Things to Do in Siem Reap in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
March Weather in Siem Reap
Long-run averages for March
93°F (34°C)
High Temp
76°F (25°C)
Low Temp
2.5 inches (64 mm)
Rainfall
66%
Humidity
11
Sunny-Day UV
⚠ Very high UV on sunny days: use sunscreen and seek shade at midday
Making the most of March in Siem Reap? Browse tours and activities in Siem Reap on GetYourGuide.
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Angkor temples are almost empty in the mornings - you'll have Ta Prohm to yourself before 8am, something impossible in peak season
- + Hotel rates drop 30-40% from peak season - the same pool villa that books solid in December is suddenly available with two days' notice
- + Rice paddies around the temples turn emerald green from late February rains - the reflection pools at Preah Khan look like jade mirrors
- + Local guides have time to take you deeper - my usual temple guide offered a 6-hour Banteay Srei circuit with lunch at his aunt's house because he had no other bookings
Considerations
- − Heat hits different here - 34°C (93°F) feels like 40°C (104°F) when you're climbing steep laterite stairs at Angkor Wat with zero shade
- − Dust gets biblical - tuk-tuk rides on dirt roads behind tour buses leave you tasting laterite clay for hours, pack a bandana
Settled on March? Compare hotel prices in Siem Reap for your dates on Trip.com.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
Angkor Wat Sunrise Circuit Tours
March gives you the holy grail - an empty reflecting pool at 5:45am. The sun rises directly behind the central tower, and with peak season over, you'll share the moment with maybe a dozen people instead of 400. By 7am when the heat cranks up, you're already inside the galleries where the bas-relieves stay mercifully cool.
Booking Tip: Book sunrise tours the afternoon before - guides get lazy when crowds thin out, so confirm pickup time twice. Ask for the back entrance route that skips the tour bus parking lot.
Tonle Sap Floating Village Boat Trips
Water levels are still high enough in March to reach Kompong Phluk's submerged forest - the boat glides through tree branches at eye level, something that disappears by May. Morning light hits the stilt houses at 8am, turning the whole village golden, and the lake breeze cuts the heat better than any air-conditioning.
Booking Tip: Go to Chong Kneas dock by 7am when boatmen are desperate for passengers - you'll pay half the afternoon rate and avoid the heat. Bring cash for the floating crocodile farm entrance.
Countryside Temple Cycling Routes
March's dry laterite roads are good for bikes - no mud, no dust clouds from passing trucks. The 17km (10.5-mile) loop to Banteay Srei takes you past rice fields where farmers burn stubble at dusk, creating that smoky-honey light photographers kill for. Stop at Preah Dak village for iced coffee that tastes like liquid courage.
Booking Tip: Rent from shops near Pub Street that give you a real mountain bike, not a Chinese cruiser with zero suspension. Start by 6:30am - by 10am the road to Banteay Srei becomes a frying pan.
Phnom Kulen Waterfall Trekking
The jungle canopy here drops temperature by 8°C (14°F) - suddenly that 34°C feels like heaven. March water flow is perfect - not the trickle of April, not the flood of September. You can swim under the 15m (49-ft) cascade without getting swept away, and the riverbed rocks aren't slippery yet.
Booking Tip: Go midweek - Cambodian families pack the site on weekends. The road up is brutal 12km (7.4-mile) of switchbacks. Share a 4WD with other travelers at the checkpoint to split costs.
Siem Reap Street Food Night Walks
March evenings hit that sweet spot - 28°C (82°F) at 8pm means you can taste the food instead of just surviving the heat. The grilled pork skewers at Road 60 night market come with pickled papaya that cuts through the richness, and the iced sugarcane juice vendors haven't run out of fresh stalks yet.
Booking Tip: Start at 7pm when stalls fire up their coals - by 9pm the good stuff sells out. Look for vendors who fan their own charcoal - they're serious about smoke flavor, not just reheating.
Where to Stay in Siem Reap in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
Public Holidays in March
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
ទិវានារីអន្តរជាតិ
Known in English as International Women's Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
ទិវានារីអន្តរជាតិ
Known in English as International Women's 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
The back entrance to Angkor Thom via the west gate has zero tour buses - enter here at 7am and you'll walk through the south gate alone when you exit
Local coffee shops along Sivatha Boulevard will refill your water bottle with filtered water for free if you buy a 50-cent iced coffee - saves money and plastic
Most drivers eat lunch at 11am to beat crowds - hire them for the day and join their roadside spot, you'll eat better pork rice than any Pub Street restaurant
The landmine museum stays open until 6pm - go at 5pm when day-tour crowds leave, and you'll get the guide who cleared mines here in the 1990s
Avoid These Mistakes
Booking sunrise tours that promise 'small groups' then cram 12 people in a minivan - ask specifically for a private tuk-tuk, it's worth the extra $3
Wearing shorts to temples - March heat makes this tempting. But the afternoon sun on bare knees while climbing Angkor Wat's third level is actual torture
Trusting Google Maps walking times - that 800m (0.5-mile) walk from Angkor Wat to Bayon Temple takes 25 minutes across laterite rubble, not 10
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