Laos: A Travel Guide
Climate
Due to Laos’ tropical climate, there are two distinct seasons. June to October is the wet season, when heavy showers occur mostly in the afternoons. If you’re out in them, you’ll probably get soaked through, but it usually only lasts a few hours. You’ll notice that the vegetation in the country is most lush and green during the wet season.
Travel through Laos is best from October to March, when the weather is dry and rain is unlikely. Temperatures across the country stay around 25C during these months.
Mountain nights can be cold, especially during the cooler months, up in the mountains.
The transport sector
Laos offers many forms of transportation, including taxis, tuk-tuks and sawngthaews, public buses, tourist buses, boats, and internal flights. Laos, however, does not have trains. Public buses are without a doubt the most interesting form of transportation. If you’re lucky you’ll be riding a relatively new bus (by Laos standards) that can reach 60 km/hour. A seemingly short journey can take a full day if you’re unlucky enough to be packed into the oldest bus you’ve ever seen with bags of vegetables and old tires. It’s all part of the Laos experience, though! A trip to Laos isn’t complete until you sit on a plastic chair in the middle of the bus aisle, resting your feet on a potato bag.
Travel to Laos independently and enjoy these 10 experiences:
- Delving into the ancient past at the Plain of Jars
- Kayaking down the Nam Song River in Vang Vieng
- Wandering the deserted streets in Sam Neua
- Risking your life on a public bus
- Whizzing round Luang Namtha on a rented scooter
- Spending all your savings at Luang Prabang’s night market
- Searching for the Pathet Lao leaders in the caves near Vieng Xai
- Sampling some of the best food Laos has to offer in Luang Prabang
- Uncovering the secret war in Phonsovan
- Exploring Wat Xieng Toungin Luang Prabang
Discover waterfalls and rainforests on the Boloven plateau. The Namtha mountain trail is a great place to hike. The dolphins of Lovina and the islands of the Mekong. Let us help you plan your own Laos adventure.
