Why the “Green Season” Might Just Be Cambodia’s Best-Kept Secret

We love seeing Cambodia find fresh ways to tell its story and we’re here for the country’s latest tourism push: rebranding the rainy season as the “Green Season.” Backed by Prime Minister Hun Manet and championed by Minister of Tourism H.E. Huot Hak, the campaign is flipping the script on the monsoon months, inviting travelers to experience Cambodia at its lushest.

From Low Season to Lush Season

Traditionally, the months from April to October have been seen as Cambodia’s off-peak period, but that’s changing. With international arrivals up by 16% in the first quarter of 2025, momentum is building. The Ministry wants to maintain that growth year-round by showcasing what makes this season so special, dramatic landscapes, cooler weather, and crowd-free cultural experiences.

“We’re encouraging the private sector to be creative,” said Minister Huot Hak in a recent tourism working group. “Offer discounts, improve services, and design cultural events that reflect Khmer identity. This must be strategic and rooted in who we are.”

Real Experiences, Right Time

What makes the Green Season so magical? A few standout highlights:

• Angkor in bloom: Moss-covered stones, mirror-like moats, and misty mornings. Angkor Wat and its surrounding temples are transformed into a tranquil green paradise—with far fewer tourists to navigate around.
  
• A lens lover’s dream: Cloudbursts, sunbeams, reflections, and mist paint Cambodia in an entirely different light. Photographers won’t want to miss it.
  
• Cultural immersion: The season overlaps with significant Cambodian festivals like Chol Vossa (Buddhist Lent) and Pchum Ben, giving visitors a chance to connect with the country’s spiritual and agricultural rhythms.
  
• Tonle Sap in full flow: The lake swells to four times its dry-season size, opening up deeper exploration of floating villages and rich aquatic life.
  
• Cooler climate: Afternoon rains bring welcome relief and lower temperatures, making treks and temple visits more bearable.

Smart Travel, Better Value

If you’re a traveler who enjoys authentic experiences, cultural connection, and a slower pace, this is your window. The Green Season isn’t just about rain; it’s about intimacy, texture, and a different side of Cambodia. Fewer crowds, better service, and often lower prices on accommodation and tours make it a savvy time to explore.

Cambodia in the Bigger Picture

Zooming out, Cambodia’s Green Season rebrand is part of a larger Southeast Asian shift toward more sustainable tourism. Across the region, there’s growing emphasis on balancing development with conservation and community benefit.

Resorts like Bawah Reserve in Indonesia have set the bar high—60% of their food is grown in permaculture gardens, and no heavy machinery was used in construction. Closer to home, Cambodia is quietly carving out its own path with eco-resorts and a new generation of mindful hospitality.

“Southeast Asia’s future depends on tourism that preserves the very things people come to see,” says one industry voice. And Cambodia seems ready to lead by example.

The Verdict?

Don’t write off the rainy season! Whether you’re kayaking through the expanded Tonle Sap, walking barefoot on the mossy stones of Ta Prohm, or catching a sunset over Phnom Krom after a downpour, the Green Season offers a kind of magic that the dry season just can’t match.

Cambodia is lush, local, and alive, and now’s the time to see it in full colour.

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  Why the “Green Season” Might Just Be Cambodia’s Best-Kept Secret