Season guide · Luang Prabang · Laos
Luang Prabang in the hot season
March–April: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Temperatures in the mid-30s and smoky haze from field burning; Lao New Year brings the town's biggest celebrations. Expect highs up to 35°C (95°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 12 rainy days across March–April.
Key facts
- Months
- March–April
- Temperatures
- 18°C (64°F) to 35°C (95°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 12
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in the hot season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 34°C (93°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 | 12 h | 3/5 |
| April | 35°C (95°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 8 | 12.6 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 35°C (95°F) against a yearly 32°C (90°F), and 12 of the year's roughly 118 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in the hot season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) — processions, sand stupas, water throwing and the ritual bathing of the Phra Bang (usually mid-April)
Make the most of the weather
Experience · Mekong riverfront
Mekong sunset cruise
Shared sunset boats are inexpensive; hire a boat privately for a group or a quieter evening.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Chomphet
Chomphet across the Mekong
A short ferry ride across the Mekong leads to quiet villages and old monasteries such as Wat Long Khoun, where kings traditionally stayed before their coronation, and hillside temples with views back to the old town.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Outdoors
- Views
Viewpoint · Old Town centre
Mount Phousi
Sunset is very crowded; sunrise or late afternoon gives the same view with space to breathe.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Active
- Kids
Experience · Nam Khan riverside
Nam Khan bamboo bridge
Each dry season, villagers build a temporary bamboo footbridge across the Nam Khan, which is washed away when the river rises in the rains.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Day trips in the hot season
- Pak Ou Caves (About 2 hours upstream by boat) — Two caves in a limestone cliff where the Nam Ou meets the Mekong, filled with thousands of wooden and gilded Buddha images left by pilgrims over centuries.
- Tad Sae Waterfall (About 30 minutes by road, then a short boat) — A series of low, wide limestone cascades and pools in the forest, quieter than Kuang Si.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the hot season a good time to visit Luang Prabang?
It is a trade-off: Temperatures in the mid-30s and smoky haze from field burning; Lao New Year brings the town's biggest celebrations. The best months overall are November–February.
+What is the weather like in Luang Prabang in the hot season?
Highs of up to 35°C (95°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 12 rainy days over the season.