Best Time to Visit Laos

Three seasons, one simple rule

Laos has a cool dry season, a hot dry season and a rainy season. For most trips, December and January are the sweet spot in both Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Mornings are fresh, skies are clear, and you can walk around all day without wilting.

The hot season peaks in April. Vientiane hits 37°C and Luang Prabang 35°C. Afternoons are brutal, so do what locals do and rest at midday. In Luang Prabang, a long lunch near the Mekong beats climbing the 328 steps up Mount Phousi at noon. Smoke from farmers burning fields can also haze the north in March and April, which dulls the views.

The wet months

August is the wettest month in both cities, with about 250 mm of rain in each. Rain usually comes in heavy bursts, not all day. The hills turn bright green and the Kuang Si waterfalls near Luang Prabang run full. But roads in the north can turn muddy, and some boat trips and treks get harder. If you hate crowds and don't mind a wet afternoon, it's a fair trade.

Holidays, festivals and crowds

Pi Mai, the Lao New Year, falls in mid-April. It's the big one. Expect water fights in the streets, packed guesthouses and closed shops for a few days. It's great fun if you want to join in, and a hassle if you don't. Boun Pha That Luang, a major temple festival in Vientiane, comes in November around the full moon. Boun Ok Phansa, the end of Buddhist Lent, usually lands in October. It brings boat-racing festivals along the Mekong.

High season runs from November to February. That's when Luang Prabang's night market and morning alms-giving (monks collecting food from locals) draw the most visitors. Prices rise and the best rooms go early. If you want good weather with fewer people, try late October or early November. Travelling with kids? The cool months are easiest, since temple visits and the long, bumpy bus rides between towns are much more comfortable.