Weather
Laos has two distinct seasons throughout the year;
Laos' Wet Season: The southwest monsoon arrives in Laos between May and July and lasts into October, and as with many Southeast Asian countries, the wet season is characterized by a downpour for a few hours each day rather than all-day torrential downpours. While the rainy season tends to strike Laos pretty much uniformly, there are a couple of regional oddities. Laos' wet season tends to hit Phongsali a little early due to it catching a bit of rain from southern China, while Hua Phan and Xieng Khuang tend to get a little early rain from Vietnam. Generally speaking, the higher you are, the more rain you get, and the towns along the Mekong River south of Vientiane get the least rain.
Laos' Dry Season: The monsoon is followed by a dry period, has two distinct sub-sections. First comes the cool dry season and then comes the hot dry season. The former is one of the most popular times to visit Laos, the later less so. The cool dry season runs from November to February and the hot dry season from March to April. What the hot season lacks in length it makes up in ferocity, they don't call it the hot season for nothing.
The cool dry season on the other hand is an excellent time to go. Temperatures are relatively low, the air is cleaner and, particularly in November and December, the rivers are high enough to make river travel a breeze. Not surprisingly, this period in Laos is the peak season. |
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