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Laos, a country of natural beauty and timeless charm, boasts a rich cultural heritage, vibrant festivals and stunning landscapes. This blog will provide a comprehensive overview of Laos weather, festivals and holidays throughout the year, helping you plan your trip accordingly. So without further ado, let’s explore the beauty of Laos with Asia King Travel.
Laos has a tropical monsoon climate with distinct rainy and dry seasons. The average temperature in the lowlands is 23°C to 33°C, while in the highlands it ranges from 14°C to 25°C.
Laos experiences a lot of rainfall during the rainy season, especially in the southern and central regions. From July to September, the season is marked by vivid plant life and lush, green landscapes.
When traveling to Laos, the dry season is the best time to visit, as temperatures are lower and the skies are clearer. This is the ideal period to explore the country’s natural and cultural attractions and enjoy outdoor activities.
Weather in Laos (Cre: Laos Travel)
The Lao Lunar Calendar is a traditional calendar system in Laos based on lunar cycles. It is an important aspect of the Lao people's cultural and religious ceremonies, as are other lunar calendars throughout Southeast Asia. The Lao Lunar Calendar is divided into 12 months, with each lasting 29 or 30 days. Occasionally, a leap month is added to align the calendar with the solar year.
Most Lao festivals and holidays follow the Lao Lunar Calendar. To make it easier for you to keep track of the festivals, we've adjusted the dates to the appropriate months in the 2024 Gregorian calendar. Keep in mind that from 2025 forward, events and holidays may not take place within that month on the Gregorian Calendar.
Boun Pha Vet is a religious festival held on several dates throughout the first month of the Lunar New Year amongst villages, to commemorate the birth of Prince Vessantara, the Buddha's reincarnation. Lao people believed that Prince Vessantara was the Lord Buddha, who gave away everything he owned. The occasion is significant because it is regarded as the moment for Lao males to be ordained as monks. During the festival, Buddhists perform religious rites, make traditional foods, and spend quality time with their families and friends.
Boun Pha Vet Festival (Cre: David Allen)
Boun Wat Phou, the largest festival in Southern Laos, is a three-day Buddhist celebration celebrated at Wat Phou Temple in Champasak on the full moon of the third lunar month, usually in February. The celebration includes religious procedures such as almsgiving to monks and a lighted circumambulation, as well as cultural festivities like traditional dancing, music concerts, elephant parades, and numerous athletic competitions.
Boun Wat Phou Festival (Cre: Traveloka)
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Boun Khoun Khao is a traditional Lao festival celebrating the rice harvest. It involves offering thanks to the spirits of the land and assuring a plentiful harvest for the following season. The celebration includes cultural performances, music, and communal feasting.
The Boun Khoun Khao Festival reflects Lao agriculture, with events taking place in several villages throughout the month. The event celebrates the energy and bounty of the land, as well as the rice harvest. During the event, a senior member of the village wraps white cotton strings around people's wrists and prays for their happiness.
Boun Khoun Khao Festival (Cre: Champa Meaunglao)
On festive days, several delicacies such as deep-fried Mekong fish, papaya salad, and rice alcohol are served to thank nature and the Mekong River for providing abundant crops. After the rituals, people will participate in thrilling entertainment activities such as dancing and singing traditional songs.
Lao New Year, or Pi Mai, is one of Laos' most important festivals. It is celebrated in mid-April and symbolizes the traditional lunar new year as well as the beginning of the rainy season. It is held yearly in mid-April, officially for three days (about 13-15 April), but it frequently lasts a whole week.
This event is important to the Lao people because it involves cleaning houses and washing Buddha images with holy water. People wear new clothes, visit temples to make offerings, and witness colorful parades in cities, particularly Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
Boun Pi Mai Festival (Cre: Best Price Travel)
The festival’s highlight is the throwing of water as Laotians believe that the old spirits will be washed away and welcome the New Year. Prepare yourself to get doused with water and flour in the streets by strangers when you plan your trip during this time.
Because this is a public holiday in the country, many workplaces, restaurants, and schools will be closed. Also, there are limited access and transportation options due to crowds. However, the vibrant atmosphere is what makes this one of the best times to visit Laos.
Visakha Bu Saar, or Buddha Day, is a significant Buddhist festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. Temples across Laos hold candlelight processions, and devotees engage in merit-making activities. You will have the chance to see the chanting and sermonizing at night followed by beautiful candlelight processions.
Visakha Bu Saar Festival (Cre: Laos Travel)
Bang Fai Festival (Rocket Festival), dating back to pre-Buddhist times, is one of Laos' most rowdy events, taking place in numerous villages around the country from May to September of each year. Villages compete by launching homemade rockets, accompanied by music, dance, and festivities. It is aimed at encouraging the rain gods to bring rain for the upcoming rice-growing season.
Boun Bang Fai Festival (Cre: Discover Laos Today)
You will have a lovely time watching the best-decorated and highest-flying handcrafted rockets and fireworks launch into the sky to call for good rain amidst much chanting and merrymaking.
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The Khao Phansa festival celebrates the start of Buddhist Lent, which begins the day following the full moon of the eighth month on the lunar calendar, usually in July. This is Laos' customary three-month rain retreat known as "Phansa".
During this time, there are no weddings or festivities, except for religious ones, and Buddhist monks remain in their own temples to study the Buddha's teachings and meditate. They are not permitted to travel and stay overnight outside of their temples, unless in specified conditions, and their leave time cannot exceed 7 days.
Boun Khao Phansa Festival (Cre: Laos Travel)
For Buddhists, Khao Phansa is traditionally the season when young men enter monastic life and receive spiritual training to accrue merit for themselves and their families. It is thought that as a symbol of purity and happiness, a monk will lead their parents to heaven.
On this occasion, people frequently arrange donations of food and other essentials for the monks. Most temples are extremely busy around this time, as many people come to make merit, donate, and get blessings.
Boun Suang Heua, or the Boat Racing Festival, is a vibrant Lao celebration held in October to mark the end of Buddhist Lent (which is after Khao Phansa). The festival features colorful boat races on rivers and lakes, with ornately decorated boats and competitive teams.
Boun Suang Heua Festival (Cre: Laos Souvenir)
The Boat Racing Festival in Laos brings together various teams from all over the country in an epic competition on the Mekong River. Each dragon-style boat carries up to 50 rowers representing different villages to fight in this annual festival, showing the culture and friendship of the Lao people. This lively event brings together locals and tourists, showcasing traditional music, dance, and rituals.
The That Luang Festival, held in Vientiane, is one of the most important Buddhist celebrations in Laos. It honors the sacred Pha That Luang and includes religious ceremonies, parades, and cultural performances.
That Luang Festival (Cre: CGTN)
This ceremony usually lasts three days and takes place in November during the full moon at Pha That Luang, a national emblem of Laos. Monks will come to receive alms and floral offerings from the locals. The festival includes processions, parties, and a trade exhibition. There is also a large fireworks display at night.
Lao National Day, celebrated on December 2nd, marks the anniversary of the end of the monarchy in Laos and the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It reflects the country's rich cultural heritage and the spirit of national unity. Festivities include patriotic events, parades, and cultural performances, offering a vibrant display of Laotian pride and tradition.
Lao National Day (Cre: LPC Travel)
In conclusion, we hope this guide has provided valuable insights for your adventures in Laos. The country's rich cultural heritage, diverse festivals, and stunning natural landscapes offer something for every traveler. Remember to check Laos’ weather conditions and plan accordingly to fully enjoy the festivals. Don't hesitate to contact Asia King Travel for your next trip to Laos!
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