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Best time to visit Laos: month by month
Short answer
November to February is the best time, cool and dry with highs of 28–30°C, only 3–7 rainy days a month and cold mornings in the north; it is high season. March to May is hot at about 33°C and hazy from field burning. The rainy season from June to October is green, with full waterfalls and fewer visitors, but 25–26 rainy days a month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°C | 15°C | 4 | very high |
| Feb | 30°C | 17°C | 4 | high |
| Mar | 33°C | 20°C | 7 | medium |
| Apr | 33°C | 22°C | 10 | medium |
| May | 33°C | 24°C | 18 | low |
| Jun | 32°C | 24°C | 26 | low |
| Jul | 32°C | 24°C | 25 | medium |
| Aug | 30°C | 24°C | 26 | medium |
| Sep | 30°C | 23°C | 25 | low |
| Oct | 30°C | 22°C | 13 | medium |
| Nov | 30°C | 20°C | 7 | high |
| Dec | 28°C | 16°C | 3 | very high |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Hot at 33°C with lows of 20–24°C; haze from burning in March–April hides views, and rain starts building in May (about 18 days).
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Monsoon, with highs of 30–32°C and 25–26 rainy days a month; lush, quiet, with some flooded roads.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Rain eases from about 25 days in September to 7 in November; highs of 30°C and waterfalls at their fullest.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Dry and pleasant with highs of 28–30°C and lows of 15–17°C, cold mornings in the mountains; peak season.
Events worth planning around
- Pi Mai Lao, the Lao New Year water festival (mid-April).
- Boun Ok Phansa, the end of Buddhist Lent, with boat races and illuminated boats (October).
- That Luang Festival in Vientiane (November full moon).
- Boun Bang Fai rocket festival (around May).
When to avoid
March and April can be very hot and hazy, which spoils mountain views. In the peak of the rainy season (July–September), some rural roads flood or are blocked by landslides.
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Common questions
What is the best time to visit Laos?
November to February: dry, sunny and cooler at 28–30°C, though it is the busiest season.
Is the rainy season a bad time for Laos?
Not necessarily. June to October is green with full waterfalls and lower prices, but some roads flood and rain falls on most days.
When is Lao New Year?
Pi Mai Lao is in mid-April, with three days of water fights, especially in Luang Prabang.