Siem Reap, Cambodia

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📅 When to Go ⏱️ Activities 🏨 Stay 🍽️ Eat & Drink

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When to Go

November through February — the cool dry season delivers comfortable temperatures, clear skies for photography, and minimal rainfall
December–January sees the highest tourist numbers, so book flights and hotels well ahead
The shoulder months of November and February offer slightly thinner crowds without sacrificing the dry-season weather
January, the coolest month, only dips to around 21°C (70°F) — this is a warm-weather winter
December brings the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon, a two-decade-old fixture on the sporting calendar

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Activites

Sunrise at Angkor Wat — arrive before dawn to watch the light hit the temple's ancient spires
Explore the wider Angkor Archaeological Park — Bayon, Ta Prohm, and the lesser-visited outer temples
Boat trip on Tonlé Sap Lake to see the floating villages
Siem Reap's night markets — wander the stalls and sample Cambodian street food
Day trip to Phnom Penh for the Royal Palace and the National Museum

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Stay

Siem Reap for temple access — boutique hotels and luxury resorts within a short drive of Angkor
Riverside properties in Phnom Penh for a city base with palace and museum access
Book well ahead for December–January — this is peak season and rooms move fast

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Eat & Drink

Amok — Cambodia's signature steamed fish curry in banana leaf
Khmer street noodles and fresh spring rolls from Siem Reap's night market stalls
Cambodian coffee — often served with sweetened condensed milk
Fine dining reinventions of Khmer classics at Siem Reap's growing restaurant scene

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