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Best time to visit Cambodia: month by month
Short answer
November to February is the best time, the cool dry season with highs of about 30–32°C and few rainy days, ideal for Angkor but also the busiest and priciest. March to May is very hot (often 35–38°C), and the rainy season from about June to October brings afternoon downpours, green landscapes, fewer visitors and lower prices.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°C | 21°C | 3 | very high |
| Feb | 32°C | 22°C | 7 | high |
| Mar | 34°C | 24°C | 8 | medium |
| Apr | 33°C | 25°C | 19 | medium |
| May | 32°C | 26°C | 23 | low |
| Jun | 33°C | 26°C | 22 | low |
| Jul | 32°C | 25°C | 28 | medium |
| Aug | 32°C | 25°C | 27 | medium |
| Sep | 30°C | 24°C | 29 | low |
| Oct | 30°C | 24°C | 23 | medium |
| Nov | 30°C | 23°C | 16 | high |
| Dec | 30°C | 21°C | 4 | very high |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Hot season: average highs of 32–34°C, often 35–38°C, with rain building from April (about 19 rainy days) to May (about 23). Temple visits need very early starts.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Rainy season: highs around 32–33°C with 22–28 rainy days a month, usually in afternoon storms. Green rice fields and quiet temples.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September and October are the wettest (about 23–29 rainy days) with the Tonle Sap at its highest; November turns drier, with about 16 rainy days.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool dry season: highs of 30–32°C, lows around 21–22°C and only 3–7 rainy days. Peak season.
Events worth planning around
- Khmer New Year (mid-April), when many Cambodians travel home
- Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) in Phnom Penh, with boat races (October or November, by the lunar calendar)
- Pchum Ben, the festival of the ancestors (September or October)
- Angkor Wat sunrise at the spring and autumn equinoxes (March and September)
When to avoid
April and May are the hottest months, often above 35°C, which makes full temple days exhausting. Khmer New Year in mid-April means busy buses and some closures.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Cambodia?
December and January: highs of about 30–32°C, very little rain and the best temple weather, though also the busiest.
Is the rainy season a bad time to visit?
Not necessarily. Rain usually falls in afternoon storms, prices drop and Angkor is quieter; some rural roads get muddy.
When is it too hot in Cambodia?
April and May, when temperatures often reach 35–38°C.