The dry season — November to April — is the best time to visit Kampot. December through February is pleasant: warm rather than hot, low humidity, and no rain. The Bokor mountain road is reliably open and the salt fields are in operation. March and April grow progressively hotter; by April, midday temperatures in town reach the low 40s and outdoor activity is best confined to mornings and evenings.
The wet season runs May to October. Rain falls mainly in the afternoon and evening rather than all day, and the landscape turns very green. Some years bring heavy flooding along the river, which affects access to riverside properties but rarely the town centre itself. Prices drop in the wet season and the town is quieter. The mangroves and bird watching are at their best in September and October, when water levels are high. Avoid the Khmer water festival in early November, which brings heavy road traffic on the highway.