The Mekong, an essential communication and transport route, crosses the country over a distance of 1,898 km (4,350 km for the entire river) and largely forms the border with Thailand.
Laos is made up of two main regions, built around large limestone or sandstone plateaux:
The northern half of the country is mountainous and largely forested. The Mekong River and its many tributaries flow through it from the west. The capital Vientiane and the town of Luang Prabang are located here. The capital is home to 1/3 of the country's urban population.
The southern half of the country, narrow and elongated, is only around a hundred kilometres wide in places. It is bounded to the west by the Mekong River and to the east by the Annamite Cordillera, which forms the border with Vietnam. The Bolaven Plateau is a fertile, temperate region, ideal for growing high-altitude crops such as coffee. In the extreme south of the country, the Mekong divides into a multitude of arms, forming several hundred islands and a magnificent waterfall.
What's the best time of year to travel to Laos?
Everyone's biggest fear is the rainy season. So the question that comes up most often is: when should we travel to Laos to avoid too many showers that could ruin our stay? Here are our answers from Luang Prabang, where we have been based for over 20 years.
The old versions of travel books from the last 20 years were right to talk about a rainy season running from May to September. Nowadays, this ‘green’ season is concentrated mainly between late August and early October. It rains, of course, but it doesn't rain all the time - far from it! Most of the time, the weather is good during the day. It can rain in the early evening and sometimes throughout the night. These are thunderstorms accompanied by heavy, intense but short-lived rain. This is our favourite season for scouting, as the vegetation becomes luxuriant.
For the rest of the year, there may be a few scattered showers of short duration.
Here is a simple summary of the seasons to help you choose the right period for your trip to Laos
October to mid-December
This is the mild but still humid season, with fine weather and temperatures of around 15 to 20 degrees in the mornings. Afternoons offer temperatures ranging from 25 to 35 degrees.
Mid-December to February
It's winter, with a cool climate, fine weather and a temperature of around 10 to 15 degrees in the morning. In the afternoons, the temperature varies between 20 and 30 degrees.
March to May
It's summer, with a dry, hot climate, very fine weather and a temperature of around 20 to 25 degrees in the morning. In the afternoons, the temperature varies between 30 and 40 degrees.
June to August
This is the most varied season in terms of climate. Some years the rains come very late, so it's a great time to travel in Laos. It's neither too hot, nor too cold, nor too wet, and the occasional rainfall revives the rice paddies. This is the time of year when farmers are hard at work. It's also a time when there are very few tourists. Temperatures vary between 20 and 25 degrees in the morning. In the afternoons, the temperature varies between 30 and 40 degrees.
Laos is a tropical country with a rapidly changing climate, but you should be aware that the sun shines almost all year round, with rain falling mainly at night except between late August and early October, when it is heavier.