Luang Prabang weather and bamboo bridges

The weather in Luang Prabang does not get the same level of discussion as the English weather. In fact Luang Prabang weather really only consists of two states, wet or dry, which can also translate into the two tourist seasons, high and low. If you’re talking to a local then the two sets of terms are kind of interchangeable, depending on whether it’s the weather or the backpackers that are the topic of conversation.

So, here’s the Luang Prabang weather right now…

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Depending on the time of year you are reading this you will either be seeing “chance of a thunderstorm” if it’s the wet season or “mostly sunny” if it’s the dry season, with “mostly cloudy” if you are on the cusp of the two.

Roughly speaking, the wet season runs from April to October and the dry season from November to March. There is a bit of an overlap on those dates, the wet season has been coming a bit later for the last few years, to the consternation of rice farmers who rely on the rain for their crops. Also, it’s possible to get storms into November.

The reason these two seasons are linked to the tourist seasons are the heat and the rain. In the wet season it is hot, humid and there is a good chance of a thunderstorm most days. This is the time of the backpacker and those travelling a little cheaper. Guesthouse and hotel prices are lower at this time and there just aren’t as many tourists in town. Which is a shame, because it’s a great time to visit.

Yes, it is hot. Yes, it is humid. But as long as you take it easy, drink lots of water, wear loose clothing and do your running in the early morning then you will be fine, and there is nothing like Luang Prabang just after it’s rained when everything is clean, glistening and fresh smelling. Plus, as I said, there just aren’t as many other tourists in town and you will be able to get some real bang for your buck on accommodation costs and tours. You will also see the waterfalls in full flow due to the rain.

The dry season however is the time when the town really livens up with tourists and Luang Prabang hotel prices rise accordingly. This is not a time of year to turn up without a reservation. Many is  the time I’ve seen tired people carrying backpacks being turned away from full guesthouses late at night.

The dry season is also much cooler and, obviously, dryer. You can wake up knowing that you will not need to carry an umbrella. The days are pleasant, sometimes even cold if you are out of the sun, and the nights will require you to wear something warm. Late December to early January and you will find night time temperatures getting down to 5°c (41°f), which is enough for some people to be very uncomfortable if they packed for a tropical country.

Fortunately Luang Prabang looks good during both seasons. All year round there are flowers blooming and the countryside is a rich green, but you will miss out on the beauty of the paddy fields in the dry season.

But what made me think about the weather? The bamboo bridge did.

There are a couple of bamboo bridges that are built over the Nam Khan river when the water level has gotten down far enough and the builders are confident there will be no more rain to wash it away. Signs of the bridges being built are like the swallows of Capistrano, signalling the end of the wet season and the beginning of the dry.

Built over just a couple of days this bridge is a great way to get from the peninsula to the “other side” of the Nam Khan where the artisan villages are. It is also a great photo opportunity if you get there early in the morning to see the novice monks making their way to school via the bridge.

There is a small charge for using it during the day.

Bridge Location: