Siem Reap: Angkor Temples 2-Day Tour & Sunset Views

Two Days Inside Angkor: From Jungle Temples to Stone Carvings

You visit nine major temples across two days, starting with the smaller, quieter sites like Banteay Srei and Banteay Samré, then moving to the massive complexes of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Your guide handles the history and photography, the vehicle keeps you cool between stops, and you choose whether to catch sunset from Pre Rup. Hotel pickup and an air-conditioned car are included. You bring water, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Big Circuit Angkor Temples Tour

• Visit Banteay Srei temple
• Explore Banteay Samre temple
• Tour Preah Khan complex
• See Preah Neak Poan temple
• Stop at Ta Som temple
• Visit Eastern Mebon temple
• Explore Pre Rup temple

Day 2: Small Circuit Angkor Temples Tour

• Visit Angkor Wat temple
• Hike Phnom Bakheng hill
• Explore Angkor Thom city
• Tour Ta Prohm temple

The experience

"How much of this can we actually see in two days?" That's the question most people ask before booking a two-day Angkor temples tour from Siem Reap, and the answer depends on what you're willing to walk and how early you're ready to start. This tour hits the main circuit and the smaller one too: Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei, Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Pre Rup, Phnom Bakheng, and Angkor Thom. That's nine temples across two days, which sounds like a lot until you realize each one is genuinely different. You're not checking boxes. You're moving through a thousand years of stone.

Day one takes you through what guides call the big circuit: Banteay Srei first, a 10th-century temple carved from pinkish stone with three-dimensional carvings that still catch light the way the sculptors intended. Then Banteay Samré, which sits isolated behind Preah Dak village and stays quiet because most tours skip it. That's where you get space to breathe. Preah Khan comes next, a sprawling complex built by Jayavarman VII in the 12th century with vaulted corridors and lichen-covered walls that feel less polished than Angkor Wat but more alive. Neak Pean is small, almost delicate, built on an artificial island in a manmade lake with four stone heads (elephant, horse, lion, human) representing the four elements. Ta Som has a giant fig tree growing through its eastern gate, and Pre Rup sits on a pyramid-shaped mountain where you can watch the sunset if you want. It's optional but worth the climb, about 20 minutes to the top.

Day two is the small circuit: Angkor Wat itself, which is the largest religious structure in the world and the best-preserved temple at Angkor. It's oriented west, toward the direction of death in Hindu symbolism, which once made scholars think it was a tomb. The approach across the inner causeway is the moment people remember years later. Then Phnom Bakheng, another temple-mountain with seven levels representing the seven Hindu heavens and 108 towers in total: a number tied to the lunar calendar. Angkor Thom is the last city of Angkor, built by Jayavarman VII, enclosed by an 8-meter wall and a 100-meter moat, with five gates 20 meters high decorated with stone elephant trunks and four giant faces of Avalokiteshvara. Inside Angkor Thom is the Bayon, Baphoun, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Finally, Ta Prohm, the temple the jungle swallowed. It's atmospheric in a way the others aren't because it looks the way European explorers found it, trees growing through stone, vines holding walls together.

Your guide is a professional who knows the history, the photography angles, and what you actually want to see rather than what a standard itinerary demands. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters because you're moving between sites all day and the heat in Siem Reap doesn't ease. Pickup from your hotel is included, and the pace is built around walking. You'll cover ground, but not at a sprint. If you're interested in sunrise at Angkor Wat instead of sunset at Pre Rup, or if you want to linger longer at one temple and skip another, the guides listen to that.

What’s included

• Your two days include air-conditioned vehicle transport between all nine temples, a professional guide who speaks your language and knows the history and photography of each site, and hotel pickup from Siem Reap.
• Entry fees to the temples, meals, and drinks are separate.
• The guide is flexible with timing and can adjust the itinerary based on your interests: sunrise or sunset viewing, longer stops at specific temples, or a different route through the sites.

Information

Lasts 2d, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 102.57 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:00, 07:00, 07:30 and 08:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up toStart time

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 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Angkor Heritage Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the major Angkor temples without arranging transport, hiring a guide separately, or timing the circuit yourself: the two-day structure fits the main sites into a manageable pace, and the air-conditioned vehicle handles the heat and distance between stops.

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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.

How long is the two-day Angkor temples tour?

Two full days. Day one covers the big circuit (Banteay Srei, Banteay Samré, Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Pre Rup). Day two covers the small circuit (Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm).

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup from your Siem Reap hotel is included in the tour.

Can I watch the sunset at Pre Rup?

Yes, sunset at Pre Rup is optional on day one. It's about a 20-minute climb to the top of the temple-mountain.

What's included in the tour?

Air-conditioned vehicle, professional guide, and access to all nine temples. Entry fees to the temples are separate.

Is Ta Prohm included?

Yes, Ta Prohm is the final stop on day two. It's the temple overgrown by jungle and the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor.

How much walking is involved?

Moderate walking between and within temples. Phnom Bakheng involves a 20-minute hike to the summit. Comfortable shoes and water are essential.

Can I choose a different itinerary?

Yes, guides are flexible and listen to what visitors want. You can adjust the order or focus on specific temples.

What's the best time to visit Angkor?

November to February is cooler and drier. The tour operates year-round, but bring extra water and sun protection in the hot season.

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and small children can sit on an adult's lap in the vehicle. The walking pace is moderate but involves multiple stops and uneven terrain.

Are there any restrictions for this tour?

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. Moderate physical fitness is needed due to walking and temple exploration.