Angkor Wat sunrise tour: Private guide & five temples

Sunrise at Angkor Wat, then four more temples before lunch

A private sunrise tour of Angkor Archaeological Park from Siem Reap with an English-speaking guide, minivan pickup and visits to Angkor Wat, Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom and Bayon. You watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, then spend the morning moving through five major temples across the park, ending with breakfast overlooking Srah Srang reservoir.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each6 stops

1. Angkor Wat3h
2. Banteay Kdei35m
3. Srah Srang1h
4. Ta Prohm1h
5. Angkor Thom1h
6. Bayon1h

Sunrise and Angkor Park temples tour

• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Enjoy breakfast by Srah Srang reservoir
• Explore Ta Prohm temple
• Visit Angkor Thom complex
• Discover Bayon temple
• Tour Banteay Kdei temple

The experience

The minivan picks you up from your hotel in Siem Reap before dawn and drives you to Angkor Wat to secure a good viewing spot for sunrise. As the light changes, your guide walks you through the temple's architecture and the history of the Khmer Empire while you watch. Angkor Wat is the world's largest and best-preserved monument, built with precision in composition, balance and relief work that took centuries to achieve.

After sunrise, you head to Srah Srang reservoir for breakfast with views across the water, then move into the quieter corners of the park. Banteay Kdei, a 12th-century Buddhist temple, sits overgrown and peaceful: tall trees shade the bas-reliefs and few tourists venture there. Ta Prohm comes next, the temple famous from the Tomb Raider film, where massive tree roots have grown through the stones. Your guide explains how the jungle reclaimed it and why it looks the way it does now.

The tour finishes at Angkor Thom, the Khmer Empire's final capital covering nine square kilometers, and Bayon Temple at its heart. Bayon's 54 towers are carved with 216 smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara, built in the 12th century as a state temple under King Jayavarman VII. The whole day runs six to eight hours depending on pace and how long you spend at each site.

What’s included

• Round-trip private minivan from your Siem Reap hotel.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• drinking water provided at each stop.

Information

Lasts 6h–8h, runs every day at 04:50, from US$ 84 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:50Another time? ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (15 to 90 years) · Child (1 to 14 years): free · Infant (under 1): free

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

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pineapple Cambodia Tours

Is this one for you?The minivan pickup from your hotel means you don't need to arrange your own transport to the park, and the private guide lets you move at your own pace through the temples without waiting for a group to gather.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 14 years): free; Infant (under 1): free.

What time does the sunrise tour leave Siem Reap?

The minivan picks you up from your hotel before dawn so you arrive at Angkor Wat in time to find a good viewing spot before the sun rises. The exact pickup time depends on your hotel location and the season, but it is early enough to be in position well before first light.

Is the entrance fee to Angkor Archaeological Park included?

The entrance fee is not included in the tour price. You buy your park ticket separately when you arrive, and your guide will help you through the process.

What makes Banteay Kdei different from the other temples on this tour?

Banteay Kdei is peaceful and quiet, largely overlooked by the main tourism crowds at Angkor. Built as a Buddhist temple in the 12th century and home to an active monastery until the 1960s, it sits overgrown with trees casting shade over the bas-reliefs, giving it a hidden and mysterious feel compared to the busier sites.

Why is Ta Prohm called the Tomb Raider Temple?

Ta Prohm was featured in the Tomb Raider film starring Angelina Jolie. The enormous trees that have grown out of the temple stones over centuries make it visually distinctive and recognizable from the movie, so international visitors often call it by that name.

How many temples do you visit on this tour?

You visit five temples: Angkor Wat at sunrise, Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom and Bayon. The tour also includes a breakfast break at Srah Srang reservoir with views across the water.