Cambodia
Peak (Dry): November – February. This time of the year offers the best weather to explore the temples, lakes, and beaches. It can get very hot but everything is mostly accessible, compared with the rain season.
Shoulder Season: March – May. These months can offer great days but the chances of extreme heat are higher.
Off-Peak (Wet): June – October. These months are very rainy. You can get weeks of rain. These months also offer less crowds and cheaper prices.
I highly recommend taking cash out of the ATMs available once you arrive. You will find places where credit cards are accepted but there are many places (restaurants, transportation, and stores) that only take cash. One great way to get around in Cambodia are tuk-tuks, which only take cash.
Network Reality: Cambodia has surprisingly good mobile data in the main hubs. In Siem Reap, my US carrier plan worked well. There might not be any cellular service in small villages or in remote temples.
Power & Plugs: Cambodia is a “three-way” hybrid. You will find Type A (US-style), Type C (Euro-style), and Type G (UK-style). Most modern hotels use universal sockets, but a universal adapter is highly recommended. The voltage is 230V.
The 4:00 AM alarm is a brutal but necessary ritual in Siem Reap. Most travelers arrive at Angkor Wat and head straight for the reflecting pools, for a front-row spot among hundreds of others. But one morning, I made it to the gates extra early—before the crowds, before the noise. Once my ticket was checked, I ran. I walked through the world’s largest religious monument in total, heavy darkness. With only my headlamp to guide me, I was the only human in the complex. The only sound was the rustle of macaques jumping between the stones and their occasional calls echoing off the temple walls. Experiencing that kind of absolute solitude in a place built for kings and gods is something I’ll never forget. By the time the sun began to rise, I had secured the perfect spot by the water, watching the silhouette of the temple—the same one that sits on the Cambodian flag—reflect perfectly in the still pools. It wasn’t just a sunrise; it was a reward for the early hustle.