2-Day Private Tour Angkor Wat Sunrise & Grand Circle Temples

Angkor Wat dawn tour, private guide-led exploration of stone faces and carved terraces

A 2-day private tour of Angkor Wat combines sunrise at Cambodia's largest temple monument with visits to the Bayon's enigmatic stone faces, the ornate carvings of Banteay Srei, and ten other major temples across Angkor's small and grand circuits. A professional English-speaking guide leads the route in a private air-conditioned vehicle, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. You choose your own pace through each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Sunrise and major Angkor temples

• Wake up early at 4:30 AM
• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Visit South Gate stone causeway
• Explore Angkor Thom area
• See Bayon temple faces
• Visit Baphuon temple
• Explore Phimeanakas temple
• Walk Elephant Terrace
• Visit Terrace of the Leper King
• Explore Ta Nei temple
• Visit Banteay Kdei temple

Day 2: Banteay Srei and Grand Circle temples

• Visit Banteay Srei temple
• Explore Banteay Samré temple
• Discover Preah Dak Village
• Visit Preah Khan temple
• Explore Neak Pean temple
• Visit Ta Som temple
• See East Mebon temple
• Visit Pre Rup temple

The experience

The tour starts before dawn on day one. You leave your hotel at 4:30 to reach Angkor Wat as the sun rises behind its five iconic towers, the silhouette as recognizable as the pyramids or the Taj Mahal. The central tower rises 65 metres from ground level. After sunrise you move through Angkor Thom's South Gate, crossing the 100-metre moat on a causeway lined with giant Naga sculptures, then into the Bayon temple at the city's centre. The Bayon's dozens of carved stone faces (whose identity remains a mystery) are what Angkor is famous for. From there the guide takes you to the Baphuon, once the largest Khmer temple before Angkor Wat was built, and through the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King, where the carved reliefs are the finest examples of ornate open-air walls in the park.

Day two focuses on the grand circuit. Banteay Srei, a 10th-century temple 25 kilometres northeast, is often called the most beautiful temple in Cambodia by visitors: smaller than Angkor Wat but dense with carvings where building and ornamentation are nearly inseparable. The guide then leads you through Preah Khan, dedicated to King Jayavarman VII's father in 1191, Neak Pean with its concentric mandala ponds, Ta Som temple from the late 12th century, and Pre Rup, founded in 961 as a legacy of the king who restored Angkor as the capital. The tour ends at sunset at one of the temples on the grand circuit, giving you a second light show before returning to your hotel.

Your guide is a professional with an official license and fluent English. The operator offers guides in Spanish, Italian and French as well. The private vehicle stays with you both days, and bottled water and cool towels are provided. You'll need to purchase an Angkor Park pass at the entrance, your guide assists with this, and lunch each day is at local restaurants where you choose and pay separately, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options available.

What’s included

• Professional official license tour guide fluent in English.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for both days.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water and cool towels throughout the tour.
• assistance purchasing your Angkor Park pass at the entrance.

Options for this experience

3 options

Big Group TourUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English · Available from 25 Oct 2027Admission Fee is not included; pickup is included

Private TourUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English · 04:30Pickup is included

Joint small group tourUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English · 04:30Small group tour: a joint small group tour with hotel pickup and drop-off in Siem Reap; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2d, runs every day at 04:30, from US$ 149.46 per person, with live guides in 7 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30Another time? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese and RussianOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

AgesAdult (5 to 95 years) · Infant (under 5): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by About Cambodia Travel & Tours

Is this one for you?Book the private tour if you want a guide who can spend time explaining each temple's history and carvings without moving at a group's pace. The small-group and big-group options move faster and cost less, but only the private vehicle gives you the flexibility to linger at the stone faces of Bayon or the carvings of Banteay Srei as long as you want.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 5): free.

What time does the sunrise tour start on day one?

The pickup happens at 4:30 in the morning so you reach Angkor Wat before dawn and watch the sun rise behind the temple's five towers.

How many temples does the itinerary cover across both days?

The tour visits Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Banteay Srei, Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Pre Rup and Banteay Kdei: thirteen major sites across the small and grand circuits.

What is Banteay Srei known for?

Banteay Srei is a 10th-century temple famous for its abundance of intricate carvings and the harmony between its architecture and sculpture. Many visitors call it the most beautiful temple in Cambodia despite its modest size.

Is the Angkor Park pass included in the tour price?

No, you purchase the Angkor Park pass at the entrance on day one. Your guide will help you buy it before the tour begins.

What meals are provided during the two days?

Lunch is not included. Each day you eat at local restaurants near the temples and pay for your own meal, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options available.