Best time to go cycling in Cambodia

Cycling vacations in Cambodia operate all year-round. The country has both a wet and a dry season, and naturally each has its own advantages and disadvantages for the cyclist. Read on to learn the best time to go cycling in Cambodia, as well as what you can expect from the Cambodian weather whenever you’re in the saddle.

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Best time to go cycling in Cambodia

The Cambodian countryside is at its most lush during monsoon season, and while Angkor Wat will always be busy, it’s substantially less so when it rains.

The best time for a cycling vacation in Cambodia is between November and January, the coolest month of the year when daytime temperatures are usually around 26°C. You can actually cycle Cambodia at any time, indeed many companies do run trips all year-round, but at the height of the dry season the heat can be hard to bear, and the rainy season brings heavy showers and mud. The cooler months are naturally the most popular time of year for all Cambodia vacations, not just for cycling, so if you want to miss the worst of the crowds, consider a shoulder month such as October, when the heat is not too bad but the rains are easing off.

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Cycling in Cambodia, month by month

It’s understandable to assume that the dry months are always the best time for cycling in Cambodia. Understandable, but actually not always the case. If you can cope with a few heavy but short showers in the afternoons during the May to September monsoon season, and a bit of mud on the trail, it’s a trade off well worth making. Another advantage of visiting Cambodia at this time is that the rain washes away the worst of the heat and humidity, and with clear skies most evenings, the sunsets are even more incredible too. Cambodia’s dry season normally begins in October and continues through to April , the hottest month, with November , December , January and February predictably the most popular months for a vacation when the weather is cooler. Cyclists on country backroads can expect their legs to be covered in dust by the end of the day, and to encounter large crowds in Angkor Wat from sunrise to sunset. Temperatures rarely dip below 20°C though, and this is a good time of year to visit Tonlé Sap and more remote temples. From March through to May the mercury steadily rises, often topping 40°C, but the rains don’t really begin in earnest until June . During these months, life in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap can be uncomfortably hot and sticky and you’ll want to find a shady spot for lunch. May is typically the shoulder month between the dry and wet seasons, when visitor numbers and prices are both lower, rainfall is sporadic and what showers that do appear are light, and offer welcome relief from the humidity. Rainfall is heaviest and most constant from mid July through August , beginning to ease off by late September . Cycling is harder going in these months of course, and some of the more remote areas can be inaccessible. But the extra exertion you’ll need to put in is more than made up for by the vivid colours in the vegetation, and Angkor Wat is almost unfeasibly beautiful around now, the moats around the ruins full to the brim.

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when to cycle in Cambodia

Expert tips on when to cycle in Cambodia

Eric Beasant from our supplier World Expeditions recommends rainy season travel:

“Our routes are always accessible, even during the height of the monsoon season. It’s actually somewhat rare to have a full day of rain and the daily downpour can be a relief from the heat. Although high season does offer the best weather, it’s the busiest time at major tourist sites such as the temples of Angkor; people sometimes don’t realise quite how popular Angkor Wat is. So, the wet season can be better for those who are willing to tough out a bit of rain, and those moody, cloudy skies also create great backdrops for photographers. I would recommend not traveling in Cambodia during April which is the hottest month, just before the rains begin. Temperatures can rise above 40°C, and the land becomes brown and dusty.”

when to cycle in Cambodia

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Written by Rob Perkins

Best time to go cycling in Cambodia

Best time to go cycling in Cambodia