Cambodia in May

Heat plus the first storms; low prices and quiet temples.

May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• DecemberGreatPeak season: dry, cooler, crowded at sunrise spots; late-December rates are the year's highest.
• JanuaryGreatDry and warm, cool mornings: the best Angkor month. Book Siem Reap beds early.
• FebruaryGreatStill dry; Chinese New Year can fill hotels for a week (moves yearly — check).
• NovemberGoodDry season begins; the Water Festival fills Phnom Penh (lunar, check).

• Angkor and the plains · Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kampong Chamhot

  Dry and cooler Nov–Feb; April tops 38 °C (100 °F); the green season brings afternoon storms and flooded rural roads, but the moats and rice fields look their best.Dry and cooler Nov–Feb; April tops 100 °F (38 °C); the green season brings afternoon storms and flooded rural roads, but the moats and rice fields look their best.

• South coast · Kampot, Kep, Sihanoukville, Koh Rongfine

  The southwest monsoon hits the coast hardest Jul–Sep: rough crossings to the islands and some resorts close.

• North-east highlands · Mondulkiri, Ratanakirirainy

  Cooler nights; red-dirt roads turn to mud in the rains, so plan Nov–Mar.

• Cardamom and Elephant Mountains: Coast (Kampot, Kep, Sihanoukville, Koh Kong) · Gulf of Thailand shore and islandsrainy

  Dry season roughly November–March; the southwest monsoon brings heavy rain and rougher ferries May–October.

• Cardamom and Elephant Mountains: Cardamom interior (Pursat, Pailin, Koh Kong hills) · Mountain range and border hillsrainy

  Wettest and muddiest in the monsoon; tracks that are passable in February can be impassable in August.

• Eastern Cambodia: Mekong lowlands (Kratie, Stung Treng) · river towns and islandsrainy

  Dry and cooler from November to February; April and May are the hottest months, often above 35 °C (95 °F).Dry and cooler from November to February; April and May are the hottest months, often above 95 °F (35 °C).

• Eastern Cambodia: Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri hills · Banlung, Senmonorom and the forestsrainy

  Higher and cooler than the lowlands; nights can drop to around 15 °C (59 °F) in December and January. Wet-season mud makes red-earth roads slippery.Higher and cooler than the lowlands; nights can drop to around 59 °F (15 °C) in December and January. Wet-season mud makes red-earth roads slippery.

• Mekong Lowlands and Central Plains: Phnom Penh and the plains · Capital and the central lowlandsrainy

  Hot season March–May pushes past 35 °C (95 °F); the wet season June–October brings short heavy afternoon downpours and flooded side roads. November–February is the comfortable window.Hot season March–May pushes past 95 °F (35 °C); the wet season June–October brings short heavy afternoon downpours and flooded side roads. November–February is the comfortable window.

• North-western Cambodia: Siem Reap and the plains · Siem Reap, Sisophon, Tonle Sap shorerainy

  Nov–Feb is dry and cooler; Mar–May tops 35 °C (95 °F); the wet season runs roughly May–Oct with afternoon downpours.Nov–Feb is dry and cooler; Mar–May tops 95 °F (35 °C); the wet season runs roughly May–Oct with afternoon downpours.

• North-western Cambodia: Dangrek Mountains and border · Anlong Veng, Samraong, Preah Vihearrainy

  Cooler and wetter than the plains; dirt roads to remote temples can be impassable in the wet season.

• Siem Reap34 °C (93 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 15 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 15 rain days
• Anlong Veng34 °C (93 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 15 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 15 rain days
• Banlung33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 15 rain days
• Banteay Chhmar35 °C (95 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 15 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 15 rain days
• Chi Phat33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 16 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 16 rain days
• Chlong34 °C (93 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 14 rain days
• Doun Kaev34 °C (93 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 12 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 12 rain days
• Kampong Cham34 °C (93 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 14 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 14 rain days
• Kampong Speu34 °C (93 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 14 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 14 rain days
• Kampong Thom34 °C (93 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 9 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 81 °F (27 °C), 9 rain days
• Kampot33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 15 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 15 rain days
• Kep33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 15 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 15 rain days
• Koh Ker34 °C (93 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 7 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 81 °F (27 °C), 7 rain days
• Koh Kong33 °C (91 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 10 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 81 °F (27 °C), 10 rain days
• Koh Rong32 °C (90 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 9 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 81 °F (27 °C), 9 rain days
• Koh Rong Sanloem33 °C (91 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 12 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 12 rain days
• Koh Russei34 °C (93 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 10 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 10 rain days
• Kratie34 °C (93 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 14 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 14 rain days
• Pailin35 °C (95 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 9 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 81 °F (27 °C), 9 rain days
• Poipet34 °C (93 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 14 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 14 rain days
• Pursat34 °C (93 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 12 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 12 rain days
• Samraong34 °C (93 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 12 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 12 rain days
• Senmonorom32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 16 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 16 rain days
• Sisophon33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 9 rain days
• Stung Treng34 °C (93 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 16 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 16 rain days
• Tatai33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 20 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 20 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Visak Bochea and Royal Ploughing Ceremony

  May (lunar — check)

  Buddhist holiday and a palace ceremony in Phnom Penh.

• King Norodom Sihamoni's birthday

  14 May

  Public holiday.

• Visak Bochea check

  Lunar calendar · Siem Reap

  Public holiday; temples busy with worshippers.

Crowds · Cambodia

Low

Prices · Cambodia

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Cambodia, side by side.

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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Rated best or good this month

• Koh Kong

  Best months: Oct–May (dry season, calmer sea)