Things to Do in Siem Reap in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Siem Reap
Long-run averages for December
86°F (30°C)
High Temp
71°F (21°C)
Low Temp
1.1 inches (28 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
9
Sunny-Day UV
⚠ Very high UV on sunny days: use sunscreen and seek shade at midday
Making the most of December in Siem Reap? Browse tours and activities in Siem Reap on GetYourGuide.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December serves up the driest, most temple-friendly weather of the year - sunrise at Angkor Wat is usually clear enough to watch the spires silhouette against a peach sky instead of a grey blur
- + Evening temperatures drop to 22°C (72°F), so you can sleep without air-con and linger over night-market noodles without sweating through your shirt
- + Hotel occupancy is still recovering from the November peak, so mid-range places along Sivatha Boulevard often release last-minute rooms at shoulder-season rates
- + The rice paddies around Roluos temples turn emerald green from November rains, giving photos that living-carpet backdrop you won't get in the dust-brown months
Considerations
- − Morning mist can hang around until 8 am, delaying that postcard sunrise shot and turning the Angkor causeway into a conveyor belt of selfie sticks
- − Christmas-week crowds increase faster than locals expect - Pub Street's narrow lane clogs with tour-group amplifiers and craft-beer prices jump for ten straight days
- − UV index of 8 means sunburn in 25 minutes flat. The stone at Angkor reflects light like a mirror, so hat brims and neck coverage aren't optional
Settled on December? Compare hotel prices in Siem Reap for your dates on Trip.com.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Angkor Archaeological Park Sunrise Cycling Loops
December's low dawn humidity and 22°C (72°F) air make 5 am bike rides almost pleasant. The laterite paths are hard-packed after November's last showers, so you can pedal from Angkor Wat to Preah Khan before the tour buses fire up their engines. Watch for the white egrets that feed in the moats - they're most active the first hour after sunrise.
Booking Tip: Reserve a geared hybrid through your guesthouse the afternoon before; December demand spikes at 4 am. Helmets are legally required - check the strap isn't sun-cracked. See current bike-and-guide combos in the booking section below.
Tonlé Sap Floating Village Afternoon Boat Trips
Water levels are still high enough in early December to let boats squeeze right under the stilt houses at Kampong Phluk. But low enough that you won't sit stuck in the lake's vast middle for an hour like in September. The light turns butter-yellow around 3 pm, good for photographing fishermen mending nets. Bring a bandana - engine spray smells of petrol and fish.
Booking Tip: Shared boats leave Chong Khneas dock until 2 pm. Private boats from Mechrey cut travel time by 30 min and run later. Licensed operators display a turquoise Ministry of Tourism sticker - see current options in the booking section below.
Phare Cambodian Circus Evening Shows
Air-con tents feel comfortable in December, and the 8 pm start means you can shower off temple dust first. The performers - graduates of a Battambang arts school - fold social commentary into back-flips and fire-juggling. Kids in the audience gasp louder than at any temple carving.
Booking Tip: Tickets still walk-up available most nights. But Christmas week sells out by lunch. Plastic seats are cheaper. Wooden benches in rows D-F give the best sightlines to the aerial silks. See current showtimes in the booking section below.
Siem Reap Countryside Jeep Food Safaris
Dirt roads leading to rice-wine villages harden up in December, so vintage Korean-war jeeps can cruise without fishtailing. Stops include a family that cures pork belly under its stilt house - the December breeze keeps flies away - and a roadside stall grilling frogs stuffed with kroeung lemongrass paste. You taste everything while it's still hot.
Booking Tip: Half-day routes run morning or late afternoon to dodge midday sun. Bring a dust mask - following trucks kick up laterite powder. Licensed drivers carry a public-transport permit. See current safari options in the booking section below.
Where to Stay in Siem Reap in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
Public Holidays in December
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
ទិវាសន្តិភាពនៅកម្ពុជា
Known in English as Cambodia Peace Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
ទិវាសន្តិភាពនៅកម្ពុជា
Known in English as Cambodia Peace Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
ទិវាសន្តិភាពនៅកម្ពុជា
Known in English as Cambodia Peace Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Siem Reap Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Book a three-day Angkor pass online the night before - the QR code scans faster than the ticket-office queue that doubles after 8 am
Pub Street bars legally stop serving at midnight. But staff will pull metal shutters half-down and keep pouring inside. If you want sleep, request a room at the back of Mad Monkey or Onederz hostels
Green mango season ends in November - December stalls sell the last tart slices with salt-chili dip. Ask for 'sway jruk' at the Old Market south gate before they switch to ripe fruit.
Tuk-tuk drivers quote in dollars but carry change in riel. If you pay in USD they round up aggressively. Withdraw small riel notes from ANZ ATM on Sivatha to avoid losing on rounding.
Avoid These Mistakes
Scheduling sunrise at Angkor Wat every day - the best light happens on your second or third morning when you know exactly where to stand. Doing it daily means 4:30 am wake-ups and burnout
Wearing flip-flops to Beng Mealea - December may be dry. But that temple's rubble fields are still muddy from dew and one slip sends you to the Thai-border clinic for tetanus shots
Assuming Christmas dinner bookings are easy - every hotel chef throws a set menu. Yet roast turkey sells out by 20 December because expats reserve for office parties. Lock your table when you check in.
Short on time? See day trips around Siem Reap on GetYourGuide.
Ready to plan your trip to Siem Reap?
Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.
Book Experiences in Siem Reap
Top-rated things to do in Siem Reap this December
Explore More Activities in Siem Reap
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Siem Reap.
See All Siem Reap Tours on Viator