Siem Reap sits in a tropical monsoon climate, which means the year splits fairly cleanly into a cool dry season, a hot dry season, and a wet season — and each one changes what a day at Angkor actually feels like. This breaks down what to expect month by month so you can weigh weather against crowds and price.
November to February: peak season
This is the most comfortable stretch of the year, with daytime temperatures typically in the 25-30°C (77-86°F) range, low humidity, and minimal rain. It’s also, unsurprisingly, when Siem Reap sees its highest visitor numbers — expect busier temples, especially around Angkor Wat at sunrise, and higher hotel prices than the rest of the year. If comfort matters more than crowds, this is the best window.
March to April: hot season
Temperatures climb into the mid-to-high 30s°C (95-104°F) with high humidity, making full days of temple-hopping genuinely tiring. Crowds thin out compared to peak season, and hotel rates ease slightly. Early morning and late afternoon visits become more important during these months to avoid the worst of the midday heat.
May to October: wet season
Rain typically arrives as intense but short afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain, and mornings are often clear. This is Siem Reap’s low season for tourism, meaning noticeably fewer crowds at the temples and the lowest hotel prices of the year. The trade-off is the possibility of muddy paths at some outer temples and occasional flooding on rural roads leading to sites like Kulen Mountain.
So when should you actually go
For the best balance of comfortable weather and manageable crowds, late November, early December, or February tend to work well — shoulder points around peak season without its worst crowding. Budget-focused travelers comfortable with some rain often do well in June or September, when prices are lowest and the afternoon showers are predictable enough to plan around.
Quick reference
- Coolest and driest: December-January
- Hottest: April
- Wettest: September-October
- Cheapest hotel rates: June-September
How weather affects your temple visits
Heat and humidity matter more at Angkor than at most destinations, because there’s very little shade between temple entrances and the walking distances add up over a full day. In the hot season, guides and drivers commonly suggest an early start (7-9am), a break back at the hotel through the worst of midday heat, and a second session from around 3pm to closing. In the cool dry season this split matters much less, and a straight-through day is comfortable.
Festivals and events worth timing around
Khmer New Year (mid-April) brings major celebrations to Siem Reap alongside the year’s hottest weather, and Bon Om Touk, the Water Festival (typically November), draws large domestic crowds to Cambodia generally, though its effect on Siem Reap specifically is smaller than in Phnom Penh. Both are worth knowing about when checking hotel availability, since domestic travel spikes around them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the driest month in Siem Reap?
January is typically the driest and most comfortable month, with low humidity and minimal rainfall.
Should I avoid the rainy season entirely?
Not necessarily — wet season rain usually falls in short, intense afternoon bursts rather than all day, mornings are often clear, and you’ll see far fewer crowds and lower prices.
Is it too hot to visit Angkor Wat in April?
April is the hottest month, often exceeding 38°C (100°F). It’s manageable with an early start and midday break, but it’s the most physically demanding time of year to visit.
When are hotel prices lowest in Siem Reap?
Roughly June through September, during the wet season low season, sees the year’s lowest hotel rates.
Related guides
- Angkor Wat Photography Guide: Best Spots and Times
- Siem Reap on a Budget: Daily Cost Breakdown
- Banteay Srei and the Cambodian Landmine Museum: Full-Day Route
- Ta Prohm, Bayon and Banteay Srei: Beyond the Main Temple
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Guide: Where to Watch and When to Arrive
Shoulder season: an underrated middle ground
Late October to early November and March mark shoulder season transitions, when dry-season crowds haven’t yet built to peak levels but weather is still reasonably favorable — this window offers a meaningful sweet spot for travelers wanting lower prices and thinner crowds without the heaviest rains of true wet season.
How weather affects specific activities
Temple sightseeing works fine year-round given how much of the Angkor complex is outdoors regardless of season, but rainy season mornings before the afternoon rain arrive are often the most pleasant temperatures of the whole year for walking, while dry season’s clear skies make sunrise and sunset viewing more reliably spectacular.
Crowd levels by season in more detail
Peak dry season (December-January especially) sees the heaviest crowds at Angkor Wat’s sunrise viewing area and the Bayon’s main gallery, sometimes making it genuinely difficult to get an unobstructed photo at the most popular single spots — arriving right at gate opening becomes more important during these months than at any other time of year to beat both the heat and the crowd.
How hotel pricing tracks the seasonal calendar
Hotel rates in Siem Reap can run 30-50% higher during peak December-January weeks compared to the rainy season low period, and the very last two weeks of December carry an additional holiday premium on top of standard peak pricing — booking well ahead for a December-January visit is worth doing specifically because both availability and pricing tighten considerably during this window.
How Siem Reap’s weather patterns compare to expectations from other tropical destinations
Travelers arriving with rainy-season expectations shaped by other regions sometimes overestimate how disruptive Cambodia’s wet season actually is — unlike some tropical destinations with all-day monsoon rain, Cambodia’s rainy season typically delivers a concentrated afternoon downpour lasting an hour or two, with mornings and evenings often remaining clear, meaning a well-timed daily schedule can work around the rain rather than being defined by it.
A month-by-month quick reference for planning purposes
November-December: excellent weather, moderate crowds building toward peak. January-February: best weather, peak crowds and pricing. March-April: hot, crowds thinning, prices softening. May: hottest month, rains beginning, noticeably quieter. June-September: full rainy season, lowest prices, lush green landscapes. October: rains tapering, a genuinely underrated transitional month with good value and improving weather.
A final word on picking your travel dates
There’s genuinely no wrong season to visit Siem Reap — every month offers a viable, worthwhile version of an Angkor trip, and the choice ultimately comes down to whether you prioritize ideal weather and accept higher prices and crowds, or prioritize value and quiet and accept some rain — both are entirely valid ways to experience the temples.
Whatever season ultimately fits your schedule, Siem Reap’s temples remain consistently impressive year-round, making the timing decision more about personal comfort preferences than about missing out on the destination’s core appeal.
If your trip also includes the capital, our Best Time to Visit Phnom Penh guide covers how conditions compare there.