Best time to visit eastern Cambodia and the Cardamoms
When to visit Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Kratie and the Cardamoms: dry and wet seasons month by month, what changes for trekking, and busy holiday dates.
Ridges of Mondulkiri in the dry season (November)
Researched from published sources
In short
November to April is the dry season and the easiest time for trekking, wildlife walks and road travel. December to February is the coolest, especially in Mondulkiri, at about 800 m. The wet season, roughly June to October, brings afternoon rain, mud and green landscapes; most trips still run, but plan buffer days.
Cambodia has two seasons: dry and wet. The details shift by region and by year, but the pattern is reliable enough to plan around.
Dry season: November to April
The dry season is the easiest time for everything this site covers. Roads are dust rather than mud, forest paths are firm, and boat and road transfers run to time more often. It is also when most visitors come, although in the east that still means very few people.
- November and December: the land is drying out, waterfalls still carry water, and the air is fresh. A very good time overall.
- December to February: the coolest months. Mornings in Mondulkiri can be genuinely cold.
- March and April: hot, hazy and dry. Waterfalls shrink, and April is the hottest month. Wildlife walks start earlier to beat the heat.
Wet season: roughly June to October
The rains usually build in May and June, peak around July to September, and ease in October. In Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri, rain often falls in the afternoon and evening. The south-west coast and the Cardamoms get heavier monsoon rain.
What changes in practice:
- Paths and tracks turn to mud and some become impassable; Lonely Planet notes that after heavy rain visitors to Keo Seima may need to walk the last stretch.
- Low-season rules apply at some providers: the Elephant Valley Project needs at least four people for Sunday trips in April, May, September and October.
- Rivers run high, which makes boat trips more scenic and changes where the Kratie dolphins are found.
Wet-season trips work if you are flexible and build in a spare day.
Busy dates
Around Khmer New Year in mid-April and the Pchum Ben festival in September or October, many Cambodians travel to their home provinces. Buses fill and prices can rise, so book transport earlier.
Seasons at a glance
Questions travelers ask
Is it worth going to Mondulkiri in the rainy season?
It can be. The hills are green, there are fewer visitors, and rain tends to fall in the afternoon or evening rather than all day. Expect muddy paths, slower roads and the occasional walk where a vehicle cannot reach, and add a spare day.
When is it coolest in Mondulkiri?
December to February. Sen Monorom sits at around 800 m, and dry-season nights can be cool enough for a fleece, which surprises visitors arriving from Phnom Penh.
Are there times when transport is very busy?
Yes. Around Khmer New Year in mid-April and the Pchum Ben festival in September or October, many Cambodians travel home, buses fill up and prices can rise. Book transport earlier for those dates.
Sources and checks
Time-sensitive details on this page (prices, schedules, travel times, access) were last checked against the sources below on 11 October 2026. They change, so any proposal reconfirms them with the provider first.
Tell us what you want from eastern Cambodia
Share your dates, what you hope to see and how you like to travel. We reply with a first view of the route and, when you are ready, a written proposal with the price, what it includes and who provides each part of the trip.
