Siem Reap: Angkor Temples Day Tour & Sunset at Pre Rup

Summary

Angkor’s ancient stones, jungle temples and a slow-burning Cambodian sunset

You’ll wander Angkor Wat’s silent corridors, meet local vendors near Bayon, taste simple Khmer food by Srah Srang lake, and watch sunset paint Pre Rup gold. With an English-speaking guide and easy hotel pickup in Siem Reap, you’ll feel both looked after and quietly moved by Cambodia’s living history.

What’s the experience like?

Someone hands me a cold bottle of water before I even realize how sticky the morning air is. Our guide, Sokha, grins and asks if we slept well — he’s got this gentle way of making you feel like you’re not just another tourist in Siem Reap. We’re bumping along in an air-conditioned minivan toward Angkor Wat, still half-awake, when Sokha starts telling us about the temple’s 30-year construction. I catch a whiff of incense as we walk through the stone galleries; it’s strange how quiet it feels inside for such a massive place. The carvings are so crisp they almost look new. I try to imagine what it sounded like here centuries ago — probably not just camera shutters and soft footsteps like now.

We stand blinking in the sun outside Bayon, those giant faces staring back at us from every angle. Sokha points out one that looks a bit like his uncle (he laughs — says everyone has a favorite face). There’s a woman selling lotus pods by the Terrace of the Elephants; I buy one and fumble with it until she shows me how to eat it properly. It tastes kind of nutty and green at once. Lunch is near Srah Srang — nothing fancy, just noodles and sweet iced coffee while tuk-tuks rattle past. Honestly, by this point my legs are starting to feel all those uneven stones but no one seems to mind much.

Ta Prohm is tangled up with tree roots thick as my arm — Sokha calls them “nature’s fingers.” It smells earthy and old in there, damp stone mixed with something floral I can’t quite name. Someone tries to take a photo without anyone else in it and gives up laughing. We end up at Pre Rup for sunset; there’s this hush as the sky goes orange behind the temple towers. A kid nearby is playing with a plastic dinosaur on the steps — something about that sticks with me more than any postcard shot ever could.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Angkor temples and sunset

• Pickup from Siem Reap hotel
• Travel to Angkor Wat and learn history
• Tour inside Angkor Wat galleries
• View Khmer Empire capital city site
• Visit Bayon temple and see faces
• Pass Terrace of the Leper King and Elephant
• Lunch break near Srah Srang
• Explore Ta Prohm jungle temple
• Watch sunset at Pre Rup temple
• Return to hotel

Top questions

How long does the Angkor Temples day tour from Siem Reap last?

The tour lasts a full day, including pickup in the morning and return after sunset at Pre Rup temple.

Is lunch included on this Siem Reap temples tour?

No, lunch is not included but there is time to eat at local restaurants near Srah Srang during the tour.

Are entrance fees for Angkor Wat included?

No, temple entrance fees are not included but can be purchased on the day using visa cards.

Is hotel pickup provided for this Angkor day trip?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Siem Reap are included in your booking.

What should I wear for visiting Angkor temples?

You must cover your shoulders and knees (scarves over shoulders are not allowed) and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Can children join this Angkor Wat day trip?

The minimum age is 8 years old; children younger than 8 are not allowed on this small group tour.

Will there be an English-speaking guide?

Yes, an experienced English-speaking guide leads the tour throughout the day.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Siem Reap by air-conditioned minivan, plenty of bottled water with cool towels for refreshment along the way, plus guidance from an experienced English-speaking local who knows these temples inside out—so you just focus on soaking it all in before heading back after sunset.