When to Go

High season for tourism is November through March and the month of August, when weather conditions are favorable, plus the Lao New Year in the middle of April. Accommodations run at full capacity and transportation can be overbooked at these times.

Climate

Laos's tropical climate ushers in a wet monsoon season lasting from early May through October, followed by a dry season from November through April. In Vientiane, average temperatures range from 71°F (22°C) in January to 84°F (29°C) in April. The northern regions, which include Xieng Khouang, get chilly from November to February and can approach freezing temperatures at night in mountainous areas. Beginning in mid-February, temperatures gradually climb, and April can see temperatures over 100°F (38°C). In order to avoid the rain and heat, the best time to visit the south is probably November through February. In the mountains of the north, May through July means still-comfortable temperatures.

Public Holidays & Events

Businesses and government offices close for these holidays, but restaurants remain open. Ask about local festivals; on the full moon of each month, called a boun, there's always a festival somewhere -- not to be missed.

International New Year's Day: January 1, nationwide. Your standard countdown and party, sans Dick Clark.

Lao New Year (Pimai Lao): Full moon in mid-April, nationwide. The Luang Prabang festivities include a procession, a fair, a sand-castle competition on the Mekong, a Miss New Year pageant, folk performances, and cultural shows. Make sure you're booked and confirmed in hotels before you go.

Buddhist Lent (Boun Khao Phansaa): At local temples, worshippers in brightly colored silks greet the dawn on Buddhist Lent by offering gifts to the monks and pouring water into the ground as a gesture of offering to their ancestors. Lent begins in July and lasts 3 months. Monks are meant to stay at their temple throughout this time, for more rigorous practice. Lent ends in the joyous Boun Ok Phansa holiday in September, usually commemorated with boat races (below), carnivals, and the release of hundreds of candle-bearing paper and bamboo floats on the country's rivers.

Dragon Boat Races (Bun Song Hua): Held at different times in late summer and early fall in every riverside town, these races celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent. Teams of 50 paddle longboats in a long sprint, and winners parade through town. The Vientiane Boat Race Festival (Vientiane and Savannakhet) is held the second weekend in October. The Luang Prabang Boat Races are held in early September along the Nam Kan, with a major market day preceding the races and festivities throughout the night on race day.

That Luang Festival: Full moon in early November, Vientiane. This major Buddhist fete draws the faithful countrywide and from nearby Thailand. Before dawn, thousands join in a ceremonial offering and group prayer, followed by a procession. For days afterward, a combined trade fair and carnival offers handicrafts, flowers, games, concerts, and dance shows.

Hmong New Year: End of November/beginning of December, in the north. Although this is not a national holiday, it's celebrated among this northern hill tribe.

National Day: December 2, nationwide. The entire country celebrates a public holiday, while in Vientiane, you'll find parades and dancing at That Luang temple.