Holidays in Cambodia

For many, a visit to Cambodia only means one thing: misty-eyed thoughts of the sun rising above the carved corncob towers of Angkor Wat like a golden orb. Though Angkor Wat hogs the limelight as the country’s rightful jewel, there’s far more to Cambodia’s story.

The Khmer empire was once one of Asia’s mightiest civilisations, with Cambodia as its seat. Most travellers don’t realise that Angkor Wat was only a fraction of its realm and plenty of other stunning temples lie hidden among the jungle, off the beaten track and free of the masses.

While Siem Reap is the traditional jumping-off point for the temple complex, it’s a gateway to other treasures. Wandering its lively markets and boutiques are a delight but venture further and you’ll discover clusters of fascinating floating villages and rolling countryside striped with rice fields.

The rest of the country rewards you further. Capital Phnom Penh is an emerging street food hotspot and the unspoilt riverine rainforest of Botum Sakor National Park makes for an exciting jungle escape. Even its tropical islands on the south coast are emerging as relaxing hideaways. Cambodia used to be a small part of a big trip across Southeast Asia. Not anymore – now it’s a luxury holiday in its own right.

Cambodia boasts many different incredible sights and its places to stay match its landmarks on the 'wow' factor. There are luxury lodges resembling a rural village in Siem Reap (the traditional jumping-off point for Angkor Wat) to dreamy beach escapes on its tropical islands and world-class jungle retreats.

Cambodia has two distinct seasons, with the dry season running from November-March and the monsoon season from May-September.

Temperatures in the dry season hover around the high 20s (degrees Celsius) from November to January, which make it comfortable enough to wander around temple ruins and there’s plenty of sunshine for an island retreat on Cambodia’s south coast. Once you edge into February and March, the heat begins to rise and midday temple visits are best avoided – early morning or late afternoon is best – but the coast stays temperate with cooling winds.

While the wet season kicks off in May, the rains rarely last all day, often occurring in short and heavy showers but they provide some relief from the rising temperatures, with the mercury running between 25-27°C. The cloud cover means it’s pleasant for ticking off temples and the wet weather means the scenery turns lush and green. It’s a great time for exploring the floating villages of Tonle Sap lake, too, as it swells to around five times its size.

The shoulder months are contrasting, with April receiving dry, scorching heat (temperatures have been known to reach 40°C), but October is a small window of cool, dry weather that’s worth taking advantage of.