Best Time to Visit Siem Reap

Cool and dry: November to February

This is the season most people come for, and December scores best. Days are warm but not punishing, and nights in December and January drop to a comfortable 21°C. Rain is rare. You can spend a whole morning walking the temples of Angkor without your shirt sticking to you.

It's also high season. Angkor Wat at sunrise gets crowded, with hundreds of people lined up by the reflecting pond. Try a smaller temple like Ta Prohm or Banteay Kdei early, or visit Angkor Wat in the afternoon when most groups have gone. Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks, and Chinese New Year (usually late January or February) brings extra visitors too.

Hot and dusty: March to April

It gets properly hot. February to April has highs of 36 to 37°C, and the afternoon sun on bare stone is fierce. Plan temple visits for early morning, then retreat to a pool or a cafe on Pub Street's quieter side streets for a long lunch. March is still fairly dry, but April turns thundery and humid.

The big date is Khmer New Year, around 13 to 16 April. Locals head home to their families, so some shops close. Water fights break out in the streets, and you will get soaked. If you like a party, it's a great time to be here. If you'd rather keep your camera dry, stay indoors in the afternoons.

Green season: May to October

Rain falls on most days, and September is the wettest month. Most of it comes as heavy afternoon downpours, though the sun is low and the sky is often grey. It's humid, but the rice fields around town turn bright green and the temples are quiet.

Travelling on a budget? Hotels are cheaper and you'll often have a courtyard at Bayon almost to yourself. Pack a poncho for tuk-tuk rides, and expect muddy paths at Kbal Spean, where the river carvings are best seen after rain. Pchum Ben, a two-week festival honouring ancestors, usually falls in September or early October. Temples fill with families making offerings.

Which month for you?

For first-timers and photographers, pick December or January. For fewer people and a lower bill, try November, when it's still fairly dry and greener. Hate the heat? Skip March and April.