The best times to visit Cambodia

10.01.2025 - 01:21 / lonelyplanet.com

Jan 9, 2025 • 5 min read

Nick Ray  is the author of the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap chapters in the 14th edition of Lonely Planet's  Cambodia guidebook  scheduled to be released in September 2025.

Some Cambodians wryly observe that Cambodia has three seasons – hot, hotter and hottest – but in reality, there are distinct dry and wet seasons that define the harvest cycle and dramatically alter the character of the landscape in this fascinating Southeast Asian nation.

The dry season runs from November to May, and the "cool season" months of November to February are the most popular time to visit Cambodia due to milder temperatures. The countryside appears somewhat parched from February to May when daytime temperatures can soar above 40°C (104°F).

The wet season usually runs from June to October, coinciding with the southwest monsoon, but it's not necessarily a bad time to travel to Cambodia. It usually only rains heavily once a day towards sunset, the countryside is a blaze of green, and many hotels and resorts offer substantial discounts.

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

Dry season: November-April (21-32°C/70-90°F)

Wet season: May-October (average temperature 30°C/86°F)

Highest rainfall: September

The weather in Cambodia is not unlike a Mediterranean summer during the "winter" months here (November to March). The mercury occasionally drops below 20°C (68°F), forcing Cambodians to scramble for their coats and woollies. This makes exploring the temples much more pleasant, but it's also the most crowded time at Angkor. Lots of accommodation is booked out in advance, particularly over the Christmas and New Year period and during Chinese New Year, which follows the lunar calendar, falling in January or February.

Although this is the middle of Cambodia's wet season, it doesn’t usually rain that much in July and August, however there's enough water to swell the Tonle Sap Lake. This is an ideal time for families living in Europe and North America to visit Cambodia, thanks to the long school holidays and discounted prices at hotels and resorts. There are also far fewer tourists exploring Angkor during the "green season" when the moats are full of water and many of the temples are coated in moss and lichen. The main drawback of shoulder season travel is that it can rain quite heavily on the coast, meaning Ko Rong and other idyllic islands near Sihanoukville can be quite wet and windy.

It is possible to visit Angkor Wat at any time of year, but peak season is from November to February, when the weather is dry and cooler, although it’s still hot. In December, international athletes arrive for the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon. This half marathon has been a fixture on the sporting calendar for two