state: the top of the Space Needle, eating a meal while rotating within an hour. On a beautiful, sunny day you see 360 degrees of a beautiful Seattle skyline!
Can you believe that after nearly ten years of living in Seattle, I’ve never eaten at that restaurant and I’ve only been to the Space Needle once! It might be time for another visit