Angkor - when to go?
 

Is September a good time to visit Angkor? Does it get too muddy on the roads to the temples because of the rains?

Unless you have a crystal ball to predict the future you wont know how much it rains.

It doesnt rain everyday in any month and weather can vary a lot each year.

However, if you check www.weatherbase.com you will find that Sept is historically the rainiest month in Siem Reap. But if it reduces the crowds, it might be a fine time to go.

Every weather site has different rain stats. I wouldnt be basing a holiday on a weather site like its gospel cause it isnt. Look at 6 different sites and you will get 6 diff data sets, some of which vary a lot due to diff timeframes.

In tropical climates it normally rains between 4pm and 4am. Days are often sunny even in the so called wet months.

You take holidays when you can and you would have to be very unlucky to get a lot of rainy days in a row.

Rain can also make things lush and green which makes for better photos. Over on tripadvisor a bunch of people said the temples are actually better at that time of year cause of the more lush surroundings rather than dry and dusty.

"Visit during the rainy season" Siem Reap

June 11, 2013

That is the reference discussion on tripadvisor.

Pretty much sums up my experience with "rainy season". A lot of fuss about nothing.

All of the websites should have similar data sets on historic averages. Of course, that doesn't mean that you will get the same weather, but it is useful to know about the weather patterns. At least for me it is. If it isn't helpful to you, Prachaup, then just ignore the data.

No they dont. Websites vary a lot actually.

Siem-reap says Oct is wettest mth

Weatherspark has sept and august as the wettest mths

Worldclimates has sept then oct

Yr.no has August as the wettest mth

I think September would be a great time to visit Angkor Wat.

We have visited twice in the "dry"season" The first time, many years ago was great, reasonably cool and relatively uncrowded ( there were only around 10 of us to photograph the dawn rising over Angkor). The second time was in 2008 in April which was very hot and very crowded ( more like 500 people waiting for the sun to rise! ) . The ruins were extremely crowded but by hiring a good tuk tuk driver we were able to visit a few smaller temples that we hadn't seen before which were pretty quiet.

If I were to return to AW I would definitely go around September time if only to avoid the crowds which apparently continue to increase exponentially. The scenery will be greener making for better photographs and it will rarely rain all day. Most of the major roads are in good relatively good condition so that should not be a problem. Some of the outlying temples could be a problem in wet weather but there is more than enough to keep you occupied for 3-5 days.

An interesting spin on this question on this website.

http://www.aboutasiatravel.com/cambo...BVYRafsP_D_BwE

As you will see on the graph, the lines for " comfort" and "tranquility" cross at October!

Interesting chart. Then add in cheaper hotels and tour prices.

Thank you for your replies.

Sounds like September is a good time to go. I'm just wondering whether the roads will be negotiable by Tuk-tuk?? According to crellston the roads are in relatively good condition..are they tarred or mud roads? Is there a lot of walking involved? One member of our group is not too fit.

We will be in Thailand in the first week of September 2014 and have another week in hand. Siem Reap seems a good extension of the trip. Would anyone suggest including Phnom Penh? What about Sihanoukville?

What do you like doing? 1 week in Thailand is very little.

Sihanoukville has a seedy rep. I would do a beach spot in Thailand. Krabi is good.

You might like Phnom Penh. Some do, some dont.

Read reviews on tripadvisor re attractions.

The roads are mainly tarred. This video gives you a good feel for it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPU7aVRGciM

There will be quite a lot of walking, a lot of uneven surfaces, and some steep staircases. If it's wet then risk assess first.

Phnom Penh is definitely worth a visit, but imo only if you visit the Killing Fields and S21 Genocide Museum to take in some of Cambodia's recent history.

I haven't been to Sihanoukville, and it's not on my radar either. Kampot and Kep are imo better options from Phnom Penh.

If you don't fancy Phnom Penh then you could go from Siem Reap to Battambang by road for 3 or 4 nights. Beautiful countryside, some nice hotels/guesthouses...

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Ba...w=1024&bih=653

and the Bamboo Train is a must do for a bit of fun...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A81ZbheBiYI

There is a fair amount of walking involved around Angkor and for someone with limited mobility may find parts challenging. Paths are often uneven amend when it rains could be muddy and slippery. The roads between the major sites are mostly tarmac. Some people prefer a car with driver and guide to get around as it offers some aircon respite between sites. Having done both, I prefer the tuk tuk option which could have the advantage getting you closer to the sites.

I like Phnom Penh and agree with LancasterLad that Tuol Sleng and the Killing fields are must sees. I haven't been to Sihanoukville so can't comment, but Kampot and Kep are nice options I'df you want to spend more time in the country.

September is a good time to go. It is one of the rainy months, but the weather is hard to predict. Usually it just rains heavy for an hour and the rest of the day will be fine. If you go in the summer months, the heat will exhaust you much more during the temple runs.