What to Wear in Siem Reap
Cambodia · 6 monthly packing guides
Siem Reap runs on Angkor's temples: the capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century, inscribed by UNESCO in 1992. Angkor Wat, built by Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, is the largest religious monument in the world on a site of 162.6 hectares; around it stand Angkor Thom and the Bayon, Jayavarman VII's state temple of the late 12th or early 13th century with its smiling stone faces, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srei, consecrated in 967 and built largely of red sandstone. Per Deutscher Wetterdienst data, May-August holds 32-35°C / 90-95°F afternoons with overnight lows 25°C / 77°F and 17-18 monsoon rain days monthly. Humidity 75-85%. Local register: Artisans Angkor, which has trained artisans for over 25 years in silk weaving, stone and wood carving, lacquer and silverware, and its silk farm on National Road 6 in Puok District, where it revived silk weaving in the 1990s. Angkor Enterprise sells boat tickets to Chong Kneas, the floating village on the Tonlé Sap. Festivals: Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey, mid-April), Vesak Bonn Pisak (May Buddhist holiday), Pchum Ben (late September or October). Skip shorts above the knee and sleeveless tops at Angkor: Angkor Enterprise's visitor code prohibits shorts and skirts above the knee and bare shoulders in sacred places, and discourages high heels and backpacks inside the temples.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 20°C / 68°F in January; average highs reach 35°C / 95°F in May.
Compare Siem Reap by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | 20°C / 68°F | 32°C / 90°F | 2 | 11h 25m |
| May packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 35°C / 95°F | 17 | 12h 50m |
| June packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 34°C / 93°F | 18 | 13h 5m |
| July packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 33°C / 91°F | 18 | 13h |
| August packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 32°C / 90°F | 18 | 12h 35m |
| December packing guide | 21°C / 70°F | 31°C / 88°F | 2 | 11h 20m |
Choose your Siem Reap packing list
Siem Reap in January: 32°C / 90°F afternoons, 20°C / 68°F nights, 93,491 Angkor passes sold to foreigners in January 2026 and a gate that opens at 5:00am.
In this capsule: Sand cotton cardigan, crew neck, button front; White puff-sleeve blouse, elbow-length sleeves; Indigo denim A-line midi skirt, mid-calf.
Siem Reap in May is Cambodia-monsoon opens at Angkor — 35°C / 95°F afternoons, 25°C / 77°F nights, 17 rain days.
In this capsule: Lightweight linen midi dress + cotton long-sleeve tunic — knee-and-shoulder cover; Leather sandal (heritage AHA Fair Trade Village artisans) or Hoka Speedgoat trail shoe; Patagonia Houdini packable shell + Blunt Metro compact travel umbrella.
Siem Reap in June is peak Cambodia-monsoon — 34°C / 93°F afternoons, 25°C / 77°F nights, 18 rain days from afternoon thunderstorms.
In this capsule: Lightweight linen midi dress + cotton long-sleeve tunic — knee-and-shoulder cover for Angkor; Hoka Speedgoat 5 or Salomon Sense Ride 5 trail shoe + Krama Khmer scarf; Patagonia Houdini packable shell + Patagonia Torrentshell 3L for sustained-deluge.
Siem Reap in July: average high 33°C / 91°F, low 25°C / 77°F, and 18 rain days.
In this capsule: Light dress and long-sleeve tunic for temple visits; Grippy walking shoes and a light scarf; Packable rain layer.
Siem Reap in August: average high 32°C / 90°F, low 25°C / 77°F, and 18 rain days.
In this capsule: Light dress and long-sleeve tunic for temple visits; Grippy walking shoes and a light scarf; Packable rain layer.
Siem Reap in December: 31°C / 88°F afternoons, 21°C / 70°F nights and a half marathon that starts in front of Angkor Wat at 05:45 on Sunday 6 December.
In this capsule: White fitted cotton shirt, long sleeves, buttoned cuffs; Khaki short-sleeve camp-collar shirt; Stone linen wide-leg trousers, full length.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) · Siem Reap · monthly climate averagesDeutscher Wetterdienst's climate table for Siemreap-Angkor: temperatures 1997–2010, rain days (0.1 mm or more) 2006–2010. Cambodia publishes no English normals.
- May: Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) · Siem Reap · monthly climate averagesDeutscher Wetterdienst's climate table for Siemreap-Angkor: temperatures 1997–2010, rain days (0.1 mm or more) 2006–2010. Cambodia publishes no English normals.
- June: Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) · Siem Reap · monthly climate averagesDeutscher Wetterdienst's climate table for Siemreap-Angkor: temperatures 1997–2010, rain days (0.1 mm or more) 2006–2010. Cambodia publishes no English normals.
- July: Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) · Siem Reap · monthly climate averagesDeutscher Wetterdienst's climate table for Siemreap-Angkor: temperatures 1997–2010, rain days (0.1 mm or more) 2006–2010. Cambodia publishes no English normals.
- August: Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) · Siem Reap · monthly climate averagesDeutscher Wetterdienst's climate table for Siemreap-Angkor: temperatures 1997–2010, rain days (0.1 mm or more) 2006–2010. Cambodia publishes no English normals.
- December: Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) · Siem Reap · monthly climate averagesDeutscher Wetterdienst's climate table for Siemreap-Angkor: temperatures 1997–2010, rain days (0.1 mm or more) 2006–2010. Cambodia publishes no English normals.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 6 published guides cover January, May, June, July, August, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at 20°C / 68°F, while May has the highest average high at 35°C / 95°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.