Luang Prabang

The Luang Prabang area was the site of early Thai-Lao meuang that was established in the high river valleys. Luang Prabang remained the capital of the Lan Xang kingdom until 1545.

Even after the Lan Xang period, Luang Prabang was considered the main source of monarchic power. It wasn't until the Pathet Lao took over in 1975 that the monarchy was finally dissolved.

Today, Luang Prabang is a sleepy town of 16,000 inhabitants with a handful of historic temples and old French mansions in a beautiful mountain setting. UNESCO has added the city to its list of World Heritage sites.

The town sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. A large hill called Phu Si (sometimes spelt Phousy) dominates the town skyline. Most of the historic temples are between Phu Si and the Mekong. The whole town can easily be covered, on foot, in a day or two.

The annual monsoon cycle gives Laos two distinct seasons: May to October is wet and November to April is dry.

Southern Laos gets the most rain overall; the peaks of the Annamite Chain receive the heaviest rainfall, over 3000mmi annually.

The provinces of Luang Prabang, Sainyabuli and Xieng Khuang usually receive only 1000 to 1500mm a year. Vientiane and Savannalchet get about 1500 to 2000mm, as do Phongsali, Luang Nam Tha and Bokeo.

In the Mekong River valley (from Bokeo Province to Champasak Province) the highest temperatures (up to 38ºC) occur March/April and the lowest are in December/ January (as low as 15ºC).

In the mountains of Xieng Khuang December/January nights can easily fall to OºC. In mountainous provinces of lesser elevation, temperatures may be a few degrees higher. During most of the rainy season, daytime averages are about 29ºC in the lowlands and around 25ºC in mountain valleys.