The best time of year to visit Thailand Laos and Cambodia together

Located on the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand are three of the biggest tourist destinations in the region. Laos and Cambodia, which were once a part of the area known as French Indochina, still retain some of their former French overlords’ culture, while Thailand, the former Siam and one of the strongest ancient civilizations in the region, clings to its traditional roots, despite the invasion of all things western over the past 50+ years.

Bordered by Myanmar to the west, China to the northeast, and Vietnam to the east, this small group of Buddhist nations has become one of the mainstays of combined travel in recent years. With the simplicity of entry for all three countries, not to mention the ease of travel from one place to the next, a tour of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos is one of the best ways to explore the area that was, more than 1,000 years ago, part of the largest independent empire in Southeast Asia, the Khmer Empire. However, with a varied topography in all three countries, which brings about a variety of different climates depending on where you go, knowing when to travel to these place can be confusing.

Best time to visit Thailand

While the climate in Thailand does vary depending on which part of the country you are in, it is still possible to visit this amazing nation at any time of the year. The cooler dry season is the best time to travel around what was once known as Siam, which is normally between November and early April. However, the wet and dry seasons in the north and central regions of Thailand are different to those of the isthmus that runs down to Malaysia, which also has a different climate depending on which side you are on, east or west.

While some sites tell that Thailand has three seasons, this is another myth that should be ignored. There are no “hot, cool, and rainy” seasons, just wet and dry. In northern Thailand, around Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Pai, the dry season runs from October to April, though it does get hotter in February and March than in December and January. For most travelers to this region of Thailand, the cooler months of the dry season, from November to January are the best times to visit, though this is classed as the peaks season in the north.

In central Thailand, from Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, and Ayutthaya as far north as Phitsanulok, the climate is slightly different, with the rainy season from June to October and the dry season from November to May. In northeast Thailand, around Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Sakhon Nakhon, the climate also varies very slightly, with a similar dry season that runs from mid-October to the end of May. In the central and northeast regions, the best time to visit is from November to February, when the weather is cool and pleasant and the heat is not too hot yet.

The south of Thailand, around the isthmus that leads to Malaysia, there are two distinct seasons: wet and dry. However, these southern provinces have seasonal variations that rely on which side of the isthmus you are on. On the eastern side, on the Gulf of Thailand, the dry season runs from January to August, while on the west coast on the Andaman Sea, the dry season is from November to March. These are the best times to visit the southern provinces of Thailand.

Best time to visit Laos

Lying to the east of Thailand, Laos has a somewhat different climate, with two very distinct seasons, and almost no variation on those seasons from north to south, except in overall temperatures. The north of the country is higher than the south, and the landscape descends in altitude from Luang Prabang to Pakse. This geography plays an important part in controlling the climate and temperatures, and the higher areas of the north and eastern regions of Laos can be much cooler than in the far south, dropping as low as 25 degrees during the daytime, on average.

The dry season in Laos typically runs from October to April, with the rainy monsoon season being from May until September. Despite having a two-season climate, you can travel to Laos all year round, and the lack of a coastline in this landlocked nation helps to keep the climates in control and relatively stable. Despite the period from May to October being the monsoon season, showers are normally short and intense, and have little overall effect on touring in the country. This gives Laos an entire year when travel is easily possible, and with the monsoon being the low season for travel in the country, some great deals in hotels and transport can be found to help reduce the cost of touring for those traveling on a budget.

For most people, the best time to travel in Laos is in the dry season months of December and January, when the temperatures are a little cooler and the rain is almost non-existent across the entire country. However, as this is the peak season for tourism, it will be more costly for hotels and transport. However, with the cooler weather and sunny skies, it is a great time to explore the rivers and waterways of the country, including the iconic riverboat trip down the Mekong from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. This is also the best time to explore the caves along that stretch of river, which are only accessible by boat, as the water levels are high enough to get in, but not too high to cover the entrance, as can happen in the monsoon season.

Best time to visit Cambodia

Cambodia is renowned for having one of the simplest climate systems in Asia, and the climate is the same all across the country, from the central lowland plains to the hilly outer rim and the low mountains of the north. The dry season, from November to April, is arguably the best time to visit, as the skies are clear and the country sees less rain. November is also the time for the Cambodian Water Festival, known as Bon Om Touk, which is one of the nation’s most popular festivals. Celebrated over three days, including concerts and boat racing, it is a guaranteed time to get wet in the dry season.

There is a little difference in the rainfall between the north and south, with the north seeing less rain throughout the year. From May to October, the country sees the rainy season bringing in some heavy rains, although this should not deter you from visiting the country. The countryside becomes lush and green, the rivers are full and flowing, and the attractions and temples are quiet, as this is the low season for tourism.

June to July is a great time to take advantage of the shoulder-season offers that Cambodia is well known for, and many of the hotels begin their “green season” promotions, with big discounts on many of the higher end hotels and hostels. Many of the outlying yet reachable temple sites, including Angkor, are less busy, and in some cases deserted, at this time of year, and as the temperatures drop slightly in July, you can explore some of the less-known destinations. This is also a good time for family holidays, and the period coincides perfectly with the start of the summer break for European schools.

And the tail end of the rainy season is when one of Cambodia’s greatest attractions, Tonle Sap Lake, comes to life, and the floating villages become more easily accessible. October and November are two of the best months to travel if you are looking at visiting the lake and the mighty Mekong River, as the rains have left them swollen and full of life. Exploring the lake and taking a boat cruise along the Mekong is ideal at this time of year, before the dry season leaves them drained a little and less exotic and splendid.
>Check for more about the best time of Cambodia tour.

Conclusion (best time to travel Thailand Laos and Cambodia together)

With Cambodia having the dry season from November to April, Laos from October to April, and Thailand being varied, depending on where you are going, though mostly from November to April in the largest part of the country, it is clear that, if you are going to travel between all three countries, then this common dry period from November to April is the ideal time to do it. If you are planning to visit the south of Thailand as well, then the best period to include all three countries, including covering Thailand from north to south, is from January to the end of February. This is the coolest time of year in all three countries, and it is the time of the lowest rainfall in the southern provinces of Thailand, where the beaches are the best of any of these amazing countries, considering Laos has no beaches at all.