Cambodia, Asia
The best time to visit Angkor Wat
The world's largest religious monument, where heat, not rain, is the thing to plan around.
- Best months
- Nov to Feb
- Think twice
- Apr
- Quietest
- September
- Cheapest
- September
The straight answer
The best time to visit Angkor Wat is November through February: dry, sunny, and the least oppressive heat of the year for long days in the temples.
Go from November through February. The dry season brings clear skies for sunrise at Angkor Wat, highs in the high 80s F rather than the high 90s, and dry roads to outlying temples like Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea. December and January are the coolest and most comfortable, which is why they are also the busiest.
March through May is the hot season, and it is the real reason to plan carefully. April highs regularly reach the mid to upper 90s F with high humidity, which turns a day of climbing temple stairs into an endurance event. If you go then, start at 5am, rest in the middle of the day, and return for the late afternoon.
The wet season, roughly May or June through October, is more manageable than it sounds. Rain usually comes in afternoon downpours, the moats fill, the jungle turns bright green, and the crowds thin out dramatically. September and October are the wettest, with muddy access roads and occasional flooding around Siem Reap.
Angkor Wat, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryBestDry and warm, highs near 88F (31C), cool morningsIdeal weather and peak crowds. Sunrise at Angkor Wat is shoulder to shoulder; plan other temples for early mornings too.Hotels for January →CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryBestDry, highs near 91F (33C)Still dry and sunny, heating up by the end of the month. Chinese New Year can bring a surge of visitors.Hotels for February →CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchQuiet valueHot and dry, highs near 95F (35C)Heat builds fast. The spring equinox sunrise, when the sun rises over the central tower, draws a crowd around March 20 to 21.CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilThink twiceHottest month, highs near 97F (36C), very humidPunishing midday heat. Khmer New Year in mid April is festive but many locals travel home and the temples fill with domestic visitors.CrowdsPrice
- 05MayTradeoffsVery hot, highs near 95F (35C), first rainsStill hot, with the first storms bringing some relief. Quiet and cheap.CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneQuiet valueHot, highs near 93F (34C), afternoon stormsGreen season begins. Mornings are usually dry, and the temples are calm.CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyQuiet valueHumid, highs near 91F (33C), regular rainLush jungle and full moats make great photos. Plan temple time before lunch.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustQuiet valueHumid, highs near 90F (32C), frequent rainMuch like July: wet afternoons, empty mornings, low prices.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberTradeoffsWettest stretch, highs near 89F (32C)Heaviest rain and some local flooding. Pchum Ben, a major Khmer holiday, often falls in September or October.CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberTradeoffsWet, highs near 88F (31C), rain easing lateRain starts tapering late in the month. Access roads to remote temples can still be muddy.CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberBestDrying out, highs near 88F (31C)The start of the best season, with the jungle still green from the rains and the air clearing.Hotels for November →CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberBestDry and pleasant, highs near 87F (31C)The most comfortable weather and the busiest month. Book hotels early for Christmas and New Year.Hotels for December →CrowdsPrice
Book Angkor Wat for November.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for November
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Angkor WatOpens a hotel search for Angkor Wat in November, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Angkor WatWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Angkor WatTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Angkor Wat for November. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Angkor Wat
The scale of Angkor
The Angkor Archaeological Park covers hundreds of square kilometers and dozens of major temples built between the 9th and 15th centuries, the heart of the Khmer Empire.
Temples swallowed by jungle
Ta Prohm's silk-cotton and strangler fig roots growing over its walls, and Beng Mealea's collapsed galleries, are unlike anything else in the world.
Faces and carvings
The more than 200 serene stone faces on the towers of the Bayon, and the long bas-relief galleries of Angkor Wat, reward slow, close looking.
Siem Reap is an easy base
Good hotels at every budget, a lively food scene, and quick tuk-tuk rides to the temples make it simple to spread visits over several days.
Things to do, and when to do them
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Arrive before 5:30am to find a spot by the lotus ponds. For a quieter view, walk to the back of the temple after sunrise while everyone else leaves for breakfast.
The Bayon and Angkor Thom
The face towers are best in soft morning or late afternoon light. The Terrace of the Elephants is right next door.
Ta Prohm
The tree-root temple. Go right at opening or in the last hour to avoid the tour groups.
Banteay Srei
Small pink sandstone temple with the finest carvings in Angkor, about 45 minutes out. Go early before it heats up.
Beng Mealea
A collapsed jungle temple about 90 minutes from Siem Reap. Uncrowded and atmospheric, especially in the green season.
Tonle Sap floating villages
Water levels change dramatically by season. Visit in the wet season when the lake swells, and choose community-run tours.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Chinese New Year
Late January to mid February, set by the lunar calendar
Brings a surge of regional visitors to Siem Reap, filling hotels and busy temples.
Spring equinox sunrise
Around March 20 to 21 every year
The sun rises directly over Angkor Wat's central tower. It also happens around the September equinox, often hidden by rain clouds.
Khmer New Year
Mid April, usually April 13 or 14 for three days
Water fights, games, and temple visits across Cambodia, with festivities at Angkor. Some businesses close and domestic visitors fill the temples.
Pchum Ben
September or October, set by the lunar calendar
A 15-day festival honoring ancestors, with the final days a national holiday. Pagodas are busy at dawn with offerings.
Angkor Wat International Half Marathon
Early December
Runners race through the temple park. Hotels fill that weekend.
Beat the crowds
- Buy a multi-day pass and spread the temples out. Do the big three (Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm) at off-hours instead of cramming them into one crowded day.
- Most tour groups follow the same loop. Reverse it: do Ta Prohm at opening, Angkor Wat at midday when the sunrise crowd is gone, and the Bayon in late afternoon.
- Go to Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea early to beat the heat and the tour buses.
- Consider the green season from June to August: morning temple visits are quiet, the landscape is lush, and hotel prices drop.
Open or closed
- Angkor passes are sold for one, three, or seven days at the official ticket center and online through Angkor Enterprise. You need a photo pass to enter any temple.
- Angkor Wat and some temples open early for sunrise; most others open around 7:30am and close in the late afternoon. Check current hours.
- Upper levels of some temples, including Angkor Wat's central tower (Bakan), close on certain Buddhist holy days and have dress-code checks (shoulders and knees covered).
- During Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben, some local restaurants and shops close as families return to their home provinces.
With kids in tow
- Kids tend to love Ta Prohm's roots and the Bayon's faces, but full temple days are long. Plan half-day visits with a pool break in the middle.
- The heat is the biggest risk for children. Avoid March to May if you can, and carry lots of water and sun protection.
- Tuk-tuks are fun but have no car seats. For small children, hire a car and driver.
- For homeschool families: Angkor is a vivid lesson in the Khmer Empire, Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, and how jungles reclaim cities.
Getting there
- Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), which opened in 2023, is about an hour's drive from town. It has flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phnom Penh.
- From the US, connect through a major Asian hub such as Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, or Taipei.
- Buses and private cars run from Phnom Penh (about five to six hours) and from the Thai border.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Angkor Wat timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Angkor Wat?
December or January. The weather is dry and as cool as it gets. February and November are nearly as good, with slightly fewer people in November.
When is Angkor Wat too hot?
March through May, and especially April, when highs often reach the mid to upper 90s F with high humidity. Temple visits are best limited to early morning and late afternoon.
Is the rainy season a bad time to visit Angkor Wat?
Not necessarily. Rain usually falls in the afternoon, mornings are often clear, and crowds and prices drop. September and October are the wettest and can bring flooding.
What is the cheapest time to visit Angkor Wat?
May through October, the green season. Hotels in Siem Reap discount heavily, and the temples are far quieter.
How many days do you need at Angkor?
Three days is the sweet spot for most people. It lets you see the major temples at off-peak hours and visit one or two outlying sites.
When is Angkor Wat most crowded?
December and January, and Chinese New Year and Khmer New Year. Sunrise at Angkor Wat is crowded all year round.
Weighing alternatives
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