Angkor Wat Sunrise & Sunset Tour Siem Reap with Guide

Watch Stone Faces Emerge at Dawn Over Angkor Wat's Towers

You get hotel pickup, a temple pass, an English-speaking guide who knows the history and the light, lunch, and transport between four major temples in the Angkor complex: Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei. Groups stay under 13 people, which keeps the pace manageable and the guide's attention distributed. Choose sunrise to catch the first light, or sunset to see the temples glow as the day ends.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Angkor Wat3h
2. Bayon2h
3. Banteay Kdei1h

Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom tour

• Hotel pick-up early morning
• Stop at Angkor Park Pass Ticket Counters
• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Explore Angkor Wat temple complex
• Visit South Gate of Angkor Thom
• Tour Bayon and Baphuon temples
• Lunch break
• Drive past Terrace of Elephant and Terrace of Leper King
• Visit Ta Prohm Temple
• Visit Banteay Kdei temple

The experience

The sky is still dark when the vehicle pulls up to your hotel between 4:15 and 4:30 in the morning. You're heading to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap to catch the sunrise, and the guide is already thinking about where the light will hit first. A quick stop at the ticket counter takes about 15 minutes (cash or card works), then you're moving toward the main entrance as the first color starts bleeding into the horizon. The temple pass gets you into the whole complex, not just Angkor Wat itself, and your guide knows the angles and the timing. By the time the sun clears the towers, you've already found a spot that isn't crowded, and you can actually see what you came for.

After Angkor Wat, the tour moves through the South Gate into Angkor Thom, where Bayon rises up with its 54 towers and 216 carved stone faces: the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara staring out in all directions. Your guide walks you through the architecture and the history of the Khmer empire, pointing out details in the carvings and explaining why the temple was built the way it was. You'll pass the Terrace of Elephant and the Terrace of Leper King, the royal viewing platforms where the king once sat, and then there's lunch before you move on. The air-conditioned vehicle gives you a break from the heat between stops, and cold water and a cold towel are waiting when you get back in.

Ta Prohm comes next: the jungle temple, where massive tree roots have wrapped around the stones for centuries and made it one of Angkor's most photographed sites. The guide knows how to position you so the light catches the roots and the ruins together, and they're experienced at timing the visit to avoid the thickest crowds. The tour ends at Banteay Kdei, built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, a smaller temple but intricate and often quieter than the others. The whole day, sunrise option, runs from pickup through late afternoon, or if you prefer the sunset tour, pickup is between 9:00 and 9:20 in the morning, and you'll watch the light change over the temples as the day closes instead.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup (4:15–4:30 AM for sunrise, 9:00–9:20 AM for sunset), a stop at the Angkor Park Pass ticket counter to purchase your temple pass, an English-speaking guide throughout the tour, cold water and a cold towel, air-conditioned transport between temples, and lunch. You'll visit Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei, with time to photograph and rest between each stop.

Options for this experience

5 options

Sunset tour for a small groupGuide in English · 09:00Lasts 9 hours and includes a bus or tuk-tuk, a bottle of water, and pickup.

Sunrise tour for a small groupUp to 8 people · Guide in English · 04:30Lasts 8 hours and includes bottled water, a minivan with air conditioning, and an English-speaking guide. Wait in your hotel lobby between 4:15 and 4:30 am for pickup. Pickup is included.

Private day tour of Angkor WatUp to 13 people · Guide in English · 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Lasts 8 hours and includes a car or minivan, a bottle of cold water, and pickup.

See 2 more options

Sunrise tour with a private guideUp to 8 people · Guide in English · 04:30Sunrise private tour: your day trip is entirely private, so it is only you and your local guide. Lasts 8 hours and includes a bottle of water, a private car or minivan, and a private English-speaking guide. Pickup is included.

Private Japanese guideUp to 13 people · Guide in English · 04:30, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Car or minivan, and pickup is included

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

Information

Lasts 8h, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 18 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 13 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:30, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 136 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years): free · Under 4: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Angkor Wat Travel Tour

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to see the main temples without arranging your own transport, buying tickets separately, or navigating the complex on your own. The guide handles the timing, the crowds, and the photography angles, which is what makes a full day of four temples fit into one morning or afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years): free. Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What time does the sunrise tour start?

Hotel pickup is between 4:15 and 4:30 AM. You'll stop at the ticket counter for about 15 minutes, then head to Angkor Wat for sunrise.

Is the temple pass included?

No. You buy the pass at the ticket counter during the tour. It covers entry to all temples in the Angkor complex. Cash and credit cards are accepted.

How many people are in a small group tour?

Maximum 13 people per group.

What's included in the tour?

English-speaking guide, cold water, cold towel, air-conditioned vehicle, and hotel pickup. Lunch is included on the itinerary.

Can I bring an infant?

Yes. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. Infant meals are not included.

How long is the full tour?

The sunrise tour runs from early morning pickup through late afternoon. The sunset tour starts with a 9:00–9:20 AM pickup and ends in the evening.

Which temples do we visit?

Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm (the jungle temple), and Banteay Kdei.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited fitness?

Yes, it's suitable for all fitness levels. You'll be walking between temples and climbing some stairs, but the pace is guided and you can rest in the air-conditioned vehicle between stops.