January
Boun Khouan Khao is a harvest festival featuring rituals of thanksgiving to the spirit of the land.

February
Boun Khao Chee is a morning temple ceremony at which a special sticky rice bread is offered to the monks.

March
Boun Phra Wet commemorates King Vessanthara's reincarnation as the Buddha. Fortune-telling is a highlight of this three day festival.

April
13-16 Lao New Year (Boun Pee Mai or Koud Song Kane) From the washing of Buddha images to the drenching of friends and strangers, water is central to the Lao New Year festival. Be sure to visit temple compounds as celebrants pour scented water over Buddha images, and expect to be ambushed - no one escapes the traditional water-throwing.

May
Boun Visakhabusa celebrates Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. Boun Bang Fai, the Rocket Festival, is a call to the spirits for rain and a celebration of fertility. After a morning temple ceremony, people gather in fields on the outskirts of villages to launch brightly decorated bamboo rockets.

July
Boun Khao Phansaa is the first day of Buddhist Lent. During these three months, new couples are not allowed to marry.

September
Boun Khao Padabdine is an early morning temple ceremony honoring the ancestors. Boun Khao Salak is another opportunity to make offerings to the dead and to share merit with them.

October
Boun Ok Phansaa is the final and most important day of Buddhist Lent. Boun Souang Heua, the boat racing festival, is held the day after.

November
Boun That Luang, is a festival celebrating That Luang Stupa at the time of the full moon. The festival begins with a solemn, pre-dawn gathering of thousands of faithful pilgrims. These devotees give offerings and listen to prayers chanted by the monks who represent every temple in Laos. Throughout the preceding week, a combined trade fair and carnival offers food and handicraft stalls, concerts, dance shows and comedy acts.

December
Boun Kin Chieng, is the New Year Festival of Lao Soung (Hmong).

Laos has a warm and tropical climate with two seasons: the rainy season from the beginning of May to the end of September and the dry season from October to April. The average temperature is 29°C. Maximum temperature can reach up to 40°C. Temperatures can drop to as low as 15°C or even lower in the mountains. In Vientiane, minimum temperatures of 19°C are to be expected in January. In the mountainous areas, however, temperatures drop to 14-15°C during the winter months, and on cold nights can easily reach the freezing point.

The average precipitation is highest in southern Laos, where the Annamite Mountains receive over 3000 mm annually. In Vientiane rainfall is about 1500-2000 mm, and in the Northern provinces only 1000-1500 mm. Generally, tourists are recommended to visit Laos during the months of November to March because these are cool months and rainfall is lower than other periods.

The Lao currency is the KIP. As of Octber 2007, the exchange rate is 9,600 kip to $1 US.

The largest note is 50,000 kip, though the notes in common circulation are 20,000 kip or 10,000 kip. US$ are readily accepted throughout the country (although sometimes at somewhat disadvantageous rates - 10000 kip to the US$ is common), and Thai baht are also readily accepted in many areas. For a short visit to the main centres, there's little point to exchanging kip, as changing them back can be inconvenient in Laos and practically impossible elsewhere.

Many banks, travel agents and guesthouses will allow you to take a cash advance from a credit card. Changing traveller's cheques is easy in any large town.

You can easily obtain 30 day tourist visas on arrival in Laos upon payment of $30 US and one passport photo per person. Laos visas can be obtained on arrival at the following border crossings:

• The Friendship Bridge crossing (near Vientiane, bordering Thailand)
• The Vientiane International Airport (Wattay Airport)
• The Luang Prabang International Airport
• Pakse International Airport
• Nam Kan/Noeng Haet (Xieng Khuang province, bordering Vietnam, since March 2003)
• Lak Sao (Bolikhamsao Province, bordering Vietnam, since March 2003)
• Lao Bao (Savannakhet Province, bordering Vietnam, since March 2003)
• Thakek (Savannakhet Province, bordering Thailand, since March 2003)
• Chong Mek (Champasak Province, bordering Thailand, since March 2003)
• Huay Xai (Bokeo Province, since March 2003)
• Boten (Luang Namtha Province, bordering Thailand, since March 2003
• Nam Meo (Xam Neua Province bordering Vietnam/Nam Xoi)
• Namheung (Sayaboury Province bordering Thailand/Tha Li)
• Taicheng (Phongsali Province bordering Vietnam/Dien Bien Phu)
  

All applicants wishing to travel to the Lao PDR can obtain a visa in advance of their arrival at any Lao Embassy or Consulate.

Your baggage should be clearly labeled and kept to a reasonable minimum. Comfortable casual clothes made of cotton are best in tropical and semi-tropical climates. Packing one set of smart casual clothes is advisable. Laundry services are available throughout the country, although hotel laundry costs can be expensive. Make sure you bring:

• Flat walking shoes, sandals and rubber shoes
• Hat & sunglasses
• Bathing suit
• Money belt
• Raincoat or umbrella
• Basic first aid kit
• Insect repellent
• Alarm clock
• Small torch/flashlight
• Swiss Army pocketknife
• Power adapter if bringing any electrical equipment
• Women’s sanitary products
• Slide or any specialized film if used (print film is widely available in Laos)
• Effective, airline type ear plugs
• One layer of warm clothes (if traveling in the north from November to March
  
  

• Do dress modestly when entering temples, museums, official buildings and government offices; no shorts or sleeveless shirts, tank tops or beach wear. Shorts that cover the thighs are acceptable everywhere else. Be clean and neat in appearance whenever possible.
• Do like the locals and keep your sense of time flexible. Expecting punctuality will often lead to frustration.
• Do remove shoes when entering temples and homes (it is convenient to wear slip-ons or sandals)
• Don't point your feet towards people or Buddha images. When sitting in a temple, keep legs together and to the side in a mermaid position.
• Don't, if you are a woman, touch monks, hand them objects, sit with or talk to them outside of temples. Any offerings need to pass through the hands of a man first.
• Do ask permission before taking pictures of people, particularly in villages outside the cities where the people may have superstitions against being photographed.
• Don't touch people or children on their heads.
• Don't lose your temper in public - speaking loudly and angrily is often counterproductive.
• Don't engage in public displays of affection.