Laos Landmarks

Laos climate

The climate in Laos is tropical hot. Due to different heights, however, there are large regional fluctuations in temperatures and precipitation. The monsoon is the defining climatic element in Laos. The annual monsoon cycles that affect all of Southeast Asia cause a change between dry and wet times in most of Laos. The southwest monsoon with high rainfall (up to 1,778 mm) and high humidity begins in Laos between May and July and lasts until November.

The southwest monsoon is followed by a dry, cooler period (November through May) followed by the northeast monsoon arises that bypasses most of Laos. This period lasts until mid-February. Exceptions to this general pattern are Xieng Khuang, Hua Phan and the Phongsaly provinces, which receive rainfall from Vietnam and China in April and May.

The precipitate varies greatly depending on the width and height, the highlands of Vientiane, Bolikhamsai, Khammuan Champasak and the East provinces feuchtesten on.

The temperatures also change with the altitude. In the humid, low-lying Mekong Valley, temperatures range from 15 °C to 38 ° C, while in the mountains of Xieng Khuang the temperature can drop to 0 °C at night.

Best time to go to Laos

The best time to visit is between November and February, when it rains the least and is not too hot. This is also the main season for national and regional festivals. If you travel to the mountains, the months of May and July can also be pleasant. Roads can be difficult to pass during the rainy season (July to October), but there are many ways to travel on rivers. The most touristic months are December to February and August, although relatively few travelers visit Laos compared to other Southeast Asian countries.

Laos Sightseeing Places

Money

Currency: 1 kip corresponds to 100 att

Currency abbreviation: LAK (ISO code), ₭ – ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG

Banknotes are in circulation worth 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 kip (more common) and 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 kip (less common). Coins (in amounts of 10, 20 and 50 att and 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 kip) are hardly used in Laos.

Exchange rate:
October 2009
1 US dollar = 8690 kip
1 euro = 12774 kip
1 Swiss franc = 8437 kip

Sightseeing

The country of Laos has to offer its visitors a wonderful landscape and interesting culture. There is also a large number of different sights to visit in Laos.

So you should definitely have seen Wat Phu. Wat Phu is a temple complex in the southern part of Laos, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for several years. While Wat Phu is not as huge as the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the temple complex was an important Khmer sanctuary and is no less impressive.

Laos Landmarks

According to scientific estimates, Wat Phu should have been built between the sixth and eighth centuries AD. The completion of the complex lasted until the thirteenth century AD.
Wat Phu was built in three parts. On the lower level you can admire ponds with a rectangular shape. A promenade has been created between the two ponds and is lined with statues.
On the middle level of Wat Phus there are two Buddhist temples, which were formerly classified as Hindu beliefs. The upper level is the most impressive. Here is the main temple, at the center of which is a huge image of the goddess Shiva. In the past, the mighty statue was surrounded by water. Tourists can also visit the upper level like huge palatial laterite buildings. Among the locals, they are also referred to as the men’s and women’s palace. This temple complex had long disappeared from human history. It was not until 1866 that the Frenchman Francies Garnier rediscovered it.

The adventurers among the Lao tourists should not miss the caves of Vang Vieng. The caves are the highlight of the whole country. They are so huge that you can even visit them by motorboat.

Also worth seeing is the Nam Ha National Park in Luang Nam Tha. The park has an area of ​​more than 2000 square kilometers. The tourist project is mainly financed by UNESCO. Tourists not only have the opportunity to get to know the local flora and fauna better, but can also take part in trekking and rafting tours. Nature lovers should not miss the Bolaven Plain in the southern part of Laos. Since the area is very fertile, you can hardly see anything of the vehement bombing in the second Indochina war.

Si Phan Don is the insider tip among tourists, because with a bit of luck you can watch the almost extinct freshwater dolphins.

An absolute must is Luang Praban. It is considered to be a successful mix between the country’s traditional architecture and colonial architecture from the 19th to the 20th centuries. For several years, the city has also been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List because it has one of the most intact urban layouts in all of Southeast Asia.

Families with children who spend their vacation in Laos must definitely see Hongsa. First and foremost because there is the elephant center here, which will certainly be fun for the little ones.