Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour: Three Temples, Small Group

The root trees at Ta Prohm are 300 to 400 years old, their massive trunks wrapped around the temple walls since the 12th century.

A small-group sunrise tour of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Bayon temples, departing your hotel between 4:00am and 4:30am to catch the light before crowds arrive. You'll watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat's silhouette, eat breakfast at a local restaurant overlooking Srah Srang, walk through Ta Prohm's famous root trees, pass through Angkor Thom's eastern gates, and explore Bayon's narrow corridors and enigmatic stone faces. A professional English-speaking guide leads the route. Transportation and hotel pickup are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Angkor Wat3h 30m
2. Ta Prohm2h
3. Terrace of the Elephantspassing by
4. Bayon1h

Explore Angkor Wat and Surroundings

• Depart hotel early morning
• Visit Angkor Wat at sunrise
• Enjoy breakfast at local restaurant
• View Srah Srang from restaurant
• Drive to Ta Prohm temple
• Explore Ta Prohm temple
• Travel through Angkor Thom city
• Stop at eastern gates of Angkor Thom
• Pass Terrace of the Elephants
• Tour Bayon Temple

The experience

The tour starts in darkness. You leave your hotel between 4:00am and 4:30am and arrive at Angkor Wat before dawn breaks, positioning yourself to watch the sun cast its first light across the temple's towers and create silhouettes against the sky. This early timing does two things: it gives you the best light for photographs of the intricate stonework, and it lets you move through the complex while it's still quiet. Once the sun is up, you head to a local restaurant for breakfast and a view of Srah Srang's water before the day gets hot.

From there, a five-minute drive takes you to Ta Prohm, the 12th-century temple built by King Jayavarman VII for his mother. The massive root trees, some 300 to 400 years old, have grown through and around the stone walls, their trunks thick enough to dwarf the carved doorways. You walk the narrow passages between them, seeing how the temple and the forest have become one structure. The central sanctuary still holds a Buddha statue installed centuries ago. Your guide explains the history and the architecture as you move through. This is not a self-guided wander but a led experience where the details come with context.

The route then passes through Angkor Thom's eastern gates (a 15-minute stop to see the entrance to the ancient capital city) before heading into Bayon Temple. Bayon has no outer wall, so you can enter from several directions. Inside, the corridors narrow and twist, and as you navigate the maze-like passages, you catch glimpses of the temple's famous enigmatic stone faces carved into the towers. The guide walks you through the layout and points out details you'd miss alone. The whole tour runs seven to eight hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle.
• free pickup and drop-off at your city hotel.
• a professional English-speaking tour guide.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• sightseeing at all four sites as described in the itinerary.

Options for this experience

3 options

3 Temples+Sunrise Small-GroupGuide in English · 04:25, 04:30, 04:40 and 04:50Sunrise tour with guide: See the sunrise at Angkor Wat, have breakfast, explore Ta Prohm and Bayon, then go back to your hotel. Duration: 6 hours. Meals and drinks are not included, except breakfast at a local restaurant near the temple. Van or minibus: Pick-up and drop-off for guests is offered. Pickup is included.

Small Group TourGuide in English · 04:20Small-group: With a small-group tour you share the guide and vehicle with other travelers. It is not private, and each group holds a maximum of 15 people. Duration: up to 8 hours, though it may be shorter, and we guarantee you will visit every temple listed in the description. Meals and drinks: Breakfast near the temple costs slightly more than in the city, so bring a breakfast bag if your hotel provides one for free. Van or mini-bus: Our vehicle is dependable and air-conditioned, and we offer free pick-up and drop-off anywhere in Siem Reap City. Pickup is included.

Private tour for sunrise at AngkorGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 04:20, the last at 05:00Private tour: With a private tour you can tailor the experience, since only your own group takes part and no other guests join. It is more comfortable, as you can move at your own pace, slow or fast, according to what you need. Duration: up to 8 hours, though it may be shorter, and we guarantee you will visit every temple listed in the description. Breakfast or lunch: Breakfast near the temple costs a little more than in town, so bring a breakfast bag if your hotel gives you one for free. Car, van or mini-bus: Our vehicle is dependable and air-conditioned, and we offer free pick-up and drop-off anywhere in Siem Reap City. Start times: Plenty of options are available, including 4:20am, 4:30am, 4:40am and 5:00am. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 7h–8h, runs every day, 6 start times, from US$ 26 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: 04:20, 04:25, 04:30, 04:40, 04:50 and 05:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 1510 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to8h before

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Angkor Buddy Tour

Is this one for you?The 4:00am departure and small-group format mean you'll walk Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm while they're still quiet, which is the only way to photograph the temples without crowds in the frame and to hear your guide explain the stonework without shouting. If you're visiting Angkor for the first time and want to see the three most famous temples in a single morning, this tour fits that into one departure.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time do I need to wake up to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat?

Hotel pickup happens between 4:00am and 4:30am, so you'll need to be ready before dawn. The early departure gets you to Angkor Wat in time to watch the sun rise over the temple complex before the crowds arrive.

Can I buy the temple entrance fee on the day of the tour?

Yes. Temple entrance fees ($37 per person, covering all three temples in the itinerary) can be purchased on the day of the tour just before sunrise. The operator accepts visa cards at the gate.

What makes Ta Prohm different from the other temples on this tour?

Ta Prohm is famous for its massive root trees, some 300 to 400 years old, that have grown through and around the 12th-century stone walls. The temple was built by King Jayavarman VII in honor of his mother and still houses a revered Buddha statue at its center.

How long does the tour take from start to finish?

The tour runs seven to eight hours total, including hotel pickup and drop-off, breakfast at a local restaurant, and visits to Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom's eastern gates, and Bayon Temple.

What should I wear to visit these temples?

Respectful dress is required: cover your shoulders and knees. A real dress scarf is recommended for sun protection and to meet the dress code at the temples.

Is breakfast included in the tour?

Breakfast is not included in the tour price, but you'll stop at a local restaurant for a meal after sunrise at Angkor Wat. If your hotel provides breakfast, you can request a pack to take with you and eat it at the temple after sunrise.