Day trip Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat: Four temples in one day

Four temples, one day, without the overnight stay

A full-day tour from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and Angkor, visiting Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei with a private car, English-speaking guide, and all temple entry fees. You depart early, drive five hours to Siem Reap, explore the four major temples with stops at each, take lunch at a local restaurant by the Royal Pool, and return to Phnom Penh the same day. The tour fits the temples and travel into 16 to 18 hours without requiring an overnight stay.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Angkor Wat2h · entry included
2. Bayon1h · entry included
3. Banteay Kdei30m · entry included

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and temple visits

• Depart early from Phnom Penh
• Drive to Siem Reap (5 hours)
• Visit Angkor Wat temple
• Explore Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom
• Tour Ta Prohm Temple
• Visit Banteay Kdei temple
• Lunch at local restaurant by Royal Pool
• Return drive to Phnom Penh

The experience

The five-hour drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap sets the pace: you leave early morning in a private car with an English-speaking driver, arriving by midday when Angkor Wat is still lit by strong sun. The temple itself spans 162.6 hectares and was built in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple to Vishnu, its five lotus-bud towers representing Mount Meru. The carved bas-reliefs and nearly 2,000 apsara dancers cover the walls, and the whole complex sits within a vast moat. A scale that becomes clear only when you walk it.

From Angkor Wat, the guide takes you to Bayon Temple in the Angkor Thom complex, built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. The site is defined by 54 towers, each carved with four faces, 216 smiling sculptures in total, that face outward across the courtyards. The corridors climb and twist through layers of stone, mixing Buddhist and Hindu symbols. Ta Prohm comes next, the temple famous from the Tomb Raider film, where giant silk-cotton and strangler fig trees have grown through the walls and doorways over centuries, their roots binding the crumbling stone. The "Tomb Raider tree" is the centerpiece, and the shadowy passages under the canopy feel unlike the open temples before it.

The final stop is Banteay Kdei, a smaller and quieter temple, before lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the Royal Pool (Srah Srang). You eat traditional Cambodian food in a tranquil setting, then begin the return drive to Phnom Penh. The full day (drive, four temples, lunch, and the return) takes 16 to 18 hours from hotel to hotel.

What’s included

• Private car transport from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and return.
• English-speaking guide and driver.
• entry tickets to Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei.
• cold drinking water and towels throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 03:00, 04:00, 05:00 and 06:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (15 to 75 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cambodia Private Car Service

Is this one for you?This tour compresses the Angkor temples into a single day from Phnom Penh, so it suits travelers on a tight schedule who cannot stay overnight in Siem Reap. The early departure and late return mean a long day, but you see all four major temples and return home the same evening.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

12 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can I see all four major Angkor temples in a single day from Phnom Penh?

Yes. Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei are all visited on this tour, with the private car and guide moving between them. The five-hour drive each way means you leave early and return late the same day, but all four temples fit inside the itinerary.

What is Bayon Temple known for?

Bayon is famous for its 54 towers, each carved with four serene faces, 216 sculptures in total, that gaze outward across the site. Built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, it blends Buddhist and Hindu design and sits within the larger Angkor Thom complex.

Why is Ta Prohm called the Tomb Raider Temple?

Ta Prohm was featured in the 2001 Tomb Raider film, and the "Tomb Raider tree" (a massive silk-cotton tree with roots enveloping the stone) is the iconic image from that movie. The temple was built in the 12th century and left largely unrestored, so the jungle has reclaimed much of it, creating the atmospheric fusion of architecture and nature that made it famous.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes private car transport from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and back, an English-speaking guide and driver, entry tickets to all four temples ($37 per person), cold drinking water, and towels. Meals are not included, though lunch is taken at a local restaurant by the Royal Pool.

How early do I need to leave Phnom Penh?

The tour departs early morning from your hotel in Phnom Penh to maximize time at the temples. The five-hour drive means you arrive in Siem Reap by midday and begin exploring Angkor Wat, with the return journey starting after lunch at Banteay Kdei.