3-Day Angkor Wat Tour: Small Circuit, Big Circuit & Beng Mealea

Three days across Angkor's most significant temples, from Angkor Wat at sunrise to the jungle-swallowed ruins of Beng Mealea

A 3-day guided tour of Angkor's temple complex near Siem Reap, covering the small circuit on day one, the big circuit with Banteay Srei on day two, and Beng Mealea plus the Rolous Group on day three. You watch sunrise over Angkor Wat, climb Phnom Bakheng for sunset, and explore over a dozen named temples across three distinct routes, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and an air-conditioned vehicle throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Angkor Wat Small Circuit and Sunset

• Pick up at 8:00am
• Buy temples pass
• Visit Angkor Wat temple
• Visit Ta Prohm temple
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Ta Nei temple
• Visit Victory gate
• Visit Bayon temple
• Visit Baphoun temple
• Visit Royal Enclosure Wall and Phimeanakas
• Visit Terrace of the Elephants
• Visit Terrace of the Leper King
• Climb Phnom Bakheng for sunset

Day 2: Angkor Wat Big Circuit and Banteay Srei

• Pick up at 5:00am for sunrise
• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• Pick up after breakfast
• Visit Preah Khan temple
• Visit Neak Poan temple
• Visit Ta Som temple
• Visit East Mebon temple
• Visit Pre Rup temple
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Banteay Srei temple
• Visit Banteay Samre temple
• Visit Banteay Kdei temple

Day 3: Rolous Group and Beng Mealea Temple

• Visit Beng Mealea temple
• Visit Lolei temple
• Visit Preah Ko temple
• Visit Bakong temple
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Artisan D'Angkor (optional)
• Visit Old Market (optional)

The experience

Your first day starts at 8am with pickup from your hotel. The guide takes you to buy your temple pass on the way, then you enter Angkor Wat itself: the massive stone complex that anchors the entire site. From there you move through the small circuit: Ta Prohm, where tree roots have consumed the stonework and Hollywood filmed Tomb Raider; Ta Nei, a quieter temple surrounded by forest; then the Victory Gate entrance to Angkor Thom. Inside the walled city you visit Bayon with its 49 towers each carved with four faces (196 faces total), then Baphoun, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King. The day ends at Phnom Bakheng, where you climb the hill to watch sunset over the temple grounds: the wait runs roughly two hours, though if crowds are heavy the guide brings you earlier so you have more time to settle.

Day two begins at 5am for sunrise back at Angkor Wat, then you return to your hotel for breakfast before the guide picks you up again. This time you take the big circuit: Preah Khan, a massive Buddhist monastery complex that once housed over a thousand monks; Neak Poan, a small island temple in the middle of a reservoir; Ta Som on the eastern side; East Mebon, a three-level temple-mountain with elephant statues at its corners; and Pre Rup, built in the late 10th century. After lunch at a local restaurant (meals cost around $5 per dish depending on what you order), you continue to Banteay Srei, the pink sandstone "Ladies Temple" built in the 10th century, then Banteay Samre and Banteay Kdei to close the circuit.

On day three you drive northeast to Beng Mealea, about 68km from Siem Reap: a temple built to the same floor plan as Angkor Wat but left largely to the jungle, creating what the operator calls an Indiana Jones experience. On the return journey you stop at the Rolous Group: Lolei, a small 9th-century Hindu temple; Preah Ko, the first temple built in the ancient city of Hariharalaya; and Bakong, the largest in the cluster and the first sandstone temple-mountain the Khmer empire constructed. You break for lunch somewhere along this route. If you want, the guide can add stops at Artisan D'Angkor (a workshop for traditional crafts like stone carving and silk) and the Old Market in central Siem Reap, though both are optional and can be skipped.

What’s included

• English-speaking licensed guide throughout the three days.
• hotel pickup and drop-off each morning and evening.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all driving.
• parking fees and road tolls.
• complimentary cool water and wet towels.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day, 15 start times, from US$ 241.75 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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Happy Angkor Tour

Is this one for you?Choose this three-day tour if you want to cover both the small and big circuits plus remote temples like Banteay Srei in one trip. Book a shorter tour instead if you prefer to explore fewer sites at a relaxed pace.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start each morning?

Day one starts at 8am with hotel pickup. Day two begins at 5am so you can reach Angkor Wat for sunrise, and after breakfast the guide picks you up again. Day three timing depends on the drive to Beng Mealea, but the guide coordinates pickup with your hotel.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You eat at a local restaurant each day, and meals cost around $5 per dish depending on what you order from the menu. The guide breaks for lunch between midday and 1pm.

Do I need to buy temple passes separately?

Yes. The guide takes you to buy your Angkor temple pass on the way to the first temple on day one. The pass cost is separate from the tour price and is not included.

What is Beng Mealea like compared to the main Angkor temples?

Beng Mealea is built to the same floor plan as Angkor Wat but sits about 68km northeast of Siem Reap and has been largely reclaimed by jungle and tree growth. It feels more remote and less restored than the temples on the small and big circuits, giving it a more exploratory, overgrown character.

Can I skip the sunset at Phnom Bakheng or the sunrise at Angkor Wat?

Yes. The itinerary includes both, but you can skip either one if you prefer. The guide notes that waiting for sunset at Phnom Bakheng takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, and if the peak is crowded, you'll climb earlier to secure a spot.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes an English-speaking licensed guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, parking fees, road tolls, and complimentary cool water and wet towels during the day.