Which Is The Best Time To Visit Cambodia From The UK?

Cambodia has two main seasons: wet and dry. Its natives also celebrate many festivals, like the Water Festival, Pchum Ben, and the Khmer New Year. That’s why you should plan your trip according to the prevailing weather.

For instance, in the dry season, you should visit Angkor Wat and Kampot. On the other hand, you should visit Mondulkiri and Kratie in the wet season. If you’re more of a festival person, you should visit Siem Reap during the Khmer New Year, Phnom Phen during the Water Festival, and Battambang during Pchum Ben Festival. You should plan your trip to Cambodia accordingly, depending on what you wish to experience or see.

Cambodia is a paradise for nature and adventure lovers. It offers stunning landscapes, ancient temples, vibrant festivals, and a lifetime of memories for anyone who wishes to visit it.

That’s why it appeals to people all over the world, including Britain. In fact, Britain and Cambodia share a great diplomatic relationship spanning over 70 years.

The UK has helped Cambodia in promoting STEM-based education, detecting and deactivating landmines, and supporting various welfare initiatives.

So it’s no surprise that more than 85,000 Britons visited Cambodia back in 2023. Now, if you too have been planning a trip to Cambodia, but are unsure where to start, then don’t worry.

But the weather in Cambodia is vastly different from that of the UK, and you need to prepare accordingly.

We’ve outlined an itinerary for you, which takes into consideration factors like the weather, and the noteworthy events to watch out for. You can refer to this itinerary to learn about the best time to visit Cambodia based on the factors above.

Continue reading to learn more.

How Do Cambodia’s Seasons Affect Travel?

As a traveller, you’ll find two seasons in Cambodia:

Dry Season

The dry season lasts from November to April. You will find sunny skies and enjoyable weather in these months, which is ideal for sightseeing. That’s why many British tourists throng Cambodia during this period, as it offers a wonderful respite from the cold.

What this means is that you’ll have to make your travel and hotel reservations in advance, to avoid missing out. Apart from that, you might risk a sunstroke or dehydration if you visit during the hotter months of March to April.

Wet Season

This season lasts from the months of May to October. You will enjoy cool temperatures, lush greenery, and lesser crowds during this period. This means you will be able to be more comfortable, as the Cambodian heat might be distressing from unacclimatized British tourists.

So you will be able to get hotel reservations easily. However, that does mean that you should delay in booking your Cambodia eVisa from the UK. That’s because there might be other people who would want to enjoy the benefits of traveling during the off season.

Apart from that, you should carry mackintoshes, galoshes, umbrellas and an extra pair of clothes to stay ready for the rain.

Let’s now take a look at the places that you should consider visiting as per the weather in detail below.

Where to Go in Cambodia During the Dry Season (Nov–Apr)

Often considered the best time to go to Cambodia, the dry season makes visiting these places quite an experience:

Angkor Wat

This ancient temple probably needs no introduction. Initially built as a Hindu Temple by Suryavarman II in the 12th century, King Jayavarman VII designated the temple later as a Buddhist shrine.

This was due to the attack of the people by the Cham people. However, the lake around the temple, and the temple complex remained standing, which is what people travel to see today.

You can visit this temple to enjoy a slice of Khmer history, and travel back in time as you explore the silent ruins. Go during dawn to enjoy the sunrise.

The best ways to travel to Angkor Wat from the Siem Reap province are to hire a taxi (4 GBP to 6 GBP), or walk on foot. The journey should not take you more than 20-25 minutes at most. As a British person, you will enjoy the sunny skies. But be sure to carry sunscreen and lots of water, and the dry heat might get to you.

Kampot

Located in Southern Cambodia, along the Gulf of Thailand coast, this city is known for its architecture, and unique location. It is surrounded by the Bokor Hills, Elephanta Mountains, as well as many islands and beaches.

You’ll also find many pepper plantations, which you can consider visiting. We would also recommend booking the river cruise at night to enjoy the sight of the fireflies.

You should also visit the Bokor National Park, to enjoy the Popkovil waterfalls, along with the ruins of the Church, and casino.

To reach this location, you can opt for the railway from Sihanoukville, which will take up to 2 hours and cost between 6 GBP to 9 GBP.

Alternatively, you can book a minivan from Phnom Penh, which will cost between 5 GBP to 8 GBP and take up to 2 hours 30 minutes.

These locations are ideal for Britishers traveling to Cambodia for the first time since you can explore them at your own pace, without burning a hole in your pocket.

Where to Travel in the Wet Season (May–Oct)

You can visit these locations in Cambodia during the wet season after applying for your Cambodia e visa on time:

Mondulkiri

This place is known for its lush greenery, natural landscapes, waterfalls, and elephants. You can visit this place to interact with the animals.

However, elephant rides are not permitted as the elephants here have been rescued from institutions that carry out such practices. Remember to carry your waterproof galoshes and mackintoshes when you visit this place, since you could encounter unexpected rainfall.

Another experience you shouldn’t miss is trekking through the Seima rainforest. If you’re an animal or nature lover, you can also pay a visit to the elephant community project.

During your visit, you will interact with the members of the Bunong Tribe. They will lead you through a walk through the forest, and witness the elephants in their natural habitat.

You can also volunteer at the Elephant Community project. There, you’ll get to help elephants and clean their enclosures.

You can reach this place from Phnom Penh since traveling from places like Siem Reap and Sihanoukville will be quite time-consuming. The journey from Phnom Penh will take you up to six hours in a minivan and cost between 7 GBP to 17 GBP.

Kratie

This place is known for its river dolphins, idyllic farm life, and Kaoh Trong. If you want to see the dolphins, then you’ll have to travel to Kampi, which is located about 15 kilometers away from Kratie.

You’ll have to pay about 5 GBP to 7 GBP respectively for a round trip, on a motorcycle or tuk-tuk. Once there, rent a boat to see the dolphins frolic.

Don’t forget to carry your camera to capture some amazing shots of the dolphins performing somersaults or coming up for air.

People who wish to enjoy a glimpse of idyllic life can spend a day roaming about the farms and interacting with the natives. Visit Kaoh Trong for an architectural layer to your trip. This is an island located one boat ride away from Kratie.

You will get to see a floating village resembling a Vietnamese village, as well as a pagoda there.

Traveling As Per Festivals

Let’s now take a look at places you should travel to as per the major events being celebrated in the table below:

Places to visit as per the festivals in Cambodia

What About Tourist Crowds and Prices?

To stay within budget, you should consider the following things before planning your itinerary and applying for your Cambodia eVisa from the UK:

• Peak Season: Lasts from December to February. Expect enjoyable weather and big crowds. Also, the prices go up during this period.
• Shoulder/Low Months: Lasts from May to October. The weather remains somewhat normal, although you can expect storms or rainfall. You can expect reduced prices during this period.

So if you’re a budget-conscious traveler, book your flights and hotels early.

How You Should Plan Your Trip?

So, whether you want postcard-perfect ruins or quiet rainforest trails, Cambodia has something for everyone. If you’re restricted by a budget, consider traveling between May to October.

On the other hand, if good weather is your priority, then book your trip between December and April for an optimal experience.

Ready For Your Trip To Cambodia?

Remember to plan your trip as per your preferred season or festival and apply for your Cambodia e visa accordingly. You should also carry any necessary medication in case you suffer from health ailments.

Apart from that, you should purchase the right kind of clothes before your trip, such as a mackintosh for rainy weather and light clothes for dry weather. You should also exchange all your British pounds into US Dollars, since that currency works there.

Finally, get in touch with our help desk in case of any issues.

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Check Eligibility for Cambodia e-Visa and apply for Cambodia e-Visa 5 days prior to your scheduled flight to Cambodia. British citizens, Portuguese citizens, Australian citizens and Brazilian citizens are eligible to apply online for Cambodia e-Visa.