Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Bayon: Half-Day Tour from Siem Reap

Four to five hours at the three temples that define Angkor, ending before the heat peaks.

A small group or private half-day tour from Siem Reap visits Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple with its 216 carved faces, and the Terrace of the Elephants, with hotel pickup and return before noon. You walk the three sites with an English-speaking guide, who explains the Khmer empire's architecture and history. The tour wraps before midday heat sets in.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Angkor Wat2h
2. Angkor Thom40m
3. Bayon30m
4. Terrace of the Elephantspassing by

Explore Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom

• Pick up from hotel in Siem Reap
• Visit Angkor Wat temple complex
• Explore Angkor Thom city walls and gates
• Tour Bayon and Baphuon temples
• See Terrace of Elephants and Leper King
• Return to hotel in Siem Reap

The experience

Four to five hours covers four of Angkor's most significant monuments. Pickup from your hotel in Siem Reap starts the morning, and the guide meets you at Angkor Wat: the world's largest religious building, built in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, later Buddhist. The temple's three rectangular galleries rise toward a central quincunx of towers, all enclosed by a moat and outer wall 3.6 kilometers long. The bas-reliefs and guardian spirits carved into its walls are what drew scholars to call it the best-preserved temple at the site.

From there the route moves north to Angkor Thom, the walled capital city built at the end of the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. The city's walls stretch a little over 12 kilometers and stand 8 meters high, with five gopura gates. Inside, you reach the Bayon Temple, where 54 towers are adorned with 216 serene carved faces of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara: the detail most visitors come to see and photograph. The guide walks you through the architectural logic and the empire's history as you move between the temples. After Bayon, the vehicle passes the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, the royal viewing platforms where the king held audiences. The terrace is 340 meters long and decorated with near life-size elephant carvings along its front wall.

The tour ends with return transfer to your hotel before noon, timed so you avoid the afternoon heat. Bottled water is provided throughout. Groups stay small, or you can book privately. Transport is by tuk-tuk for one to three passengers, or minivan for four or more.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the tour.
• experienced English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Siem Reap.
• transport by tuk-tuk for one to three passengers or minivan for four or more.

Options for this experience

2 options

Morning Half-Day ToursGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 08:00Morning half-day tours: the tour gets back at about 12 noon, with drop-off at your hotel. Pickup is included.

Afternoon Half-Day ToursGuide in English · 13:00, 13:30 and 14:00Afternoon half-day tours: pickup at 2 pm, with drop-off at your hotel at around 6 pm. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 4h–5h, runs every day, 8 start times, from US$ 43 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 13:00, 13:30 and 14:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate5 group tours ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (19 to 54 years) · Under 19: can't be booked

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

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Green Era Travel

Is this one for you?Book the morning departure if you want to explore the temples while it is cooler and return to your hotel by early afternoon. The afternoon tour suits travelers who prefer a later start or want to spend the morning elsewhere in Siem Reap before heading to Angkor.

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Top questions

What is Angkor Wat and why is it considered the world's largest religious monument?

Angkor Wat is a temple complex built in the early 12th century for King Suryavarman II as his state temple and capital city. It remains the only temple at Angkor to have stayed a significant religious center since its foundation, first as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, then Buddhist. The temple is the world's largest religious building, designed to represent Mount Meru from Hindu mythology, with three rectangular galleries rising toward a central tower, all enclosed by a moat and outer wall 3.6 kilometers long.

What are the 216 carved faces at Bayon Temple?

Bayon Temple has 54 towers adorned with 216 serene carved faces of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, a divine figure in Buddhist tradition. The faces are the temple's most recognizable feature and are what most visitors photograph during the tour.

What is the Terrace of the Elephants and what does it look like?

The Terrace of the Elephants is a 340-meter-long royal viewing platform within Angkor Thom, fronting the Royal Palace. Its front wall is decorated with near life-size carvings of elephants alternating with sections of garuda birds and standing lions, making it one of the iconic constructions of the Khmer Empire.

How does the morning tour differ from the afternoon tour?

Both morning and afternoon half-day tours cover the same four sites and last four to five hours. The morning departure gets you to the temples earlier. The afternoon tour runs later in the day. Both return to your hotel before the hottest part of the afternoon.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Bottled water is provided, and the guide can direct you to dining options, but you arrange and pay for meals separately.

Do I need to buy a separate ticket to enter Angkor Wat and the other temples?

Yes. The Angkor Wat National Park ticket is 37 US dollars per person and is not included in the tour price. You purchase it separately before entering the park.