Siem Reap: Angkor Wat Sunrise, Bayon & Ta Prohm Day Tour

Summary

Angkor sunrise day trip from Siem Reap with ancient temples and quiet moments

You’ll stand in silence as Angkor Wat glows under sunrise skies, touch ancient carvings inside cool corridors, wander through tree-wrapped ruins at Ta Prohm with your local guide sharing stories—and end your day with tired feet but a mind full of temple faces.

What’s the experience like?

It’s still dark when we pile into the minibus outside our Siem Reap hotel—someone yawns, someone else fumbles for coffee. The air feels thick and warm, even before dawn. Our guide, Sokha, grins as he checks our names. “Don’t worry, you’ll wake up when you see it,” he jokes. I’m not sure if he means Angkor Wat or the sun itself. We drive through almost-silent streets until the outline of the temple appears, black against a sky just starting to turn blue-grey. There’s a hush as everyone waits by the moat—just frogs and distant birds for company. When the first orange streaks hit those towers, I swear nobody breathed for a second.

Sokha leads us inside after sunrise (and a few awkward group photos). Inside Angkor Wat, I run my hand along carvings that feel cool and rough—he points out stories in the bas-reliefs: gods fighting demons, dancers frozen mid-twirl. I try to imagine building something like this with no machines, just hands and stone. Later we wander through Banteay Kdei—a quieter place where moss creeps over broken walls and there’s a kind of peacefulness that makes you want to whisper instead of talk. A local monk passed us here; he nodded and smiled so gently it felt like a blessing.

Ta Prohm is wild—the trees have taken over, roots curling around doorways like giant fingers. Sokha laughs when someone asks about Tomb Raider; apparently we’re not the first to bring it up. It smells earthy and damp inside, sunlight cutting sharp lines through gaps in the stone. By now my shirt is sticking to my back but honestly I don’t care—I’m too busy staring at everything growing together: jungle and temple tangled up for centuries.

We finish at Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom. The faces are everywhere—serene, half-smiling, watching from every angle. Sokha tells us each tower once marked a direction or story; I lose count trying to spot them all. On the way back through Tonle Om Gate, kids wave at our bus and someone hands out cold water bottles (best thing ever). My legs ache but my head’s buzzing with images—those faces at Bayon keep popping up whenever I close my eyes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Sunrise and iconic Angkor temples

• Pickup from Siem Reap hotel early
• Travel to Angkor Archaeological Park
• Enter Angkor Wat western entrance
• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Explore inside Angkor Wat temple
• Visit Banteay Kdei Temple
• Explore Ta Prohm Temple
• Visit Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom
• Stop at Tonle Om Gate for photos
• Return to hotel or accommodation

Top questions

What time does the Angkor Wat sunrise tour start?

The tour starts early before dawn with hotel pickup in Siem Reap to reach Angkor Wat before sunrise.

Are entrance tickets included in this day trip?

No, you’ll need to purchase your own entrance tickets for Angkor Archaeological Park.

Which temples are visited on this Siem Reap day trip?

You visit Angkor Wat, Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm, Bayon Temple, and pass through Tonle Om Gate.

Is lunch included on this Angkor Wat sunrise tour?

No lunch is included; drinking water is provided during the tour.

How do we travel between temples during the tour?

You travel by air-conditioned minibus with hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Will there be an English-speaking guide?

Yes, an English-speaking local guide leads the tour and shares historical context at each site.

How long does this day trip from Siem Reap last?

The duration varies but typically covers sunrise through late morning or early afternoon before returning to your hotel.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle from Siem Reap plus drinking water along the way; you’ll be guided by an English-speaking local who brings each temple’s history alive as you move between Angkor Wat’s sunrise reflection pools, quiet corners of Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm’s jungle ruins before heading back past Bayon Temple—all without worrying about transport or logistics.