The Best Time to Visit Laos

If you are planning a trip to Laos, determining the best time to visit should be a priority.

Most of Laos' top destinations are best from November to January, but you may want to plan your trip for a different time depending on where in Laos you spend most of your time and how you plan to get around.

Scheduling your trip to Laos requires balancing a few compromises.

The lower costs of the monsoon season, from May to October, offset the increased risk of destroyed roads, while the pleasant weather of the cold and dry months will leave you rubbing shoulders with the crowds of the peak season in Luang Prabang.

Consider the pros and cons of each season before planning your visit to Laos.

Read on to learn more about Laos weather, its main holidays, and what to do in Laos from season to season.

We hope you enjoy watching this video about travel in Laos, the best trip of your life

Source: Lytchee TV

Weather in Laos

Due to its tropical location, Laos experiences only two seasons: a dry season from November to April and a rainy season from May to October.

However, there is a change in temperature during the dry season, dividing it into a cold dry substation from November to February and a hot dry substation from March to April.

The temperature in Laos ranges from 57 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit (14 to 26 degrees Celsius) in December to 77 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 32 degrees Celsius) in June.

Humidity peaks during the worst period of the rainy season in August, peaking at 85 percent, accompanying 5 to 12-inch (120-300 mm) rains that make many roads impassable.

By avoiding these extremes, the cold and dry substation allows you to see the sights of Laos in the best possible conditions, making it the consensus choice for the best time to visit Laos. As you experience pleasantly warm days and restless nights, you will find yourself traveling through the thriving green landscape of Laos or cruising down the Mekong, both fueled by recent rains.

Laos cold and dry season

Around October, the prevailing winds in Southeast Asia change direction.

The northeast monsoon blows from Siberia, bringing cold, dry winds to areas still soaked by the rains brought by the late southwest monsoon.

These ghosts of bitter taiga winds make Laos a pleasant place to visit between November and February.

Temperatures hit a year-round low of 57 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit (14 to 26 degrees C) in December, and rainfall also decreased to just 0.4 inches (10 mm) in the same month.

As a general rule, the weather seems cooler in northern and eastern Laos, in high-altitude destinations like Luang Namtha and Phongsali, where temperatures can drop to 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees C) at night.

Vientiane and Luang Prabang experience pleasant temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees C) in the cold season, while Pakse and other parts of southern Laos still warm to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).

Pack for the coldest, driest weather.

Take light sweaters to low places like Luang Prabang, but wear heavier clothes if you go north or east of the country.

The waterways in Laos will still be swollen from recent rains, so traveling the Mekong or other waterways will be easy in the cold, dry season.

This is a good time to take a day trip to Muang Ngoi, upriver on the Nam Ou River from Nong Khiaw.

Events to watch:

• Bun That Luang (12th lunar month full moon): a week-long festival located around the That Luang stupa in Vientiane
• Lao National Day (December 2): Independence Day holiday that marks the triumph of the Communist Party in power over the Laotian monarchy.
• Wat Phu Festival (full moon of the third lunar month): Traditional festivities such as buffalo fighting, elephant races, and Laotian music and dance performances take place among the ruins of Wat Phu.

Laos hot and dry season

It is no coincidence that Laos celebrates the splendid Bun Pi Mai (Songkran) New Year's festival during the height of the hot and dry substation from March to April.

As temperatures rise to a scorching 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), the green landscape withers, and rivers begin to recede.

And when the rice harvest comes, farmers set their fields on fire, a traditional way of preparing the ground for the next harvest.

As a result, much of Laos is covered in a haze of smoke that irritates the eyes and aggravates allergies.

If you come to Bun Pi Mai or plan to face the hot season anyway, pack lightweight, quick-drying, sweat-wicking clothing; Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and wide-brimmed hats to protect yourself from the sun.

Laos wet "green" season

Around April or May, the prevailing winds make another change, with the southwest monsoon bringing warm, humid air from the Indian Ocean.

The rains begin to fall on the arid and brown landscape of Laos; As the storms increase, Laos begins planting rice around June.

The "green" season from May to October is Laos' official tourist low season, with package tours, hotel rooms, and rates dropping too low levels throughout the year.

In part, this is due to the increased difficulty getting from one place to another: some roads may be destroyed or too dangerous to drive, and jungle trails may be too slippery or flooded to walk.

This is an excellent time to take a cruise on the Mekong, as the waters will be very high and fast when the rains come.

Laos' rains are actually quite moderate, rather than full-day torrents, short, heavy rains are expected in the afternoon, averaging 4 to 11 inches. (120-300 mm) and last no more than a few hours.

The rains do not affect Laos equally; areas further north receive more (formerly) and areas south of Vientiane receive less.

Expect high humidity and temperatures between 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius) and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

To cope with the rains and the weather, pack a raincoat and lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing for hot, humid climates.

Events to watch:

• Visakha Bucha / Bun Bang Fai (Sixth Lunar Month Full Moon): The Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passage to Nirvana are celebrated in an ancient Rocket Festival tradition.
• Khao Padap Din (14th day of the waning moon of the ninth lunar month): Laos Day of the Dead, accompanied by regattas on the Nam Khan River.
• Awk Pansa (full moon of the eleventh lunar month): commemorates the end of Buddhist Lent with Bun Nam boat races along the Mekong

Crowds and price caps in Laos

The weather in Laos affects its main tourist destinations in different ways.

Bun Pi Mai in the hot and dry substation will tie up most transport and hotel bookings (this is the biggest festival in Laos, taking Laos back to their hometowns), so plan your trip ahead if visit during the water festival.

The green season provides unique opportunities for sightseeing despite (or because of) the low rates.

The 4,000 islands come to life during the rainy season. However, certain attractions look less enchanting in the rain - the Kuang Si waterfalls near Luang Prabang, for example, turn into a muddy mess during the rainy season and should be avoided at all costs.

The price differences between the high season and the low season vary from establishment to establishment, but a difference of 50 to 80 percent is expected, especially for luxury establishments and the busiest tourist areas that arise during the cold substation and seca and Bun Pi Mai.

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