Ban Laongam Travel Guide

City City in Laos surrounded by scenic landscapes

Ban Laongam offers market mornings, sticky rice kitchens and a gateway to Salavan’s coffee farms and jungle trails; travelers come for waterfall treks, village homestays and evenings of charcoal-grilled river fish.

Costs

About $20-40 USD per day

Budget travelers can get by very cheaply; expect limited services.

Safety

Generally safe, quiet rural town

Very low violent crime; take basic rural precautions.

Best Time

November to February (dry, cooler season)

Cool, dry weather and clear skies make travel easier.

In This Guide

Why Visit
Best Things to Do
Bucket List
Best Time to Visit
How to Get There
How to Get Around
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Local Time

1:59 PM

GMT+7

Weather

88°F

Partly Cloudy

Population

21,304

Infrastructure & Convenience

Poor roads, scarce public transport, little English signage.

Popularity

Almost no international tourism; attracts overland and cultural explorers.

Known For

waterfalls, ethnic villages, coffee and smallholder farms, rivers and rice paddies, seasonal markets, traditional temples, trekking routes, quiet rural life

Ban Laongam sits in Salavan Province, one of Laos' least densely populated provinces, with large tracts of forest and few tourists.

Why Visit Ban Laongam? #

Set near the Bolaven Plateau, Ban Laongam draws travelers who want rural Lao life and coffee country. Small markets and coffee plantations give a clear sense of everyday life, while nearby waterfalls like Tad Fane and village homestays introduce traditional Lao food such as khao niaw and laab. Visitors also encounter Baci ceremonies and ethnic-minority handicrafts that highlight the region’s living traditions.

Best Things to Do in Ban Laongam

All Attractions ›

Bolaven Plateau

Lavish Luang Prabang royal temple with ornate mosaics

Mountain

Tat Lo

Riverside village known for scenic waterfalls and pools

Waterfall

Ban Laongam Bucket List

Best Time to Visit Ban Laongam #

Visit Ban Laongam in the cool, dry months (Nov-Feb) for comfortable temperatures, clearer skies, and easier travel over rural roads. Avoid peak heat and heavy rains if you prefer hiking and river crossings without mud or delays.

Cool Season

November - February · 15-30°C (59-86°F)

Pleasant, drier days and cooler nights make jungle treks and village visits comfortable; mornings can be crisp, so layers are handy and humidity is low.

Hot Season

March - May · 25-38°C (77-100°F)

Heat builds quickly with intense afternoons; travel feels sweaty and slow, but rivers and pools become irresistible for cooling off.

Rainy Season

June - October · 22-32°C (72-90°F)

Daily downpours turn roads muddy and dramatic river scenery appears; expect fewer tourists, lush landscapes, and occasional transport delays.

Best Time to Visit Ban Laongam #

Climate

Ban Laongam's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in April) and warm winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 16°C to 33°C. Abundant rainfall (1895 mm/year), wettest in July with a pronounced dry season.

Best Time to Visit

JanuaryFebruaryDecember

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

42°

Warmest Month

8°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 16°C. The driest month with just 4 mm and mostly sunny skies.

95 Ideal

Comfort

22°

Feels Like Mild

22°C

Temperature

16° – 28°

66%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

4 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.8

UV Index

Very High

11.2h daylight

February

February is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.

93 Ideal

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Warm

24°C

Temperature

18° – 30°

58%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

19 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.0

UV Index

Extreme

11.5h daylight

March

March is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

85 Excellent

Comfort

26°

Feels Like Warm

26°C

Temperature

20° – 32°

56%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

45 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.0

UV Index

Very High

11.9h daylight

April

April is the hottest month, feeling like 29°C. Significant rainfall (127 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

29°

Feels Like Hot

27°C

Temperature

22° – 33°

60%

Humidity

Humid

Weather

127 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.1

UV Index

Extreme

12.4h daylight

May

May is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 22°C. Heavy rain (288 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

27°

Feels Like Warm

27°C

Temperature

22° – 32°

74%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

288 mm

Rainfall

1.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.1

UV Index

Extreme

12.7h daylight

June

June is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Heavy rain (303 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

26°

Feels Like Warm

26°C

Temperature

22° – 30°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

303 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.0

UV Index

Very High

12.9h daylight

July

July is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). The wettest month with heavy rain (378 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

22° – 29°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

378 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.9

UV Index

Very High

12.8h daylight

August

August is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Heavy rain (289 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

21° – 29°

89%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

289 mm

Rainfall

1.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.8

UV Index

Very High

12.5h daylight

September

September is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Heavy rain (330 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

21° – 29°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

330 mm

Rainfall

1.3 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.9

UV Index

Very High

12.1h daylight

October

October is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 20°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

77 Very Good

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Warm

24°C

Temperature

20° – 28°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

87 mm

Rainfall

1.5 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.8

UV Index

Very High

11.7h daylight

November

November is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 18°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.

89 Excellent

Comfort

23°

Feels Like Mild

23°C

Temperature

18° – 28°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

20 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.6

UV Index

Very High

11.3h daylight

December

December is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 17°C. Almost no rain.

93 Ideal

Comfort

22°

Feels Like Mild

22°C

Temperature

17° – 28°

73%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

5 mm

Rainfall

1.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.6

UV Index

Very High

11.1h daylight

How to Get to Ban Laongam

By Air

By Train & Bus

Where to Stay in Ban Laongam #

Budget

Ban Laongam / Salavan area - very limited formal accommodation

Ban Laongam is a very small town with minimal tourist infrastructure. Expect simple, locally run guesthouses without formal websites; bring cash and modest expectations.

Mid-Range

Salavan (Saravane) or Pakse for reliable hotels - $25-80/night

Mid-range hotels with booking sites are generally found in larger towns such as Salavan (Saravane) or Pakse. Ban Laongam itself has few listed options online.

Luxury

Salavan / Pakse (closest full-service hotels) - $80+/night

There are effectively no luxury hotels in Ban Laongam. Travelers seeking full-service hotels should base in provincial centers and day-trip to nearby villages.