Like its neighbor Thailand, Cambodia's year is generally divided into three seasons: the "cool season," "hot season" and "rainy season." But for travellers from Europe and North American these might more appropriately be labelled hot, really hot and really hot and wet.

The cool season runs from November to February, and of course this is the best time to visit. High temperatures during this time are usually under 30°C (85°F) with night-time lows sometimes dipping below 20°C.

The hot season follows the cool season from about March to May. High temperatures at this time can reach 40°C (104°F) and average 33 to 35°C. The temples at Angkor, high up on their plateau, can be particularly baking.

The rainy season runs from around June to October, when the monsoons arrive from the Gulf of Thailand. Temperatures are almost as high as the hot season, but this isn't an entirely bad time to visit. The rains usually only last an hour or two in the afternoon, leaving the rest of the time to explore with the sights pretty much to yourself.

Current conditions in Cambodia's capital Phnom Phen: