Things to Do in Laos in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Laos
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak dry season comfort - December sits right in the sweet spot of Laos weather, with daytime temperatures around 26-28°C (79-82°F) and genuinely cool mornings at 15-17°C (59-63°F). You'll actually want that sweater you packed for early morning alms-giving or Mekong sunrise trips.
- Crystal-clear river conditions for boat travel - The Mekong and Nam Ou rivers run low and calm in December, making the slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang actually enjoyable rather than the muddy, choppy experience of rainy season. Visibility underwater at Kuang Si Falls reaches 3-4 m (10-13 ft), turning those turquoise pools into the postcard shots you're hoping for.
- Festival season peaks with Lao National Day - December 2nd brings nationwide celebrations, but the real insider experience is the Hmong New Year festivities that ripple through northern villages from late November through December. You'll catch traditional ball-tossing courtship rituals, water buffalo fights, and village-to-village celebrations that tourists rarely witness because they're not centralized events.
- Optimal trekking and outdoor conditions - The countryside is still green from October rains but trails have dried out completely. You can actually trek to remote villages without arriving covered in red mud, and the 15-20°C (59-68°F) temperatures at elevation around Phongsali or Luang Namtha feel perfect for 4-6 hour hiking days.
Considerations
- Peak season pricing and advance booking pressure - December through February is when Laos sees its heaviest tourist flow, which isn't saying much compared to Thailand, but you'll notice it in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng. Guesthouses that cost 150,000 kip in July jump to 250,000-300,000 kip, and the better places book out 3-4 weeks ahead. If you're arriving without reservations expecting to find something on the street, you might end up in accommodations you'd normally skip.
- Morning smoke starts building in the north - While the truly awful burning season doesn't hit until March-April, farmers in northern provinces start slash-and-burn clearing in late December. You'll notice haze some mornings, particularly around Luang Namtha and the Golden Triangle. It's not trip-ruining yet, but if you have respiratory sensitivities, it's worth knowing the air quality isn't pristine.
- Cool-season clothing confusion - That 13°C (55°F) temperature swing between morning and afternoon means you're constantly adjusting layers. Locals wear puffy jackets at 7am while you're sweating by 11am in the same jacket. You'll see tourists either freezing at dawn or overheating by lunch because they guessed wrong that morning.
Best Activities in December
Kuang Si Falls swimming and hiking
December water levels drop the falls to about 60% of rainy season volume, which actually makes them better - you can access pools that are too dangerous when the current is strong, and the water stays a brilliant turquoise rather than the brown you'd see in August. The 30 km (18.6 mile) drive from Luang Prabang takes about 45 minutes, and if you arrive by 8am before tour groups, you'll have the upper pools nearly to yourself. Water temperature sits around 22°C (72°F), which feels refreshing rather than cold. The bear rescue center at the entrance is most active in morning feeding times.
Mekong slow boat journeys
The two-day slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang becomes genuinely pleasant in December when river levels stabilize and temperatures stay comfortable. You'll cover about 300 km (186 miles) over two days with an overnight stop in Pakbeng. December's clear skies mean you actually see the limestone karsts and village life along the banks rather than staring into grey mist. The boats aren't heated, so those cool December mornings at 15°C (59°F) on the water require layering, but by midday you're down to a t-shirt. This beats flying because you're seeing rural Laos that hasn't changed much in 50 years.
Northern village treks around Luang Namtha
December hits the perfect window for multi-day treks through Khamu and Akha villages in the Nam Ha Protected Area. Trails that were slippery mud in October are now packed dirt, and you can actually make the 12-15 km (7.5-9.3 mile) daily distances without destroying your knees. Temperatures at 800-1,200 m (2,625-3,937 ft) elevation range from 12°C (54°F) at night to 24°C (75°F) midday - cool enough for hiking but warm enough that you're not freezing in village homestays. The rice harvest finished in November, so villages have time to host trekkers and you'll see traditional weaving and blacksmithing that doesn't happen during planting season.
Vang Vieng tubing and kayaking
December transforms Vang Vieng from the muddy party scene of rainy season into actually decent outdoor adventure territory. The Nam Song River runs clear and low, making it safe for tubing the 4 km (2.5 mile) route without the dangerous currents of July-September. Water temperature around 20°C (68°F) feels cold initially but manageable once you're moving. The real advantage is kayaking - you can paddle upstream to Tham Phu Kham cave and back without fighting high water, and visibility in the blue lagoon reaches 2-3 m (6.5-10 ft). The karst scenery looks dramatic against December's clear skies rather than washed out in monsoon grey.
Bolaven Plateau waterfalls circuit
Southern Laos stays warmer than the north in December - around 28°C (82°F) daytime, 18°C (64°F) at night - making the Bolaven Plateau's coffee plantations and waterfall circuit ideal when Luang Prabang gets chilly. Tad Fane, Tad Yuang, and Tad Lo waterfalls run at about 70% of rainy season volume, which means you can actually swim at the bases without dangerous currents. The 200 km (124 mile) loop from Pakse takes 2-3 days by motorbike, passing through villages where December's coffee harvest is in full swing. You'll see beans drying on tarps and can buy directly from farmers at 40,000-60,000 kip per kilo for quality that'd cost five times that back home.
Plain of Jars archaeological exploration
December's dry weather makes the unpaved roads around Phonsavan actually passable to the outer jar sites that see few visitors. Sites 2 and 3 require 30-45 minute drives on dirt roads that become impassable mud pits in rainy season. The main Site 1 has 250+ jars and gets tour groups, but Sites 2 and 3 offer that rare experience of wandering among 2,000-year-old megalithic jars with maybe two other people around. December temperatures at 1,200 m (3,937 ft) elevation range from 10°C (50°F) morning to 22°C (72°F) afternoon - perfect for the 2-3 hours of walking involved. The surrounding countryside stays green from October rains but trails are completely dry.
December Events & Festivals
Lao National Day
December 2nd marks the 1975 establishment of the Lao PDR with official celebrations in Vientiane including military parades, traditional dance performances at Patuxai Monument, and evening fireworks along the Mekong riverfront. The real local experience is the morning baci ceremonies at temples and the street food vendors that set up along Lane Xang Avenue selling grilled meats and sticky rice. It's not a huge tourist draw, but if you're in Vientiane on the 2nd, the atmosphere feels genuinely celebratory rather than performative.
Hmong New Year celebrations
Running from late November through December in northern villages around Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, and Phongsali provinces, Hmong New Year involves the traditional pov pob ball-tossing courtship ritual, water buffalo fights, and village feasts. Unlike centralized festivals, these happen village-by-village based on harvest completion, so you need local knowledge to find them. Guesthouses in Luang Prabang and Luang Namtha can connect you with guides who know which villages are celebrating when. You'll see traditional silver jewelry, intricate embroidered costumes, and communal drinking that tourists rarely witness because the celebrations aren't advertised.