3-Day Angkor Wat & Phnom Kulen Tour from Siem Reap

Angkor Wat at sunrise, temple-hopping the Small and Big Circuits, then Phnom Kulen's sacred river carvings and waterfall

This 3-day tour from Siem Reap covers the main Angkor temples across two circuits, plus Phnom Kulen National Park and Banteay Srei. Day one takes you through Angkor Wat, Ta Promh, Bayon, and the royal terraces, ending with sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Day two heads north to Phnom Kulen to see the 1000 Lingas carved into the riverbed and a waterfall, then visits Banteay Srei's pink sandstone carvings. Day three starts before dawn at Angkor Wat for sunrise, then loops through Preah Khan, Neak Pean, and the Rolous Group temples.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Angkor Wat Small Circuit and Sunset

• Meet guide at accommodation
• Buy temples pass
• Visit Angkor Wat temple
• Visit Ta Promh temple
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Ta Nei temple
• Stop at Victory gate
• Visit Bayon temple
• Visit Baphoun temple and Reclining Buddha
• Visit Royal Enclosure Wall and Phimeanakas
• Visit Terrace of the Elephants
• Visit Terrace of the Leper King
• Climb Phnom Bakheng for sunset

Day 2: Kulen Mountain and Banteay Srei

• Visit 1000 Lingas riverbed
• Visit Big Reclining Buddha
• Visit Kulen waterfall
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Banteay Srei temple
• Visit Banteay Samre temple
• Visit Pre Rup temple

Day 3: Sunrise Angkor Wat and Big Circuit

• Meet guide early at accommodation
• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• Visit Preah Khan temple
• Visit Neak Poan temple
• Visit Ta Som temple
• Visit East Mebon temple
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Lolei temple
• Visit Preah Ko temple
• Visit Bakong temple
• Visit Artisan D'Angkor craft center (optional)
• Visit local Old market (optional)

The experience

Angkor Wat itself anchors the first day. You start at 8am from your hotel, buy your temple pass on the way, and walk the outer galleries and central towers of the world's largest religious monument. After a couple of hours there, you move to Ta Promh (the temple with massive tree roots sprawling over its stones, famous from the Tomb Raider film), then break for lunch at a local restaurant around noon. The afternoon carries you through Ta Nei (quieter, less restored), the Victory Gate, Bayon with its 49 towers and 196 carved faces, Baphuon, the Royal Enclosure, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King. The day ends climbing Phnom Bakheng to watch the sunset. If the peak is crowded, your guide takes you up earlier so you have time to settle in.

Day two breaks the temple rhythm entirely. You drive more than 60 kilometers north to Phnom Kulen National Park, where the real draw is not a single structure but a riverbed carved with hundreds of Lingas, stone symbols of Shiva's essence, and a giant reclining Buddha called Prah Ang Thom, carved from natural rock. There's a waterfall here too, and swimming is an option if you want it. After lunch, you visit Banteay Srei, the 10th-century "Ladies Temple" built from pink sandstone with intricate carvings, then Banteay Samre and Pre Rup on the way back toward Siem Reap.

The final morning starts at 5am for the sunrise at Angkor Wat: the light hits the central towers and their reflections in the water. After returning to your hotel for breakfast, you rejoin your guide to tackle the Big Circuit: Preah Khan (a massive Buddhist monastery complex that once housed over 1000 monks), Neak Pean (a small island temple in the middle of a reservoir), Ta Som, and East Mebon with its corner elephant statues. Lunch comes before the Rolous Group: Lolei, Preah Ko, and Bakong, the first sandstone temple mountain built by Khmer rulers. The tour ends with optional stops at Artisan D'Angkor for craft shopping or the local market in central Siem Reap if you want them.

What’s included

• English-speaking licensed guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private air-conditioned vehicle with driver.
• cool drinking water and wet towels.
• parking fees and road tolls.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day, 15 start times, from US$ 239 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day15 departure times: 07:30, 07:45, 08:00, 08:15, 08:30, 08:45, 09:00, 09:15, 09:30, 09:45, 10:00, 10:15, 10:30, 10:45 and 11:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to10h before

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

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Happy Angkor Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to spread temple visits across three days to see Small Circuit, Big Circuit, Phnom Kulen, and Rolous Group, rather than cramming them into one day.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the Small Circuit and Big Circuit at Angkor?

The Small Circuit covers the inner temples (Angkor Wat, Ta Promh, Ta Nei, Bayon, and the royal terraces), and takes the first day. The Big Circuit loops further out to include Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, and East Mebon, tackled on the morning of day three after sunrise. Both circuits pass through the same central area but approach it from different directions and cover different outer temples.

Can I swim at the Phnom Kulen waterfall?

Yes, swimming is possible at the waterfall on day two. The waterfall is part of the Phnom Kulen National Park visit, and it's a natural spot where you can cool off if you want to.

What time do I need to wake up for the sunrise at Angkor Wat?

Your guide picks you up at 5am on day three to get you to Angkor Wat in time for sunrise. After watching the light hit the temple, you return to your hotel for breakfast before the day's temple visits begin.

Are meals included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. On each day, you'll stop at a local restaurant around noon for about 45 minutes to an hour. Meals cost around $5 per dish depending on what you order from the menu.

How far is Phnom Kulen from Siem Reap?

Phnom Kulen is more than 60 kilometers from Angkor Park, making it a longer drive on day two. The distance is why that day focuses on fewer temples but includes the unique riverbed carvings and waterfall that sit outside the main Angkor complex.