When to Visit Laos

Laos has one of the simplest weather patterns in Southeast Asia; with two distinct seasons. The dry season runs from October to April and the wet season is from May to September; however, it is becoming harder to predict the rainy season – in some years, the rainy season has held off until June or July!

Of course when we say ‘rainy season’ it does not rain all day, every day. In fact, it is actually one of our favourite seasons in Laos because the temperatures are perfect and everything is so green – it’s the prettiest time of year for this rural paradise but you can expect outbreaks (that are often short) of strong and hard downpours.

The early months of the wet season (May – July) remain very hot and rainfall is often short lived, whilst in the latter months (late July – September) the rains tend to get more constant and can be heavy at times, especially in southern parts of the country. Further north and in Luang Prabang, rainfall tends to be lighter and you can expect rain during the night or mornings with some relatively clear afternoons.

The hottest time of the year is March – June and the coldest time of the year is December and January. As to how hot and cold it is in these times really depends on the altitude of the area and if it is in the north or the south. As a general rule north, central and eastern regions are at a higher altitude than those in the south, where it’s at the lowest.

In Luang Prabang, for example, temperatures are often around 17°C during the day in December and January while nights and early mornings can be chilly. Once you reach March, temperatures start to rise and come April and May it can peak as high as 31°C+. We do always recommend taking a jumper with you for the evenings in Laos, unless you are travelling at the hottest time of year.