Calendar and Annual Events

This below information may help you choose the best time to visit Siem Reap. We also list some local traditional events for your information. Cambodia is also known for its long list of holiday.

Cool & Dry Season: November, December, January & February

This is a very busy period in Siem Reap with most tourists and foreign students holidaying different parts of the world. The humidity is relatively lower than other seasons and the day is usually clear with sunshine. However, it can be very chill at night and in the morning especially in December and January. It is a good time to visit the Tonle Sap lake as the fishing season starts. From November, rice paddies turn from green to gold color making a very scenic view with the harvesting season starting some time in December. Take note of the following local events:

1). Water Festival - 4th, 5th, and 6th of November: It is the second biggest traditional events of the year with the local boat racing festival at Kompong Plouk. The biggest boat racing festival however is staged in Phnom Penh. It is also the Moon festival on in of the nights.

2). Angkor International Half-Marathon - late November: This annual event is very popular with foreigners, tourists and locals with categories ranging from Professional half-marathon to junior and family run. You are free to join the event if your holiday falls within this period.

3). Angkor festival - December: This is a form of International cultural night staged inside Angkor Wat featuring the very best of Cambodian cultural performances and international performances from various countries. In 2002, the main theme was the Jose Carreras concert while a few years early it was the Ramayana performances. It is still unclear at this time whether there will be such festival this year. We hope to have some information about it when the date draws near.

4). Christmas and New Year: As a Buddhist country, Christmas and New Year are not so big in Siem Reap. There are however plenty of places to party in the town and many hotels.

5). Noh Performance- Monday night, 23rd, January 2006: The performance of Japanese drama Noh at Angkor Wat is the world's first theatrical event to unite the Cambodian and Japanese cultural heritage. The Noh play to be performed is titled "Hagoromo" or "The Feather Robe," which tells the story of a fisherman, an angel and her feather robe. The performance is shown for free in front of the audience of all nationalities of at least 1500.

If you plan to come during this period, be sure to book your hotels, transports and tour guides months in advance.

Hot and dry Season: March, April, May

The weather can be hot and dry during these months with temperature averaging around 33 degree Celsius in the day time. It is generally calmer than the cool and dry season, and the tourist sites are not crowded. The town returns to more local atmosphere. It is also the holiday period for local students. Farmers start planting the dry-season rice and preparing for the Sangkran New Year celebration in April by refurbishing and decorating homes and public places. From March, there are scenes of local young and old playing traditional games, singing, and dancing, waiting for the arrival of the New Year in mid-April. Do not hesitate to join them if you pass by. The seasonal fruits are also abundant during this period. Take note down the following events:

1). Sangkran New Year – 14th, 15th, 16th, April: is the biggest celebration and holiday season in Cambodia. Celebration starts as early as March.

2). Vesak Day – 12th, May: is a traditional Buddhist holiday.

3). King Sihamoni’s Birthday – 14th, May: It is a 3-days holiday in Cambodia. Combined with Visak Day, it is yet another short holiday for locals. For foreigners, this is just for information only.

It is a good time to experience the Khmer culture and tradition during this period. Bookings should be made within weeks of arrival.

Warm and wet season: June, July, August

The rain starts to come from June and regularly in the evening. The sky is usually clear and the weather is still warm in the morning till the afternoon. It is a good time for photography enthusiasts. The rain brings the best color out of the temples and it is also less crowded during this period, making it easier to plan a good photography shot. It is also a good period to visit some particular sites such as Tonle Sap, Neak Pean, and the West Baray. There is however no major local events during this period except a few public holidays.

Look out for some major promotions by various tourist services.

Cool and wet season: September, October

The rain continues to fall during this period and the weather is getting cooler. Like the previous season the rain usually comes in the evening. The water level in the Tonle Sap may rise dramatically causing some flooding in the areas near by. Siem Reap town is however rarely affected. More tourists start to come than in the previous warm and wet season. The major event during this period is Pchum Ben which is the traditional Buddhist holiday falling on 21st, 22nd, 23rd of September.

Booking should be made early during this period.

Cambodia Do's and Dont's

Foreign embassies in Cambodia