When Is The Worst Time To Visit Cambodia?

Quick Facts On When To Visit Cambodia

If you don’t have time to read the whole article, here are quick facts on when to visit Cambodia.

• Worst Time To Visit Cambodia: June to October
• Best Time To Visit Cambodia: December to February
• Most Expensive Time To Visit Cambodia: December to February
• Cheapest Time To Visit Cambodia: September and October
• Month With Most Rain: September
• The Hottest Month In Cambodia: April

As you can see, there are pros and cons to visiting Cambodia at any time of the year.

As a country with a tropical climate, Cambodia is hot year-round. However, approximately half of the year is dry, and the other half is rainy. 

Most people will want to visit Cambodia during the dry season, which is the high season. High season means more crowds and higher prices in Cambodia. 

The rainy season is also the cheapest time to visit Cambodia, with many tours and hostels in Cambodia lowering their prices.

The Worst Time To Visit Cambodia

The general consensus is that the rainy season is the worst time to visit Cambodia. 

The rainy season in Cambodia lasts from mid-June until mid-October, with most rainfall in September. You can also expect some rain from late May until early November.

75% of the country’s annual rainfall happens in those 5 months! 

The problem with the rain in Cambodia is that it is much stronger than the rain you might have seen in Europe. When it rains here, it’s pouring rain, and you’ll be drenched in 2 minutes. 

This intense rain causes seasonal flooding in specific areas of the country. Naturally, the areas around rivers and lakes are the most affected. 

The rainy season is also not the best choice if you want to spend time on Cambodian islands. 

Depending on your luck, you might be stuck in your accommodation for days while waiting for the rain to stop.

If you only have 2 weeks to travel in Cambodia, you don’t want to sacrifice your precious time waiting for the rain to stop. 

On the other hand, if you’re on a budget and don’t like crowds, December to February will be the worst time to visit Cambodia for you. 

I visited Cambodia during the rainy season and had a fantastic time!

The rain doesn’t fall the entire day every day for 5 months straight. There will be several days in a row with no rain at all! 

Also, rain is quite predictable. When I was backpacking in Siem Reap, everybody knew that it was very likely to have a downpour for half an hour in the late afternoon. 

Best Time To Visit Cambodia

Overall the best time to visit Cambodia is during the dry season but before the temperatures rise in March.

December to February brings dry and slightly cooler weather. You can expect guaranteed beach days, with warm and sunny days. 

While December through February is the best time to visit Cambodia weatherwise, the downsides are increased prices and crowds. 

Most people visit Cambodia during the Christmas and New Year period, making it the busiest and the most expensive time to visit Cambodia. 

The dry season is the best season to visit Cambodia, but if you want to enjoy nice weather and escape the crowds, consider visiting in the “shoulder season” – November or March. 

November is the coolest month in Cambodia, but don’t worry, there’s no snow in Cambodia. The average temperature in November is still 26℃.

March, April, and May are still considered dry seasons, but it gets very hot as you move closer to April, the hottest month in Cambodia. 

Most Expensive Time To Visit Cambodia

If you’re worried if is Cambodia expensive, you might want to avoid the high season.

December and January are the most expensive months to visit Cambodia. 

Tourists from Europe, China, and North America flock to Cambodia to escape the cold winter. 

It is also the period of school holidays and end-of-year festivities, so many people have vacation days they choose to spend in sunny Cambodia. 

While the prices of food generally don’t change much, accommodation and tours are significantly more expensive. 

Public transport in Cambodia gets booked days in advance for the most popular routes and operators, and you can’t escape the crowds at tourist attractions. 

Also, it is almost impossible to negotiate lower rates with drivers, as there are so many tourists around!

Cheapest Time To Visit Cambodia

The best time to visit Cambodia if you’re backpacking Cambodia on a tight budget is the wet season from June until October. 

Accommodation prices are often slashed in half, tours are discounted, and restaurants offer better deals.

Generally, the cheapest months to visit Cambodia coincide with the most rainy months: September and October. 

School holidays are over, and most people finished their summer vacations, so the country has even fewer visitors than during the summer months. 

If you are on a flexible schedule and can afford to spend a couple of days waiting for the rain to stop, this is also a great time to visit!

Also, there are many things to do in Cambodia when it rains. 

For example, you can find a yoga retreat in Cambodia and spend several days relaxing and working on yourself!

Festivals In Cambodia

Another thing to consider when planning when to go to Cambodia is whether you want to see some of the celebrations in Cambodia. 

Cambodia has 28 public holidays in a year, but not all of them will be interesting to the average traveler. 

Most celebrations are religious and linked to the lunar calendar, so the exact date changes each year.

For example, I was in Cambodia during the Pchum Ben Festival in October. While it is one of the most important holidays for the locals, the only thing I saw was the empty streets of Phnom Penh.

January

• Victory Day: Every January, Cambodia celebrates victory over the Khmer Rouge regime.

February

• Chinese New Year: While Chinese New Year is not an official holiday in Cambodia, it is celebrated throughout the country.

April

• Khmer New Year: One of the biggest celebrations in Cambodia. It is well worth visiting Cambodia during the hottest month in Cambodia to witness Cambodians celebrating the new year!

October

• Pchum Ben: This is a Cambodian version of the Day of the Dead we have in Europe. It is very important for the locals who fly home to spend time with their families, but not much to see for the tourists.

November

• Water Festival: Officially known as the Bon Om Touk, the Cambodian Water Festival symbolizes the end of the rainy season, and it is worth visiting Phnom Penh to watch the annual boat race in the Tonle Sap River.

December

• New Year’s Eve: Cambodia is a popular destination for New Year’s festivities 

When Is The Best Time To Go To Cambodia For You?

As you can see, there are pros and cons to every season in Cambodia. So, how do you choose the best season to visit Cambodia for you?

Here are some weather tips to help you decide when to visit Cambodia:

• The best time to visit Cambodia weatherwise is December to February.
• The most expensive time to visit Cambodia is December and January.
• The shoulder season in Cambodia is November and March. The weather is fantastic, and it is less crowded.
• The cheapest time to visit Cambodia is September and October.
• For guaranteed beach days, travel during the dry season from November until May.
• March, April, and May are the hottest months in Cambodia, which is great for beach days and not so great for sightseeing.
• The rainy season brings fewer crowds, and it is significantly cheaper. 
• The most rainy month in Cambodia is usually September, but it depends on the year.
• It doesn’t rain for an entire day every day during the monsoon season. You can often go several days without any rain!
• Most days during the wet season are dry and sunny, with one or two short downpours. 
• There are many things to do in Cambodia every month of the year!
• Cambodia is never empty, and people are backpacking Cambodia year-round. You don’t need to worry that you’ll be alone even if you’re traveling to Cambodia solo in the low season!

Summary: Worst Time Of Year To Visit Cambodia

Cambodia is a year-round destination, and you can explore this beautiful country any time of the year.

Sure, the high season is the high season for a reason. The weather is the most pleasant from December to February, with slightly cooler temperatures and no rain.