The best time to visit Laos

Generally speaking, Laos is one of those countries that isn’t very familiar to many of us in the Western Hemisphere. (For example, did you know the “s” in the country’s name is silent?) With this brief month-by-month guide, we’ll answer some of the most pressing questions for those considering a Laos vacation — above all, addressing when to go to Laos for the best, most well-rounded travel experience.

When to go to Laos: a month-by-month planner for the ideal Laotian experience

Like most of the tropical or subtropical destinations we’ve discussed, determining the best time to visit Laos comes down in large part to avoiding the rainy season and — to the best of your ability — not getting stuck in the most tourist-packed parts of the dry season. In general, Laos has a pretty straightforward tropical climate: it’s hot, humid, cloudy, and wet in the rainy season from May to late October, and… hot, humid, and sunny in the dry season, which runs from November to around April.

However, there’s more complexity to the issue, in the sense that it’s not only about the weather. You also have to factor in various festivals throughout the country, river levels, and even farming patterns in some regions. Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of the best time to visit Laos, based on the aforementioned factors and other noteworthy issues.

December and January

These two months are widely considered the absolute best time to visit Laos due to the combination of good weather and a wide range of things to do. Temperatures hang around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (about 21 Celsius) the whole time — it’s often sunny, and not hot enough for the humidity to be a major nuisance. (It’s drier in the north, but also much cooler.)

The waters are high in rivers including the Mekong, Nam Ou, and Nam Tha, making them ideal for guided sojourns on local boats. And both months feature notable festivals: December marks the time for celebrating Lao National Day, Hmong New Year, and the That Ing Hang Festival at the eponymous Buddhist temple in Savannakhet Province; January brings with it Boun Pha Vet (a key Laotian Buddhist festival) and the Boun Khoun Khao festival in celebration of the latest rice harvest.

As you might imagine, visitor traffic will also be heaviest at this time, especially in cities like Vientiane and Luang Prabang as well as areas with sizable Hmong populations or sacred Buddhist sites. That being said, Laos has yet to become comparable to numerous areas of Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia as a tourism draw, so the presence of other vacationers shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.

Read more: What to eat in Vientiane, Laos

February

February is generally counted along with December and January as part of the high season for visiting Laos, with good reason. The average temperature is still around 73 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius), and in the first half of the month, river levels should still be high enough for you to take a Mekong cruise en-route to the breathtaking sight of the Pha Pheng waterfalls.

Plus, there are more than half a dozen festivals in February, including the Lunar New Year, the Phra Keo Nam Festival in Salavanh Province, and Champasak Province’s tremendous Wat Phou Festival — parades, music, dancing, gift shopping, boat races, and elephant races that must be seen to be believed alongside the UNESCO-honored temple ruins that share the festival’s name.

Granted, February isn’t perfect. The river levels start falling in the month’s second half, and if the last rainy season had lower-than-average precipitation, they might fall pretty fast. But it should still be pretty high on your list of options if you’re choosing when to go to Laos.

March

In March, Laos becomes a bit less attractive as a vacation destination. A major reason why is that you’re still likely to be paying close to peak-season rates for accommodations, but the average temperature has shot up to about 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius) with highs around 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius). Also, the water levels are now pretty low, so travel by boat is not exactly appealing (in addition to being potentially unsafe in the north).

The countryside is looking distinctly less than green — a bit parched, if we’re being honest. Lastly, while Boun Khoun Khao rice-planting festivals throughout rural Laos are intriguing — especially because you’ll witness the Laotian traditional baci ceremony as part of them — the slash-and-burn farming involved in this agricultural endeavor harms air quality (and the overall dryness makes the haze more unpleasant).

And yet, there’s an argument to be made for a shoulder-season trip to Laos, especially if your priorities aren’t focused on the countryside. For example, in a city like Luang Prabang, most of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you won’t be dealing with too many other tourists at the Haw Kham Royal Palace Museum, the city’s famous Night Market, or hotspots like Icon Klub (depending on where your interests lie).

Read more: Luang Prabang travel guide: activities, culture and cuisine

April and May

Arguably, the two biggest Laotian cultural highlights in April and May are Lao New Year and the Rocket Festival, respectively. Both are celebrated all over the country (though most vividly in Luang Prabang) and involve street processions, traditional music and dance, sacred ceremonies, and plenty of fun. (You wouldn’t necessarily think a water fight is a symbol of renewal, but it is after the New Year cleaning of sacred sites, and the tremendous array of light, sound, and cheer at the Rocket Festival is nothing short of astonishing.)

These months would also be less tourist-dense. So if you wanted to visit Laos’ natural wonders, like the Pak Ou Caves or the biodiversity of the Xe Pian sanctuary, it’d be a less hectic experience. You’d also find smaller crowds in Vientiane, whether you’re there for the cultural sites like Buddha Park or to sample the country’s unique cuisine: larb (meat and sticky rice salad), khao poon rice noodles, and much more. But these are the country’s hottest months, maxing out at 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius), the rainy season is on the horizon, and that haze is still hanging around.

Rainy season (June through September)

In Laos, the rain isn’t like the monsoon seasons across the Indian subcontinent (the archetype of the tropical downpour). Generally, it falls for perhaps an hour or two each day, usually in the late afternoon. Otherwise, it’s often quite dry, and sometimes even sunny. Greenness returns to soothe the eye, and the river levels increase again for those keen on boat travel. If you have the gear and constitution to handle the risk of being stuck in the rain, June or July may not be so bad.

A general note on the effects of rain in Laos: It can often make excursions into the countryside difficult and occasionally dangerous. Stick to the major cities, towns, and rivers, and don’t try to explore areas like the Bolaven Plateau or Kong Lor Cave unless you get an uncommonly dry day.

October and November

November is usually considered the beginning of Laos’ peak season.. We’d also say it’s the best overall month for visiting Laos: good river levels, greenery everywhere, pleasantly warm weather, and a reasonable number of tourists. In mid-November, Vientiane truly comes alive for Boun That Luang, among the most meaningful festivals to Laotian Buddhists and a great opportunity to observe the nation’s folk traditions. (Nightlife enthusiasts might find the city’s notable bars and clubs less crowded during the festival, but given its importance, we’d advise being respectful and keeping any revelry low-key.)

October is wetter than November, but not much different otherwise, and even less crowded. It’s a great time to cruise the Mekong Delta and visit any of the country’s major natural attractions or explore picturesque rural towns like Nong Khiaw.

Read more: Our guide to exploring lesser-known Laos

Make it happen

Once you’ve determined when to go to Laos for your vacation, speak to one of our local experts. All our trips can be tailor-made to suit your requirements and dates.