Geographical location and general
When we speak of Angkor Wat in the vernacular, we usually do not only have the specific individual temple in mind, but also mean the entire temple complex of Angkor in Cambodia. Because Angkor Wat is indeed by far the most famous complex in the former city of Angkor, but there are many other fascinating temples in the immediate vicinity.
According to abbreviationfinder, the starting point for exploring Angkor Wat is the city of Siem Reap a few kilometers north of the large Tonle Sap Lake. Visitors to the Angkor temples will find a wide range of hotels in all price ranges (from hostels for 5 USD to luxury resorts for international chains) as well as an interesting old town with many colonial buildings.
Siem Reap has an international airport, which is served quite cheaply by numerous Asian airlines. Visitors to the Angkor temples in Cambodia can usually travel from Europe with a changeover. There are also various bus connections from the capital Phnom Penh, which is around 250 kilometers from Siem Reap.
In addition to Angkor Wat, the temples of Angkor include the impressive buildings Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei and Bakong (Roluos). Usually you take your own tuk tuk driver in Siem Reap and explore the Angkor temples on the “Small Circuit” or “Grand Circuit” according to your own wishes.
Exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site by bike is possible at least in the center of the Angkor complex, and air-conditioned cars are also available for a surcharge. Admission tickets are also available in several seasons as multi-day tickets, we recommend at least a three-day ticket that is valid on any three days of a week.
Climate: Angkor Wat / Siem Reap
The Siem Reap region in Cambodia is characterized by a strongly tropical climate, which brings hot temperatures of 30 to 36 ° C all year round. Peak values above 40 degrees are not unusual, even at night it never gets cooler than 20 ° C. The climate around Angkor Wat has high humidity, which can rise to more than 90 percent, especially in the rainy season.
There are no seasons in Cambodia, even between the summer and winter months there are only minor differences. However, the rainy season between May and October has a decisive influence and can provide an average of 15 rainy days per month and sometimes considerable rainfall. The air is now uncomfortably humid and is sometimes unbearable, especially in the winding walls of Angkor.
From the beginning of November, the dry season begins in Siem Reap and most regions of Cambodia, which offers very stable weather and 8 to 9 hours of sunshine until mid- April. The driest months in the Angkor region are between December and February, while it can get noticeably hotter from mid- March. The month of April is quite dry, but has an average daily temperature of 35.8 ° C.
Best time to visit Angkor Wat
The best time to travel to Angkor near Siem Reap is the dry season between November and the end of March. Due to the lower humidity and the lack of rain, exploring the world-famous temples is now much more pleasant. However, keep in mind that this travel time is also very popular with other holidaymakers and is therefore considered the main season in Angkor Wat.
It is all the more important at this travel time to have an experienced driver and guide with you who knows the exact program sequences of the large coaches. The magic word is now to drive “counter-cyclically”, we ourselves could always avoid the crowd with good planning. April is also a suitable travel time, but it is statistically the hottest month in Cambodia.
If you have no problem with increased rainfall, you can of course also consider the peripheral months of May and November or even the core of the rainy season between June and October as a travel time for Angkor Wat. It can lead to photogenic cloud formations or occasional thunderstorms, but usually it remains mostly sunny and nature now shines in strong colors.
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 32 ° C | 34 ° C | 35 ° C | 36 ° C | 35 ° C | 34 ° C | 33 ° C | 32 ° C | 32 ° C | 32 ° C | 31 ° C | 31 ° C |
| Night temperature | 20 ° C | 22 ° C | 24 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 23 ° C | 21 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 4 | 5 | 29 | 57 | 150 | 214 | 193 | 209 | 288 | 200 | 51 | 7 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 1 |
| Hours of sunshine | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Sunrise | 6:30 | 6:25 | 6:10 | 5:50 | 5:40 | 5:40 | 5:45 | 5:50 | 5:55 | 5:55 | 6:05 | 6:20 |
| Sunset | 17:55 | 18:10 | 18:15 | 18:15 | 18:25 | 18:30 | 18:35 | 18:25 | 18:05 | 17:45 | 17:35 | 17:40 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Siem Reap is 28.3 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is April (30.6 ° C), coldest month of December with averages of 25.7 ° C.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 1405 mm on 104 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. The months of June, July, August, September and October are considered the rainy season, as more than 175 mm of precipitation can be expected per month. Overall, about 1102.9 mm of precipitation can be expected in the rainy season. You cannot expect snow in any month in Siem Reap.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, January is the sunniest month with an average of 9 hours of sunshine per day. The average annual sunshine is 7.3 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Cities nearby
The following major towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Battambang.
Attractions in Siem Reap and the surrounding area
The Angkor temples are undoubtedly one of the greatest highlights of the region around Siem Reap. Unfortunately, not only is the climate gnawing at the historical buildings, but also the (sometimes very careless) tourist masses make the building fabric difficult to create. Art theft is another major problem around Angkor Wat.
It cannot therefore be ruled out that one day the possibilities to visit the temples will have to be strictly limited in order to preserve them for future generations. Already today, many areas are statically held together by pillars or restored by research groups in painstaking small-scale work. As mentioned, the world of Angkor is not all about Angkor Wat itself.
The most popular temples are also the overwhelming Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, which is occupied by gigantic trees, and Angkor Thom as one of the highlights of the former Khmer Empire. In addition to the many temples, the Cambodia Landmine Museum, the Angkor Silk Farm and the Banteay Srei Butterfly Center are also interesting. In Siem Reap the so-called Pub Street attracts every evening with many restaurants and more western entertainment.
Angkor Wat weather in March, April and May
Daily temperatures averaging 35 to 36 ° C can be expected over the next three months. The temperatures hardly fluctuate during this time.
The expected rainfall is around 3 days in March, around 6 days in April and around 11 days in May.
In the period from March to May, the sun shines an average of 7 to 8 hours a day. The sunniest weather is in March in Siem Reap, with a little less sun you will have to get by in May.
