Best time to visit Luang Prabang
The best time to visit Luang Prabang is November–February, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province, Laos
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.1 °C / 77 °F | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 20 mm / 0.8 in | best month |
| February | 28.1 °C / 83 °F | 14.6 °C / 58 °F | 15 mm / 0.6 in | best month |
| March | 30.6 °C / 87 °F | 17.6 °C / 64 °F | 22 mm / 0.9 in | good month |
| April | 31.7 °C / 89 °F | 20.5 °C / 69 °F | 74 mm / 2.9 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 31.6 °C / 89 °F | 22.6 °C / 73 °F | 116 mm / 4.6 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 31.1 °C / 88 °F | 23.8 °C / 75 °F | 145 mm / 5.7 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 30 °C / 86 °F | 23.4 °C / 74 °F | 266 mm / 10.5 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 29.4 °C / 85 °F | 23 °C / 73 °F | 316 mm / 12.5 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 29.6 °C / 85 °F | 22.5 °C / 73 °F | 199 mm / 7.8 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 28.7 °C / 84 °F | 20.6 °C / 69 °F | 80 mm / 3.2 in | good month |
| November | 27.2 °C / 81 °F | 17.6 °C / 64 °F | 22 mm / 0.9 in | best month |
| December | 24.8 °C / 77 °F | 14.3 °C / 58 °F | 17 mm / 0.7 in | best month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: good
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–February
- Good
- March, October
The cool, dry season from November to February is warm, sunny and nearly rain-free, excellent for exploring on foot; the build-up to the monsoon in March-April turns hot, and from May through September relentless heat, humidity and heavy afternoon rain make walking tours uncomfortable, easing again in October.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26 °C / 79 °F, average daily high 25.1 °C / 77 °F, precipitation 20 mm / 0.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F.
Against: relative humidity 79%.
February · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 29 °C / 84 °F, precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, wet days 1.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily high 28.1 °C / 83 °F, average daily low 14.6 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 73%.
Watch out for: Slash-and-burn haze.
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 22 mm / 0.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, wet days 4.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, average daily low 17.6 °C / 64 °F, relative humidity 71%.
Against: feels like (high) 32.6 °C / 91 °F, average daily high 30.6 °C / 87 °F.
Watch out for: Slash-and-burn haze.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 82%, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, average daily high 28.7 °C / 84 °F, average daily low 20.6 °C / 69 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 32.7 °C / 91 °F, relative humidity 82%, wet days 12 days, precipitation 80 mm / 3.2 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 54%.
November · best
In its favour: precipitation 22 mm / 0.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, feels like (high) 29.8 °C / 86 °F, average daily high 27.2 °C / 81 °F, wet days 4.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, average daily low 17.6 °C / 64 °F.
Against: relative humidity 80%.
December · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.2 °C / 79 °F, average daily high 24.8 °C / 77 °F, precipitation 17 mm / 0.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, wet days 2.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 14.3 °C / 58 °F.
Against: relative humidity 80%.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: good
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–February
- Good
- March, October
November through February gives the coolest, driest, best-lit trekking days around Luang Prabang; March and October are workable shoulder months despite rising heat or lingering rain, but the hot, humid monsoon from April to September brings heavy rain, muddy trails and oppressive heat that make hiking unrewarding.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: precipitation 20 mm / 0.8 in, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily high 25.1 °C / 77 °F, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, daylight per day 11.1 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph, feels like (high) 26 °C / 79 °F.
Against: relative humidity 79%.
February · best
In its favour: precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, wet days 1.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, average daily low 14.6 °C / 58 °F, daylight per day 11.5 h, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: average daily high 28.1 °C / 83 °F, feels like (high) 29 °C / 84 °F.
Watch out for: Slash-and-burn haze.
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 22 mm / 0.9 in, wet days 4.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, daylight per day 12 h, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 6 mph.
Against: average daily high 30.6 °C / 87 °F, feels like (high) 32.6 °C / 91 °F, average daily low 17.6 °C / 64 °F.
Watch out for: Slash-and-burn haze.
October · good
In its favour: days with heavy rain 2.2 days, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, daylight per day 11.7 h, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: feels like (high) 32.7 °C / 91 °F, wet days 12 days, precipitation 80 mm / 3.2 in, relative humidity 82%, share of rain falling in the daytime 54%, average daily high 28.7 °C / 84 °F, average daily low 20.6 °C / 69 °F.
November · best
In its favour: precipitation 22 mm / 0.9 in, wet days 4.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: relative humidity 80%, average daily high 27.2 °C / 81 °F, feels like (high) 29.8 °C / 86 °F, average daily low 17.6 °C / 64 °F.
December · best
In its favour: precipitation 17 mm / 0.7 in, wet days 2.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily high 24.8 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, average daily low 14.3 °C / 58 °F, daylight per day 10.9 h, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: relative humidity 80%, feels like (high) 26.2 °C / 79 °F.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Jade Dragon Mountain, 826 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 26 °C | 29 °C | 32.6 °C | 35.4 °C | 36.1 °C | 35.6 °C | 34.8 °C | 34.6 °C | 34.8 °C | 32.7 °C | 29.8 °C | 26.2 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 0.7 days | 0.2 days | 0.5 days | 2.4 days | 3.6 days | 3.9 days | 9.6 days | 11.5 days | 7 days | 2.2 days | 0.6 days | 0.3 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 1 pm | 3 am | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 11 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 9.7 h | 10.4 h | 10.8 h | 11 h | 10.3 h | 9.4 h | 7.7 h | 7.6 h | 8.8 h | 9.6 h | 9.3 h | 9.3 h |
| Relative humidity | 79% | 73% | 71% | 74% | 77% | 78% | 83% | 86% | 85% | 82% | 80% | 80% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 14.2 µg/m³ | 19.9 µg/m³ | 52.2 µg/m³ | 56.5 µg/m³ | 14.9 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ | 6.9 µg/m³ | 6.7 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 9.8 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 20 µg/m³ | 28.9 µg/m³ | 84.6 µg/m³ | 91.5 µg/m³ | 21.7 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | 10.8 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 13.2 µg/m³ | 14.5 µg/m³ | 16.7 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Worth knowing before you go
- Slash-and-burn haze
15 February–30 April
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Luang Prabang
2 km away