Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
When to go
NovembertoJanuary
are the most pleasant months to travel in lowland Laos, when daytime
temperatures are agreeably warm, evenings are slightly chilly and the countryside is green
and lush after the rains. However, at higher elevations temperatures are significantly cooler,
sometimes dropping to freezing point. In
February
, temperatures begin to climb, reaching a
peak in April, when the lowlands are baking hot and humid. During this time, the highlands
are, for the most part, equally hot, if a bit less muggy than the lowlands, though there are
places, such as Paksong on the Bolaven Plateau, that have a temperate climate year-round.
Owing to slash-and-burn agriculture, much of the north, including Luang Prabang, becomes
shrouded in smoke from
March
until the beginning of the monsoon, which can at times be
quite uncomfortable, and of course doesn't do your photographs any favours. The rainy sea-
son (generally
MaytoSeptember
) affects the condition of Laos's network of unpaved roads,
some of which become impassable after the rains begin. On the other hand, rivers which
may be too low to navigate during the dry season become important transport routes after the
rains have caused water levels to rise. Note that the climate in some northern areas - notably
Phongsali and Hua Phan (Sam Neua) - can be surprisingly temperamental, even in the hot
season, so you could have one scorcher of a day, followed by a cold, wet day that's enough
to convince you you're no longer in Southeast Asia.
