Weather
Laos is affected by the annual monsoon cycle of South East Asia. The "wet" season is from May to October where the tropical lowlands average 30-32 degrees whilst the mountains remain somewhat cooler. The first half of the "dry" season is from November to March with milder temperatures ranging from 15-25 degrees, cooler in mountain areas. During the second half of the "dry" season - from April to June - the temperature can rise to up to 35 degrees Celsius.

Safety
Laos is a safe country however travellers should be conscious of pick pocketing and bag snatching. There are some concerns about Lao Aviation safety standards - check your national government's Lao travel advisory for the latest information - however there is little alternative for travelling internally around the country.

Health
Medical facilities are basic throughout the country - even in the capital Vientiane. We strongly recommend you consult your preferred doctor or a travellers health clinic for the most up-to-date information at least one month prior to travel. Innoculations usually suggested are tyhpoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio as well as anti-malarial protection.

Language
The national language of Laos is Lao, which is closely related to Thai and is spoken in many different dialects. Laos, like Thai, is a tonal language. French is still spoken by many government officials and educated members of the older generation but Thai and English are popular with younger people.