Cambodia is famous because it is home to Angkor Wat, the most magnificent religious building in the world. But tourists may enjoy much more in Cambodia than just sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. A beautiful café culture exists there as well.
Choosing the right time to visit will help you get the most out of your trip, whether you're just coming for the gorgeous old temples or want to see more of what the nation has to offer.
Between November and January is the greatest season to travel to Cambodia since the weather is more suitable for long days spent touring outside and there is less rain.
The Best Time to Visit Cambodia
The months of November through January are the ideal times to visit Cambodia. With highs in the 20s Celsius, these months fall inside Cambodia's dry season, which means you won't need to worry about packing a poncho or umbrella at all times. They are also colder than other times of the year in Cambodia.
When visiting the temples during the whole dry season, which lasts through April, be prepared for hotels to quickly fill up and to run across several other people.
In order to climb to tribe settlements, visit an elephant sanctuary, or go forest trekking, you should visit the regions of Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri anytime between October and March. You don't want to get caught in the area during the rainy season because many of the roads are actually dirt and are practically impossible to drive on when muddy.
If you want to avoid the oppressive heat of April, these are the best months to visit the beach.
Ideal Season to Visit Cambodia
Depending on who you ask, there are either two or four seasons in Cambodia. Some travel experts categorise the weather in Cambodia's seasons as dry, rainy, cold and hot while others see it as dry and wet with periods that are either cooler or hotter.
The dry season, which lasts from November to April, is characterised by little to no rain and humidity levels that are still in the 70 to 80 percent range. The hot and chilly seasons are both a part of the dry season.
When you travel from late November to early March, you'll benefit from cooler temps and dry, sunny days. The busiest (and most sought-after) travel seasons are December and January, when temperatures are in the mid-20s.
March through May are Cambodia's hot months, with April being the hottest month of the year due to its high humidity and temperatures that can easily reach 40 degrees Celsius.
This month is ideal for lounging by the pool, visiting the beach, or seeking refuge from the heat in Kirirom's pine forests, which are about an hour from Phnom Penh and provide some respite from the heat.
The Khmer New Year, which falls between early and mid-April, forces the entire nation to shut down as residents go to spend time with their families. This reduces crowds everywhere but also makes it challenging to map out trips and find stores and eateries.
Cambodia is gradually receiving rainfall, although May is still extremely hot. This is your last opportunity to traverse the jungle before it becomes too soggy and difficult to investigate. The month of May is excellent for mountain travel.
Rainy Season: The rainy season starts in June and lasts through October, though rainfall is not distributed equally throughout the season. Even though afternoon showers frequently bring welcome relief from the heat, they also increase the air's humidity, which throughout these months frequently stays above 85%.
Temperatures during the rainy season range from 26 to 28 degrees Celsius. May through July sees intermittent afternoon downpours of rain; August through October sees the most precipitation.
Trips into the countryside grow more and more difficult as monsoon season draws near because the many dirt roads become muddy and impassable. One significant advantage of the wet season is that it is also low season, when prices are lower and crowds are virtually absent.
The best time to travel to Cambodia is
Because it's dry and the cold season is in full force, January is the best month to visit Cambodia because you won't feel like you're melting as you explore the temples. If you're hoping to visit the beach or the jungle, arriving in January (or at least during the "cool" season between November and February) will make the trip much more bearable.
Unfortunately, this results in January being a very busy month, with Angkor Wat being overrun by tourists, hotel rates rising, and it being practically difficult to watch the sunset at one of the temples without bumping into hundreds of other people.
If you want to dodge the crowds and take advantage of fantastic bargains, you might choose to travel to Cambodia in June. Despite being the first month of the rainy season, June is often dry, with the exception of mountainous areas, which frequently see mudslides and closed roadways due to considerable June rainfall.
The humidity only reaches 70% this month, which is low for Cambodia and keeps the temperature at 28 °C.
The Best Time to Visit Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is the most well-known tourist destination in Cambodia and the largest religious building in the entire world. It draws over a million tourists annually, the most of whom originate in Siem Reap, the city with French colonial heritage that serves as the gateway to the Angkor area.
Between December and February, when temperatures stay in the 20s Celsius and nights can seem nice, especially if you're outside of the city, are the finest months to visit Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.
These are the only months when spending a full day outside won't be unbearable. Even a "quick" tour of the 162 acre Angkor Wat temple complex will take you all day.
The drawback of going to the temples in the winter is that everyone else will be there as well. November and March are considered the season months. Photographing the temples at that time without 20 other people in the frame can be difficult due to the tourists, especially those on large group excursions.
Don't let this be your main criterion for choosing a destination because, despite higher rates in the winter, Cambodia is still quite inexpensive compared to other nearby countries like Thailand.
Arriving in March will give you the best chance for fewer tourists and more affordable lodging. March signals the beginning of a significant warming trend because April is the hottest month of the year. However, you may expect little to no rain, frequent highs in the 20s or low 30s, and less dangerous insects.
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