Community & Craft Trail

A half-day bike ride linking skills, culture and community: a vocational training institution, the ethnology centre, and the paper-making and weaving villages across the Nam Khan. Mostly flat on quiet roads; buy directly from makers to support local livelihoods.

1. 1 Luang Prabang TVET The ride begins at Luang Prabang TVET, where young people train in practical skills, including hospitality, for the province's tourism workforce. Visits are by arrangement only, so view it from outside unless you have booked.
2. 2 Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) At the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, learn to read the motifs and techniques you will see in the villages — from Tai Lue silk to Hmong batik and embroidery.
3. 3 Ban Xang Khong (Paper & Weaving Village) Cross the Nam Khan to Ban Xang Khong, the village of saa paper. Look for sheets drying in wooden frames along the lane, decorated with petals and leaves.
4. 4 Saa Paper Makers of Xang Khong At the Saa Paper Makers' workshop you can pour and decorate your own sheet. It needs a few hours of sun, so collect it on your way back.
5. 5 Ban Phanom Weaving Village Ride on to Ban Phanom, a weaving village traditionally associated with the Tai Lue. Listen for the clack of looms beneath the houses, and ask before taking photos.
6. 6 Phanom Loom Weaving Lessons Finish with the Phanom Loom community weaving group. Try a short lesson on a traditional loom; your fee goes into the group's shared fund.