Angkor Wat travel guide: best time to visit and how to plan

The short answer

The best time to visit Angkor Wat is from November to February, in the cool, dry months after the rains. The hottest weather comes in March and April, and the green, wetter season runs from about May to October. The temples stay open all year, so the real choice is between comfort and crowds in the dry season, or fewer people and heavier weather in the rains.

Plan on two or three days. Angkor is not a single building but a large archaeological park of temples, causeways, moats and reservoirs built by the Khmer Empire over several centuries, and it takes more than one morning to see it properly.

What you are actually visiting

Angkor Wat is the best known site, built in the first half of the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. It was first a Hindu temple, dedicated to Vishnu, and later became a Buddhist place of worship, which it remains today. Its five towers, long galleries of carved reliefs and the moat around it make it one of the largest religious monuments in the world.

The wider park holds the remains of several capitals. Two other stops belong on almost every itinerary. Angkor Thom, a walled royal city from the late 12th century, is entered through gates lined with stone figures and centres on the Bayon, whose towers carry large carved faces. Ta Prohm, from the same period, has been left partly as it was found, with huge tree roots growing through the stone. Angkor was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.

When to go, month by month

November to February (cool and dry): the most pleasant weather for long days on foot, with clear skies for photographs. Expect the biggest crowds, especially in December and January.
March to May (hot): temperatures climb and the middle of the day becomes tiring. Start at dawn, break for the afternoon and return for the late light. The first showers arrive toward the end of this period.
June to October (rainy): frequent downpours, mostly in the afternoon or evening, with lush green moats and fewer visitors. Roads and paths can be muddy, and you should allow slack in your plan.
Public holidays: Khmer New Year in mid-April and Pchum Ben in the autumn bring many Cambodian families to the temples. It is a lively time to see the site in use, but it can be crowded, so check the dates for your year.

Use our best time to visit planner to compare Siem Reap with the other places you are considering, and check a current forecast close to your dates, because the start and end of the rains shift from year to year.

A sensible order for two or three days

The big mistake is trying to fit everything into one day, in the order of a map. A more relaxed approach is to group sites by direction and by light.

Day 1, the small circuit: Angkor Thom and the Bayon in the morning, then Ta Prohm, then Angkor Wat itself in the later afternoon, when its galleries are in better light and the day-trip crowds have thinned.
Day 2, the larger circuit: the outer temples beyond Angkor Thom, which are quieter and give a better sense of the scale of the old city. Include a sunset viewpoint if the weather is clear.
Day 3, further out: Banteay Srei, a small temple known for its fine carving in pink sandstone, which lies a longer drive north of the main group. The older Roluos group, a short drive out of Siem Reap, is a good alternative if you want to see where the Khmer capital began before Angkor.

If you only have one day, choose Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm, start early and take a long break in the middle. Because the park is large, getting between sites by road takes a surprising amount of time, so do not count the minutes on the map as your plan.

Tickets and the rules of the park

The Angkor Archaeological Park is managed by the APSARA National Authority, and entry is by ticket. Ticket options and rules are set by the authority and can change, so always read the current details on its official site rather than relying on any third-party page. Keep your ticket with you, because it is checked at the main temples and gateways.

Sites inside the park have their own rules. Angkor Wat is an active place of worship, so shoulders and knees must be covered, and some upper areas have limited access or timed entry that varies with conservation work. Do not climb on walls or carvings, and keep to marked paths and steps.

Getting to Siem Reap

Almost everyone stays in Siem Reap, a town a short drive from the park. Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) replaced the older airport in 2023 and sits further from town, so allow extra transfer time. Many international visitors reach it by connecting through a regional hub in Southeast Asia, or arrive overland from Phnom Penh or Bangkok. Check current routes and timetables with the airlines and transport providers directly, as they change often.

If you are travelling from India

Routing varies with the season, so compare itineraries early and allow a buffer for connections through a regional hub. For entry rules, use the official Cambodia e-Visa portal linked on this page and your own government's travel advice for your dates; do not rely on a blog for visa conditions, including this one. On food, Cambodian cooking uses fish sauce and fermented fish paste widely, so if you are vegetarian say so clearly and ask what is in a dish. It is much easier at restaurants that cook for visitors than at street stalls.

Practical tips for a better day

Start early. The morning light is better and the heat is gentler. Plan a long lunch break in the middle of the day.
Carry water and sun protection. There is little shade on the causeways and the stone gets hot. See our packing list for a full kit.
Wear shoes with grip. Many of the steps are steep, narrow and uneven, especially after rain.
Be flexible with sunrise. It is popular for a reason, but the viewpoints fill up. A quiet temple at first light can be a better start.
Treat it with respect. Monks and local worshippers use these temples, so keep voices low and ask before photographing people.

Pair it with other landmarks

If Angkor is part of a longer Asia trip, our guides to Thailand by season and the Great Wall of China cover timing for neighbouring regions, and how to plan a World Heritage site visit has the general checklist that applies at Angkor too. For another ancient ruin that rewards an early start, see Petra.

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Angkor Wat?

November to February is usually the most comfortable: the rain has ended, the days are drier and the heat is lower. It is also the busiest stretch. If you can choose, the start of the dry season, in November, or the end of it, in February, often feels slightly quieter than December and January.

How many days do you need at Angkor?

Two full days lets you see Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom with the Bayon, and Ta Prohm without rushing. Three days adds a relaxed pace, a sunrise visit and one outlying temple such as Banteay Srei. Keep a half day in reserve in the hot months, when the middle of the day is hard going.

Can you visit Angkor in the rainy season?

Yes. The temples stay open through the rains, which run roughly from May to October. Expect heavy showers, often in the afternoon, green surroundings and fewer visitors. Mornings are usually the most reliable time to be outdoors, and a light rain jacket is more useful than an umbrella.

Is Angkor Wat worth visiting at sunrise?

Many people like it because the light is soft and the heat has not arrived, but it is also the most crowded time at the main viewing spots. Angkor Wat faces west, so you watch the sun come up behind it from across the pond. If crowds bother you, save Angkor Wat for later in the day and use the early hours for a quieter temple.

What should you wear at Angkor Wat?

Cover your shoulders and knees. Angkor Wat is an active place of worship as well as a monument, and dress is checked at the main temple. Wear light, breathable clothes and shoes with good grip, because many steps are steep and worn.