The cool season (December-February)
Although tropical climates are officially divided into dry and wet seasons, there are three distinct periods in Cambodia and the surrounding countries. From November onwards, temperatures start to ease, becoming really pleasant in December and January. This is a particularly good time to visit the southern islands, as the skies are deep blue and cloudless. It's also a good time to consider physical activities such as hiking, as the heat is not overwhelming. Unfortunately, this information is known not only to our readers, but to a large number of tourists... The cool season is therefore logically the busiest in terms of crowds, especially at the Angkor temples. If you dream of exploring Cambodia while avoiding other visitors, these few months should be avoided. Temperatures in Phnom Penh at this time of year vary between 20 and 30 degrees, leading many Cambodians to pull out jackets and sweaters at 25 degrees and complain about the cold.
The hot season (March-June)
From March onwards, temperatures begin to rise in earnest, reaching peaks 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, even though we're still in the middle of the dry season. The sun is oppressive, the wind rare. The lack of rain for several months makes the soil dusty. Intense physical activity is inadvisable at this time of year, unless you get up early in the morning. To make matters worse, slash-and-burn farmers generally take advantage of this period to light fires. The atmosphere quickly becomes unbreathable, saturated with smoke. As you can see, the hot season isn't exactly the best time to visit the country. However, if you're not afraid of the heat and would like to see Cambodia without its tourists, and indeed without its expats who for the most part take advantage of the season to go home on vacation, the months of March to June may be just right for you.
The rainy season (June-November)
After several months of hot weather with temperatures approaching 40 degrees in the shade, the rainy season arrives like a blessing. The rainfall pattern depends on that of the monsoon winds. From November to May, the northeast monsoon from inland produces the dry season. From May to November, the southwest monsoon, from the sea, brings the rains. These rains are distributed fairly irregularly from region to region over the six months of the wet season. Absolute drought prevails for several months of the year in the Cambodian plains, posing 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 along the south-western coast receives a lot of rain. The rainy season is often regarded by travellers as a time when it's impossible to travel. Yet, while it's true that the almost daily heavy rains can slow down traffic or make certain regions more difficult to access, they are generally short-lived - lasting less than an hour. They also have the virtue of cooling the atmosphere. Not at all like the cold, penetrating rains of our homelands.
When to visit Cambodia?
In conclusion, there's no right or wrong time to visit Cambodia. Depending on your priorities, you can choose the right season. Would you like a combination of bright sunshine, cloudless blue skies and mild temperatures? December and January are probably the right choice for you, especially if part of your stay is spent on the beach. Of course, this is also the period when prices are highest and hotels and activities are most crowded. Advance booking is often necessary. If you want more choice and don't want to play with your shoulders in the temples of Angkor, the warm and rainy seasons will suit you better. Getting to the farthest 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 shouldn't handicap you.
