Things to Do in Siem Reap in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
January Weather in Siem Reap
Long-run averages for January
88°F (31°C)
High Temp
70°F (21°C)
Low Temp
0.7 inches (18 mm)
Rainfall
67%
Humidity
9
Sunny-Day UV
⚠ Agricultural burning reduces air quality and visibility during afternoon hours
Making the most of January in Siem Reap? Browse tours and activities in Siem Reap on GetYourGuide.
Is January Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + January is the tail-end of cool season. Mornings start at 22°C (72°F). You can explore Angkor Wat from 5:30 AM without melting by 8 AM like you would in April. The air feels crisp. Your shirt stays dry.
- + Rice paddies around the temples turn emerald green after November rains. This gives photos that saturated jungle look. You can't get this during the dusty dry months. The green pops. Cameras love it.
- + Tourist numbers drop 30-40% after New Year. You'll share Ta Prohm with dozens, not hundreds. You might get Bayon's smiling faces to yourself if you arrive before 7 AM. Silence returns. Space opens up.
- + Evening temperatures drop enough that locals break out hoodies and scarves. This is good for night market browsing along Sivatha Road without the usual sticky humidity. Stroll longer. Bargain harder.
- + Local mangoes hit peak season in January. The sweet Keo Romeat variety appears at Psar Chas morning market. They're sliced and served with chili-salt for breakfast. The heat bites. The fruit sings.
Considerations
- − Mornings can be surprisingly cool at 22°C (72°F). If you're staying in budget guesthouses without heating, that 5 AM temple departure feels colder than you'd expect. Pack a layer. Shiver anyway.
- − January sits in the middle of burning season. Farmers torch rice stubble, so visibility drops. You might smell smoke during afternoon temple visits. The haze thickens. Photos dull.
- − Hotel rates spike January 1-10 for New Year overflow. Properties that normally offer walk-in discounts suddenly demand advance booking at premium rates. Book early. Pay more.
Settled on January? Compare hotel prices in Siem Reap for your dates on Trip.com.
Best Activities in January
Top things to do during your visit
Angkor Wat Sunrise Cycling Tours
January's 6:30 AM sunrise happens at the perfect temperature 24°C (75°F) with zero humidity. The 5 km (3.1 mile) ride from Siem Reap town through Angkor's west gate takes 20 minutes on flat roads. You'll arrive before the tour buses. Morning light hits the temple's three towers at a low angle that makes the sandstone glow orange. You lose this after 8 AM when the sun climbs higher. Arrive early. Shoot gold.
Booking Tip: Book 2-3 days ahead through licensed operators who provide helmets and lights. The best tours start at 4:45 AM. They include a local breakfast of rice porridge near Srah Srang reservoir afterward. Eat hot. Ride slow.
Tonle Sap Floating Village Boat Trips
January means the lake is at its highest level after monsoon season. Water reaches within 5 km (3.1 miles) of Siem Reap, cutting travel time to Kampong Phluk village to 45 minutes instead of the 90-minute dusty ride required in dry season. The flooded forest is flooded, creating those perfect reflection shots of stilted houses and canoes gliding between tree trunks. Mirror magic. Skim fast.
Booking Tip: Morning tours depart 8-9 AM when lake conditions are calmest. Choose operators who visit Kampong Phluk over the more crowded Chong Khneas. It's farther but means fewer tourist boats. Go the distance. Gain the quiet.
Phnom Kulen Waterfall Hiking
The 50 m (164 ft) waterfall runs full in January after rainy season, creating natural swimming pools at 26°C (79°F). This is refreshing but not cold. The 1.5 km (0.9 mile) hike from the parking area follows a shaded jungle trail, doable before the midday heat kicks in. Locals believe the water has healing properties, so you'll see Cambodians collecting bottles from the sacred river. Jump in. Fill up.
Booking Tip: This requires a 7 AM departure since the mountain road closes to tourists at 2 PM. Combine with a visit to the 1000 Lingas river carvings. They're underwater most of the year but visible in January's lower flow. Beat the gate. See stone.
Traditional Khmer Cooking Classes
January's cooler evenings make standing over a hot wok pleasant. Morning classes start at 9 AM and include market shopping at Psar Leu where you'll select fresh turmeric, galangal, and lemongrass that smells sharper in cool air. The class typically covers fish amok Cambodia's national curry steamed in banana leaves which tastes better when you're not sweating into the coconut milk. Stir happy. Taste clean.
Booking Tip: Book day-of for afternoon classes. But morning sessions fill up. This is true for those that include market tours. Look for classes that grind their own kroeung spice paste rather than using pre-made versions. Demand fresh. Skip shortcuts.
Pub Street Evening Food Tours
January nights drop to a comfortable 25°C (77°F). This is warm enough for shorts but cool enough that grilled meats smell appealing rather than overwhelming. The evening food scene along Pub Street and the parallel alley of The Lane gets lively after 8 PM when locals finish work. You'll find grilled frog skewers, num banh chok (Khmer noodles) served from metal carts, and fresh sugarcane juice pressed while you watch. Eat fearless. Drink sweet.
Booking Tip: Self-guided works fine. But guided tours explain dishes like pong tia koon (fertilized duck egg) that most visitors won't try solo. Start 7 PM and pace yourself. Portions are snack-sized for a reason. Ask questions. Chew brave.
Where to Stay in Siem Reap in January
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for January travellers.
Public Holidays in January
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
ទិវាបុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំសកល
Known in English as New Year's Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
ទិវាជ័យជម្នះលើរបបប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍
Known in English as Victory over Genocide Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
ទិវាបុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំសកល
Known in English as New Year's Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
ទិវាជ័យជម្នះលើរបបប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍
Known in English as Victory over Genocide Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
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View Siem Reap Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Local tuk-tuk drivers know January's burning schedule. Ask them which days farmers burn which fields, then plan temple routes to avoid downwind areas. Drive upwind. Breathe cleaner.
The best mango sticky rice appears at roadside stalls along Charles de Gaulle Boulevard around 3 PM when vendors get fresh Keo Romeat deliveries from Battambang
January is when locals exercise - join the 5:30 AM groups doing aerobics at the Royal Independence Gardens, then reward yourself with iced coffee from the corner stalls
Hotel pools are usable in January afternoons when temperatures hit 31°C (88°F) - unlike December when the water stays cold from overnight lows
Psar Chas (Old Market) has a secret morning noodle section in the back corner where vendors serve kuyteav soup starting 6 AM - look for the woman with the giant aluminum pot and no English menu
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming January means no rain - sudden afternoon showers still happen, and temple stone gets dangerously slippery when wet
Booking the cheapest Angkor ticket (1-day pass) because of cool weather - you'll need at least 3 days to see major temples without rushing past sunset
Wearing shorts to temples in the morning - monks and locals wear layers in January, and you'll feel underdressed in photos
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