Cambodia, Asia
Angkor Wat in October
Rain starts tapering late in the month. Access roads to remote temples can still be muddy.
The straight answer
October is a month of real tradeoffs in Angkor Wat. Rain starts tapering late in the month. Access roads to remote temples can still be muddy.
- Weather
- Wet, highs near 88F (31C), rain easing late
- Crowds
- 2 of 5
- Prices
- 2 of 5
What October is like in Angkor Wat
October is wet, with highs near 88F (31C), but the rain starts to taper late in the month. Access roads to remote temples can still be muddy. Crowds and prices are low. Pchum Ben may fall this month.
This month suits flexible travelers who want a head start on the dry season. Families should aim for late October. For better weather, November is the safe choice. Pack for rain either way, and check whether Pchum Ben falls during your dates, since some local restaurants and shops close as families head home. The temples themselves stay open and are very calm before the high season begins.
Make the most of October
What is especially good about Angkor Wat this month.
End of the rains
Late October brings drier days and green landscapes.
Pchum Ben
If it falls this month, pagodas are busy at dawn with offerings.
Low crowds
The temples are calm before the high season.
What to pack for October
- A rain jacket
- Quick-dry clothing
- Insect repellent
- Sandals with good grip
Our timing tip
Plan remote temples like Beng Mealea for the end of your trip, when the roads have had more time to dry.
Book Angkor Wat for October.
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- Hotels for October
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Angkor WatOpens a hotel search for Angkor Wat in October, 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 October. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
What's on in October
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.
Things to do in Angkor Wat
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.
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.
Know before you go
- 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.
Angkor Wat in October, quick answers
Is October a good time to visit Angkor Wat?
October is a month of real tradeoffs in Angkor Wat. Rain starts tapering late in the month. Access roads to remote temples can still be muddy.
What is the weather like in Angkor Wat in October?
Wet, highs near 88F (31C), rain easing late.
Is Angkor Wat crowded in October?
October is one of the quieter months in Angkor Wat; most sights can be done without long waits.
What is happening in Angkor Wat in October?
Pchum Ben (september or october, set by the lunar calendar).
Keep planning Angkor Wat.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
Also at their best in October
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