When to go to Cambodia

January is a lovely time to visit Cambodia as you’ll have clear blue skies, little or no rain and average temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius. This is one of the most popular months to travel to Cambodia and the pleasant temperatures make it easier to explore sites such as the magnificent Angkor temple complex.

It’s a perfect month to visit the south coast beach destinations, such as Sihanoukville or Kep, as the chance of rain is extremely unlikely. Dry conditions and warm sea temperatures in January are ideal for diving and snorkelling, and you’ll find an abundance of marine life in the tropical waters around the islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem at this time of year.

There are celebrations for National Day on 7th January as well as Chinese New Year, due to the large Chinese population in the country, which falls in January or February according to the lunar calendar.

You can expect excellent weather throughout Cambodia in February. With very little rain and average temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius, it’s a great time to explore the historical city of Siem Reap and the ancient temples of Angkor.

Sihanoukville, Kep and Koh Rong have plenty of sunshine with little chance of rain, plus February offers excellent conditions for diving and snorkelling due to warm sea temperatures and good visibility.

For bird enthusiasts, this is one of the best times of year to see Cambodia's incredible birdlife, particularly at Kulen Promtep and Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuaries in the northern plains of Cambodia, and at Prek Toal Wetlands on the western edge of Tonle Sap Lake. Birdlife at Tonle Sap Lake is fantastic at this of the year and you’re likely to spot cormorants, storks and pelicans.

You may also encounter celebrations for Chinese New Year, due to the large Chinese population in the country, which falls in January or February according to the lunar calendar.

March one of the peak times to visit Cambodia, so if you’re planning to travel during this month, we encourage you to book in advance to ensure that you get availability at your preferred hotels.

The temperatures are likely to rise to 30 degrees Celsius and humidity can be very high. Exploring the Angkor temple complex in the heat and humidity can be hard work, therefore we recommend early starts and long lunch breaks back at your hotel in the middle of the day.

Cambodia celebrates International Women's Day on 8th March, which is a public holiday in the country.

April is one of the hottest months of the year in Cambodia, with average temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius. The chances of rain are still relatively low, although you should expect the occasional downpour towards the end of the month as the rainy season approaches.

Exploring the Angkor temples can be tough in these hot temperatures, so we suggest that you visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon rather than embarking on a full day excursion. The heat does have its advantages though, as there are usually fewer people visiting the main temple sites. 

The hot and sunny weather makes April an ideal time of year to visit the south coast beaches of Sihanoukville and Kep, or the islands of Koh Rong and Kong Rong Samloem.

The festival of Bon Chol Chhnam Thmei (Khmer New Year) takes place over a three-day celebration in mid-April. Traditionally, Cambodians considered themselves a year older every Khmer New Year, rather than using their individual birth dates.

Early May is usually dry, as the wet season is not yet in full swing. The short, heavy showers won’t necessarily affect your trip and will help to break up the humidity, which makes for more comfortable conditions for sightseeing. You can expect daytime temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius.

If you can avoid the rain as much as possible, May can be a great month to visit Cambodia, plus there’s the added bonus that the Angkor temples are less crowded.

Bon Chroat Preah Nongkoal (the Royal Ploughing Ceremony) takes place in May to mark the start of the rice-growing season. During this time, sacred oxen plow a ceremonial row, producing plates of food which represent the crops in Cambodia. Based on which the oxen consume, the royal soothsayer makes predictions for the agricultural year ahead.

Other public holidays and dates of note in May include International Worker's Day (1st May), Genocide Day (9th May) and Vesak Bucha Day (late May), the latter of which is the anniversary of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.

Rain occurs throughout Cambodia in June, however it is still considered a good month to visit and you can expect plenty of sunshine in between the showers. Temperatures are around 28 degrees Celsius and humidity can be very high. However, the short, heavy showers can help to break the heat and humidity to make sightseeing a little more bearable. 

Cambodia's south coast experiences the heaviest downpours, so it’s not a good time to visit the beaches. If you're looking to add beach time to your itinerary, the beaches of central Vietnam, such as Hoi An and Nha Trang, are perfect in June and can be easily added onto a Cambodia tailor-made holiday.

The wet season continues throughout July. However, you can expect plenty of sunshine in between the short, heavy downpours. Daytime temperatures average between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius.

There are advantages to visiting Cambodia during the wet season: the countryside is less dusty and the landscape is more lush, plus you’ll find that there are far fewer tourists than during the dry season. 

The rainfall makes July a great time of year to see the lakes and moats at the ancient temple city of Angkor, and it is an ideal time to visit the flooded forests and floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake, which swells to more than five times its usual size during the wet season. 

If you visit Cambodia in August, you should be prepared to get wet. It is likely that you’ll experience intense downpours almost every day, however when it rains it’s usually just for a few hours rather than all day. You can expect average daytime temperatures between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius.

The rain at this time of year means that the Cambodian countryside is lush, green and rather beautiful. August is a fantastic time of year to visit Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. The water levels of the lake change considerably during the year, ranging from one metre at the height of the dry season to eight metres towards the end of the rainy season. During the rainy season, the force of the Mekong River is strong enough to reverse the flow of the Tonle Sap River, allowing water to flow back into Tonle Sap Lake. 

September is wet and warm with high levels of rainfall and average temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius. The rain means that the moats and pools surrounding Angkor are full, which makes for great photo opportunities of temple reflections. If you’re visiting Cambodia at this time of year, you’ll find that there are much fewer tourists at the Angkor temple complex. At some of the lesser-known temples, you may even have the entire place to yourself. 

September is another great month to visit Tonle Sap Lake, as it swells to more than five times its size during the wet season. 

Pchum Ben (Ancestor’s Day) takes place from the end of September to mid-October. During the 15-day festival period, it is believed that spirits of dead ancestors are especially active and may even return to earth. You'll see many Cambodians wearing white, offering food to ancestors, with lots of activity in pagodas and temples.

Although you should expect a few rainy days in October, you’ll find that the rain gradually comes to an end as the month progresses. The daytime temperatures tend to be around 27 degrees Celsius. 

Following months of rain, October is a great time to visit Tonle Sap Lake. If you get off the beaten track and explore the remote northeast regions of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri, you’ll see full flowing waterfalls. 

Rain is still a possibility on the south coast, in Sihanoukville and Kep, though the showers will become less frequent and long periods of sunshine can be expected as the dry season approaches.

Pchum Ben (Ancestor’s Day) continues into mid-October. During this period, Cambodians believes that spirits of dead ancestors are active and may return to earth. Therefore, you may see local people wearing white, offering food and praying at pagodas and temples.

Celebrations for the king's birthday on 31st October take place towards the end of the month and into early November, with many Cambodians taking the opportunity to visit Phnom Penh for the occasion, as a form of pilgrimage. 

Cambodia is at its best in November. After the rainy season, the countryside is lush and green, temperatures are pleasant, and rivers and waterfalls are at their most impressive. 

With comfortable temperatures (around 25 degrees Celsius), low humidity and plenty of sunshine, this is a popular month to visit Cambodia. The temperate climate makes exploring the Angkor temples more manageable, although we recommend that you find some shade during the hottest part of the day. Although November is the start of the dry season, you may experience the occasional short shower early in the month. Therefore, it is advisable to take a rain jacket and umbrella when you’re out on sightseeing trips.

With warm, sunny days and calm seas, November is a perfect time to discover the beaches of Sihanoukville, or explore Ream National Park on the south coast of Cambodia.

Every November, the water in the Tonle Sap River changes course due to the change between wet and dry season, plus the forces of the Mekong. This natural phenomenon is celebrated with Bon Om Touk (Water Festival), with boat races taking place across the country, most notably in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Cambodia also celebrates Independence Day on 9th November and the annual Angkor Festival of performing arts usually takes place in later November or early December.

With its dry, sunny weather, low humidity and average temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius, December is one of the most popular months to travel to Cambodia. The comfortable temperatures and minimal chance of rain make temple sightseeing more manageable. Tonle Sap water levels are still fairly high, so visits to the floating villages by boat are still possible at this time.

The south coast beaches are ideal during December and the islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem have excellent diving conditions at this time of year as well.

The Angkor Festival of performing arts usually takes place in late November or early December, with the International Half Marathon around Angkor also attracting thousands of participants and spectators in late December.