I am finally going to get to see Angkor Wat, on a trip to Indo China that I am planning for next year. Could you tell me when is the best time to visit weather-wise? Gary Holloway, Warwick

Sunday Times expert Richard Green responds: Well, for a start, Cambodia has a tropical climate and is warm all year round ­ on average daytime temperatures of about 28 degrees Celsius.

However, you should try and avoid the rainy season, which runs from May to October, which sees about 75% of the yearly rainfall.

Any trip to Angkor will involve lots of walking around the huge temple compounds, and there is precious little shelter from heavy rain. At the peak of wet season - from July to September - it can rain two out of every three days. Having said that, it does tend to be a few hours bucketing it down, rather than all-day downpours.

Aside from getting soaked, the wet season brings even worse road conditions and the possibility of flooding. The capital is even prone to some localised flooding at the end of July and beginning of August. Don't worry about the main roads from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, which are now all-weather, sealed roads.

That said, if for any reason you have to travel in the rainy season, the country is fabulously green and lush, and bird life is at its most easy to spot.

So it¹s the dry season, from November to April, is the best time to visit, though try and be gone by April, which is hair dryer hot on your face.

November to January is relatively cool, and this is the peak tourist season for the country.

As the dry season progresses, the worst of the potholed roads get some repairs and driving gets easier and quicker, but it can get very dusty.

Incidentally, the country's beach strips are at Kep, Sihanoukville and Ko Kong are also at their clear-skied best during the dry season.

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