When to visit Cambodia: the cool dry season, the hot season and the green season explained, with month-by-month weather, the best time for Angkor, the islands and each region, and festival dates to plan around.
The best time to visit Cambodia is the cool, dry season from November to February, with sunny days, low humidity and highs of around 30 to 32°C. March to May is hot and dry, peaking at around 36°C in April. The green season from June to October brings afternoon rain, lush landscapes, fewer crowds and lower prices.
Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
The best time to visit Cambodia for most travellers is the cool, dry season from November to February, when days are sunny, humidity is lower and the temples, islands and cities are all at their most comfortable. But Cambodia is a year-round destination. The hot months of March to May bring festivals and low water on the Mekong, and the green season from June to October turns the countryside a brilliant emerald, fills the waterfalls and empties the temples of crowds.
If you can choose any time, come between late November and February. This is peak season for good reason: rain is rare, mornings are fresh enough for sunrise at Angkor Wat, and the sea on the south coast is calm. Book guides, hotels and island stays early, especially over Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.
If you prefer fewer people and lower prices, look at the shoulder months: early November, and May into June. And if you want Cambodia at its most beautiful and peaceful, and do not mind an afternoon shower, the green season from July to October is a quiet favourite of ours.
| If you want | Come in |
|---|---|
| The most comfortable weather | December and January |
| Fewer crowds at Angkor | June to September |
| Lush rice fields and full waterfalls | August to October |
| The islands at their best | December to April |
| Khmer New Year | Mid-April |
| The Water Festival | October or November, depending on the moon |
| The lowest prices | May to September |
Cambodia has a tropical monsoon climate. It is warm all year, and the seasons are defined by rain rather than temperature. Locals speak of two seasons, wet and dry, but for travellers it helps to split the dry season in two.
The high season. Daytime highs of around 30 to 32°C, cooler nights, low humidity and very little rain. The landscape is still green in November and turns golden as the rice is harvested.
Temperatures climb steadily, peaking in April with highs of around 35 to 36°C. Fields are dry and dusty, rivers are low and it is festival time. Plan early starts and a long lunch break.
The south-west monsoon brings rain, usually as a heavy afternoon or evening downpour rather than all-day drizzle. The countryside is lush, the Tonle Sap swells and crowds thin out. September and October are the wettest months.
Temperatures below are typical for Siem Reap, which is close to the average for the lowlands where most travellers spend their time. Phnom Penh is similar. The coast is slightly milder but wetter in the monsoon, and the north-eastern highlands of Mondulkiri are noticeably cooler.
| Month | Weather | What it is like to travel |
|---|---|---|
| January | Dry, sunny, highs around 31°C | Ideal weather and peak season. Book ahead. |
| February | Dry, warming up, highs around 33°C | Excellent. Chinese New Year can make it busy. |
| March | Hot and dry, highs around 35°C | Good value as crowds ease. Early starts help. |
| April | The hottest month, highs around 36°C | Khmer New Year. Very hot; pace your days. |
| May | Hot, first storms arrive | Quiet and cheaper. Storms freshen the air. |
| June | Green season begins, afternoon rain | Fields turn green, temples are calm. |
| July | Regular showers, warm and humid | Beautiful landscapes and low prices. |
| August | Wet, rain most afternoons | Lush and quiet. Waterfalls are flowing. |
| September | Usually the wettest month | Some rural roads are muddy; the Tonle Sap is full. |
| October | Wet early, drying later | Pchum Ben festival. Floods possible in low areas. |
| November | Rains end, cooler and clear | A lovely month: green fields and blue skies. |
| December | Dry, the coolest month, highs around 30 to 32°C | Peak season, especially over the holidays. |
Cool mornings for sunrise at Angkor Wat and comfortable days among the temples. The green season is wonderful too: moss-covered Ta Prohm, reflections in the moats and far fewer people.
The capital is a year-round city, but the dry months are easiest for walking the riverfront and visiting the Royal Palace. In the green season, plan indoor sights for the afternoon.
Dry, sunny weather for the pepper farms, Bokor and the Kep crab market. The coast catches the brunt of the monsoon from June to October.
Calm seas, clear water and reliable ferries to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem. From July to October the sea can be rough and some island businesses close.
Pleasant for cycling the countryside, the bamboo train and Phnom Sampeau. Just after the rains, the rice fields are at their greenest.
The highlands are cooler all year and at their best in the dry season, when jungle trails and roads are easier. The Irrawaddy dolphins at Kampi are easiest to see when the Mekong is low, from about February to May.
| Interest | Best time | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Temples | Nov to Feb, or the green season | Cool mornings in the dry season; fewer people and vivid greens in the wet. |
| Angkor Wat equinox sunrise | Around 20 to 22 March and September | The sun rises directly over the central tower. |
| Beaches and islands | Dec to Apr | Calm seas, clear water and sunshine. |
| Tonle Sap floating villages | Aug to Dec | High water means the villages float and boats go further. In the dry season some channels are too shallow. |
| Waterfalls | Aug to Nov | Phnom Kulen and Tatai are at full flow. |
| Wildlife and birds | Dec to May | Water birds gather on the Tonle Sap and dolphins are easier to see. |
| Cycling and motorbiking | Nov to Feb | Dry roads and cooler air. See our dirt bike expeditions. |
| Photography | Oct and Nov | Green fields, dramatic skies and clear air after the rains. |
Cambodia’s biggest festivals follow the lunar calendar, so exact dates change each year. They are wonderful to experience, but businesses close and roads and buses fill up as families travel home. Book transport and hotels early. Browse our festival experiences for trips built around them.
For many travellers, yes. The green season is Cambodia’s best-kept secret. The rice fields are a vivid green, the temples are quiet enough to hear the birds, hotels are cheaper, and the air is clear after each storm. Rain usually comes in a short, heavy burst in the afternoon or evening, leaving mornings free for sightseeing.
We adjust every green-season itinerary: temples in the morning, museums, markets and cooking classes in the afternoon, and flexible days for the coast and remote areas.
For visas, money, SIM cards and getting around, see our travel essentials. To see how the seasons shape real journeys, browse our tailor-made packages.
Tell us when you can travel and what you want to see. We will suggest the best route for that season and send a costed, tailor-made itinerary within 24 hours. Plan your trip or use the form on this page.