Alms Giving Ceremony

Each morning, starting at around 05:30 am, saffron-robed monks and novices emerge onto the streets with their alms bowls (‘bat’) as part of the Alms Giving Ceremony in Luang Prabang.

Accept your guidance into the unique Laotian spiritual culture and experience the serenity and rare silence of the early Luang Prabang morning while participating in this Buddhist ceremony with the locals.

For over 600 years, locals of this UNESCO World Heritage City have been waking up before dawn to prepare for “Tak Bat”. As the sun rises, locals will take their spot on the sidewalk and wait for the procession of monks to start. Hundreds of monks from the 35 temples of Luang Prabang walk in silence, meditating as they collect their daily alms from devotees. This is the essential Buddhist practice of making merit – a symbiotic relationship between the monks and almsgivers. By providing nourishment to the monks the Lao, people hope to generate good karma, as the monks grant merit to the devotees, which counts towards their future lives.

This is a unique and unforgettable experience that will allow you to connect with the Laotian culture on a deep and meaningful level. Learn about Buddhism as told through the unique cultural lens of Laos. As the rising sun gives momentum to the morning crowds, the Alms Giving Ceremony is the perfect way to start your day and continue your journey in this faraway region.

The Alms Giving Ceremony takes place all over Luang Prabang, infusing life and motion to the quiet early-morning streets of the town. One of the most popular routes to participate in the giving of alms is by the Wat Mai temple on Sisavangvong Road, where the 3Nagas MGallery hotel is located. Allow us to be your exclusive guides into the unique Laotian culture and let us introduce you to the Alms Giving Ceremony in the rare cultural setting of Luang Prabang.