Angkor Wat & Phnom Kulen 3-Day Tour: Sunrise & Waterfalls

You'll eat breakfast in a village on day three and watch sunrise over Angkor Wat from the ground up.

A 3-day private tour of Siem Reap's temple complex and surrounding region with a professional English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, cool water and towels throughout. The itinerary covers Angkor Thom and Bayon on day one with sunset at Phnom Bakheng; Phnom Kulen National Park's waterfalls and reclining Buddha on day two, plus Banteay Srei temple and a private boat ride through Kampong Phluk floating village; and a pre-dawn start on day three to watch sunrise at Angkor Wat before visiting Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Pre Rup and East Mebon. Breakfast is included on day three only. Lunch stops are at local restaurants where you pay separately. The floating village is best visited August through February when water levels are higher.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat

• Pick up from hotel at 8:00 am
• Buy Angkor pass
• Visit Angkor Thom ancient capital
• Explore Bayon temple
• Visit Baphuon temple
• See Terrace of the Elephants
• See Terrace of the Leper King
• Lunch break at local restaurant
• Explore Angkor Wat temple
• Watch sunset at Phnom Bakheng hilltop

Day 2: Phnom Kulen, Banteay Srei and Kampong Phluk

• Pick up from hotel at 8:00 am
• Visit Phnom Kulen National Park waterfalls and reclining Buddha
• Lunch stop on the way
• Visit Banteay Srei temple
• Boat ride at Kampong Phluk floating village on Tonle Sap Lake

Day 3: Sunrise and temples tour

• Pick up before sunrise at 4:40 am
• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Breakfast in local village
• Visit local market
• Explore Ta Prohm temple
• Visit Preah Khan temple
• Visit Neak Pean temple
• Visit Ta Som temple
• Visit Pre Rup temple
• Visit East Mebon temple

The experience

Your guide and driver pick you up from your hotel at 8:00 am on day one and take you to buy your Angkor Archaeological Park pass before entering Angkor Thom, the last great capital of the Khmer Empire. You'll walk through Bayon, the richly decorated state temple built in the late 12th century, then move through the Baphuon temple mountain and the Terrace of the Elephants, where King Jayavarman VII once viewed his returning army. After a lunch break at a local restaurant (45 to 60 minutes, food paid separately), you continue to Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument spanning 162.6 hectares. If energy and weather permit, the guide will take you to Phnom Bakheng hilltop for sunset. Climbing starts around 4:00 pm due to visitor limits, though you can return to your hotel earlier if you prefer.

Day two begins at 8:00 am heading to Phnom Kulen National Park, where you'll see a massive reclining Buddha statue carved in the 16th century, Cambodia's largest waterfall, and the River of a Thousand Shiva Lingas, considered sacred by Khmer people. You can swim at the falls, though water volume is lower during the dry season (March through July). After a lunch stop, you visit Banteay Srei, a 10th-century temple with intricate sculptures dedicated to Shiva. The day ends with a private boat ride through Kampong Phluk floating village on Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake: the 45 to 60-minute round trip is best done August through February when water levels support the full experience.

Day three starts before sunrise: pickup at 4:40 am to reach Angkor Wat and watch dawn break over the temple. You'll spend about an hour waiting for sunrise, then have a short break in a nearby village for authentic Cambodian breakfast (Khmer noodle soup with traditional palm cake and steamed rice dumplings with palm sugar) before visiting a local market. The rest of the morning covers Ta Prohm (famous from the Tomb Raider film), Pre Rup pyramid temple, Ta Som with its tree-covered East Gate, Neak Pean on its artificial island, and Preah Khan, built by Jayavarman VII to honor his father. Your guide handles all logistics. The professional tour guide and air-conditioned transport with cool water and towels are included throughout.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide and driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned private transport.
• cool water and towels throughout the three days.
• breakfast on day three only.
• private boat ride through Kampong Phluk floating village on day two.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private tour (100%)Up to 8 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · 08:00 and 08:30Led by a professional English-speaking guide with over ten years of experience in tourism. Pickup is included.

With a Chinese-speaking guideUp to 10 per booking · 08:00 and 08:30This private tour is led by a professional Mandarin-speaking tour guide with years of experience. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 08:00 and 08:30, from US$ 183.08 per person, with a live guide in English and Chinese, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30Another time? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and ChineseOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (8 to 80 years) · Child (under 8)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Asean Angkor Guide

Is this one for you?Book this three-day private tour if you want to combine Angkor's temples with Kulen Mountain's waterfalls and Kampong Phluk's floating village in one itinerary, with a dedicated guide and driver throughout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 8).

What's the difference between the sunrise on day three and the sunset on day one?

Day one's sunset at Phnom Bakheng is optional and depends on energy levels after a full day of walking. Day three's sunrise at Angkor Wat is the main event, with pickup before dawn and about an hour of waiting for light to break over the temple. Day three also includes breakfast in a village and a local market visit afterward.

Can I swim at the Phnom Kulen waterfalls?

Yes, you can swim at the waterfalls on day two, but water volume is significantly lower during the dry season from March through July. The best time to visit is August through January when rainfall keeps the falls flowing.

Is the Kampong Phluk floating village included in all three days?

The floating village is part of day two and includes a private boat ride of about 45 to 60 minutes round trip on Tonle Sap Lake. It's best visited August through February when water levels are high enough for the full experience.

What meals are included in the three days?

Breakfast is included only on day three in a village near Angkor Wat. Lunch stops happen on days one and two at local restaurants where you pay for your own food and drinks separately.

Do I need to buy the Angkor Archaeological Park pass separately?

The guide takes you to buy your Angkor pass on day one before entering the park. The cost is separate from the tour price and paid at that time.

What should I wear when visiting the temples?

Both men and women must dress respectfully, covering shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing works well in the hot climate and is both respectful and practical. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and you'll want sun protection and mosquito spray, which you can buy in town.