The essentials
When to go to Cambodia, in brief
November to February: the sweet spot
Cool, dry season, 24-32°C, low humidity, clear skies. The best window for Angkor and the whole country.
December-January for Angkor
The most pleasant for the temples, clear sky and bearable heat. It is also peak crowds in Siem Reap.
March to May: the heat
The country climbs to 35°C with rising humidity. Temple visits are taxing: head out early in the morning.
May to October: the monsoon
Showers mostly late in the day until July, then heavy in August-September. Green landscapes and low prices.
Angkor in the rain has charm
In September-October, the moats fill, the rice fields turn green and the temples empty out. A good off-season trade-off.
The Tonle Sap lake breathes
The lake doubles in size during the rainy season. Its flood is celebrated by Bon Om Touk, the water festival, in November.
The verdict
The best periods
Nov - Feb
Dry, cool, bright. The prime window for Angkor, Phnom Penh and the coast. Book 2 months ahead for December-January.
June - Oct
Monsoon, but short showers early in the season, low prices and quiet temples. Green Angkor and full moats.
March - May
Heat peak, up to 35°C and high humidity. Temple visits become hard going in the middle of the day.
Month by month
The full calendar
Tap a month for the detailed guide: weather by region, where to go, festivals.
22-31°C
Dry, cool, Angkor peak
23-33°C
Dry, gentle heat
25-35°C
Heat rising
26-36°C
Very hot, New Year
26-35°C
Hot, first rains
25-33°C
Showers, cooler
25-33°C
Late-day rain
24-32°C
Rainy, green
24-32°C
Rain peak, full moats
24-31°C
Rain easing
23-31°C
Dry returns, water festival
22-30°C
Dry, cool, high season
Climate
Climate by region
| Region | Dry season | Wet season | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap & Angkor | Nov-Feb: 22-31°C, dry | Aug-Sept: rain, full moats | Ideal Nov-Feb |
| Phnom Penh & Center | Nov-Feb: dry, 24-32°C | May-Oct: monsoon, hot | Ideal Nov-Feb |
| Coast (Sihanoukville, Kep) | Nov-March: dry, calm sea | May-Oct: rain, choppy sea | Ideal Nov-March |
| Mondulkiri (highlands) | Cooler, cool nights | May-Oct: rainy, green | Ideal Nov-Feb |
Calendar
The key events of the year
Bon Om Touk (water festival)
The reversal of the Tonle Sap is marked with pirogue races on the river in Phnom Penh, at the full moon of Kadeuk.
🇰🇭 Phnom Penh
Khmer New Year (Chaul Chnam Thmey)
End of harvest and start of the rains: pagoda offerings, water games and family celebrations across the country.
🇰🇭 Nationwide
Pchum Ben (Ancestors' Day)
Fifteen days honoring the dead, rice offerings at seven pagodas. A solemn highlight of the Buddhist year.
🇰🇭 Nationwide
Sunrise aligned on Angkor Wat
At the equinoxes (around 21 March), the sun rises right above Angkor Wat's central tower. Crowds guaranteed.
🇰🇭 Siem Reap
Our analysis
Cambodia plans around one constraint: the heat. The comfortable window is short, November to February, when the air dries out and temperatures drop enough to walk Angkor without suffocating.
The dry season, November to February
This is the prime window. The monsoon has gone, skies clear and the thermometer falls to 24-32°C, with cool mornings. December and January are the most pleasant months, and so the busiest in Siem Reap. Book two months ahead around the year-end holidays. For the temples, set out at dawn: the light is fine and the heat still gentle.
The heat from March to May
From March to June, the country turns into a furnace, up to 35°C and rising humidity. Walking Angkor in the middle of the day becomes hard going. Khmer New Year, in mid-April, is a fine festive moment, but brace for the mugginess. If you can, skip this quarter.
The monsoon and its upsides
From May to October, the rain returns. Early in the season, showers stay short and fall mostly late in the day; August and September bring the heaviest rain. Yet it is an underrated season: Angkor regains its full moats, the rice fields turn green and the crowds vanish. The Tonle Sap lake doubles in size, a phenomenon marked in November by Bon Om Touk. My advice: for a first trip, aim for December-January; to dodge the crowds, try September-October, as the rains ease.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Cambodia? +
From November to February: cool, dry season, 24-32°C, low humidity and clear skies. It is the best window for Angkor and the whole country.
When to visit Angkor in the best conditions? +
In December-January: clear sky and bearable heat. It is also peak crowds in Siem Reap, so arrive at the temples early.
What is the worst time to visit Cambodia? +
From March to May, the country climbs to 35°C with high humidity. Temple visits in the middle of the day become exhausting.
Can you visit Cambodia during the rainy season? +
Yes. From June to October, showers are often short and fall late in the day. Angkor looks superb with full moats, green rice fields and far fewer people.
When to see the sunrise aligned on Angkor Wat? +
Around the equinoxes (about 21 March and 23 September), the sun rises right above the central tower. The sight draws big crowds, so arrive before 5:30 a.m.
How long to plan for Cambodia? +
Allow at least 3 days for Angkor, then 2 to 3 days for Phnom Penh, and 2 days on the coast (Kep, Kampot). A week to ten days covers the essentials.
Marie Laurent · Southeast Asia specialist
Updated June 1, 2026