Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour Siem Reap: 5 Temples & Bayon

Bayon's 200 stone faces revealed as the light hits at dawn

You enter Angkor Wat in darkness from the eastern side, watch the sunrise from an ancient library pool, then spend the day temple-hopping through Bayon, the Terrace of the Elephants, and Ta Prohm with a licensed guide. Hotel pickup, water, and an air-conditioned vehicle are included. Plan for a full day out. That's what fits all five temples in one departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Angkor Wat3h
2. Bayon2h
3. Terrace of the Elephantspassing by

Sunrise and temple exploration

• Depart hotel pre-dawn
• Watch sunrise outside Angkor Wat
• Enter Angkor Wat from east side
• Walk along bas-relief corridors
• View south gate of Angkor Thom
• Explore Bayon temple and towers
• Pass Terrace of Elephants
• Visit Ta Prohm temple
• Return to hotel

The experience

"The light comes fast here," your guide will tell you in the dark, somewhere around 5am, as you're still finding your footing on the temple stones. That's the rhythm of this day. You leave the hotel between 4:30 and 4:45am depending on the season, arrive at Angkor Wat while it's still mostly black, and slip in from the eastern side, the one fewer tourists use. The corridors are narrow and old, and the bas-relief carvings along the walls (the longest stretch anywhere in the complex) start to emerge as the sky shifts from purple to grey. You're not rushing it. You're inside the temple, watching the dawn happen around you instead of standing in a crowd waiting for it.

After sunrise, the day spreads into temple-hopping. The south gate of Angkor Thom comes next, approached across a fifty-meter causeway with stone railings carved into 54 figures on each side: devas pulling one direction, asuras the other, all part of an old Hindu myth about churning the ocean into existence. It's the kind of detail a guide can explain or you can just stand there and feel the weight of. Then Bayon itself, the one with the faces. More than 200 of them, enormous and serene, carved into the central towers. Angkor Thom was the capital once, and Bayon sits at its heart. The scale of it, the deliberateness, doesn't fade as the day gets hotter. After that, the Terrace of the Elephants, a 350-meter reviewing stand where the king once held court, its walls decorated with life-size stone elephants and their mahouts. Then Ta Prohm, the temple that looks like the jungle is still winning, the one with roots growing through the stones. It housed 2,740 monks centuries ago and was left mostly untouched after French explorer Henri Mouhot found it in the 1850s. You finish the day there, in the maze of it, and then the air-conditioned vehicle takes you back to your hotel.

The whole thing is a full day (you're out from before sunrise until afternoon), but it's paced so you see the five main temples without feeling herded. Your guide is licensed and English-speaking, and hotel pickup means you don't negotiate transport or timing yourself. Bring comfortable walking shoes and water. The tour includes a cool towel and bottled water, though if your hotel offers a breakfast pack, grab it and eat after sunrise at the temple. The entrance fee can be paid on the day with a visa card, so you don't need cash sorted beforehand.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, complimentary bottled water and a cool towel, and an experienced English-speaking licensed guide.
• Entrance fees to the temples are not included but can be purchased on the morning of the tour with a visa card.
• Breakfast is not provided, though you can arrange a pack from your hotel to eat after sunrise.

Options for this experience

2 options

Sunrise tour, small groupGuide in English · 04:30Choose the small group option to join travelers from around the world. Children under 8 years old are not permitted. Pickup is included.

Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour, privateGuide in English · 04:30Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (8 to 11 years) · Infant (under 8): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 37

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Journey Cambodia

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see the five main temples of Angkor in one day without arranging your own transport or timing. The pre-dawn start is what lets you catch the sunrise inside the temple and avoid the midday crowds. Expect a full day of walking and standing. Comfortable shoes and water matter.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 11 years); Infant (under 8): free.

What time does the Angkor Wat sunrise tour start?

Hotel pickup is between 4:30 and 4:45am, depending on the season, so you arrive at the temple before dawn.

Which temples are included in this tour?

Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (south gate), Bayon, the Terrace of the Elephants, and Ta Prohm.

Is the entrance fee included?

No, but it can be purchased on the day of the tour with a visa card, just before sunrise.

What should I wear to Angkor Wat?

Respectful dress covering shoulders and knees is required. Scarves can cover shoulders, but they must be worn as clothing, not just draped. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Is breakfast provided?

No, but if your hotel includes breakfast, you can request a pack to take with you and eat after sunrise at the temple.

How long is the tour?

It's a full day, starting before dawn and finishing in the afternoon after Ta Prohm.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your hotel are included, along with an air-conditioned vehicle.

Can I pay the entrance fee in advance?

The entrance fee is typically paid on the day of the tour at the temple, and visa cards are accepted.