When to Visit Siem Reap

Siem Reap sits in northwestern Cambodia where the climate follows a clear two-season rhythm rather than the four-season pattern travelers from temperate regions might expect. The dry season runs roughly from November through April, and the wet season takes over from May through October, though the transition months soften the edges of that divide considerably. Temperatures stay warm year-round, hovering in the low to mid-30s Celsius (low 90s Fahrenheit) at their peak in March and April, then settling into the upper 20s to low 30s Celsius (mid-to-upper 80s Fahrenheit) during the cooler stretch of November through January. Humidity holds at a steady 70% across every month, which means even the dry season feels warm in the afternoon sun. Not oppressive, but present. What makes Siem Reap's weather distinctive is how the wet season plays out in practice. The rains tend to arrive in the late afternoon or evening rather than shutting down entire days, so mornings often stay clear enough for temple visits and outdoor exploration. September registers the highest monthly rainfall at around 10mm, which by tropical standards is relatively modest. This is a destination that rarely sees the extended downpours that define coastlines further south. The Tonle Sap lake expands dramatically during the wet months, which shapes the landscape around Siem Reap in a way that dry-season visitors simply won't see: floating villages move position, boat routes shift, and the surrounding countryside turns a particular shade of green that the dry months can't replicate. The shoulder months, May and October, tend to offer an interesting middle ground. The tourist crowds that peak between December and February have thinned considerably, the landscape carries more color, and the heat is slightly more tempered than the scorching April peak. The region has been trending warmer in recent years, and late-season heat in March and April can feel intense at the major temple complexes where shade is limited and the stone reflects the sun upward as much as the sky delivers it downward.