When is the best time to travel in South East Asia?
LONG ANSWER: When cycling in South East Asia (SEA) it is important to consider the weather. There are three main periods (or seasons). The best, and most comfortable, for riding is between November and February. This is the traditional ‘cool’ season when there is little rain and the general daytime temperature is lower. It also means that in the northern parts of SEA it does get quite cold at night. On one of my first trips to Luang Prabang in Laos I made the mistake of not taking any warmer clothes with me. The temperature was almost freezing at night. I didn’t sleep so well.
The temperature does vary, depending on your location and altitude, throughout SEA. I have experienced almost freezing temperatures in Laos and Thailand to more balmy 30C+ during the cool season. Click here to see more detailed information on the average temperature and rainfall for the region.
Another major consideration is rain. Between the months of May and October the rainy season should be a factor for the cyclist. In general the roads in Malaysia and Thailand are good, sealed roads, however this cannot be guaranteed in Cambodia, Vietnam or Laos. Cycling in the warm can be fun on sealed roads, but hell on unsealed mud. I have come off my bike twice (once Cambodia, once Laos) during the rain whilst aquaplaning on the silt mud on the road surface. Mud and rain also serve to demoralize you, add to that potential for camping and it could be quite difficult. To be positive, the rain only usually lasts for an hour or two in SEA.
For the last few years I have been using some panniers from Altura which are not rainproof, however the company supplies yellow rainproof covers. This isn’t the ideal situation as I have to get off and pull out the covers each time it rains.
One of the pros of cycling in the rain include cheaper accommodation and less people in the tourist areas. This can be a real advantage as you don’t have to rush to get to the more popular towns to get accommodation.
The third weather factor is the heat. It can be hot all year round, but in the months of March, April, May and June it can be blisteringly hot. I have tackled a few mountains in these months and have been really challenged. Coupled with the uncertainty of liquid refreshment it can be a deadly pursuit. Think very carefully about undertaking a tour in these months, if you do try to reduce your mileage and certainly take precautions against the heat.
The hot months are the particularly unpleasant ones for cycle touring. My favourite months are December and January. It is up to the individual to plan their journeys, just be careful of mother nature!
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When planning to cycle in this period it is essential to bring some waterproof gear – panniers. Putting on wet clothing is never an ideal thing to do. The best panniers I have seen so far are the Ortlieb. These are pretty pricey, but they do the job and keep your belongings dry.