Best Time to Visit Cambodia

You can visit Cambodia in October when the dry season officially begins, and the tourists haven’t started coming down to the country just yet. These months are slightly colder than the peak season as well.

Dry Season in Cambodia — October to April

The dry months mark the high season in Cambodia as it’s the driest part of the year and the temperatures start to cool off making it a lot nicer to walk around and explore this beautiful country. As it’s one of the best times to visit Cambodia, popular sights like Tonle Sap Lake, Ta Phrom Temple, and many areas around Phnom Penh are pretty crowded and busy!

Avg. temperature	22°C (72°F) to 32°C (90°F)
Avg. rainfall	60 mm
Is dry a good time to go to Cambodia?	Yes. Dry season has the best weather for exploring the whole of Cambodia.

Highlights:

• The roads to more remote locations, like Ratnakiri, Mondulkiri, and even Bamboo Island, open up after the rains.
• Festivals such as Pchum Ben (a festival honoring the departed) will give you a unique taste of Khmer culture. You could even visit Tonle Sap Lake for the Cambodian Water Festival.

Tips:

• Book all major excursions, especially a Angkor Wat tour way in advance as this is the busiest time to visit Cambodia.
• Soak up the sun, sea, and sand on the island of Koh Rong! Make sure you snorkel the crystal clear waters which are settled after the monsoon season.
• Enjoy a boat tour down the Mekong River which will be higher towards the start of winter due to the monsoon rains.
• Pack for all weather eventualities as there is still a chance of heavy rain, especially towards the beginning of October.

In-depth month-wise guides:
Cambodia in October
Cambodia in November
Cambodia in December
Cambodia in January
Cambodia in February
Cambodia in March
Cambodia in April

Wet Season in Cambodia — May to September

There’s no getting around the fact that summer in Cambodia is probably the worst time to visit. This is the wet season and you’re pretty much guaranteed to get caught in a daily downpour of rain or be subjected to humid temperatures. Despite this, it does seem to be drier in the north of Cambodia, so you can potentially travel to places like the Kulen Prum Tep Wildlife Sanctuary if the roads are still open from the south.

Avg. temperature	24°C (75°F) to 33°C (92°F)
Avg. rainfall	212 mm
Is wet a good time to go to Cambodia?	No. It’s the wettest and hottest time to visit Cambodia.

Highlights:

• Siem Reap’s great temple complexes are best during this period, as you will be able to walk the distance without getting tired.
• The water levels at Tonle Sap are quite high - so do go on a river adventure to see Cambodia’s unexplored sides.
• Summer is also the best time to visit beaches like Kep and Sihanoukville on the southern Coast, where the gentle waters and silky sands await you.

Tips:

• Make sure you book plenty of indoor excursions, such as the Silver Pagoda, during a tour of Phnom Penh to wait out the heaviest parts of the rain.
  Check any cross-country travel in advance. The heavy rains mean roads are often closed due to flooding or mudslides.
  Pack breathable sportswear for this season in Cambodia. As it’s hot, humid, and wet, you want quick-drying clothing that isn’t too heavy or warm!

In-depth month-wise guides:
Cambodia in May
Cambodia in June
Cambodia in July
Cambodia in August
Cambodia in September

So, all in all, the best time to visit Cambodia is during the winter months when it’s largely dry and not super hot and humid! However, as long as you avoid May-September, there are deals to be found in the shoulder seasons between wet and dry. For more information, check out our full Cambodia travel guide!

Need Help Planning a Trip to Cambodia?

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