Private Angkor Wat sunrise tour: Bayon, Ta Prohm and more

Start before sunrise and move through the temples at your own pace

A private guided tour of Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, starting at 4:30am to watch sunrise at Angkor Wat, then moving through Ta Prohm, the Terrace of the Elephants, Phimeanakas, Baphuon and Bayon. Your guide is English-speaking and the vehicle is air-conditioned. You set the time spent at each temple. Lunch at a local restaurant is included in the itinerary.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each5 stops

1. Angkor Wat4h
2. Terrace of the Elephants30m
3. Royal Enclosure30m
4. Baphuon30m
5. Bayon1h

Explore Angkor temples and landmarks

• Start early tour at 4:30am
• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Enjoy breakfast at local restaurant
• Explore Angkor Wat temple complex
• Visit Ta Prohm temple
• Have lunch at local restaurant
• Travel to Victory Gate of Angkor Thom
• Visit Terrace of the Elephants
• Walk past Phimeanakas temple
• Visit Baphuon temple
• End tour at Bayon temple

The experience

The tour departs at 4:30am so you reach Angkor Wat before light breaks. Angkor Wat's five towers rise above galleries adorned with stone carvings and bas-reliefs describing Khmer epics. The complex is arranged as a replica of the Hindu universe, with Mount Meru at its center surrounded by continents and oceans. After sunrise and breakfast at a local restaurant in the Angkor area, you move through the temple grounds at the pace that suits you.

Ta Prohm comes next: the sprawling monastic complex where jungle overgrowth still clings to the stones, offering some of the best tree-in-temple photo opportunities in the park. After lunch, you travel to the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, one of five gateways built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. From there the route continues through the Terrace of the Elephants, where the king once stood to view his returning army, then past Phimeanakas (the celestial temple at the heart of the old Royal Palace) and Baphuon, an 11th-century temple-mountain with steep stairs leading to a terrace overlooking the park. The day ends at Bayon, one of the most famous structures in the complex.

Your driver is professional and your guide speaks English. The vehicle is air-conditioned and you'll have cool water and a cool wet towel throughout the day. The tour runs on a private basis, so only your group participates. Note that the entrance pass to Angkor Archaeological Site is not included and must be purchased separately at the main gate (one-day to seven-day passes available, children under 12 enter free with a valid passport). Some temples enforce a strict dress code requiring clothes that cover shoulders and fall below the knees.

What’s included

• Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• a full day tour with an English-speaking guide.
• cool water and a cool wet towel throughout the day.
• breakfast and lunch at local restaurants in the Angkor area.
• all applicable taxes and service charges.

Information

Lasts 8h–9h, runs every day at 04:30, from US$ 78 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 04:30Another time? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Hidden Angkor Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private group that moves between temples on your schedule rather than following a fixed itinerary, and if you can meet pickup in the pre-dawn hours to catch Angkor Wat at sunrise.

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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 is Angkor Wat and why is the sunrise timing important?

Angkor Wat is Cambodia's largest temple complex and one of the wonders of the Oriental world, built as a replica of the Hindu universe with five towers rising above galleries of carved stone. The 4:30am start gets you there before dawn so the sunrise illuminates the towers and the intricate bas-reliefs as light first touches the complex, which is when the site is least crowded and the stone carvings are most visible.

How many temples does this tour visit?

The tour visits six named temples: Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, the Terrace of the Elephants, Phimeanakas, Baphuon and Bayon. You also pass through the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom on the route between them.

Do I need to buy the entrance pass separately?

Yes, the Angkor Archaeological Site entrance pass is not included in the tour price. You purchase it at the main gate when you arrive. One-day passes cost 37 USD per person. Children under 12 enter free if you show a valid passport at the booth. The pass gives access to all sights in and around Angkor and must be visible at all times.

What should I wear to visit these temples?

Some temples, including Baphuon, enforce a strict dress code. Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and fall below your knees. Avoid shirts with obscene prints or brightly colored clothing, as you may be refused entry.