Vat Phou ວັດ ພູ
Champasak, Laos
Vat Phou is a Buddhist site and ruins located in the Champasak Province of Laos. It is part of the Champasak cultural landscape and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site with historical roots in Hinduism. It is currently the second most looked-up sight in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The dry season, spanning from November to February, is the most suitable time for a visit. During these months, daily highs range from 29 °C to 32 °C with minimal rainfall. The rainy season begins in May and peaks between July and September, when heavy rainfall occurs on most days of the month. The site is open daily from 8:00 to 18:00, and the entrance fee is 50,000 kip. Wheelchair access at the site is limited.
The nearest airport is Pakse International Airport, located 32 km away. For those traveling from the capital, Vientiane, the distance to the site is 486 km.
Weather by month
The warmest month is April, with an average high of 34 °C. The wettest is August, with about 615 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 30 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Average low, °C | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 18 |
| Rainfall, mm | 3 | 8 | 37 | 84 | 296 | 403 | 584 | 615 | 404 | 169 | 36 | 5 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 17 | 5 | 2 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
