Best Time to Visit Angkor Wat

Geographical location and general information

When we speak in the vernacular of Angkor Wat, then we usually have not only the very concrete individual temple in mind, but mean the entire temple complex of Angkor in Cambodia. Indeed, Angkor Wat is by far the most famous complex of the former city of Angkor, but there are many other fascinating temples in the immediate vicinity.

The starting point for the explorations of Angkor Wat is the town of Siem Reap a few kilometres north of Lake Tonle-Sap. Visitors to Angkor Temples will find a wide range of hotels of all price categories (from hostels for 5 USD to luxury resorts of international chains) as well as an interesting old town with many colonial buildings.

Siem Reap has an international airport, which is served quite cheaply by numerous Asian airlines. Visitors to the Angkor Temples in Cambodia can usually travel with a change from Europe. There are also various bus connections from the capital Phnom Penh, which is about 160 miles from Siem Reap.

The temples of Angkor include Angkor Wat and the impressive buildings of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei and Bakong (Roluos). Usually you take your own Tuk Tuk driver in Siem Reap and explore the Angkor temples on the “Small Circuit” or “Grand Circuit” according to your own wishes.

Exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site by bicycle is possible at least in the centre of the Angkor complex, and air-conditioned cars are also available at an extra charge. Tickets are also available in several seasons as multi-day tickets, we recommend at least one three-day ticket, which is valid on any three days of a week.

Climate: Angkor Wat / Siem Reap

The Siem Reap region in Cambodia is characterised by a strongly tropical climate, which entails hot temperatures of 30 °C to 36 °C all year round. Peak values above 40 °C are not unusual, even at night it never gets cooler than 20 °C. The climate around Angkor Wat has a high humidity, which can increase to more than 90 percent, especially in the rainy season.

There are no seasons in Cambodia, even between the summer and winter months there are only minor differences. However, the rainy season, which can provide an average of 15 rainy days per month and sometimes considerable precipitation between May and October, has a decisive influence. The air is now unpleasantly humid and becomes partly unbearable, especially in the winding walls of Angkor.

From the beginning of November the dry season begins in Siem Reap and most regions of Cambodia, which offers very stable weather and 8 to 9 hours of sunshine until mid-April. The driest months in the Angkor region are between December and February, while it can get noticeably hotter from mid-March. The month of April is quite dry, but has an average day temperature of 35.8 °C.