Lao New Year (Songkran)

Lao New Year or ‘Songkran’ (best celebrated in Luang Prabang) is between the 13 -18 April so be sure to book early to secure accommodation and internal flights. Please be advised that as this is traditionally celebrated as a ‘water festival’, which is basically a three day nationwide ‘water fight’, guests will get wet, including whatever they may be carrying at the time.

Luang Prabang Fireboat Festival

The Fireboat Festival in Luang Prabang is held on the day of the full moon in October. The entire city is lit by paper lanterns and candles and all the temples are decorated. Each village makes a vessel out of wood and banana leaves and decorates them with candles, before parading them through the streets down to the water to release them. It is beautiful to watch them floating downriver on dusk and soak the up the atmosphere at this very special time.

Sayaboury Elephant Festival

Get really off the beaten track and celebrate the Elephant Festival in Sayaboury, remote North West Laos, mid February 2010. Last year a total of 60 elephants turned out for the festival and 80,000 people from villages around the region. This huge two day celebration includes logging demonstrations, markets and ceremonies and helps raise money for a good cause, created by the same team that helps rescue elephants from the logging industry (Elefant Asia). (http://festival.elefantasia.org/ )