Siem Reap · Month comparison

December vs November

November ranks #1 overall vs December at #6. Dry season begins — the best value month; Angkor accessible, lush from the rains, and growing.

Siem Reap December — Angkor Wat in silhouette at sunset, the temple towers dark against a vivid pink and orange sky in peak season

December

#6 of 12 months

Strong option

Peak season returns — cool, dry and spectacular; Christmas influx drives prices up.

  • ↑Dry season in full swing with 18°C nights: cool enough for comfortable dawn starts at Angkor Wat's reflection pool without the oppressive heat of April
  • ↑Christmas in Siem Reap: Western visitors create a festive atmosphere across Pub Street and the Riverside; bar events and special dinners throughout the month
Siem Reap November — Angkor Wat at blue-hour dawn, the dry season returning with the temple reflected in the full moat

November

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Dry season begins — the best value month; Angkor accessible, lush from the rains, and growing.

  • ↑The most underrated month in Siem Reap: dry season conditions returning, temples still green and atmospheric from the rains, and accommodation at shoulder prices
  • ↑Bon Om Touk Water Festival (if not in October): the boat racing on the Siem Reap River and the fireworks over Angkor are the most spectacular free event in Cambodia
FactorDecemberNovember
Weather score
8
8
Value score
4
6
Crowd score
4
6
Events score
5
6
Atmosphere
8
8
Avg high temp28°C29°C
Monthly rain20mm60mm
Daily sunshine9hrs8hrs

December trade-offs

  • ↓Accommodation prices back at peak levels: December matches January for rates, and the Christmas–New Year week commands a further premium
  • ↓Angkor Wat sunrise viewpoint at full capacity from Christmas week: arrive by 04:30–05:00 to access the reflection pool without being blocked by the crowd
  • ↓Advance booking essential for December arrivals: good guesthouses on Siem Reap Riverside are fully booked weeks ahead

November trade-offs

  • ↓Early November still transitional: rain can return for multi-day stretches, particularly in the first week as the dry season is not yet fully established
  • ↓Visitor numbers rising toward December peak: Siem Reap's Pub Street, riverside restaurants, and tuk-tuk drivers at higher demand than September
  • ↓Water Festival timing uncertainty: planning around it requires checking the lunar calendar date each year
See all 12 months for Siem Reap →December in detail →November in detail →
Scores compare months within Siem Reap. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →