Best time to visit · Siem Reap · Cambodia
The best time to visit Siem Reap
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tsui, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Siem Reap is November to February, the cool dry season, when skies are clear and temple days are comfortable; December and January are the busiest and most expensive. March and April are very hot. The May–October green season brings afternoon rain but lush scenery, full moats, quiet temples and lower prices, and the Tonle Sap villages are best seen from about August to November.
Key facts
- Best months
- November–February
- Shoulder season
- March and October
- Warmest month
- April (avg high 36°C (97°F))
- Coldest month
- December (avg high 30°C (86°F))
- Rainiest month
- September (~19 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- September
Seasons
Siem Reap is hot all year. The dry season runs from about November to April, cooler and clear until February and very hot in March–April; the wet season from May to October brings short, heavy afternoon downpours, green landscapes and a swollen Tonle Sap lake.
November–February
Cool dry season
Sunny days around 30–32°C with cooler mornings — ideal for touring the temples, but also peak season with the biggest crowds and highest room rates.
March–April
Hot season
Temperatures often above 35°C, dusty landscapes and a low Tonle Sap; temple visits are best kept to early morning and late afternoon. Khmer New Year falls in mid-April.
May–July
Early wet season
Short, heavy afternoon storms, green rice fields and quiet temples, with good-value hotels and mornings that are usually dry.
August–October
Late wet season
The wettest months, with occasional flooding in town in September, but full reservoirs, dramatic skies and the lake at its highest for floating-village trips.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C | 21°C | 1 | 11.4 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| February | 34°C | 22°C | 1 | 11.7 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 35°C | 24°C | 3 | 12 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 36°C | 25°C | 6 | 12.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 35°C | 25°C | 14 | 12.7 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| June | 33°C | 25°C | 16 | 12.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| July | 33°C | 25°C | 17 | 12.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| August | 32°C | 25°C | 18 | 12.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| September | 32°C | 25°C | 19 | 12.2 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| October | 31°C | 24°C | 15 | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| November | 31°C | 23°C | 6 | 11.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| December | 30°C | 21°C | 2 | 11.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Chinese New Year — busy period with many regional visitors (late January or February) |
| February | Chinese New Year holidays (some years fall in February) |
| March | Spring equinox — the sun rises directly over Angkor Wat's central tower seen from the western causeway (around 20–21 March) |
| April | Khmer New Year — three-day national holiday with water fights, games and pagoda visits (mid-April) |
| May | Visak Bochea — Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, marked at pagodas (usually May) |
| September | Autumn equinox sunrise over Angkor Wat's central tower (around 21–22 September); Pchum Ben — 15-day festival honouring ancestors, with busy pagodas (September or October) |
| October | Pchum Ben (some years fall in October) |
| November | Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) — boat races on the Siem Reap River (usually October or November) |
| December | Angkor Wat International Half Marathon — run through the temple park (usually early December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in September, and the sights are quietest in September.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Cool dry season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Hot season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Early wet season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Late wet season | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Siem Reap?
The best time to visit Siem Reap is November to February, the cool dry season, when skies are clear and temple days are comfortable; December and January are the busiest and most expensive. March and April are very hot. The May–October green season brings afternoon rain but lush scenery, full moats, quiet temples and lower prices, and the Tonle Sap villages are best seen from about August to November.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Siem Reap?
Usually in September. Usually the wettest month; heavy rain can flood low-lying streets in town, but the temples are at their quietest.
+What is the rainiest month in Siem Reap?
September, with about 19 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Siem Reap get?
The warmest month, April, averages highs of 36°C (97°F) and lows of 25°C (77°F).