When to visit Laos

"Champa blooms all year round. It blooms in the rain. It blooms when the wind blows and blooms when the sun shines. It is the flower of glory for Laos."

Outhine Bounyavong, "Frangipani"

Laos has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. Most of the year is hot and humid with average temperatures of about 28°C rising to a blistering 38°C in April and May. The rainy season runs from the beginning of May to the end of September, and the dry season is from October through April. October through January are relatively cool and the most popular months for travel. The very start of the wet season also marks the Lao New Year, Songkran, which lasts for three days, from 13–15 April. Embrace the fun as everyone from locals to tourists embark on a series of water fights to mark the start of the year and another annual monsoon.

In mountainous areas temperatures can be as low as 14-15°C in the winter months, and at night can reach freezing point. The southern Annamites receive over 3,000 mm of rainfall annually, Vientiane has 1,500-2,000 mm, and the northern provinces 1,000-1,500 mm.