Best Time to Visit Thailand and Laos

Laos and Thailand share a long border that stretches from the north of both countries to the south of Laos and its border with Cambodia. Thailand has a long history of tourism, and has been a popular destination in Southeast Asia for more than five decades. On the other hand, Laos is a relative newcomer to the tourism industry, yet has a decent infrastructure in place and is fast becoming one of the most popular Indochinese destinations for western tourists. For those that are planning a trip to both Thailand and Laos in one go, knowing just when to go is an important aspect of planning the trip.

Climate features in Thailand and Laos

Unless you are not able to cope with the intense heat of these two tropical locations, then there is really no time when it is not good to travel to both Thailand and Laos together. However, the time of year will make a difference on your tour experience and where you can visit, so there are certain times that are better than others.

Thailand has a very varied climate, which can change from north to far south drastically. Generally, there are three main seasons, the west season, the cool dry season, and the hot season. However, the times of the seasons do vary in each region. In the north, the cool season runs from October to February, and begins to heat up through March to the end of May. The rainy season comes in from June to September, and the light showers and afternoon downpours are a refreshing change from the heat.

In the central areas, the dry season runs from November to February, and from March to May, temperatures can rise to as high as 40 degrees. The rains come generally from June to October, with the heaviest rain falling in July and August. In the south, the climate varies from east to west, with the monsoon coming from May to November in the west and from May to January in the east. However, the heaviest rains in the east normally fall from October to December. The cooler period in the east runs from January to September, and in the west from December to April.

In Laos, the country has two distinct weather seasons, which run from October to late April for the dry season and May to late September for the wet season. However, there are temperature variations within each season, with the tail end of the dry season and the first months of the wet season being the hottest period of the year.

Without a coastline to influence the seasons more dramatically, Laos has one of the most straight-forward weather systems in Asia, and it is possible to travel throughout the year. The rains in the south are generally heavier than the lighter rains of the north, mostly due to the altitude increase in the north and the distance from the nearest coastline. Humidity is also higher in the south in the monsoon season, and in the cooler part of the year, it can actually get pretty cold in the north.
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Best time to visit Thailand and Laos

The best time to travel in Thailand is in the cool dry season, but this differs from region to region. In the north, it is best to travel from November to February, after the monsoon rains from May to October and before the hot season begins. In the central areas, December to April is the best time to visit, though it is coolest from November to February.

The south has a different climate altogether, and also varies from east to west. On the western coast, the best time is from December to April, as the long wet season lasts from May to November. However, the rains are not as heavy and do not last all day, and lower prices make it a great low season destination. On the eastern side, January to September is the best time to travel. The weather is pleasant throughout the year, with only light showers for most of the year, with heavier rains from October to December.

A small and landlocked country, the best time to visit Laos is from October to April, during the long dry season. However, the temperatures in the south can get high from March onwards, so the best time to travel there would be from November to February. In the north, the temperatures are generally lower throughout the year, and the best time for pleasant weather is from October to April. The months of December and January can be a lot cooler in the areas to the north of Luang Prabang, which can be a welcome relief for those not inclined to heat.

If you are looking for the best time to travel the two countries together, then you should consider where you are going first. Generally, if you are visiting the northern area of Laos from Vientiane up to Luang Prabang, and the north and central areas of Thailand (Bangkok to Chiang Mai), then December to February is the best time to visit.

If you are planning on including a beach stop in Thailand, then this is also the best time for the western beaches of the isthmus. For those planning a trip to the eastern south of Thailand, the best time to combine it with a tour of Laos is from January to March, when there is less rain and milder temperatures.

Highlights during Thailand and Laos tour

Thailand and Laos both have a huge number of places to go and things to see, and a tour of both countries really needs some careful planning to ensure that you can get to see the best of both countries in the best season for travel.

In Thailand, some of the best places to go, unless you are looking for the country’s best beaches, are around Bangkok in the central area and the districts of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north. In Bangkok, the Grand Palace is one of the most beautiful examples of an ancient Siamese court in the country, while the stunning Wat Phra Kaew is the home of the revered Emerald Buddha statue, which was uncovered under a stone statue after the stone was destroyed. The Wat Pho Temple is the home to the famous Reclining Buddha, a statue that is more than 150 feet long, while the Royal Barge museum is one of the most fascinating examples of Thailand’s history.

In the north of the country, around Chiang Mai, the mountaintop temple of Wat Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai is a must-visit site, and is one of the most ornate temples in Thailand. The north is also the best place for the ethnic village culture of Thailand, and the small Hmong Village of Doi Pui is the most popular of the many ethnic villages around the area.
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In Chiang Rai, the White Temple known as Wat Rong Khun has to be on the list of places to visit. A privately-built modern temple constructed by a local architect, this is a stunning example of Thai architecture from across the country. One of the most-visited places in Chiang Rai is the famous Monkey Temple of Wat Tham Pla, where the staircase up to the temple is guarded by several seven-headed Naga serpents.

In Laos, there are just as many amazing attractions, though most are not as well-known as those in Thailand. The best-known monastery in the country is the Wat Xieng Thong, a 16th century ordination hall that is as beautiful as it is old. With low-sweeping roofs and an amazing “tree of life” mosaic set into the walls, this is a stunning example of Laotian architecture.
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The Vieng Xai Caves are former war-shelter caves from the time of the Pathet Lao communist party, and are set in some of the most beautiful countryside, amongst astounding karst formations. The unique cave of Kaysone Phomvihane still has a working air-circulation pump from the wars, and is the most memorable of all the caves in the complex.

The largest and most glorious waterfalls on the Mekong River, Khon Phapheng Falls are really little more than a huge set of rapids that descends along the Mekong River Valley. However, the area around this outstandingly beautiful falls is filled with gardens and walking paths that make it a complete day out and more attractive than other smaller falls on the river.

Wat Phu Champasak is undoubtedly the most popular temple in Laos for tourists, and while it lacks the huge complex of Cambodia’s Angkor, this ancient Khmer ruin dates from around the same time. With the buildings dating from the 9th to 13th centuries, when the Khmer Empire extended into what is now modern-day Laos, the temple site is one of the most bucolic in the country.

Summary

Traveling Laos and Thailand together can require some careful planning for the right seasons to travel, and overall, the dry season from December to February is the best time to travel for most of the amazing things to see and do. You should plan your itinerary carefully, though, as both countries have a huge number of attractions, more than can be visited in just one trip. Choose the best sites for your own personal pleasure, and enjoy a tour of two of the most amazing countries in Indochina.