Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mangrove forests of the lush
Ream National Park
. Quieter coastal destinations include
attractive
Kampot
, with its mixed French and Chinese influences, and the beguiling
resort of
Kep
, with a minuscule beach and atmosphere of faded gentility. Backdropping
the heavily touristed coast, the contrastingly remote and di
cult-to-reach
Cardamom
Mountains
, best accessed from the southwestern province of
Koh Kong
, provide unspoilt
upland scenery and pockets of remarkable biodiversity.
When to go
Cambodia is warm all year round, though there are several distinct seasons. There is little
rain between November and May, the so-called
dry season
, which itself divides into two
distinct phases. The
cool season
(Nov-Feb) is the peak time for tourism - mild enough to
explore the temples in comfort but warm enough to sunbathe by the coast. Humidity and
temperatures rise slightly during the
hot season
(March-May), with Phnom Penh and
Battambang seeing peak daytime temperatures of 33-35°C. This is an excellent time to hit
the coast, although Angkor is usually bakingly hot. Visiting during the
rainy season
(roughly June-Oct) can present certain practical challenges, but it is also a fascinating time
to see the country as it transforms into a waterlogged expanse of tropical green under the
daily monsoon deluges (fortunately, the rains falls mainly in the afternoon; mornings are
generally dry). Getting around (particularly in September and October) isn't always easy:
dirt roads turn to mud and flooding is commonplace. Not surprisingly it's also the quietest
time for tourism (even Angkor is relatively quiet) and the countryside is at its lushest.
