Winter
Dec → Feb28 to 31°
nights 16 to 17°
- 3 rainy days · 22 mm
- 9.7 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Laos?
In short: November to March, during the dry season, when the roads of the north are passable and Luang Prabang sees 28 to 31 °C in the afternoon from December to February. November and December are the best compromise: rain becomes rare (25 mm then 17 mm in Luang Prabang), the nights grow cooler and Vientiane celebrates the That Luang Festival.
- Down the Mekong by boat: From November to March, towards Luang Prabang under clear skies; in the rainy season, the speedboats become particularly dangerous.
- Motorbike loops and trails: From November to March for the Thakhek Loop and the north: during the monsoon, from May to October, the roads of the north become impassable.
- End of Buddhist Lent festivals: In October, Boun Ok Phansa and the festival of illuminated boats (Lai Heua Fai) light up Luang Prabang as the monsoon ends.
- That Luang Festival: In November, sometimes late October, three to seven days of celebration at the full moon around the great stupa of Vientiane.
- Pi Mai, Lao New Year: From 14 to 16 April, three days of celebration in the height of the hot season, when Luang Prabang reaches 34 °C in the afternoon.
Best avoided: August, at the heart of the monsoon (387 mm and 28 rainy days in Luang Prabang), when the roads of the north become impassable and the Mekong speedboats are best avoided.
Sources: tourismlaos.org, diplomatie.belgium.be, diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Jan29°recommended
- Feb31°recommended
- Mar34°recommended
- Apr34°fair
- May34°fair
- Jun32°not recommended
- Jul32°not recommended
- Aug30°not recommended
- Sep30°not recommended
- Oct30°fair
- Nov30°recommended
- Dec28°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Laos, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 16° | 9.4 h | 23 mm | 4 d | ✓ |
| February | 31° | 17° | 10.3 h | 27 mm | 3 d | ✓ |
| March | 34° | 21° | 10.2 h | 44 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| April | 34° | 22° | 10.1 h | 86 mm | 10 d | |
| May | 34° | 24° | 10.4 h | 191 mm | 19 d | |
| June | 32° | 24° | 9.4 h | 235 mm | 25 d | |
| July | 32° | 24° | 8.4 h | 251 mm | 25 d | |
| August | 30° | 24° | 7.7 h | 387 mm | 28 d | |
| September | 30° | 24° | 9.2 h | 268 mm | 25 d | |
| October | 30° | 22° | 9.8 h | 92 mm | 12 d | |
| November | 30° | 20° | 9.6 h | 25 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| December | 28° | 16° | 9.3 h | 17 mm | 2 d | ✓ |
The four seasons in Laos, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Luang Prabang) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May34°
nights 21 to 24°
- 12 rainy days · 107 mm
- 10.2 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug30 to 32°
nights 24°
- 26 rainy days · 291 mm
- 8.5 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov30°
nights 20 to 24°
- 14 rainy days · 128 mm
- 9.5 h of sun
Book early for November to March
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Laos, month by month
EventsBoun Pi MaiAprilBoun Bang FaiMayBoun Ok PhansaOctoberThat LuangNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: January, December
- Towns & culture: January, February, October, November, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Laos, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- AprilBoun Pi Mai big crowds
Lao New Year is celebrated with water for three days, with Buddha statues bathed and mounds of sand in the temples of Luang Prabang.
- MayBoun Bang Fai
Villages launch bamboo rockets into the sky to call for rain, with distance contests, music and plenty of beer.
- OctoberBoun Ok Phansa
The end of Buddhist Lent is marked by small boats of light set adrift on the Mekong and by long boat races.
- NovemberThat Luang
Wax processions and a great almsgiving to the monks draw the faithful around Vientiane's golden stupa, at the November full moon.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended29°16° at night
- 23 mm · 4 d
- 9.4 h
High season, book early
February
Recommended31°17° at night
- 27 mm · 3 d
- 10.3 h
High season, book early
March
Recommended34°21° at night
- 44 mm · 6 d
- 10.2 h
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair34°22° at night
- 86 mm · 10 d
- 10.1 h
Busy, without the crush
May
Fair34°24° at night
- 191 mm · 19 d
- 10.4 h
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended32°24° at night
- 235 mm · 25 d
- 9.4 h
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended32°24° at night
- 251 mm · 25 d
- 8.4 h
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended30°24° at night
- 387 mm · 28 d
- 7.7 h
Low season, lower prices
September
Not recommended30°24° at night
- 268 mm · 25 d
- 9.2 h
Low season, lower prices
October
Fair30°22° at night
- 92 mm · 12 d
- 9.8 h
Low season, lower prices
November
Recommended30°20° at night
- 25 mm · 6 d
- 9.6 h
Busy, without the crush
December
Recommended28°16° at night
- 17 mm · 2 d
- 9.3 h
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 29 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Rain stays light: 23 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.4 h a day on average. High season: book early.
February. 31 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (27 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. High season: book early.
March. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Rain stays light: 44 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 22 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (86 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 191 mm over 19 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 235 mm of rain over 25 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.4 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 251 mm of rain over 25 days. Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 387 mm of rain over 28 days. Expect 7.7 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. 30 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 268 mm of rain over 25 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 30 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (92 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.8 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 30 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Rain stays light: 25 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
December. 28 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (17 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Laos?
November to March, during the dry season, when the roads of the north are passable and Luang Prabang sees 28 to 31 °C in the afternoon from December to February. November and December are the best compromise: rain becomes rare (25 mm then 17 mm in Luang Prabang), the nights grow cooler and Vientiane celebrates the That Luang Festival.
Which month should you avoid in Laos?
August, at the heart of the monsoon (387 mm and 28 rainy days in Luang Prabang), when the roads of the north become impassable and the Mekong speedboats are best avoided.
What is the hottest month in Laos?
March, with 34 °C on average in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Luang Prabang).
What is the coldest month in Laos?
December, with 28 °C at best during the day and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Luang Prabang).
What is the driest month in Laos?
December: 17 mm over 2 days of rain, against 387 mm in August, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Laos?
May, with 10.4 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Laos?
The gap between day and night reaches 14 °C in February: 31 °C in the afternoon, 17 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Laos?
January, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Luang Prabang), the safest windows for walking.
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