Visiting Cambodia in November: Weather, Crowds, Prices & Events (2026 Guide for Indian Travellers)
So, is November a good time to visit Cambodia? For Indian backpackers, it depends on which half you pick. Planning the wider region? Our Southeast Asia backpacking hub covers the full multi-country route.
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-18
So, is November a good time to visit Cambodia? For Indian backpackers, it depends on which half you pick. The southwest monsoon breaks down, rivers stay high, and by mid-month the country usually swings into dry season, with the Bon Om Touk Water Festival hitting Phnom Penh around the full moon. Hotel rates fall early, then spike late.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Is November a good time to visit Cambodia? | Yes, late November is one of the best two weeks of the year. Early November is wet. | , |
| Cambodia visa fee for Indians (e-Visa) | ₹3,471 (~36 USD), single entry, 30 days | ₹3,471 (~$35.98) |
| Cambodia visa-on-arrival fee | ₹2,892 (~30 USD) at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville airports | ₹2,892 (~$29.97) |
| Dorm bed in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap | ₹482 (~5 USD) to ₹964 (~10 USD) per night | ₹480 (~$4.98) to ₹960 (~$9.95) |
| Bon Om Touk festival dates 2026 | Full moon of Kadeuk (around 24-26 November) | , |
Month-by-Month Breakdown
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Cost Level | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | Wet until ~15th, dry after; 27 to 32°C | Medium, spikes for Water Festival | Mid (₹₹) | Split month: cheap early, busy late |
| December | Dry, cool, 24 to 30°C | High | Peak (₹₹₹) | Best weather, highest prices |
| January | Dry, coolest, 22 to 30°C | High | Peak (₹₹₹) | Peak season, book Angkor early |
| February | Dry, warming, 24 to 32°C | High | Peak (₹₹₹) | Same as Jan, fewer families |
| March | Hot, 28 to 35°C | Medium | Mid (₹₹) | Khmer New Year pressure in April |
| April | hot, 30 to 38°C | Medium | Mid (₹₹) | Khmer New Year pressure, hottest month |
| May | Hot, pre-monsoon storms | Low | Budget (₹) | Quietest time before rains |
| June | Wet season starts | Low | Budget (₹) | Rains daily but evenings dry |
| July | Heavy rain, river rises | Low | Budget (₹) | Countryside roads get muddy |
| August | Heavy rain, peak floods | Low | Budget (₹) | Tonle Sap high, mosquitoes |
| September | Wet, typhoon tail risk | Low | Budget (₹) | Cheapest flights of the year |
| October | Rains easing, green landscape | Medium | Mid (₹₹) | “Green season” tourism push |
A full month-by-month comparison lives in our Cambodia month-by-month guide. For October specifically, see Visiting Cambodia in October.
November Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The first two weeks are shoulder season: Siem Reap and Phnom Penh hostels drop rates, Angkor Wat passes are easy to get same-day, and tuk-tuk drivers pick up the phone.
- Bon Om Touk (the Water Festival) lights up Phnom Penh for three nights around the full moon. Boat races on the Tonle Sap, lantern floats, fireworks, and street food everywhere.
- Temperatures sit in the high 20s to low 30s, lower than April, so temple-hopping at Angkor is bearable.
- Countryside is still green from the monsoon: rice paddies are full, the Kep coastline looks its best, and Kampot pepper farms are photogenic.
Cons:
- Early November still gets afternoon downpours, especially in coastal Sihanoukville and Koh Rong. Mornings are usually fine, so plan temple time for 6 to 11 AM.
- Hotel rates spike 30 to 50% in Phnom Penh for the festival window (roughly 22 to 26 November). Book dorms 10 to 14 days ahead if your dates lock to those nights.
- Siem Reap sees fewer Water Festival crowds than Phnom Penh, so prices stay reasonable all month. Use that to your base split.
- Mosquito populations are still high from October rains: dengue is a real risk. Carry a DEET-based repellent, especially around Tonle Sap floating villages.
The real picture on the ground: by 10 to 15 November, the rain usually stops for good in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Travellers report the sky clearing, humidity dropping from “swamp” to “manageable,” and the rivers starting to drop. By the third week, tuk-tuk queues at Angkor Wat are back to normal morning chaos and hostels fill for the festival. If your dates are flexible, target 10 to 18 November for the cheapest quiet window, then move on to Bangkok or Vietnam before prices lift.
What to Pack Specifically for November
- A compact rain shell or poncho for the first two weeks. Packable, not a flimsy ₹200 (~$2.07) tourist poncho: get a real one.
- Quick-dry shirts and trousers. Cotton stays wet for hours in Khmer humidity.
- Closed-toe sandals or trail shoes for muddy temple approaches (Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei outer paths).
- DEET-based mosquito repellent (at least 20% concentration). The October mosquito population carries over.
- A reusable water bottle. Tap water is not potable and November heat still hits 32°C.
- A light long-sleeve for air-conditioned buses between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (they crank the AC).
- A photocopy of your passport and e-Visa. Carry both separately from the originals.
Season Costs Comparison
| Item | Peak Season (Dec to Feb) | Shoulder Season (Nov early, Mar, Oct) | Low / Monsoon Season (May to Sep) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight from India (round trip) | ₹25,000 (~$259.12) to ₹35,000 (~$362.76) | ₹18,000 (~$186.56) to ₹25,000 (~$259.12) | ₹14,000 (~$145.11) to ₹20,000 (~$207.29) |
| Dorm bed in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap | ₹800 (~$8.29) to ₹1,500 (~$15.55) | ₹480 (~$4.98) to ₹960 (~$9.95) | ₹400 (~$4.15) to ₹700 (~$7.26) |
| Private room (double) | ₹3,000 (~$31.09) to ₹5,500 (~$57.01) | ₹1,800 (~$18.66) to ₹3,200 (~$33.17) | ₹1,200 (~$12.44) to ₹2,200 (~$22.80) |
| Angkor Wat 1-day pass | ₹3,567 (~37 USD) | ₹3,567 (~37 USD) | ₹3,567 (~37 USD) |
| Bon Om Touk hotel surcharge (Phnom Penh) | n/a | +30 to 50% | n/a |
The festival surcharge is the single biggest November cost trap. Hostels in Phnom Penh’s Riverside area quote 50% higher for 22 to 26 November. Base yourself in Siem Reap for that week and take a Phnom Penh to Siem Reap bus down for the festival if you want both.
For dorms specifically, our Siem Reap hostel guide lists current spots with verified rates.
Getting Connected
A local SIM gives you weather alerts during the monsoon tail and Grab app access in Phnom Penh. Smart Axiata and Cellcard both have airport counters with passport e-Visa registration taking under 10 minutes. A 7-day data pack runs about ₹386 (~4 USD). If you’d rather skip the airport queue, a regional eSIM from Nomad gets you data the moment you land.
Bon Om Touk: What Happens
The Water Festival marks the reversal of the Tonle Sap River’s flow, when the Mekong’s floodwaters push back upstream. In practice, this means three nights of boat racing in Phnom Penh, illuminated floats on the river, concerts on Sisowath Quay, fireworks, and a Cambodian population that pours into the capital from the provinces. Riverside bars stay open until 2 AM. Streets near the Royal Palace are packed shoulder-to-shoulder on the second night.
For Indian travellers who have not seen a Mekong festival before, this is the one event worth planning a trip around. If you go, arrive in Phnom Penh by 21 November and book accommodation in advance: rooms within 2 km of the river sell out by mid-October for the festival window. Siem Reap stays open and quiet.
For the full November food scene and Angkor logistics, our Phnom Penh guide and Kampot day-trip guide round out the trip.
Where to Eat (Indian Traveller-Friendly Spots)
If you’ve been on the road for two weeks and need a proper dal-chawal, Phnom Penh’s BKK1 area has a few reliable spots. Indian Restaurant (rating 4.9) does basic North Indian dishes in a simple setting. For Cambodian food you want to try, Smokin’ Pot Authentic Cambodian Restaurant and Cooking School (rating 4.9) runs both a kitchen and a cooking class, so you can learn to make amok and then eat what you cooked. HoubHoub Cambodian Restaurant (BKK1) (rating 4.8) is a solid local stop in the same neighbourhood as the Indian places, useful for splitting the group.
For an evening that’s not another temple, Phare, The Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap runs nightly shows that blend theatre, acrobatics, and live music, all performed by graduates of the Phare Ponleu Selpak arts school.
Safety and Travel Advisory
November itself is a low-risk month weather-wise once the rain stops. The standard precautions apply: only registered tuk-tuks in Siem Reap, Grab in Phnom Penh after dark, and the usual care with moto rentals. For current political or regional security context, check the Indian Ministry of External Affairs travel advisory page before you fly. For anything festival-related, the British FCDO and Australian Smartraveller maintain dedicated Cambodia advisory pages with regularly updated guidance.
FAQ
Is November a good time to visit Cambodia for Angkor Wat? Yes. The first half of November has fewer tourists than December to February, lower humidity than April, and rain that usually clears by lunchtime. Book a 3-day Angkor pass if you want to spread temple visits across clear mornings.
Do Indians need a visa for Cambodia in November? Yes. Indian passport holders need either a ₹2,892 (~30 USD) visa-on-arrival or a ₹3,471 (~36 USD) e-Visa, both giving 30 days single entry. Apply via the official Cambodia e-Visa portal at least 3 working days before departure.
How much does a Cambodia trip cost from India in November? A 7-night budget trip including flights, dorms, food, and Angkor passes lands around ₹45,000 (~$466.41) to ₹60,000 (~$621.88) per person if you skip the festival surcharge window. Add 30 to 50% to Phnom Penh accommodation if you stay 22 to 26 November for Bon Om Touk.
Will it rain every day in Cambodia in November? Early November, yes, expect 1 to 3 hours of afternoon rain with clear mornings. After about 15 November, rain stops almost entirely and the dry season begins.
Is Bon Om Touk worth planning around? If you’ve already planned a Cambodia trip, yes. If you have not, November’s second half in Siem Reap without the festival is just as good and 30% cheaper.
Subodh’s Take
November is the smart traveller’s month: you get December’s weather at October’s prices, with a free festival thrown in if you time it right. The single biggest mistake is treating November as one season. It is two: a wet first half and a dry second half, with the festival spike in between. Pick your dates based on which half you want, and book Phnom Penh 10 days ahead if you’re staying for the boat races. Everyone else does fine on the day.
