Angkor Wat sunrise tour Siem Reap: Five temples by tuk tuk

Angkor Wat's sunrise happens once a day, and this tour builds the entire day around it.

A full-day tuk tuk tour from Siem Reap that starts before dawn at Angkor Wat, then moves through five more temples (Angkor Thom, Bayon, Preah Khan, Ta Nei and Ta Prohm) by open-air three-wheeler with a professional English-speaking guide and hotel pickup. You watch the sun rise behind the temple's five towers, return for breakfast, then spend the afternoon exploring the walled city of Angkor Thom and the jungle-wrapped ruins that define the Angkor complex.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each5 stops

1. Angkor Wat1h
2. Angkor Thom1h
3. Bayon45m
4. Preah Khan30m
5. Ta Prohm1h 30m

Sunrise and Angkor temple exploration

• Drive to Angkor Wat for sunrise
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• Visit Angkor Thom via South Gate
• Explore Bayon temple
• Visit Preah Khan temple
• Tour Ta Nei and Ta Keo temples
• Explore Ta Prohm temple
• Return to hotel in Siem Reap

The experience

The day starts in the dark. Your guide and driver pick you up at your Siem Reap hotel early enough to reach Angkor Wat before sunrise, positioning you to watch the sun rise behind its five towers: a moment few sights in the world match. Angkor Wat itself is the largest religious building on earth, with a volume of stone equal to Egypt's Cheops pyramid, and it faces west, unlike all the other Khmer temples. After sunrise and breakfast back at your hotel, you head into the Angkor temples proper via the South Gate to Angkor Thom, a walled city of ten square kilometres that was probably more opulent than most European capitals in the late 12th century.

The tuk tuk takes you through Bayon next, a 12th-century masterpiece at the centre of Angkor Thom where the towers are carved with more than 200 gently smiling faces: the temple's defining feature and the reason it stops you. From there, Preah Khan, the "Sacred Sword," spreads across 56 hectares as an extensive monastic complex built by Jayavarman VII. The quieter Ta Nei and Ta Keo temples near the Eastern Baray come before lunch, then the day finishes at Ta Prohm, built as a shrine to Jayavarman VII's mother and left wrapped in jungle roots so the forest itself becomes part of the ruin. Your tuk tuk waits at the Eastern Gate for the return to Siem Reap, where you arrive around 6 pm.

The open-air tuk tuk is how you move between sites all day: no enclosed vehicle, no air conditioning, just the three-wheeler and the temples. Bring sunglasses, a hat and high-SPF sunblock even on cloudy days. Some walking is required at each temple, though the guide ensures you take the most comfortable routes from the entrance to the sight itself. Dress code matters: clothes must cover shoulders and fall below the knees at certain temples. The Angkor Archaeological Park entrance pass is not included and must be purchased separately on site or on the official website before you arrive.

What’s included

• Transportation by open-air tuk tuk with professional driver.
• a full-day tour with a professional English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Siem Reap.

Information

Lasts 13h, runs every day at 05:00, from US$ 50.20 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 05:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Asian Trails LTD

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to start your Angkor day at sunrise and explore six temples in one outing by tuk tuk. The early morning departure is what makes the sunrise moment possible, and the full-day route covers the essential temples from dawn to dusk without rushing through any single site.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

What is the difference between Angkor Wat and the other temples on this tour?

Angkor Wat is the largest religious building in the world and the only Khmer temple that faces west. Its five towers are symmetrical and styled on the modern Cambodian flag. The other temples (Angkor Thom, Bayon, Preah Khan, Ta Nei and Ta Prohm) are part of the broader Angkor complex and each has its own character: Bayon is famous for its 200+ carved smiling faces, Preah Khan is a 56-hectare monastic complex, and Ta Prohm is wrapped in jungle roots.

How much walking is involved during the day?

Some walking is required at each temple site, but the guide ensures you take the most comfortable routes from the entrance of each sight to the temple itself, so the walking is manageable for most fitness levels.

What time does the tour end and how do I get back to my hotel?

The tuk tuk returns you to your Siem Reap hotel around 6 pm. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you're staying in or inside Siem Reap. Transfers from accommodations outside this area, including Tonle Sap, Koh Ker, Banteay Srei and the airport, are excluded and require a supplement.

Is lunch included in the full-day tour?

Lunch is not included, so you arrange your own meal during the day. The operator will make efforts to accommodate dietary requirements at local restaurants, though confirmation in advance is not always possible.

Do I need to buy the Angkor entrance pass in advance?

The Angkor Archaeological Park entrance pass is not included in the tour price and must be purchased separately. You can buy it on site or in advance on the official website.

What should I wear and bring for a full day in the open-air tuk tuk?

Bring sunglasses, a hat or cap and sunblock with high SPF. The sun is powerful even on cloudy days. Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and fall below the knees, as some temples enforce a strict dress code. Wrap cameras and phones carefully to protect them from sun and dust.