The weather is one of the most important factors which can dramatically affect your trip. Before taking the fascinating Cambodia shore excursions, you would need to know about the tropical weather of this country.
Cambodia which is situated in the tropical zone, only 10-13 degrees north of the equator has a monsoon climate with warm temperatures all year round. The climate can be divided into 2 distinct seasons: The northeast monsoon and the southeast monsoon.
To be more specific, the northeast monsoon season starts in December and ends in April. This period is characterized by sunny and dry weather. Whilst December and January are quite cool (around 20°C), from February to April, the temperatures increase steadily until they reach their peak of 40°C (April).
It can be said that the best months for visiting Cambodia are December and January with dry weather and lower humidity levels. Even in remote regions such as Mondulkiri & Ratanakiri, the roads are at their best and journey times are shorter on account of this. The most stunning landscapes of the countryside are also fully revealed. Sihanoukville which is located on the south coast is the optimal choice during this season as it basks in the glorious sunshine in combination with favorable sea conditions. However, due to these favorable weather conditions, this period of time is also the busiest one of the year; hence, it results in more crowds and higher prices than usual.
The southeast monsoon season runs from May to November. The early months of the season (May, June and July) remain very hot infrequent rainfall, usually in the form of short showers. In the latter months (from late July to September), the rain tends to be more constant and heavy, especially in September and October, it brings almost 75% of Cambodia's annual rainfall. Of course, it leads to high humidity. During this period, the average temperatures range between 25°C and 27°C. Unless you are in remote areas with bad roads like Mondulkiri & Ratanakiri, these months are the occasion for seeing the rice paddies and tropical foliage at their most green and lush. High rainfall makes it the perfect time of year for a Cambodia shore excursion to visit the flooded forests and floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake since it swells to more than 5 times its size during this season.
