Angkor Wat Private Tour: Driver, No Guide, Four Temples

Four temples, your own rhythm, a driver who knows the route

A private tour of Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park with an English-speaking driver and hotel pickup, visiting Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon and Ta Prohm over five to six hours. You set the pace at each temple while the driver handles transport and waits. Entrance fees are paid separately at the park gate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Angkor Wat3h
2. Angkor Thom1h
3. Bayon1h

Explore Angkor Archaeological Park

• Pick up from hotel
• Buy entrance ticket
• Visit Angkor Wat temple
• Explore Angkor Thom city
• See Bayon temple
• Visit Ta Prohm temple
• Return to hotel or drop off

The experience

The difference here is control. You're not following a guide's script or stopping when a group decides to move on. A driver picks you up from your Siem Reap hotel, takes you to the Angkor National Park entrance where you buy your own ticket, then drives you between the four main temples. At each one: Angkor Wat with its 1,000-by-800-meter enclosure and 200-meter moat, the walled city of Angkor Thom built in the late 12th century, Bayon with its 200 carved smiling faces, and Ta Prohm where tree roots have reclaimed the stone. You spend as long as you want. The driver waits and moves you to the next stop when you're ready.

Angkor Wat itself was built between 1113 and 1150 and is the largest religious monument in the world, dedicated to Vishnu. Its outer gallery walls hold the longest continuous bas relief ever carved. Angkor Thom is surrounded by an 8-meter wall and a 100-meter moat. King Jayavarman VII built it as his capital after the 12th century. Bayon sits at the center of Angkor Thom and confuses most visitors on purpose: three levels of galleries and passages create dim lighting and narrow walkways that make the layout feel like a maze. Ta Prohm is where French archaeologists left the jungle to do its work. The roots have split the stones and covered the walls, and that's the whole point of stopping there.

The tour runs five to six hours total. Cold bottled water is provided. If you're a group of three or more, you travel in an air-conditioned minivan. One or two people get a tuk tuk. Lunch normally happens at a restaurant inside the national park during the midday break. It costs more than town restaurants but it's the practical choice when you're that far from Siem Reap. You'll need long pants or knee-length skirts or dresses to enter the temples. The return transfer takes you back to your hotel or any drop-off point in the city center.

What’s included

• English-speaking driver.
• cold bottled water during the tour.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Siem Reap.
• transportation by tuk tuk for one to two passengers or air-conditioned minivan for three or more.

Information

Lasts 5h–6h, runs every day, 8 start times, from US$ 13 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, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

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

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Green Era Travel

Is this one for you?The pace is self-directed, but the day is long and involves walking uneven stone, stairs and passages in heat. You'll need moderate fitness and comfort with physical exertion. Choose this if you want to linger at temples without a guide's schedule, but expect five to six hours on your feet with a midday lunch break in the park.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's the difference between this tour and one with a guide?

You explore each temple on your own schedule instead of following a guide's commentary and pacing. The driver provides transport and waits at each stop, but doesn't narrate the history or lead you through the sites. This works well if you prefer to wander, read plaques at your own speed, or spend extra time at one temple without holding up others.

Do I have to buy the Angkor National Park entrance ticket separately?

Yes. The driver stops at the ticket office so you can purchase your own entry fee. It's not included in the tour price, and you pay it directly to the park.

What is Bayon actually famous for?

Bayon is covered with more than 200 carved stone faces on its towers, all smiling. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the state temple of King Jayavarman VII, it sits at the center of Angkor Thom and has a deliberately confusing layout with three levels, narrow passages, dim galleries and low ceilings that make it feel like a maze inside.

How much walking is involved in a day like this?

You'll walk through each temple complex at your own pace, which means the distance depends entirely on how much you explore. The terrain is uneven stone, stairs and passages, so moderate fitness helps. Long pants or knee-length skirts are required by the temples, and the heat is intense at midday.

Can I spend more time at one temple and skip another?

Yes. Since you're not on a fixed group schedule, you can stay longer at Angkor Wat or Bayon and spend less time elsewhere, or skip Ta Prohm if you prefer. The driver adjusts the route to your interests within the five to six hour window.

Is lunch included, and what are the options?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. The driver typically stops at a restaurant inside Angkor National Park during the midday break. Those restaurants cost more than options in Siem Reap town, but they're the practical choice when you're deep in the park. You can bring your own food or eat at the park restaurant.