Cambodia in October

Rain eases late in the month; Pchum Ben (lunar, check) closes offices for three days.

October 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 Chamrainy

  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 Rongrainy

  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 Reap30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 17 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 17 rain days
• Anlong Veng31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 15 rain days
• Banlung31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 16 rain days
• Banteay Chhmar31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 15 rain days
• Chi Phat32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Chlong31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain days
• Doun Kaev32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Kampong Cham31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 16 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 16 rain days
• Kampong Speu31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 15 rain days
• Kampong Thom31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
• Kampot31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 18 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 18 rain days
• Kep31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 17 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 17 rain days
• Koh Ker32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 6 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 6 rain days
• Koh Kong31 °C (88 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 9 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 9 rain days
• Koh Rong31 °C (88 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 6 rain days
• Koh Rong Sanloem32 °C (90 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 10 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 10 rain days
• Koh Russei32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 7 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 7 rain days
• Kratie31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 16 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 16 rain days
• Pailin33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 7 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 7 rain days
• Poipet31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 15 rain days
• Pursat33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Samraong32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 9 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 9 rain days
• Senmonorom29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 18 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 18 rain days
• Sisophon31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 5 rain days
• Stung Treng32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
• Tatai32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 17 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 17 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.

• Pchum Ben (Ancestors' Day) big impact

  Sep–Oct, 3 days (lunar — check)

  Families return to home villages; pagodas crowded at dawn; buses full and many businesses shut.

• King Father Norodom Sihanouk memorial day

  15 Oct

  Public holiday.

Crowds · Cambodia

Low

Prices · Cambodia

Low

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

• 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)