Season guide · Luang Prabang · Laos
Luang Prabang in the late rains
August–October: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The wettest weeks give way to clearer weather in October, with full waterfalls, boat races and the festival of lights. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 44 rainy days across August–October.
Key facts
- Months
- August–October
- Temperatures
- 20°C (68°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 44
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in the late rains
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August | 32°C (90°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 21 | 12.8 h | 2/5 |
| September | 32°C (90°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 15 | 12.2 h | 2/5 |
| October | 31°C (88°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 8 | 11.7 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 32°C (90°F), and 44 of the year's roughly 118 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in the late rains
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- 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)
Good choices for the late rains
Museum · Luang Prabang town
UXO Laos Visitor Centre
Entry is free; donations support clearance work in the provinces.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Mekong riverfront
Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre
A weaving centre about 2 km from town on the Mekong, where you can watch weavers at work, learn about natural dyes and take half-day or full-day classes in weaving, dyeing or batik.
- Time needed
- 2 hours to a full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Shopping
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Palace · Old Town centre
Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham)
Bags and cameras go into lockers; shoulders and knees must be covered, and shorts are not allowed.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Around Wat Visoun
Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
A small, well-curated museum on the many ethnic groups of Laos, including the Hmong, Akha, Khmu and Tai Lue, with clothing, jewellery, tools and explanations of rituals and textiles.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in the late rains
- Nong Khiaw (About 3–4 hours by road) — A riverside village on the Nam Ou surrounded by dramatic limestone peaks, known for the steep hike to the Pha Daeng viewpoint, caves used as shelters during the Indochina wars and boat trips upriver to Muang Ngoi.
- Vang Vieng (About 1 hour by train) — A town on the Nam Song river ringed by limestone karsts, with tubing, kayaking, caves, blue swimming lagoons and hot-air balloon flights.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the late rains a good time to visit Luang Prabang?
It is a trade-off: The wettest weeks give way to clearer weather in October, with full waterfalls, boat races and the festival of lights. The best months overall are November–February.
+What is the weather like in Luang Prabang in the late rains?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 44 rainy days over the season.