Angkor Wat & Bayon bike tour: Smiling faces and hidden trails

Pedal through two of Cambodia's greatest temples on a single morning ride

This is a guided five-hour bike tour of Angkor Wat and Bayon with an English-speaking guide, lunch and premium mountain bike included. You cycle through hidden trails to Angkor Wat (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), then continue to the South gate of Angkor Thom, where you climb the defensive wall for views of the jungle and moat. The tour ends at Bayon, famous for its 54 towers and 216 smiling stone faces carved into the rock.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Angkor Wat and Bayon temples

• Ride to Angkor Wat
• Explore Angkor Wat temple
• Visit South gate of Angkor Thom
• Climb and ride on Angkor Thom wall
• Stop at Prasat Chrung for break
• Visit West gate of Angkor Thom
• Explore Bayon temple
• Lunch with local food
• Cycle back to town

The experience

The ride starts as a leisurely pedal through peaceful countryside toward Angkor Wat, with your guide pointing out butterflies, flowers and the sound of the forest. Angkor Wat itself is the largest religious monument on earth, and you'll have time to walk its corridors and absorb the scale of the architecture before moving on. The South gate of Angkor Thom comes next: the best-preserved of the four defensive gates that once protected the Khmer capital. You climb up onto the wall itself and ride along it, which gives you views across the jungle and the moat that encircles the city.

A short break at Prasat Chrung lets you step off the bike and watch local fishing in action, with thousands of palm trees framing the scene. The West gate of Angkor Thom, newly restored in 2023, shows what the ruins look like after careful reconstruction work. Then comes Bayon, the second most important temple after Angkor Wat, where you walk through the intricate corridors and encounter the famous smiling faces: 216 of them carved into 54 towers. Lunch is a local meal served partway through the day, and you cycle back to town at the end.

The tour is designed to be easy and unhurried, not a test of fitness or endurance. You get a premium mountain bike with a helmet, drinking water throughout the day, coconut water as a refreshment, and an English-speaking guide who provides the history and context for what you're seeing. The whole experience fits into five hours, so it leaves room for other activities in your day.

What’s included

• Premium mountain bike and helmet.
• English-speaking guide.
• lunch with local food.
• pure drinking water and coconut water.
• five hours of guided cycling through the temples and surrounding countryside.

Information

Lasts 5h, runs every day at 07:30, from US$ 55 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 102 private ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.8 with pickup ›

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 to 60 years) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5)

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Angkor Cycling Tour

Is this one for you?You ride the temples yourself with a guide narrating. Choose this if you want to cover Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom's gates, and the jungle views from the defensive walls in one morning loop, leaving your afternoon free.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

47 verified traveler reviews

5 ★44

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5).

What is Angkor Wat and why is it famous?

Angkor Wat is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the largest religious monument on earth. It was built as a Hindu temple in the 12th century and later transformed into a Buddhist site. The temple is known for its harmonious architecture, intricate carvings and the scale of its construction, which took decades to complete.

Can I see the Bayon temple's smiling faces up close?

Yes. Bayon has 216 smiling stone faces carved into 54 towers, and you walk through the temple's corridors to see them. The faces are one of the most recognizable features of Angkor, and the tour gives you time to move through the temple and observe them at your own pace.

What does climbing the South gate wall involve?

The South gate of Angkor Thom is a defensive wall that once protected the Khmer capital. You climb up onto the wall and ride your bike along it, which gives you views of the jungle and the moat that encircles the city. It's part of the leisurely pace of the tour, not a strenuous climb.

Is this tour suitable if I haven't cycled in a while?

Yes. The tour is designed as a leisurely, easy ride through peaceful countryside and temple grounds. It's suitable for all physical fitness levels and is not an adventurous or professional cycling experience. The pace is relaxed, and you stop frequently to explore the temples and take breaks.

What happens at Prasat Chrung?

Prasat Chrung is a short break stop where you can observe local fishing in action and see the thousands of palm trees that surround the area. It gives you a glimpse of everyday life in the region and a chance to rest before continuing to the next temple.