Events calendar
Festivals, religious observances, sports events and seasonal wildlife windows across Banteay Meanchey province. Dates for fixed-date national festivals shift with the lunar calendar — always confirm with the visitor office before booking travel.
What the year looks like here
The northwest has a sharper seasonal rhythm than the coast. Plan around the weather and the wildlife.
Dry season & cranes
Cool, clear mornings. The Sarus Cranes are on the reserve, the lotus ponds are full and temple photography is at its best.
Khmer New Year
Cambodia’s biggest holiday. Water blessings, sand mounds at pagodas and family gatherings — but transport and hotels fill fast.
Green season
Afternoon rains, luminous green rice fields, dramatic skies and very low visitor numbers. Some laterite roads become difficult.
Peak comfort
The Water Festival, the temple run and the best all-round conditions. Book homestays and transport well ahead.
Tell us your dates and we will tell you what is on.
Beyond the fixed calendar there are pagoda festivals, village ceremonies and weaving season variations that never make it into listings. The provincial office tracks these and can advise on what is genuinely worth adjusting your dates for.
Ethical notice
Religious festivals such as Pchum Ben are family and devotional occasions, not performances. Visitors are genuinely welcome, but please dress modestly, keep a respectful distance from ceremonies, never interrupt chanting, and follow the lead of your host or guide. Do not photograph monks or worshippers without asking.