Tourism Seasons by Country
Pick a country to see its tourist season month by month — high season, shoulder season and low season — along with any festivals that affect prices, crowds or closures that month.
Laos
| Month | Season Description |
|---|---|
| January | November through March is Laos' peak tourist season, coinciding with the cool dry season when travel conditions are at their best. Luang Prabang — the country's star attraction — fills up quickly: guesthouses on the Mekong-facing streets book out weeks ahead in December and January, and prices rise 40–60%. Slow-boat tickets down the Mekong (Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, a 2-day journey) sell out several days in advance and must be reserved at the border. Tour operators in Vang Vieng and Vientiane charge peak rates. The famous Luang Prabang alms-giving ceremony attracts a large and growing crowd of visitors — arrive very early or the scene becomes uncomfortable. New Year and European Christmas are the absolute peak with highest prices. |
| February | November through March is Laos' peak tourist season, coinciding with the cool dry season when travel conditions are at their best. Luang Prabang — the country's star attraction — fills up quickly: guesthouses on the Mekong-facing streets book out weeks ahead in December and January, and prices rise 40–60%. Slow-boat tickets down the Mekong (Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, a 2-day journey) sell out several days in advance and must be reserved at the border. Tour operators in Vang Vieng and Vientiane charge peak rates. The famous Luang Prabang alms-giving ceremony attracts a large and growing crowd of visitors — arrive very early or the scene becomes uncomfortable. New Year and European Christmas are the absolute peak with highest prices. |
| March | November through March is Laos' peak tourist season, coinciding with the cool dry season when travel conditions are at their best. Luang Prabang — the country's star attraction — fills up quickly: guesthouses on the Mekong-facing streets book out weeks ahead in December and January, and prices rise 40–60%. Slow-boat tickets down the Mekong (Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, a 2-day journey) sell out several days in advance and must be reserved at the border. Tour operators in Vang Vieng and Vientiane charge peak rates. The famous Luang Prabang alms-giving ceremony attracts a large and growing crowd of visitors — arrive very early or the scene becomes uncomfortable. New Year and European Christmas are the absolute peak with highest prices. |
| April | April and May mark the brutal hot-dry season: temperatures across the Mekong plains reach 38–42°C, making outdoor exploration genuinely exhausting. April also sees the Lao New Year (Pi Mai, mid-April) during which the country virtually shuts down for 3 days — domestic transport is overwhelmed and many businesses close. June, September, and October are rainy: while the showers are usually short and intense rather than all-day, secondary roads — especially in Phongsali, Hua Phan, and the southern panhandle — become impassable mud. Some remote villages and trekking routes are cut off entirely. Prices are cheapest in these months and accommodation is always available. |
| May | April and May mark the brutal hot-dry season: temperatures across the Mekong plains reach 38–42°C, making outdoor exploration genuinely exhausting. April also sees the Lao New Year (Pi Mai, mid-April) during which the country virtually shuts down for 3 days — domestic transport is overwhelmed and many businesses close. June, September, and October are rainy: while the showers are usually short and intense rather than all-day, secondary roads — especially in Phongsali, Hua Phan, and the southern panhandle — become impassable mud. Some remote villages and trekking routes are cut off entirely. Prices are cheapest in these months and accommodation is always available. |
| June | April and May mark the brutal hot-dry season: temperatures across the Mekong plains reach 38–42°C, making outdoor exploration genuinely exhausting. April also sees the Lao New Year (Pi Mai, mid-April) during which the country virtually shuts down for 3 days — domestic transport is overwhelmed and many businesses close. June, September, and October are rainy: while the showers are usually short and intense rather than all-day, secondary roads — especially in Phongsali, Hua Phan, and the southern panhandle — become impassable mud. Some remote villages and trekking routes are cut off entirely. Prices are cheapest in these months and accommodation is always available. |
| July | July and August see a modest surge of backpackers and adventure travellers who enjoy the lush green landscapes produced by the monsoon rains. The Mekong runs high, making slow-boat journeys smoother and faster. Waterfalls such as Kuang Si near Luang Prabang are at their most dramatic. Prices are moderate — lower than peak season but not at rock-bottom. Accommodation is available without forward planning at most destinations, though Vang Vieng can still fill up on weekends. |
| August | July and August see a modest surge of backpackers and adventure travellers who enjoy the lush green landscapes produced by the monsoon rains. The Mekong runs high, making slow-boat journeys smoother and faster. Waterfalls such as Kuang Si near Luang Prabang are at their most dramatic. Prices are moderate — lower than peak season but not at rock-bottom. Accommodation is available without forward planning at most destinations, though Vang Vieng can still fill up on weekends. |
| September | April and May mark the brutal hot-dry season: temperatures across the Mekong plains reach 38–42°C, making outdoor exploration genuinely exhausting. April also sees the Lao New Year (Pi Mai, mid-April) during which the country virtually shuts down for 3 days — domestic transport is overwhelmed and many businesses close. June, September, and October are rainy: while the showers are usually short and intense rather than all-day, secondary roads — especially in Phongsali, Hua Phan, and the southern panhandle — become impassable mud. Some remote villages and trekking routes are cut off entirely. Prices are cheapest in these months and accommodation is always available. |
| October | April and May mark the brutal hot-dry season: temperatures across the Mekong plains reach 38–42°C, making outdoor exploration genuinely exhausting. April also sees the Lao New Year (Pi Mai, mid-April) during which the country virtually shuts down for 3 days — domestic transport is overwhelmed and many businesses close. June, September, and October are rainy: while the showers are usually short and intense rather than all-day, secondary roads — especially in Phongsali, Hua Phan, and the southern panhandle — become impassable mud. Some remote villages and trekking routes are cut off entirely. Prices are cheapest in these months and accommodation is always available. |
| November | November through March is Laos' peak tourist season, coinciding with the cool dry season when travel conditions are at their best. Luang Prabang — the country's star attraction — fills up quickly: guesthouses on the Mekong-facing streets book out weeks ahead in December and January, and prices rise 40–60%. Slow-boat tickets down the Mekong (Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, a 2-day journey) sell out several days in advance and must be reserved at the border. Tour operators in Vang Vieng and Vientiane charge peak rates. The famous Luang Prabang alms-giving ceremony attracts a large and growing crowd of visitors — arrive very early or the scene becomes uncomfortable. New Year and European Christmas are the absolute peak with highest prices. |
| December | November through March is Laos' peak tourist season, coinciding with the cool dry season when travel conditions are at their best. Luang Prabang — the country's star attraction — fills up quickly: guesthouses on the Mekong-facing streets book out weeks ahead in December and January, and prices rise 40–60%. Slow-boat tickets down the Mekong (Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, a 2-day journey) sell out several days in advance and must be reserved at the border. Tour operators in Vang Vieng and Vientiane charge peak rates. The famous Luang Prabang alms-giving ceremony attracts a large and growing crowd of visitors — arrive very early or the scene becomes uncomfortable. New Year and European Christmas are the absolute peak with highest prices. |
Festivals & events
Pi Mai (Lao New Year)
Book ahead
Apr
Water-splashing new year, biggest in Luang Prabang (mid-April). Book transport and lodging well ahead.
Boun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)
Celebration
May · approximate dates
Home-made rockets fired to summon the rains, with music and dancing. Usually May.
Boun Ok Phansa & Boat Racing
Celebration
Oct · approximate dates
End of Buddhist Lent: candlelit offerings float down the Mekong and boat races follow. Lunar date, usually October.
That Luang Festival
Celebration
Nov · approximate dates
Vientiane's largest religious festival around the golden stupa. Lunar dates, usually November.
