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The Mekong at Luang Prabang

Travel guide · The Mekong, monks and quiet mountains

Travelling to Laos

Luang Prabang and its monks at dawn, the Mekong and its 4,000 islands, the mountains of Vang Vieng and turquoise waterfalls. Southeast Asia at its most relaxed. We tell you when to go, what to see and what to eat.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • Best time: from November to January
  • Where to eat: a market stall or a riverside restaurant
Photo: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Laos in 30 seconds

  • The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Laos are from November to January. If you can, avoid April and October (intense heat, golden week).
  • To eat like a local: a market stall or a riverside restaurant. Don’t leave without trying: Laap, Sticky rice, Tam mak hoong.

Laos in November

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Laos. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

November is one of the months when people search most for travelling to Laos: book early. More destinations for November

When to travel to Laos

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Laos are from November to January. If you can, avoid April and October (intense heat, golden week).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr with strong warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

More destinations for those dates: where to travel in January · where to travel in November · where to travel in December

  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from March to May

    Intense heat

    From March to May temperatures reach 35–40 °C with high humidity; April is the toughest month.

    What to do: Visit temples at sunrise, rest at midday and drink plenty of water.

    Best time: November to February

  • March, April

    Field burning

    In March and April it’s very hot and smoke from burning fields leaves a haze over the north.

    What to do: The best time is November to February, dry and cool.

  • from June to October

    Rainy season

    It’s usually heavy afternoon downpours, not whole days of rain. Everything is greener and there are fewer tourists.

    What to do: Plan outdoor visits for the morning and save the afternoon for museums, covered markets or a massage.

    Best time: November to February

  • October

    Golden Week

    From 1 to 7 October the whole of China travels: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the trains are packed.

    What to do: If you can, move your trip by a week; if not, book tickets in advance and visit first thing in the morning.

What to see in Laos

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Luang Prabang

    Luang Prabang

    The old royal capital between the Mekong and the Nam Khan, with golden temples and colonial houses.

    • Wat Xieng Thong
    • Tak bat
    • Mount Phousi
    • Kuang Si Falls
    Luang Prabang guide
  • Vientiane

    Vientiane

    One of the most laid-back capitals in Asia, on the Mekong.

    • Pha That Luang
    • Patuxai
    • Wat Si Saket
    • Buddha Park
    Vientiane guide
  • Vang Vieng

    Vang Vieng

    Karst mountains, rivers and caves, for kayaking, ballooning and blue lagoons.

    • Blue Lagoon
    • Kayaking on the Nam Song
    • Sunset balloon ride
    • Tham Chang Cave
    Vang Vieng guide
  • Pakse

    Pakse

    The southern city, the base for the Bolaven Plateau, its coffee farms and the temple of Wat Phou.

    • Wat Phou
    • Bolaven Plateau
    • Tad Fane Waterfall
    • Golden Buddha
    Pakse guide
  • Si Phan Don

    Si Phan Don

    The 4,000 Islands of the Mekong: hammocks, bikes, waterfalls and Irrawaddy dolphins.

    • Don Det and Don Khon
    • Khone Phapheng Falls
    • Li Phi Falls
    • Irrawaddy dolphins
    Si Phan Don guide
  • Nong Khiaw

    Nong Khiaw

    A village among mountains on the Nam Ou river, with viewpoints and villages to walk to.

    • Pha Daeng viewpoint
    • Boat to Muang Ngoi
    • Pha Tok Cave
    • 100 Waterfalls
    Nong Khiaw guide
  • Phonsavan

    Phonsavan

    The base for the Plain of Jars; stick to the marked, bomb-cleared routes.

    • Jar Site 1
    • Sites 2 and 3
    • MAG Centre
    • Bomb village
    Phonsavan guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Luang Prabang

From Vientiane

From Vang Vieng

From Pakse

From Si Phan Don

From Nong Khiaw

From Phonsavan

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What to eat in Laos

To eat like a local: a market stall or a riverside restaurant, and order laap or sticky rice. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Laap

    A minced-meat salad with herbs and lime.

  • Sticky rice

    In a little bamboo basket.

  • Tam mak hoong

    Green papaya salad.

  • Khao piak sen

    Rice noodle soup.

  • Or lam

    A Luang Prabang stew.

  • Sai oua

    A sausage with lemongrass.

The typical dish of Laos, at home

Laap
Photo: Jpatokal · CC BY-SA 4.0

Laap

Laos’s national dish: minced meat with lime, fish sauce, chilli, fresh herbs and ground toasted rice, which gives it its crunch. It’s eaten with sticky rice and lettuce.

  • Serves 4
  • 30 min

Ingredients

  • 500 g minced chicken, pork or beef
  • 2 tablespoons of uncooked sticky rice
  • 3 shallots, sliced
  • 1 or 2 chillies, ground or fresh
  • The juice of 2 limes
  • 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
  • Mint, coriander and spring onion
  • Lettuce and sticky rice to serve

How to make it at home

  1. Toast the raw rice in a dry frying pan until golden and grind it in a mortar.
  2. Cook the meat in a frying pan with a little water, no oil, breaking it up, until done.
  3. Off the heat, add the fish sauce, lime, chilli and shallots.
  4. Stir in the toasted rice and plenty of chopped herbs.
  5. Serve warm with lettuce, herbs and sticky rice.

The trick: The ground toasted rice is what makes it laap: don’t swap it.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about Laos

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • It’s the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
  • It’s the most heavily bombed country per capita in history: unexploded bombs still lie in the countryside.
  • In Luang Prabang, hundreds of monks collect alms (tak bat) every dawn.
  • Sticky rice is eaten with your hands, rolled into little balls.
  • A handful of Irrawaddy dolphins live in Si Phan Don.
  • The Plain of Jars has hundreds of ancient stone jars of mysterious origin.

Traditions of Laos

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • Tak bat

    Alms for the monks at dawn.

  • April Pi Mai

    Lao New Year, with water.

  • October Boun Ok Phansa

    The end of Buddhist Lent, with boats of light on the river.

  • Baci

    A ceremony tying white threads around the wrists.

What not to do in Laos

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t leave marked paths in rural areas: unexploded bombs remain.
  • Don’t go to Xaisomboun province or the border with Myanmar.
  • Don’t use flash on the monks during tak bat or get in their way.
  • Don’t touch anyone’s head or point with your feet.
  • Don’t accept job offers in the country: there are scam networks.
  • Remember to take your shoes off before entering homes and temples.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

Frequently asked questions about Laos

What people search for most before travelling to Laos.

What’s the best time to travel to Laos?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Laos are from November to January. If you can, avoid April and October (intense heat, golden week).

What to see in Laos in a week?

The essentials of Laos: Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Pakse and Si Phan Don. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in Laos?

Laap, Sticky rice, Tam mak hoong, Khao piak sen, Or lam, Sai oua. To eat like a local: a market stall or a riverside restaurant.

What is the typical dish of Laos?

Laap. Laos’s national dish: minced meat with lime, fish sauce, chilli, fresh herbs and ground toasted rice, which gives it its crunch. It’s eaten with sticky rice and lettuce.

What should you not do in Laos?

Don’t leave marked paths in rural areas: unexploded bombs remain. Don’t go to Xaisomboun province or the border with Myanmar. Don’t use flash on the monks during tak bat or get in their way.

Is it worth travelling to Laos in November?

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Laos. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Basile Morin (CC BY-SA 4.0). Luang Prabang, 松岡明芳 (CC BY-SA 3.0). Vientiane, Aaron Smith from London, United Kingdom (CC BY 2.0). Vang Vieng, Tango7174 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Pakse, Chaoborus at French Wikipedia (CC BY 2.5). Si Phan Don, Basile Morin (CC BY-SA 4.0). Nong Khiaw, Ekrem Canli (CC BY-SA 4.0). Phonsavan, Stefan Fussan (CC BY-SA 4.0).