Cambodia in December 2026: peak dry season, cool mornings, book ahead

December is Cambodia at its easiest: the rains have gone, mornings are genuinely cool by Cambodian standards, the countryside is still green from the wet season, and every route in the country is running. It is also peak season — the one month where booking ahead stops being optional.

The weather, plainly

December sits in the heart of the dry season. Days are warm rather than brutal, humidity drops, and early mornings — especially around Angkor and in the north-east — can feel cool enough for a light layer. Rain is rare. That combination makes December the best walking month of the year: temple days are longer before the heat builds, and the Tonle Sap and Mekong are still full from the wet-season rise. If you are choosing a month from outside the country, this and January are the two to aim at — the trade-off is crowds and prices, not weather.

What December does to prices and crowds

Hotels in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh fill over the Christmas and New Year window, and the best-value rooms go first. Book the holiday weeks early; the first half of December is noticeably calmer than the last. Angkor at sunrise is busy in December — the fix is the same as always: buy the pass the afternoon before, start at a major temple that is not Angkor Wat for sunrise once in your stay, and give the big circuit a full, unhurried day. Our Angkor Pass guide has the prices and rules, and best time to visit Angkor Wat puts December in the full-year picture.

Where December shines

The islands are at their best: calm seas make the boats from Sihanoukville reliable and Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem get their clearest water of the year — book island rooms early for the holiday window. Kampot and Kep are green, cool and made for slow riverfront evenings; the route down is in Phnom Penh to Kampot. The north-east — Kratie for the dolphins and Mondulkiri's hills — is dry, accessible and cool in the mornings. Phnom Penh is at its most pleasant for walking, markets and the riverfront.

The practical December checklist

Pack one light warm layer for mornings and air-conditioned buses, and keep the sun kit — December sun is still strong at midday; buy before you fly covers what to bring. Sort the visa before you fly: a tourist eVisa is $30 at the official site, the Ordinary (E) visa is $35 if you might stay longer, and the e-Arrival card is free and mandatory for air arrivals — all in the e-Arrival guide. Thailand's land borders remain closed, so any Thailand combination flies. And carry the usual mix of dollars and small riel notes — December crowds make exact change at busy stalls worth having; see money in Cambodia.

Staying into the new year? Cambodia in January is the same peak weather with the full high-season crowds — the planning counters are in that guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is December the best month to visit Cambodia?

For weather, yes — December and January are the coolest, driest months. You trade that against peak crowds and peak prices in the holiday weeks.

Do I need to book ahead in December?

For the Christmas–New Year window, yes — Siem Reap and island rooms especially. Early December is easier, but booking the key nights ahead is still smart.

Seasonal guide checked November 1, 2026. Border status (Thailand land crossings closed since June 2025) and visa fees ($30 tourist / $35 Ordinary) per the site's verified material.