The Zen is a bit far from town and after making reservations there we wondered if we had made a mistake. As soon as we arrived we knew we had chosen the right place. After a day in the hubbub of charming Luang Prabang it was wonderful to return to a peaceful, tucked in the mountains gateway. The rooms had nice views, were clean and comfortabe, the staff friendly and accommodating,and the restaurant had good food with a view. I swam in the mountain fed pool which was refreshing. I would recommend water shoes though. The only down side, not for us though since we had our own car, is that getting into town requires paying for a shuttle each time. If we had not had a car I would have split my stay with lodging time with staying in the heart of Luang Prabang and a few nights at the Zen.There is plenty to do right there and still leave you refreshed and rested.