Seasonal Weather and Conditions
Garrett Cooper
Cambodia’s dry season is from November to June, and the coolest months with the least
humidity and rainfall are November, December and January (NG1). According
to Lonely Planet, November to March is the best all-round time to
visit. We will be in Cambodia from December to January, which is the dry
season after the floods but before the rivers get to low.
It is especially important on the Srepok River that we don’t wait until
late in the dry season because the river levels will be too low to run in the
upper section. This makes our proposed time frame the perfect time to go, as the
weather and water levels should be in our favor.
Temperatures in Cambodia at this time of year will be fairly comfortable. The average
annual temperature in Cambodia is around 81 degrees. The dry season
temperatures range between 82 and 95 degrees. According to National
Geographic Cambodia, “… there are sort of four seasons: dry and cool
(Dec.–Feb.), dry and hot (March–May), wet and hot (June-Sept.), and wet and mild
(Oct.-Nov.).” (NG2) Since we will be in Cambodia during the dry and cool
months, I can expect the average temperatures to be at the lower end of the
82-95 degree scale. The last time I was in Cambodia during this same time
frame I only saw it sprinkle a couple times. One night I was sleeping in
my hammock and when a few raindrops hit me in the face I thought I was being
attacked by a spitting cobra. It took me way too long to think of rain.
When it comes to weather, our timeline of December through January is the perfect
time to visit SE Asia, though this is also the peak tourist season.
Normally I might consider this a problem as I don’t like to be in places with
too many other tourists for very long, however, due to the nature of our
expedition, we won’t have to fight the crowds. We will be well off the
beaten tourist path, and in certain cities where we will see tourists, it will
be nice to speak English to another person.
(NG1) see Weather in National Geographic Cambodia.
(NG2) see pg. 267 in National Geographic Cambodia under Climate.
(LP1) see pg. 243 in Lonely Planet Cambodia under When to Go.
References
Ranges, Trevor. (2010). National Geographic Traveler: Cambodia. National Geographic.
Ray, Nick& Bloom, Greg. (2012). Lonely Planet: Cambodia (8th ed.). Lonely Planet.
Garrett Cooper
Cambodia’s dry season is from November to June, and the coolest months with the least
humidity and rainfall are November, December and January (NG1). According
to Lonely Planet, November to March is the best all-round time to
visit. We will be in Cambodia from December to January, which is the dry
season after the floods but before the rivers get to low.
It is especially important on the Srepok River that we don’t wait until
late in the dry season because the river levels will be too low to run in the
upper section. This makes our proposed time frame the perfect time to go, as the
weather and water levels should be in our favor.
Temperatures in Cambodia at this time of year will be fairly comfortable. The average
annual temperature in Cambodia is around 81 degrees. The dry season
temperatures range between 82 and 95 degrees. According to National
Geographic Cambodia, “… there are sort of four seasons: dry and cool
(Dec.–Feb.), dry and hot (March–May), wet and hot (June-Sept.), and wet and mild
(Oct.-Nov.).” (NG2) Since we will be in Cambodia during the dry and cool
months, I can expect the average temperatures to be at the lower end of the
82-95 degree scale. The last time I was in Cambodia during this same time
frame I only saw it sprinkle a couple times. One night I was sleeping in
my hammock and when a few raindrops hit me in the face I thought I was being
attacked by a spitting cobra. It took me way too long to think of rain.
When it comes to weather, our timeline of December through January is the perfect
time to visit SE Asia, though this is also the peak tourist season.
Normally I might consider this a problem as I don’t like to be in places with
too many other tourists for very long, however, due to the nature of our
expedition, we won’t have to fight the crowds. We will be well off the
beaten tourist path, and in certain cities where we will see tourists, it will
be nice to speak English to another person.
(NG1) see Weather in National Geographic Cambodia.
(NG2) see pg. 267 in National Geographic Cambodia under Climate.
(LP1) see pg. 243 in Lonely Planet Cambodia under When to Go.
References
Ranges, Trevor. (2010). National Geographic Traveler: Cambodia. National Geographic.
Ray, Nick& Bloom, Greg. (2012). Lonely Planet: Cambodia (8th ed.). Lonely Planet.