Angkor Wat sunrise tour from Siem Reap: Three iconic temples

Watch Angkor Wat's towers catch the first light before the crowds arrive

An eight-hour guided tour from Siem Reap takes you to Angkor Archaeological Park to watch sunrise over Angkor Wat, then moves through Bayon Temple with its 54 towers of carved faces, Banteay Kdei's quieter Buddhist monastery, and the jungle-wrapped Ta Prohm. Your guide speaks English, hotel pickup and air-conditioned minibus transport are included, and you enter through the less-crowded western gate to beat the main crowds at the temples. Entrance tickets to the park are your own cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Angkor Wat3h
2. Banteay Kdei1h
3. Bayon1h

Explore Angkor Wat and Surrounding Temples

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

The experience

Eight hours starts before dawn. Hotel pickup comes early so you reach Angkor Wat while the sky is still dark, and the guide positions you at the moat to watch the temple's stone towers catch the sunrise and reflect in the water. The light changes fast. This is when the photographs work and the crowds have not yet arrived. Once the sun clears the horizon, you move inside Angkor Wat itself to walk the grand galleries and see the bas-reliefs carved with Hindu mythology and scenes of the central sanctuary.

The route then turns to three other temples within the park. Bayon sits at the center of Angkor Thom and holds 54 towers, each carved with four massive faces of Avalokiteshvara looking outward in different directions. The walls carry intricate carvings of daily life and historical battles from the Khmer Empire. Banteay Kdei, built in the late 12th century as a Buddhist monastery, is quieter and less visited: its corridors are serene and the partial ruins give it a mysterious atmosphere. Ta Prohm is the temple wrapped in massive tree roots, famous from the Tomb Raider film. It was left largely unrestored and reads as a jungle reclaiming stone.

The guide provides historical context about the Khmer Empire and the temples' construction and purpose, information that changes what you see when you stand in front of the carvings and the scale. You stop at Tonle Om Gate, the south entrance to Angkor Thom, where a causeway lined with statues of gods and demons leads to a gate crowned with four giant stone faces. The minibus is air-conditioned and the driver handles the route, so the day moves between temples without navigation or transport logistics on your shoulders.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned minibus.
• English-speaking tour guide.
• drinking water.
• transport between all temples within Angkor Archaeological Park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30

AgesAdult (7 to 80 years) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Hellobird Tour

Is this one for you?The early start and eight-hour pace mean a full day of walking and standing in the heat, so this tour suits travelers comfortable with morning departures and moderate physical activity across the temples. The fixed schedule and guided route remove the need to plan which temples to visit or how to move between them, which is what makes the sunrise timing and the three-temple route possible inside a single morning and afternoon.

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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 time does the Siem Reap hotel pickup happen for the sunrise?

The pickup is early morning. The exact time depends on your hotel location and the season, but it is timed so you reach Angkor Wat before sunrise. Confirm the pickup time when you book.

Do I need to buy the Angkor Archaeological Park entrance ticket separately?

Yes, park entrance tickets are not included and are your own cost. You purchase them once you arrive at the park before entering through the western gate.

What is Bayon Temple known for?

Bayon Temple sits at the center of Angkor Thom and is famous for its 54 towers, each carved with four massive, serene faces of Avalokiteshvara looking in different directions. The walls also carry intricate carvings depicting scenes of daily life and historical battles from the Khmer period.

Is Ta Prohm the temple with the tree roots?

Yes, Ta Prohm is the 12th-century temple famous for massive tree roots growing over and through its walls, giving it a jungle-temple appearance. It was left largely unrestored and became world-known after the Tomb Raider film was shot there.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour involves moderate walking between and inside the temples across the eight-hour day. The pace is guided and you move at the group's speed, with time to explore each temple's galleries, carvings and courtyards.

What does the guide explain during the tour?

The English-speaking guide provides historical information about the Khmer Empire, the temples' original purposes (whether built as Hindu or Buddhist sites), and details about the carvings, architecture and construction you encounter at each stop.