Angkor Wat & Bayon Temples Day Tour with Pickup

Summary

Angkor’s temples reveal centuries of stories and silent faces

You’ll walk ancient galleries at Angkor Wat with a local guide who knows every story carved in stone. See Bayon’s mysterious faces up close and eat lunch near Srah Srang’s quiet waters. End your day wandering Ta Prohm’s jungle ruins as birds call overhead — these moments stay with you long after you leave Cambodia.

What’s the experience like?

Someone handed me a cold towel as we climbed out of the minivan, and honestly, I clung to it for a while — the Cambodian morning is thick, even before the sun really gets going. Our guide, Dara, started us at Angkor Wat. He pointed out tiny details in the carvings — monkeys, dancers — things I’d never have noticed on my own. The stone felt cool under my hand. There was incense somewhere nearby, sweet and smoky, and monks in orange robes drifting past like something out of a dream. I tried to pronounce “Suryavarman” (the king who built all this), but Dara just grinned and said most Cambodians shorten it too.

We moved on to Angkor Thom — you can feel how huge it must’ve been when it was a capital city. The faces at Bayon temple are everywhere; big serene smiles looking down from every angle. It’s almost eerie but comforting too? I caught myself whispering without realizing it. We passed by the Terrace of the Elephants, where kids were selling bracelets and one little girl kept trying to guess our home countries (she got mine wrong three times). Lunch was at a spot near Srah Srang — nothing fancy, just noodles and iced tea, but after all that walking it tasted perfect.

I didn’t expect Ta Prohm to get under my skin the way it did. The roots there are wild — trees swallowing stone walls whole, green light filtering through leaves overhead. Dara told us they filmed some movie here but honestly, I barely listened; I was busy trying to memorize how the air smelled (damp earth, old wood) and that feeling of being somewhere older than memory. On the drive back toward Siem Reap, everyone got quiet for a bit. Guess we were all thinking about those faces at Bayon or maybe just letting our feet recover — either way, I still think about that view tangled up with roots and sunlight.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Angkor temples and local sites

• Pick up from Siem Reap hotel
• Travel to Angkor Wat and tour temple
• Visit Angkor Thom capital city site
• Explore Bayon temple and its faces
• Pass Terrace of the Leper King and Elephant
• Lunch break at Khmer local restaurant
• Visit Ta Prohm temple in jungle
• Return to hotel

Top questions

How long is the Angkor Wat & Bayon Temples day tour?

This is a full-day tour departing from Siem Reap hotels in the morning and returning late afternoon.

Is hotel pickup included for this Angkor temples tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off from Siem Reap are included in your booking.

Are entrance fees for Angkor temples included?

No, temple entrance fees are not included but can be purchased on the day using visa cards.

What should I wear for visiting Angkor Wat?

You need respectful dress covering shoulders and knees (scarves over shoulders aren’t allowed).

Is lunch included in this day trip from Siem Reap?

Lunch is not included but there is time to eat at a Khmer restaurant near Srah Srang during the tour.

Is this small group tour suitable for kids?

The minimum age is 5 years old to join this small group tour.

Do I need special shoes for this Angkor day trip?

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended due to uneven surfaces at temple sites.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned minivan, mineral water with cool towels along the way, all local taxes covered, plus guidance from an experienced English-speaking local expert who’ll share stories as you explore each site together.