Weather in Bolaven Plateau

About Bolaven Plateau

The Bolaven Plateau's misty coffee plantations and waterfall network create a landscape where French colonial planters chose to build villas—a cooler microclimate 1,200 meters above the Mekong plain. This highland refuge prioritizes agriculture and nature over tourism infrastructure.

Country

Laos

Best months to visit

January, February, March, November, December

Currency

LAK

Language

Lao, French, English

Things to do in Bolaven Plateau

Coffee plantation tours and tasting experiences Waterfall trekking to multiple cascades Local coffee roastery visits and classes Ethnic minority village homestays Mountain biking on plateau roads Tea and spice market shopping trips

Weather by month

Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.

Recommended

January

22C

Mild and comfortable, with occasional showers.

Recommended

February

24C

Mild and comfortable, with occasional showers.

Recommended

March

26C

Warm and pleasant, with some rainy days.

April

26C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

May

25C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

June

24C

Mild and comfortable, with frequent heavy rain.

July

24C

Mild and comfortable, with frequent heavy rain.

August

24C

Mild and comfortable, with frequent heavy rain.

September

24C

Mild and comfortable, with frequent heavy rain.

October

23C

Mild and comfortable, with frequent heavy rain.

Recommended

November

23C

Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.

Recommended

December

22C

Mild and comfortable, with occasional showers.

The Bolaven Plateau rises above Pakse in southern Laos, a cool, fertile highland of coffee plantations, waterfalls and ethnic minority villages that feels a world away from the Mekong lowlands. The classic loop takes in thundering falls like Tad Fane and Tad Yuang, smallholder coffee farms where Lao arabica and robusta are grown and roasted, and villages of the Alak, Ngeh and Laven peoples along quiet red-dirt roads.

Best areas to stay in Bolaven Plateau

Pakse

The main city and gateway to the plateau, with hotels, motorbike rental shops and onward transport links.

Tad Fane Area

Home to the dramatic twin waterfall of Tad Fane, with viewpoints, ziplines and nearby resorts overlooking the gorge.

Paksong

The hill town at the heart of the coffee-growing region, surrounded by plantations and roasteries.

Tad Yuang

A wide, easily accessible waterfall with pools for swimming, popular as a day-trip stop on the Bolaven Loop.

Getting to Bolaven Plateau

✈

Flights

Fly into Pakse International Airport, with connections via Vientiane or Bangkok.

⏱

From London

~16-18 hours from London with two connections, typically via Bangkok and Vientiane.

🚕

Getting around

Rented motorbikes or cars are the standard way to explore the plateau; minivans and tours also run loop itineraries from Pakse.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit the Bolaven Plateau?

November to February is the most comfortable, with cool temperatures and the waterfalls still flowing well after the wet season; the plateau's altitude makes it noticeably cooler than Pakse year-round.

How do I get to the Bolaven Plateau from Pakse?

Most visitors rent a motorbike or join a tour for the Bolaven Loop, a multi-day circuit of roughly 250km that can also be done as a series of day trips by car or motorbike from Pakse.

What waterfalls should I see on the Bolaven Plateau?

Tad Fane, a twin waterfall plunging into a deep jungle gorge, and Tad Yuang, with a wide curtain of water and swimmable pools, are the two most popular and easiest to reach.

Can I visit coffee farms on the plateau?

Yes — several smallholder and boutique farms around Paksong offer tours and tastings of Lao coffee, which has been grown on the plateau's volcanic soil since French colonial times.

Is the Bolaven Loop suitable for inexperienced motorbike riders?

The main roads are generally in good condition, but stretches can be steep, foggy or poorly lit, so some riding experience and caution are recommended, especially in the wet season.

Traveler reviews

★★★★★

Rode the Bolaven Loop over three days and it was the highlight of our time in Laos — waterfalls, coffee farms and barely any other tourists once you're off the main road from Pakse.

Ollie R. · January 2024

★★★★☆

Tad Fane's viewpoint over the gorge was incredible, especially with the morning mist still hanging in the trees. We stayed at a nearby lodge and it was lovely and cool at night.

Linnea J. · December 2023

★★★★☆

Did the coffee farm tour near Paksong and learned a lot about how Lao coffee is grown and processed. Combine it with Tad Yuang for swimming afterwards.

Somchai P. · February 2025