Back to Feed
Long Read

Phnom Penh's Weather: A Photographer's Guide to Not Drowning (or Melting)

@Adam Wright2/8/2026blog

so here’s the tea on phnom penh’s seasons as seen through my lens. it’s basically one long, sweaty love affair with the sky that swings between monsoon rage and dry season dehydration. grab a beer, this gets messy.


right now? it’s like the city’s AC got unplugged and forgot to restart. humidity’s 89%, my camera lenses fog up faster than a cheap mirror, and the rain hits like someone throwing buckets from skyscrapers. but hey, that dramatic lighting? chef’s kiss for moody black-and-white shots. just avoid the tonlé sap riverbank during downpours unless you wanna shoot flood victims. not the aesthetic.

nearby? hop a $20 flight to sihanoukville for beach haze or drive 2 hours to kep for crab season mist. battebang’s cooler highlands are a 6-hour escape if your skin starts peeling off.

“don’t trust the weather app, bro. it’ll say ‘light rain’ and then you’re swimming to moto work. carry a sarong - it’s your umbrella, towel, and emergency burrito wrap.” - overheard at nomad lounge


*the real talk on surviving here:

 rent’s cheaper than bangkok ($300-500 for a decent 1br near riverside), but that’ll evaporate when your gear gets stolen. moto theft’s wild - lock cameras like it’s your firstborn.
job market’s growing for creatives, but expat gigs pay less than manila. if you shoot weddings? good luck with monsoon brides.
 safety’s… fine? just don’t flash gear in riverside at 3am. locals say the real danger is undercharging tuk-tuks - they’ll haunt you.

“your camera bag? that’s a snack for thieves. get a cheap decoy bag and hide real gear in a flour sack. learned that the hard way when some dude grabbed my ‘backpack’ and realized it was full of rice.” - drunk advice from a japanese bartender


*seasonal breakdown for shutterbugs:

1. november-february (dry-ish): golden hour lasts forever. temps hover 25-30°C. perfect for shooting street food at night or the royal palace at dawn. but book flights now - prices spike 40% when europeans realize it’s not monsoon season.
2. march-april (hell’s waiting room): 40°C heat. locals call it ‘hot season’ like it’s a spa day. pro move? shoot at 5am or bribe hotels for pool access. your gear will overheat faster than my laptop at a startup pitch.
3. may-october (monsoon mayhem):* bring waterproof everything. seriously, your phone will drown in 2 minutes. silver lining? flooded streets look like dystopian movie sets. just don’t step in open sewers - seen that ruin a $5k lens.

“when it rains, the city smells like wet pavement and regret. but if you shoot from a cafe on street 240, you get moody reflections in the puddles. worth it until your coffee gets stolen by a monkey.” - local artist at white building


pro tips from a broke photog:
- hit the russian market at dawn for pre-heat chaos lighting
- tuk-tuks are cheaper than grab if you negotiate (pro tip: say ‘student price’ with a wink)
- that ‘vibrant’ sunset everyone talks about? it’s pollution. embrace the smog.

“your camera gear insurance? useless. just make friends with moto drivers - they’ll chase thieves for $5. seen it happen.” - something a moto guy yelled while dodging potholes


more real talk:
- check r/phnompenh for gear deals or warnings about scammy photo labs
- tripadvisor’s useless for food spots - ask moto drivers for ‘hidden’ noodle spots
- yelp’s full of fake reviews. find food stalls with 20 moto bikes parked outside

so yeah. phnom penh’s weather’s a wild ride. but if your lens can handle the sweat, your shots’ll be fire. now if you’ll excuse me, my camera’s fogging up again. time for a beer.

You might also be interested in:

About the author: Adam Wright

Writer, thinker, and occasional over-thinker.

Loading discussion...