Angkor Wat Sunrise & Bayon Temple Private Siem Reap Tour

Watch 196 stone faces emerge from shadow at Bayon, then walk through the tree-wrapped ruins of Ta Prohm.

A private full-day tour of Angkor Wat and the temples of Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, starting before dawn to catch the sunrise over the main temple, then visiting Ta Prohm, Bayon, Baphuon, and four more sites within the ancient city. Your English-speaking guide meets you at your hotel at 4:45am, handles the temple pass purchase, and returns you at the end of the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each7 stops

1. Angkor Wat3h
2. Ta Prohm1h 30m
3. Bayon1h
4. Baphuon1h
5. Royal Enclosure20m
6. Terrace of the Elephants45m
7. Terrace of the Leper King15m

Angkor Wat sunrise and temple tour

• Meet guide at hotel lobby 4:45am
• Buy temple pass
• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• Meet guide again after breakfast
• Visit Angkor Wat temple
• Visit Ta Prohm temple
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Ta Nei temple
• Stop at Victory Gate, Angkor Thom
• Visit Bayon temple
• Visit Baphuon temple and Royal Enclosure Wall
• Visit Phimeanakas temple
• Visit Terrace of the Elephants and Palilay
• Visit Terrace of the Leper King
• Visit quiet Buddhist temple behind Royal Palace
• Drop off at hotel or Siem Reap location

The experience

The day starts in the dark. Your guide picks you up at 4:45am from your hotel lobby, and you drive to Angkor Wat to watch the sunrise paint the main temple's towers. After sunrise you return to your hotel for breakfast, then meet your guide again to explore Angkor Wat itself: the world's largest religious monument, built in the 12th century. The scale becomes clear only when you walk it.

By mid-morning you move to Ta Prohm, the temple where the Tomb Raider film was shot, recognizable by the massive tree roots that have grown over and through its stone structures for centuries. Lunch follows at a local restaurant around noon, giving you an hour to rest before the afternoon temples. Ta Nei comes next (smaller and less restored, still surrounded by large trees), then the Victory Gate on Angkor Thom's east side before you reach Bayon, the centerpiece of the ancient city. Bayon's 49 towers each carry four faces of Buddhisattva Avalokiteshvara, totaling 196 expressions looking down from above.

The final stretch covers the remaining monuments within Angkor Thom: Baphuon, a Hindu temple from the 11th century with a 16th-century Reclining Buddha; the Royal Enclosure; the Terrace of the Elephants; and the Terrace of the Leper King. Your guide walks you through each one, then returns you to your hotel or another location in Siem Reap town. The full day runs 8 to 9 hours, with an air-conditioned vehicle and driver throughout.

What’s included

• English-speaking licensed guide.
• hotel pickup at 4:45am and drop-off at your hotel or another Siem Reap location.
• air-conditioned vehicle with driver throughout the day.
• complimentary cool water and cool wet towels.

Information

Lasts 8h–9h, runs every day at 04:45 and 05:00, from US$ 76 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:45 and 05:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to8h before

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

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Happy Angkor Tour

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary and history without translation delays. This works for anyone comfortable with an early 4:45am start and a full day on foot moving between nine temple sites.

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Top questions

What time does the Angkor Wat sunrise tour actually start, and why so early?

Pickup is at 4:45am from your hotel so you reach Angkor Wat before dawn breaks over the main temple. The early hour is what lets you photograph the sunrise lighting the towers and avoid the crowds that arrive later in the morning.

Is the temple pass included, or do I need to buy it separately?

Your guide buys the Angkor temple pass on the way to the temples as part of the tour. The cost of the pass itself is not included in the tour price and you pay it separately. Your guide handles the purchase so you don't have to arrange it.

What exactly is Ta Prohm, and why is it called the Tomb Raider temple?

Ta Prohm is a 12th-century Buddhist temple notable for the enormous tree roots that have grown over and through its stone walls and towers for centuries, creating a dramatic intertwining of nature and architecture. The 2001 film Tomb Raider was filmed there, which is why it carries that nickname.

How many temples do you actually visit in a single day?

You visit nine temples and major sites: Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Ta Nei, the Victory Gate, Bayon, Baphuon, the Royal Enclosure, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King, all within the Angkor Park complex.

What does lunch include, and how long is the break?

Lunch is at a local restaurant and takes 45 minutes to an hour, scheduled around noon. The meal cost depends on what you order from the menu and typically runs about $5 per dish. You choose and pay for your own food.