Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour: Small Group with Ta Prohm & Bayon

Four temples in one day, starting before dawn at Angkor Wat

A small group sunrise tour of Angkor Wat and the surrounding temple complex, departing at 4:45 am from your hotel with an English-speaking guide. You watch the sunrise over the main temple, then spend the day moving through Ta Prohm (the jungle temple with enormous fig trees), Bayon (with its 54 towers and 216 carved faces), and Banteay Kdei, a sprawling monastic complex built in the late 12th century. The early start means you see Angkor Wat before the crowds arrive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Angkor Wat3h
2. Bayon2h
3. Banteay Kdei1h

Explore Angkor Wat and Surroundings

• Pick up from hotel at 4:45 am
• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Explore Angkor Wat temple with guide
• Visit South Gate of Angkor Thom
• Explore central Angkor Thom and Bayon temple
• Rest and lunch break (45 minutes)
• Visit Terrace of Elephant and Terrace of Leper King
• See ancient Royal Palace Phimeanakas
• Visit Ta Prohm temple and its fig trees
• Visit Banteay Kdei temple complex

The experience

The tour picks you up at 4:45 am so you reach Angkor Wat in time to watch the sunrise. Your guide will position you for photographs inside the temple itself, then you spend the rest of the morning exploring the main complex. The early timing is the whole point: the site fills up fast, and starting before dawn gives you the space to move through the courtyards and galleries without fighting crowds.

After Angkor Wat, you move to Angkor Thom, the walled city built by King Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th century. The South Gate leads into the central temple, Bayon, which rises in 54 towers carved with 216 faces of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. You also see Baphoun (once the most spectacular temple in its heyday), the Terrace of Elephant (used for royal ceremonies and the king's audiences), the Terrace of the Leper King, and the ancient Royal Palace of Phimeanakas. A 45-minute lunch break happens around midday. Your guide recommends a restaurant near the temple area.

The afternoon takes you to Ta Prohm, the jungle temple where enormous fig trees have embraced the ruins and left it largely as archaeologists found it. The scale of the roots wrapped around the stone is what makes this temple stand apart from the others. You finish at Banteay Kdei, a non-restored monastic complex in the same style as Ta Prohm, originally built over an earlier temple and used as a Buddhist monastery under the same king. The tour ends in the late afternoon after roughly eight hours on site.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup.
• cold water and cold towels throughout the day.

Information

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 04:30, from US$ 19.49 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 106 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

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 Siem Reap Experience

Is this one for you?The early 4:45 am start is what gets you inside Angkor Wat before the crowds arrive and gives you room to photograph and explore the main temple in relative calm.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What time does the Angkor Wat sunrise tour start and finish?

Hotel pickup is at 4:45 am so you arrive in time to watch the sunrise. The full tour runs about eight hours, ending in the late afternoon.

Why is Ta Prohm different from the other temples at Angkor?

Ta Prohm was left largely in the same condition it was found, with enormous fig tree roots embracing the ruins and jungle growth surrounding it, which makes it one of Angkor's most recognizable temples.

What is Bayon and why does it matter?

Bayon is the central temple of Angkor Thom, built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. It rises in 54 towers carved with 216 faces of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and is one of the most important structures in the complex.

Does the tour include meals?

Lunch is not included, but your guide will recommend a restaurant near the temple area where you take a 45-minute break around midday. Breakfast and dinner are on your own.

Do I need to buy an Angkor Wat ticket separately?

Yes, the Angkor Wat temple ticket is not included in the tour price and must be purchased separately before entry.