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WEATHER IN CAMBODIA

Cambodia is blessed with one of Asia’s simpler weather systems. The country has two distinct weather seasons, but you can travel in Cambodia all year round.
In general, the entire country is subject to the same weather patterns, mainly due to the relatively uniform altitude and latitude throughout Cambodia.
There are two distinct seasons – dry and wet

THE DRY SEASON

October – April/Early May

Cambodia’s dry season lasts from October to April, when the dry north-east monsoon arrives, characterized by hot wind blowing across the entire country. Whilst November to January are quite cool (high 20°C’s), by April the weather is scorching making early morning and late afternoon Angkor Temple tours, with a few hours by the hotel pool at lunchtime, the preference for many.

Thanks to the hot weather this is unsurprisingly the season when Cambodia’s tourist numbers peak.

In more remote parts, such as the north east regions of Mondulkiri & Ratanakiri, the roads are at their best and journey times are shorter because of this. Kep and Sihanoukville on the south coast are popular during this season as they bask in the brilliant sunshine and sea conditions are very favourable.

Humidity is at its highest during March and April whilst the coolest months of the year tend to be between October and December, however this is cool for Cambodia but far from chilly with average temperatures hovering around 24°C-26°C.

THE WET SEASON

Cambodia’s wet season comes courtesy of the southwest monsoon and lasts from May to October, bringing with it almost 75% of Cambodia’s annual rainfall. Across Cambodia, throughout much of the rainy season, daytime temperatures average between 25°C and 27°C. The early months of the wet season (May – July) remain very hot with infrequent rainfall usually in the form of short downpours. In the latter months (late July – September) the rain tends to becomes more constant and is heavy at times, especially in coastal and rural regions.
Travel in the more remote corners of the country, such as Mondulkiri & Ratanakiri, is almost impossible due to the state of the roads and journeys into the north east are inadvisable during the peak wet season because of this. There is also very limited access to Bamboo Island (near Kep) due to high seas.
On the upside, travelling in monsoonal Cambodia does have its advantages. The dust is gone and the lush greenery of the countryside returns. Angkor Wat in particular is stunning in the wet season, with moats brimming with water and a severe drop in visitor numbers. High rainfall make it the perfect time of year to visit the flooded forests and floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake by boat, as it swells to more than 5 times its size during wet season.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT CAMBODIA?

The best time to visit Cambodia is between November and April, when it sees very little rain. During this time you’ll see clear blue skies making it a great time to enjoy a relaxing getaway on the southern coast.
Outside of this period, humidity increases and the rains come, assisting Cambodian farmers in the growing of their crops. However, you shouldn’t be deterred from travelling – the countryside is lush and green, rivers are full and flowing, and the temples are quiet. This is the best time to visit some of the outer-lying temples, which will often be deserted.
At the end of the summer one of Cambodia’s true wonders comes to life – The Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and home to Cambodia’s floating villages
Siem Reap/Angkor Temples
Best time to visit Siem Reap: November to March with cooler and drier weather, humidity around 74%. The green season from May to October is also great with refreshing afternoon rains to cool off the heat of day.
Tonle Sap Lake
Best time to visit Tonle Sap Lake: between July and December. Actually you can visit the lake all year round but the water levels can affect where you can and cannot go. July-Dec have the best condition of water level for visiting.
Battambang
Best time to visit Battambang: dry season is the best but if you want to visit unpaved roads, don’t do it in September and October because the rains can cause trouble transporting.
Phnom Penh
Best time to visit Phnom Penh: November to February with the lowest temperatures and rainfall. One thing to notice for those who traveling to Phnom Penh in summer is that there’s close to none shopping malls or commercial centres with air-conditions on full blast in the city for you to escape the heat.
Kep & Sihanoukville
Best time to head to Kep and Sihanoukville: visit during November to April for the most sunrise and temperature around 24 Celsius degrees or between December and June for the clearest water and scuba diving. In the most suitable time, Sihanoukville is bathed in sunshine, with clear blue skies, refreshing sea breezes and crystal clear water.