The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Time to Visit Cambodia

While some locals humorously claim that Cambodia experiences three seasons - hot, hotter, and hottest - the truth is that this captivating Southeast Asian country has two distinct seasons: dry and wet. These seasons not only shape the agricultural cycle but also dramatically transform the nation’s landscape.

The dry season extends from November to May, with the “cool season” from November to February being the most favored time for tourists due to the relatively mild weather. From February to May, the landscape may appear somewhat dry as daytime temperatures can rise above 40°C (104°F).

The wet season typically lasts from June to October, aligning with the southwest monsoon. However, this doesn’t necessarily make it an unfavorable time to visit Cambodia. The rain usually pours heavily once a day around sunset, the countryside is lush with greenery, and numerous hotels and resorts provide significant discounts.

Here's a guide to the best times to visit Cambodia.

November-March (High Season) is the best time for good weather and exploring temples

During the “winter” months in Southeast Asia, Cambodia enjoys a more moderate climate similar to the Mediterranean. The temperature sometimes falls under 20°C (68°F), making Cambodians reach for their jackets and sweaters. This also makes visiting the temples more enjoyable, but it means that Angkor is very busy. Many hotels are reserved beforehand, especially around Christmas and New Year and during Chinese New Year, which is based on the lunar calendar and occurs in January or February.

July-August (Shoulder Season) is the best time for families

Even though it’s Cambodia’s rainy season, the rain is not too frequent, but it’s enough to fill up the Tonle Sap lake. It’s a great time for families from Europe and North America, who can enjoy the long school breaks and lower prices at hotels and resorts.

Angkor is also less crowded during the “green season” when the water levels are high and the temples are covered with moss and lichen. The main downside of travelling in the shoulder season is that the coast can get very rainy, making Koh Rong and other beautiful islands near Sihanoukville damp and windy.

April-June & September-October (Low Season) is the best time for discounts

The weather is not very favorable in these months. April and May are extremely hot, and September and October are very rainy. However, this is the time when hotels and resorts offer their best deals. You can get a big discount if you stay at five-star hotels and luxury resorts. September and October are the peak of the rainy season, but this also creates green scenery and impressive clouds.

A guide to the year-round events

Cambodia’s major festivals are based on the lunar calendar and span over more than one month on the Gregorian calendar. Here’s what you can expect throughout the year.

January–March is the most crowded time of year

This is the high season for tourism in Cambodia, and Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the South Coast are usually packed. The global New Year celebrations are followed by Chinese and Vietnamese New Years’ events, so be prepared for some festive fun.

Chaul Chnam Chen & Tet: The Chinese New Year – locally called Chaul Chnam Chen – matches with Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, occurring in either January or February depending on the year. As many of Phnom Penh’s businesses are owned by Chinese-Khmers, trade stops around this time and there are dragon dances all over the city.

April–June marks the start of the rains and the festivals

This is the low season for tourists, as the monsoon arrives, bringing frequent rain until October. Young rice is sown and the landscape turns green again after the dry months of the dry season. April is the most significant month for Khmers, celebrating the Cambodian New Year. However, temperatures soar and the mercury often reaches 40°C (104°F).

Chaul Chnam Khmer: During the three-day festivity of Chaul Chnam Khmer (Khmer New Year) in mid-April, Cambodians give offerings at wats, tidy up their homes and give presents. It is a remarkable time to visit the Kingdom as Khmers have fun with water in the rural areas, and a friendly water fight breaks out across the country (throwing talcum powder is also common).

Chat Preah Nengkal (Royal Ploughing Ceremony): Led by the royal family, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an old agricultural festival held to signify the traditional start of the rice-planting season. The royal oxen forecast whether or not it will be a good harvest by eating the holy crop. The ritual happens in early May and moves around different provincial capitals.

Visakha Puja (Buddha Day): A commemoration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinibbana (passing), Visakha Puja sees locals go to wats (pagodas) to show their reverence. The festival occurs on the eighth day of the fourth moon (in May or June) and sees parades of monks holding candles through Angkor Wat at night.

July–September brings more festivities and backpackers

Tourism increases in July and August because of the school holidays in Europe and the US. Backpackers also flock to Cambodia and the Mekong region to enjoy the university and college holidays. September is usually the rainiest month in Cambodia, with occasional flooding along the Mekong and around Battambang. The Khmer calendar’s second-biggest festival, P’chum Ben, happens in September or October.

P’chum Ben (Festival of the Dead): This festival is similar to the Christian All Souls’ Day when offerings are made at wats to honor the dead. P’chum Ben goes on for several days and faithful Buddhists are supposed to visit seven wats during the festival. Local temples are full of color, ceremonies and chanting.

October-December brings warm, dry winds after the rain

The rain lasts until late October and this has caused some severe flooding in recent years. However, the countryside is very green, and it’s a great time for boat travel between Siem Reap and Battambang. November marks the beginning of the dry, windy season, the best time to be in the country. The high tourist season begins and goes on until February.

Bon Om Tuk, the popular Water Festival, happens in October or November. Christmas and New Year are busy times for visitors at Angkor and top beach resorts, so reserve well in advance. The international New Year on 31 December is widely (and wildly) celebrated in major cities such as Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Bon Om Tuk (Water Festival): Commemorating the victory of King Jayavarman VII over the Chams, this significant festival in October or November also marks the amazing natural phenomenon of the reversal of the flow of the Tonlé Sap River. It’s a wonderful, hectic time to be in Cambodia, with boat races at Sisowath Quay in Phnom Penh, and riverside parties in Siem Reap.

Angkor Photo Festival: In Siem Reap, local and regional photographers gather at the temples and work with local youths to teach them the skills of the trade at this community-minded festival in November or December. Photography exhibitions are held all over town and some famous Vietnam War-era photographers are sometimes present.

Angkor Wat International Half Marathon: This half marathon in December has been a part of the sporting calendar for two decades. Choose from a 21km (13-mile) half marathon, a 10km (6.2-mile) fun run or various bicycle races. It’s hard to imagine a better scenery for a run than the incredible temples of Angkor.