Siem Reap · Month comparison

September vs November

November ranks #1 overall vs September at #12. Dry season begins — the best value month; Angkor accessible, lush from the rains, and growing.

Siem Reap September — Angkor Wat reflected in the moat on an overcast wet-season morning, the causeway quiet and empty

September

#12 of 12 months

Strong option

Heaviest rain of the year — Angkor the quietest and cheapest it ever gets; serious bargain-seekers only.

  • ↑The absolute lowest visitor numbers at Angkor: September is statistically the emptiest month across all temple zones
  • ↑Budget prices at their maximum: the entire accommodation range from dormitory to boutique is at or near annual lows
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
FactorSeptemberNovember
Weather score
3
8
Value score
9
6
Crowd score
10
6
Events score
2
6
Atmosphere
4
8
Avg high temp31°C29°C
Monthly rain210mm60mm
Daily sunshine5hrs8hrs

September trade-offs

  • ↓210mm of rain — the single wettest month: persistent and heavy downpours interrupt outdoor plans more severely than any other month
  • ↓Some roads to outlying temples (Beng Mealea, Koh Ker) may be flooded or impassable in wet years; check current conditions locally
  • ↓The least atmospheric and least comfortable month for Siem Reap's town life: Pub Street quiet, restaurants operating at reduced service, few other travellers to encounter

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 →September in detail →November in detail →
Scores compare months within Siem Reap. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →