When to go to Cambodia?

This article is along the same lines as the other articles I wrote on this travel blog. I like to talk a bit about climate, even if a lot of information can already be found on the web, trying to give a more personal side to the article. I had the opportunity to spend a month in Cambodia during my trip in Southeast Asia. A great experience that allowed me to discover and live some crazy moments. You are probably wondering why am I writing this kind of article about a country where it is almost always warm? I must admit that, unlike its neighbors (especially Laos and Vietnam), you will not easily get cold in Cambodia. Fresh at best, if you are well tropicalized as they say in the islands… So, when to go to Cambodia? I tell you everything!

In this article, I’ll talk about the weather and the rainy season in Cambodia, but also about the tourist season in the country. Everyone can see where I’m going with this. For many world travelers, a trip to Cambodia rhymes with visiting the famous Angkor temples, a world-famous site classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO, well known for attracting mass tourism. If you are planning a trip to Southeast Asia, here is some information on when to go to Laos.

For those who are looking for the cheapest airfare from where you live to Cambodia, you can look here.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, I went to Cambodia during my trip across Asia, for the whole month of April, just after having spent another month in Vietnam. Here are the things to know about climate.

Unlike its Laotian and Vietnamese neighbors, Cambodia does not really have huge differences in terms of climate, except for some areas. We’ll talk about this below.

Well, let’s be honest, it is warm all year round in Cambodia, with a variation of average temperatures according to the season between 30°C (December-January) and about 35°C (April-May). So, don’t worry about temperatures when you travel in the country. The center of the country is still warmer than the seaside in the south and than the east of the country, a little more elevated… You will probably visit a large part of the country, so in my opinion it is quite useless to focus on the temperature for your trip. You will quickly get used to the heat (and to sweating), that’s all!

As in any respectable tropical country, Cambodia is no exception and only has two seasons:

• The dry season extends from November to April. This is the best time to visit Cambodia: little rain, lower temperatures overall (30/32°). In the east and north-east of the country, it may be a bit cooler in the evening and during the night. I say it especially for people who are going to visit the regions of Mondolkiri and Ratanakiri,

• The rainy season is from May to October. Let’s say it straight away: it is a hot and very humid period. There is a lot of heavy rain due to the monsoon, but it rarely rains all day long…

If we only consider climate (which could be arguable anyway), the best time to travel to Cambodia would be the dry season. As in Laos, just next door, the ideal months would theoretically be from November to March. You avoid the rains overall and the heavy heats. The worst period is from May to September, as it rains more… I spent a month there in April and I had very little rain. I think we can easily get used to the heat, even if it can be very hot at times.

As mentioned, there are no real big differences in climate in Cambodia. Only the regions a bit east and north-east will be slightly cooler. Much as you could really distinguish between the North (cooler) and the South (drier) in Laos, but it is quite difficult in Cambodia.

• The landscapes will be much greener, especially in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country which are more mountainous,
• One of the big advantages of going to Cambodia in the rainy season is to avoid the crowds of tourists rushing to the temples of Angkor in December-January. The weather will not be as good overall, but it will be much quieter too,
• For nature and landscapes lovers, this is the perfect time to go boating on the rivers and admire waterfalls.

• Let’s just say that things are easier to handle when it’s sunny, right? I think particularly of the people who cross the country by motorcycle (we met some) or by bicycle. Travelling is simply much easier than in the rainy season,
• You won’t get wet, but you will see a lot of people (like, really a lot), especially at Christmas time. If you truly want to visit Angkor, this is a point to consider in my opinion,
• If you want to visit and enjoy the southern coast of the country (Sihanoukville, the beaches of the coast, and all the Cambodian islands), this is when you should go then.

If you ask yourself this question for your holiday in Cambodia, regarding the climate, I would say that it is mainly December/January, with cooler temperatures and no rain. On the other hand, from November to February, it is the big tourist influx. Is it really worth it? Not sure…

When it comes to tourists, the least visited month is May on average. Between April and June, it is generally quieter. I reassure you (or not): there will still be a lot of tourists. The country still welcomed almost 6 million tourists in 2017.

So, for your Cambodia trip, chances are that you will at least visit Phnom Penh, Battambang (on the way to the Khmer city of Angkor Wat), and then finish your trip on the beautiful beaches of the South, around Kep. Whatever your itinerary, going on a trip should not be simply focused on the climate…

Would you still like to have precise details on the weather in Cambodia by city?

I don’t know if this should be a determining factor for your choice of vacation in Cambodia, and I don’t think so, but it is still a point to consider in my opinion. If you are planning to go to the country and visit it, it might also be an opportunity to attend a local festival. This is often a way to see something different and to get off the beaten track a bit. Another point: it can even influence your trip if you find yourself in a city or a capital in the middle of a festival for 3 days… Note that, unlike in our country, the dates are not fixed exactly every year.

Here are some local holidays to remember:

• The Khmer New Year: this is one of the most important festivals in Cambodia and is often held at the end of the dry season, mid-April. The festival lasts 3 full days and it is an opportunity to see a lot of animation, especially in the countryside,
• Pchum Ben: it is the equivalent of the Festival of the Dead. It takes place in September / October and can last up to 15 days. There are public holidays, so be careful as stores may be closed,
• Water Festival (Bon Om Tuk): this festival celebrates the time of year when the Tonle Sap (the lake right next to Angkor) flows into the river. It takes place at the end of October-beginning of November every year for 3 days. You’d be able to see dugout canoe races on the river and to admire dances and fireworks,
• Visage Day or Buddha’s day: usually at the end of April-beginning of May, the 3 main stages of Buddha’s existence are celebrated in all the big cities of the country.

There are obviously many others…

It is not strictly speaking a local festival, but every year, a festival dedicated to photography takes place in Sieam Reap. In 2017, it was in early December. More info here.

That’s it, I’m coming to the end of this little article to help you know when to go to Cambodia. A word of advice: don’t bother too much about weather in a country where it is hot all year round anyway. If you want to avoid tourists, then try not to go in the period of November – February but rather between March and June, for example. I was there in April and it was already quite crowded. Do you want to have an idea of your travel budget for Cambodia? I wrote a complete article on the subject.

Enjoy this country and have a good trip,

Sylvain