If you have been waiting for the right moment to see the temples of Angkor, the window that opens in November is the one to aim for. The rains ease off, the heat has not yet built up, and from 17 November 2026 there is one more way in: Cambodia Airways is adding three flights a week between Siem Reap and Guangzhou, a large hub in southern China.
This guide puts the season, the new route and the paperwork in one place, so you can decide when to go and what to sort before you book. The weather figures are long-term averages from the World Meteorological Organization, and the entry rules come from official government advice checked on 19 October 2026.
When to go: the numbers behind the dry season
The WMO climate data for Siem Reap shows how sharply the year turns. October is the wettest month for rain days, with 29 on average and 227 mm of rain. November drops to 12 rain days and 61.8 mm, December to 6 days and 7.4 mm, and January to 3 days and 4.3 mm.
The cool part is relative. Average highs stay around 31°C from November to January, with lows near 20°C in January, which is the most comfortable time for early starts at the temples. From March the heat climbs: average highs reach 34.6°C in March, 34.8°C in April and 35.3°C in May, before the rains return.
- Late November to January: the driest, mildest stretch.
- February: still dry (3.8 mm on average), a little hotter.
- March to May: very hot; plan sightseeing for the early morning.
- June to October: the wet months, greener and with more rain days. September brings the most rain of the year, 305.2 mm on average over 27 rain days.
Getting there: the new Guangzhou link
According to Aeroroutes, Cambodia Airways will fly an Airbus A319 between Siem Reap (SAI) and Guangzhou (CAN) three times a week from 17 November 2026. Flight KR945 is scheduled to leave Siem Reap at 16:20 and reach Guangzhou at 20:10; the return, KR946, leaves Guangzhou at 13:25 and lands at 15:20.
Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport opened on 16 October 2023, and its code is SAI. If you are booking connections or checking an old itinerary, make sure the airport code matches.
The other side of the new route: three weekly flights are useful only if your dates line up, and connecting through mainland China means checking the transit and visa rules for your own passport before you buy the ticket.
Paperwork before you fly
Rules depend on your passport. For British travellers, the UK Foreign Office advice (last updated on 19 March 2026) says:
- You need a visa. You can apply for an e-visa at least 4 days in advance, or get a visa on arrival at airports and land borders, with a photo and payment in US dollars. A tourist visa is valid for 30 days from entry.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive, and undamaged.
- Since 1 September 2024, if you arrive by air at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Sihanoukville, you must submit an electronic e-Arrival Card within the 7 days before arrival. It is free.
- You need a yellow fever vaccination certificate only if you arrive from a country listed as a transmission risk.
Keep the departure form you receive with your entry stamp: the same advice says that losing it means contacting immigration before you leave. Overstaying is treated seriously, with fines, detention and deportation listed as possible consequences, so if 30 days is not enough, apply for an extension inside Cambodia before your visa runs out.
Travelling on another passport? Check your own government’s advice and the official Cambodian e-visa service before you book.
At the temples
Angkor is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the archaeological park is large, so plan more than one day if you can. Even in the cooler months, start early for sunrise at Angkor Wat and keep the hottest hours of the afternoon for rest.
What to do now: pick your dates between late November and February, apply for the e-visa at least four days ahead, and set a reminder to fill in the e-Arrival Card in the week before you fly. Our Cambodia guide has the rest of the basics.
Cover photo: Vladimir Pankratov, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
