The cool season (December-February)
If, officially, the climate of the tropical zones is only divided into a dry season and a wet season, one distinguishes nevertheless, for Cambodia as for the surrounding countries, three quite distinct periods. From November onwards, the temperatures start to get milder, becoming really pleasant in December and January. This is a particularly good time to visit the southern islands as the sky is a deep blue without clouds. It is also a good time to consider physical activities such as hiking, because the heat is not overwhelming. Unfortunately, this information is not only known by our readers, but also by a large number of tourists... The cool season is logically the most crowded, especially in the temples of Angkor. If you dream of exploring Cambodia while avoiding other visitors, these few months should be avoided. Temperatures in this season vary between 20 and 30 degrees in Phnom Penh, which leads many Cambodians to take out jackets and sweaters as soon as 25 degrees and complain about the cold.
The hot season (March-June)
From March onwards, temperatures start to rise seriously, reaching highs of over 40 degrees in April, the hottest month of the year. The impression of stifling heat is accentuated by the humidity, which also increases as the days progress, although it is still the dry season. The sun is oppressive, the wind is rare. The lack of rain for several months makes the ground dusty. In this period, intense physical activities are not recommended, unless you get up early in the morning. To make matters worse, farmers who practice slash-and-burn farming usually take advantage of this period to light fires. The atmosphere becomes quickly unbreathable, saturated with smoke. As you can see, the hot season is not really the best time to visit the country. However, if you are not afraid of the heat and wish to see Cambodia without its tourists, and even without its expats who for the most part take advantage of the season to go back home on vacation, the months of March to June may suit you.
The rainy season (June-November)
After several months of hot season with temperatures around 40 degrees in the shade, the rainy season arrives like a blessing. The rainfall pattern depends on the monsoon winds. From November to May, the northeast monsoon, coming from inland, produces the dry season. From May to November, the southwest monsoon, coming from the sea, brings the rains. These rains are distributed rather irregularly according to the regions, during the six months of the wet season. Absolute drought occurs several months of the year in the Cambodian plains, causing serious problems for agriculture. Phnom Penh receives 140 mm of rain per year, spread over 120 days: much more than in Europe (55 mm in Paris) but much less than in neighboring countries (202 mm in Saigon). On the other hand, the mountainous region of the southwestern coast is very wet. The rainy season is often considered by travelers as a period during which one cannot travel. While it is true that the almost daily heavy rains can slow down traffic or make certain areas more difficult to access, they are usually short-lived - less than an hour. They also have the virtue of cooling the atmosphere. This has nothing to do with the cold and penetrating rains of our countries.
When to visit Cambodia?
In conclusion, there is no good or bad period to visit Cambodia. According to your priorities, you can choose the right season. Do you want a combination of bright sunshine, cloudless blue skies and mild temperatures? December and January are probably the right choice for you, even more so if part of your stay is at the beach. Of course, this is also the period when prices are highest and hotels and activities are crowded. Advance reservations are often necessary. If you want to have more choices and don't want to play with your shoulders in the temples of Angkor, the hot season and the rainy season will suit you better. Traveling to the far reaches of the country in the rainy season can be complicated, whereas if you concentrate your visits on Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang for example, 1 hour of daily rain should not handicap you.
