At a glance
The short version
- Dates
- 14-16 April 2027
- When
- Mid-April, normally 14 to 16 April
- How long
- Three days officially, longer in practice
- Where to be
- The provinces and small towns; Phnom Penh empties out
- Temperature
- April is the hottest month of the Cambodian year
- What happens
- Temple offerings, games, and a great deal of water throwing
- Watch out
- Long-distance road travel is heavy just before and after
Khmer New Year is the one time of year when the whole country moves at once. Phnom Penh empties as people go back to their home provinces, and the villages fill up.
There are temple offerings, traditional games played in the street, and water and talcum powder thrown at more or less everybody. The heat is serious – April is the hottest month here – and the pace is slow because of it.
Where to be
Not in the capital, if you can help it. A provincial town or a village stay is the version of this festival worth travelling for. Angkor is busy but with Cambodian families rather than tour groups, which is a considerably nicer thing to be among.
Questions travellers ask
When is Khmer New Year?
Mid-April, normally the 14th to the 16th, tied to the traditional solar new year rather than a fixed western date.
Is it a good time to visit Cambodia?
It is a wonderful time to be in a village and an odd time to be in Phnom Penh, which empties. It is also the hottest part of the year.
Will I get soaked?
Quite possibly. Water throwing is part of it, and foreigners are not exempt. Keep your phone in a bag.
Are the temples open?
Angkor stays open and gets busy with Cambodian visitors, which is a different and rather good atmosphere.
