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When to travel to Cambodia

Not sure when to travel to Cambodia? The climate in Cambodia is best described as tropical, so depending on which area you're in, there are large differences in temperature and the amount of precipitation. The average daily temperature is 27° degrees Celsius. The best time of the year to travel to Cambodia is October through March; the dry season, when temperatures are more moderate. In April, Cambodia's climate can easily reach temperatures of 40°C. The rainy season runs from the second half of June through to the first half of October. This time of year is wet and less dusty; the scenery is deep green and the waterfalls and rivers are at their most spectacular. During this time of year the day time temperature is approximately 24°C; the evenings can be slightly cooler.

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Ave. temp-°C

Summary

Cool & dry

Dry

Hot & dry

Some showers

Frequent showers

Dry with some showers

Cool & dry

When to travel to Cambodia: Rainy seasons

The Cambodia climate has a south-western monsoon which causes heavy rains almost daily from May until October, usually during late afternoon or evening. Don't allow these heavy rains to ruin your day. The streets may turn into small rivers, but it doesn't usually last too long. Unlike the UK where it can drizzle all day, the rain in Cambodia is usually short and heavy, leading to short windows of beautiful skies with dark ominous clouds and amazingly thunder and lightning. Most of all, nature and the paddy-fields are the most radiant shade of green during the rainy season. September is known for the most precipitation; however this can differ per region and each year is slightly different.

The climate here has a north-western monsoon which causes temperatures to drop slightly and causes some precipitation from November through March. The driest months of the year are January and February and sometimes there is no precipitation at all during these months. You'll notice that even though there's no rain during a dry spell, the sky may not be clear blue. Cambodia's climate is coolest between the months of November and January, but even then the temperature will not drop below 20°C. April and May are dry months; however temperatures can easily soar up to 40°C.

When to travel to Cambodia - Cambodian beaches

When to travel to Cambodia: Sun and fun at the beach

Although Cambodia isn't exactly known for its beaches, the beaches in the bays around Sihanoukville and the deserted beaches of Kep are wonderful for relaxing or outdoor activities. Naturally you'll want to have dry, sunny and warm weather during a stay at the beach. Therefore if you're trying to decide when to travel to Cambodia for a beach trip, the best time to visit is during the dry season which lasts between October until mid June. April and May are especially pleasant for beach visits since temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius.

During the monsoon season (July-October) you can expect higher humidity and heavy rain falls, which tend to come in the form of short but heavy afternoon showers. Some days it can be completely dry, but others it may rain all day. The weather shouldn't stop you from travelling to Cambodia during these periods, but you may need to bear the weather in mind if you're thinking about an extended beach break in Cambodia during this period is. With a little preparation and sunny outlook you'll still enjoy your time there.

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