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LAOS Vang Vien Huts On The River
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Laos: Best time to go

Laos has two seasons: the rainy season, which runs from May to October, and the dry season, which runs from November to April. Most rain falls in the south. For the most part, Laos is hot, although there is a good deal of fluctuation between summer and winter temperatures at higher elevations. In Vientiane it ranges from the mid-30s Celsius in April to the upper- 20s Celsius in January. In the mountains, however, temperatures can plummet to near freezing in December and January.


N.B. All information given here is to the best of our knowledge, however, changes do occur, sometimes at short notice. Ampersand cannot be held liable for such happenings. Of course, if you have any tips that you feel would benefit other travellers, please pass them onto us and we will add them.

There are no direct flights into Laos from the UK, Europe or the US; international flights to Vientiane and Luang Prabang go via Bangkok or Singapore. If you're including Laos as part of a broader trip through Indochina, there are flight connections from Hanoi or Phnom Penh.  You can also enter by boat along the Mekong from Thailand or Cambodia, and from Vietnam or China by land.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate visa(s) for your trip.

British passport holders require visas for Laos. Visas can only be obtained on arrival in Laos, they cost $35 and are valid for 30 days. You will need to provide 1 passport photo on application. Passports must have at least 2 blank pages and be valid for 6 months after your return from Laos. 

It is essential to visit your GP as soon as possible to check if you need any vaccinations prior to travel. Risk for vaccine preventable diseases can change at any time. MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad) can supply a quick and easy online Travel Health Brief. This includes easy to understand vaccination advice for single or multi-country trips. Their website is www.masta-travel-health.com.

London - Luang Prabang: There are no direct flights from London to Luang Prabang. The best route would be to fly via Bangkok with Thai Airways. With a short connection, the flying time is usually 15 hours.

London - Vientiane: There are no direct flights from London to Luang Prabang. The best route would be to fly via Bangkok with Thai Airways. With a short connection, the flying time is usually 16 hours.

We highly recommend you reconfirm your onward and return international flights at least 72 hours prior to departure.

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