Laos
Luang Prabang
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Mount Phousi, standing at 100 metres above sea level, is Luang Prabang’s highest hill. It’s popular as a place to watch the sun rise or set over the Mekong River. From the summit, you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view across the city and its many temples, and over the surrounding landscape to the mountains in the distance.
It takes more than 300 steps to reach the top of Mount Phousi, with several resting places along the way. The climb is gentle enough for anyone with good health. There’s another set of steps down that will lead you to several temples of Luang Prabang.
Mount Phou Si, also written Mount Phu Si, is a 100 m high hill in the centre of the old town of Luang Prabang in Laos. It lies in the heart of the old town peninsula and is bordered on one side by the Mekong River and on the other side by the Nam Khan River. The hill is a local religious site, and houses are several Buddhist shrines.
Halfway up the hill, overlooking the Nam Khan is Wat Tham Phou Si, a Buddhist temple. At the summit of the hill, overlooking the town and surrounding countryside, is Wat Chom Si, which is also a Buddhist temple and is a tourist highlight of Luang Prabang.
Entrance to Phou Si is 20,000 Kip as of July 2018.
The top of Mount Phousi hosts Wat Chomsi, a golden Buddhist shrine dating back to 1804. Here, you can buy flowers to offer for blessings. Halfway up the hill, you can visit Wat Tham Phousi, which features a statue of Buddha inside a grotto and another of a reclining Buddha.
Phousi Hill
360 Degree views of Luang Prabang, the Mekong river and the forested mountains
Phousi Hill, also called Phousi Mountain is a small mountain in the center of Luang Prabang, located on the peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers.
Phou Si, which means “sacred hill” is about 100 meters high. Although it is quite a climb to the top, it is worth the effort. From the top you will have great 360 degree views of Luang Prabang, the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers and the forested mountains.
When the weather is clear you can see all the way up to the golden stupa of the Wat Phra Phome Phao Santi Chedi forest temple on the mountains East of Luang Prabang.
On top of Phousi Hill is a narrow platform with a small Buddhist temple and a golden stupa. The hill is a popular place to watch the sunset; the narrow platform fills up quickly and gets pretty crowded.
How to get to Phousi Hill
Phousi Hill is located in the center of Luang Prabang. The main stairway up is behind the Royal Palace Museum on Sisavangvong road. Get there either on foot or take a tuk tuk or jumbo for between 10,000 (US$ 1.30) and 15.000 Kip (US$ 2).
Opening hours
You can climb the mountain from 6 am. There is no fixed closing time to allow people to watch the sunset from the top.
Entrance fee
Entrance fee is 20.000 Kip (US$ 2.60) per person.
Mount Phousi in Luang Prabang