The Best Time to Visit Cambodia

When is the Best Time to Travel to Cambodia?  

Cambodia is a year-round travel destination that experiences a dry season from November to April and a wet season from May to October. Weather-wise, November through February is generally considered the best time to travel, but there are perks to traveling outside peak season, too.

A word about weather: Bear in mind that this guide is founded on historical “norms” and trends based on our cumulative travel expertise. Weather patterns, average temperatures, rainfall, and the natural phenomena that react to seasonal changes are becoming less easy to predict as the climate warms.  

Cambodia Climate & Weather Guide

Cambodia is a small country, hugged by neighbors Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It has a 275-mile stretch of coast along the Gulf of Thailand, which includes the Koh Rong Archipelago.  

Major geographical features include the Cardamom Mountains in southwest Cambodia and Tonlé Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest lake. The country is also bisected by a lengthy stretch of the Mekong River, running from its northern forests, all the way to Vietnam’s Mekong Delta on its southeastern border.  

Comparable to the land area of Missouri and characterized mostly by low-elevation plains, Cambodia travelers can expect to experience a uniform climate on a single trip, which makes for easy wardrobe packing.  

Cambodia’s weather is determined by the monsoon winds that delineate two major seasons—wet and dry—which is more practical than thinking in terms of spring, summer, fall, and winter.  

Prevailing winds ushered in by the southwest monsoon dump three quarters of the country’s annual rainfall between May and October, and humidity can hang heavy in the air. Drier winds of the northeast monsoon tamp down the precipitation and humidity between November and March, offering pleasant but sometimes sweltering temperatures. 

When to Travel to Cambodia: A Month-by-Month Guide

Cambodia Travel During the Dry Season:  
November, December, January, February, March & April 

Starting in November and running through to late April or early May, the dry season is most popular among Cambodia travelers.  

This period receives far less precipitation than the rest of the calendar, making it easy to plan outdoorsy outings such as day trips to Angkor Archeological Park or touring Phnom Penh’s food scene and Indochine architecture by tuk-tuk.  

If you are keen to visit lake Tonle Sap’s floating villages, your experience will be tempered by low water levels during the dry season and birdlife might be scant. Instead, you’ll appreciate the visuals of long-legged stilts upon which traditional homes are built.  

At the coast, calm waters offer premium visibility for snorkeling and scuba diving in the Koh Rong Archipelago, while warm temperatures coax you to lounge poolside and swim aquamarine shallows. Sun-seekers take note: March, April, and May observe the hottest temperatures, usually in the low 90s.  

The dry season is the best time to experience a remote luxury tented camp in the Cardamom Mountains. Roads and hiking and mountain biking trails are navigable, offering you the widest offering of thrilling active excursions, though lower water levels might allay the flow of rivers and waterfalls in the driest months (March through May).  

The only cost of visiting Cambodia during the dry season is sharing your experience with many others. This is especially the case during the festive season—late December through early January. We will do our best to get you off the most frequented tourist circuits at Angkor Wat, but the iconic new world wonder is prone to crowding. Another strategy? Visiting during shoulder months or the wet season.  

Cambodia Travel During Wet Season:  
May, June, July, August, September & October 

The wet season arrives with May’s showers. Combined with high temperatures, the first half of the season can make for humid, steamy days. The heat begins to abate in June, bringing cooler, more pleasant temperatures.  

August and September see the greatest volumes of rainfall in Cambodia. A bit of a mixed bag, precipitation can arrive as an intense afternoon downpour or as light drizzle across the day. Set expectations and pack some flexibility—but leave the umbrella and waterproof raingear at home. Technical apparel will only insulate you in humid conditions. Surprisingly, a simple, plastic hooded poncho will serve you better. 

However, travel during the wet season does offer some perks. The crowds at Angkor Wat and other popular temples are drastically diminished. Hotels and resorts are likely to be quieter, offering a more exclusive and personalized guest experience, and perhaps extending better rates.  

Tonle Sap lake will swell with water, doubling or even tripling in size from August to November, making its floating villages fully navigable for a complete window into flooded lake life. Teeming with fish, it’s also the best time for birders to spy painted and milky storks, adjutants, spot-billed pelicans, and grey-headed fish eagles.  

A bit further south, the flora of the Cardamom Mountains will be flush with vitality and rivers will be flowing with greater velocity. Caveat: with frequent rain, roads can become impassable and hiking/mountain biking trails can turn into thick mud.  

Overall, it’s a good time to enjoy ornate temples, Phnom Penh’s museums, and go gallery-hopping with an art curator in Siem Reap.  

Conclusion 

Ultimately, we feel the dry season offers the best opportunities for day-touring Angkor Wat, enjoying adventurous outdoor activities, and for sun-drenched days at the coast.

However, with the exception of rainy September, there’s no reason to avoid Cambodia during the wet season months (especially if your trip skips the mountains and the coast) if the dates work for your travel plans.  

Connect with an Extraordinary Journeys Southeast Asia expert to craft a bespoke Cambodia travel itinerary that shines in any season.