Best time to visit Myanmar and Laos

Two of the emerging tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, Laos and Myanmar are both undergoing substantial changes in economic growth thanks to their burgeoning tourism industries in recent years. Tourism has become a major component of their economic development, and has helped to make them two of the most sought-after locations in Indochina. While tourism in Myanmar is still developing, more than 3.5 million tourists visited the country through 2018. In Laos, tourism is governed by the Lao National Tourism Administration, and has seen high tourist volumes in recent years, with over 4.1 million visitors in 2018. For travelers new to these locations, the main factor is knowing when to visit, as both countries have tropical monsoon climates, and knowing what is the best time to visit the Myanmar and Laos together.

Climate features in Myanmar and Laos

Laos has a very tropical climate across the central and southern areas of the country, with a sub-tropical climate in the northern and mountain areas, making it a destination that can have varying weather patterns in different parts of the country. However, the seasons are the same across the nation, with the dry season running from October to February, with the wet monsoon season running from May to September.

In between, during the months of March and April, the country sees its hot dry period, when the temperatures are known to reach highs of around 40°C in the lowland areas of central and southern Laos. In the north, the temperatures do not get as high, reaching peaks of around 31°C during the day.

The north of the country is higher than the central and southern areas, and the mountains bring cooler climates, which can often drop temperatures to as low as 5°C in January, the coldest month of the year. In the central and southern regions, the dry season sees highs of just 17°C during the day, with nights and early mornings actually feeling quite chilly for a tropical region.

The monsoon season across Laos sees a lot of rain, even in the highland areas of the north. In the north, you can expect heavy downpours for short periods, which commonly occur in the late evening and overnight, and often leaves clear skies by morning. However, this can increase in the wettest months of July and August, seeing as much as 225mm of rainfall around Luang Prabang per month. Further south, Vientiane can see as much as 335mm of rainfall in the wettest month of the August, with the far south of the country, around Pakse, seeing up to 350mm of rain in July and August. The south of the country is also prone to typhoons, despite being landlocked, which can cross the narrow area of Vietnam and cause heavier rains and stronger winds between May and December.

Myanmar has a slightly less varied climate, but still with the typical tropical three seasons. The cooler dry season runs from November to February, while the monsoon season normally happens between May and October. The country also sees a hot season in March and April, which can see temperatures reaching as high as 37-38°C in the southern coastal areas, and up to 40°C in Yangon. This hot dry season has a major impact on travel in Myanmar across most of the country, with the exception of the far north, which is mountainous and cooler, right up to the eastern end of the Himalayas, which cross the northernmost point of Myanmar.

The dry season in Myanmar is a little more complex than most, as the temperatures vary from north to south. In the far northern areas, it can get as cold as almost freezing at night, and only reach up to 5-6°C during the day, while in the central-north it can be down to 5°C at night, and around 18°C during the day. As you move further south, the temperatures increase, with daytime highs of around 25°C in Yangon, and 26-28°C along the southern coast, making it a hot area to visit, even in the cooler season.

The monsoon season is just as variable, but not as hot, with a drop in temperatures to meet the increase in rainfall. June, July, and August are the three wettest months of the year, with very heavy rains of up to 480mm per month in the northern central areas, and as much as 1,155mm in the coastal areas of Sittwe on the Bay of Bengal. In Yangon, rains can see as much as 600mm in August, while on the Andaman Coast, around Myeik, it can rise to as much as 830mm in July.

Southern Burma can also see tropical cyclones in the period from mid-April to early December, coming in from the Indian Ocean, which are normally more intense at the beginning and end of the typhoon season.

Best time to visit Myanmar and Laos

As with most tropical and sub-tropical countries, the dry season is normally the best time to travel, and both Laos and Myanmar are no exception. With generally cooler weather and less rainfall, both Myanmar and Laos are ideally visited in their respective dry seasons. The peak timed for tourism in Myanmar are normally from November to January, when the highest volume of tourists tend to visit the country, and for those that are less inclined to the crowds in the areas of Bagan and Mandalay, a visit in October or from February to March is the best idea. If you can stand the heat, then April is also a good time for fewer crowds, and can be a great time to travel to the north, as it is warm and pleasant. In Laos, the peak period is normally from October to late April, as the country sees less of the hotter temperatures in the main tourist areas. If you want fewer crowds, then try visiting the north of the country in the monsoon season, when there are less tourists and rainfall is much lighter than in the central and southern areas.

If you are planning a trip to both Laos and Myanmar together, then the best time to travel would be in the peak season, from November to February, when the weather is cooler and dry in both countries. With such a close climate pattern across the two countries, matching them for a combined trip is much easier than in some of the Indochinese countries.

Highlights during Myanmar and Laos tour

If you are planning a visit to these two amazing Indochinese destinations, then there are some awesome places that are definitely must-see attractions that you will not want to miss.

In Myanmar, you have a huge number of places to visit, and it can be a real adventure visiting the top destinations in the country. In Yangon, the most popular attraction is the beautiful Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most sacred sites in Buddhism in Asia. A 325-foot stupa, the pagoda is covered with around 27 tonnes of gold leaf, as well as thousands of diamonds, rubies, and other precious gemstones. The pagoda is said to contain relics from four different Buddhas, including a few strands of hair from Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

Bagan is the famous temple city of Myanmar, and one of the most popular attractions in Asia. The temple city was once the capital of the ancient Pagan Kingdom from the 9th to 13th centuries. The site covers a huge area, and there are still more than 3,800 temples that have survived over the centuries. Now a preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site, the original site was founded as Bagan in the 2nd century, and expanded to control most of what is now modern-day Myanmar.

The center of Myanmar is famous for its large lake, known as Inle Lake, and the center of fishing in Myanmar. One of the most anticipated destinations in the country, the beauty of the lake and its surrounding hills really justifies the hype this vast body of water receives. Stilted houses and temples rise up from the waters, and the floating villages move around on the lake, depending on the water level. And the Intha fishermen are renowned across Asia for their unique method of propulsion, rowing their small boats with only their legs using the oars.

Laos has a similar number of amazing attractions, and there is nowhere you can go in the country where you cannot find something interesting to see or do. Vientiane, the Lao capital, is the pinnacle of laid-back destinations, lying on the banks of the lumbering Mekong River. A former French trading post, Vientiane is the largest city in the country, and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the slower pace of city life.

To the north lies Luang Prabang, originally a collection of small villages sitting at the confluence of the Mekong River and the sacred Nam Khan (Khan River). While the aura is as laid back as that of the capital, the city is famous for its 33 gilded wats, a UNESCO protected gem that gives these faded Indochinese villages a burst of life. Saffron-clad monks wander the streets asking for alms, while the city’s many restaurants have become famous for their unique fusion of exquisite cuisines. Outside the town lie waterfalls, meandering hiking trails, and the outstanding beauty of the two rivers, which are perfect for a relaxing river cruise.

The most outstanding caves in Laos belong to Vieng Xai’s unique war-shelter cave complex, seven beautiful caves that are back dropped by some of the world’s most amazing karst formations. The caves are the former headquarters of the Pathet Lao, during the wars of independence in the 1960s, and the Vietnam War. The “Hidden City” within the caves was home to more than 20,000 people for over nine years, with schools, hospitals, and markets all underground.

Summary

A visit to both Laos and Myanmar is a trip back in time, as both countries have long and varied histories that are amazing in their telling. Torn apart by wars and invading kingdoms, these two nations have both risen from the ashes of their violent histories to become two of the top destinations in Southeast Asia, and make a great combined trip.