Best time to visit · Luang Prabang · Laos
The best time to visit Luang Prabang
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Allie Caulfield, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
The best time to visit Luang Prabang is November to February, when skies are clear, days are warm and mornings are cool. March and April are hot and hazy from agricultural burning, though Lao New Year in mid-April is a highlight. The May–October rainy season is green and quiet, with low prices, and October's Lai Heua Fai festival of lights is a good reason to come at the tail of the rains.
Key facts
- Best months
- November–February
- Shoulder season
- March and October
- Warmest month
- April (avg high 35°C (95°F))
- Coldest month
- December (avg high 27°C (81°F))
- Rainiest month
- August (~21 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–September
Seasons
Luang Prabang has a tropical climate with three seasons: cool and dry from November to February (mornings can be chilly), hot and increasingly hazy from March to April when farmers burn fields, and wet from May to October.
November–February
Cool season
Dry, sunny days around 27–31°C with chilly mornings, clear views and the year's highest hotel prices.
March–April
Hot season
Temperatures in the mid-30s and smoky haze from field burning; Lao New Year brings the town's biggest celebrations.
May–July
Early rains
Afternoon storms clear the air, the countryside turns green and hotels lower their rates.
August–October
Late rains
The wettest weeks give way to clearer weather in October, with full waterfalls, boat races and the festival of lights.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C | 14°C | 2 | 11 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| February | 31°C | 15°C | 2 | 11.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 34°C | 18°C | 4 | 12 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 35°C | 21°C | 8 | 12.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 34°C | 23°C | 15 | 13.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| June | 33°C | 24°C | 17 | 13.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| July | 32°C | 23°C | 20 | 13.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| August | 32°C | 23°C | 21 | 12.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| September | 32°C | 22°C | 15 | 12.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| October | 31°C | 20°C | 8 | 11.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 29°C | 17°C | 4 | 11.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| December | 27°C | 14°C | 2 | 10.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| February | Chinese New Year — busy with regional visitors (late January or February) |
| April | Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) — processions, sand stupas, water throwing and the ritual bathing of the Phra Bang (usually mid-April) |
| May | Boun Visakha Bucha — Buddhist holy day with candlelit processions (usually May) |
| July | Start of Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa) — monks begin the rains retreat (usually July) |
| August | Boun Khao Padap Din and boat races on the Nam Khan (usually August or September) |
| September | Boat-racing festival on the Nam Khan (some years fall in September) |
| October | Boun Ok Phansa and Lai Heua Fai — candlelit processions and illuminated boats floated on the Mekong (usually October) |
| December | Hmong New Year celebrations in surrounding villages (often around December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in May–September, and the sights are quietest in May–September.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Cool season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Hot season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Early rains | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Late rains | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Luang Prabang?
The best time to visit Luang Prabang is November to February, when skies are clear, days are warm and mornings are cool. March and April are hot and hazy from agricultural burning, though Lao New Year in mid-April is a highlight. The May–October rainy season is green and quiet, with low prices, and October's Lai Heua Fai festival of lights is a good reason to come at the tail of the rains.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Luang Prabang?
Usually in May–September. The first rains clear the haze and green up the hills; heavy afternoon storms are common.
+What is the rainiest month in Luang Prabang?
August, with about 21 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Luang Prabang get?
The warmest month, April, averages highs of 35°C (95°F) and lows of 21°C (70°F).