Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour
Description
Visit sunrise outside of Angkor Wat with enter the great temple in darkness from the western side and soak up the atmosphere of dawn at Angkor, from the edge of one of the ancient library pools. Spend your day with temple-hopping with your local guide to make the most of your visit to the world-famous Angkor complex, built between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer empire was the pre-eminent influence in South-East Asia.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We begin with a pre-dawn departure (4.30 to 4.45am depending on the time of year) from your hotel for sunrise outside Angkor Wat. Enter the great temple in darkness from the little-visited eastern side, and creep along hoary cloistered corridors past the longest stretch of bas-relief carvings in the world.
The south gate of Angkor Thom is the best preserved. It is approached from outside via a causeway that extends about fifty meters across a moat. On each side of the causeway are railings fashioned with 54 stone figures engaged in the performance of a famous Hindu story: the myth of the Churning of the Ocean. On the left side of the moat, 54 'devas' (guardian gods) pull the head of the snake 'Shesha' while on the right side 54 'asuras' (demon gods) pull the snake's tail in the opposite direction. In this myth, the body of the snake is wrapped around the central mountain—Mt. Meru—perhaps corresponding here to the Bayon temple at the center of the site. In any case, the myth relates that as the Devas pulled the snake in one direction and the gods pushed in the other, the ocean began to churn and precipitate the elements. By alternating back and forth, the ocean was 'milked', forming the earth and the cosmos anew.
Angkor Thom is the majestic site once served as the Khmer Empire's glistening capital city. Take a moment to consider its grandiosity before venturing inside the city. Arriving at the temple at Bayon, appreciate its beautifully crafted central towers covered in more than 200 enormous faces.
The 350m-long Terrace of Elephants was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king's grand audience hall. It has five outworks extending towards the Central Square-three in the center and one at each end. The middle section of the retaining wall is decorated with life-size garuda and lions; towards either end are the two parts of the famous parade of elephants complete with their Khmer mahouts.
One of the most atmospheric of all temples in Angkor. Once home to 2,740 monks, Ta Prohm today looks much as it did in the early 1850s, when French explorer Henri Mouhot ‘rediscovered’ this crumbling site. After exploring the maze-like interior of Ta Prohm, return to your hotel after a long but fulfilling day, which will leave you with a lifetime of memories of one of the wonders of the world.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Enjoy hassle-free pickup from your Siem Reap hotel at 4:30 am (timing may vary slightly by location). If your hotel isn’t listed, simply mention it in your booking—we’ll take care of you.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Dress Code: Respectful dress with cover your shoulders and knees is required (shoulders cover by scarf not allow).
- Breakfast: If your hotel room is included breakfast, we recommend to request the breakfast pack and you will enjoy after sunrise at Angkor Wat.
- Temples entrance fee also accept visa cards and available to purchase on the day of the tour just before sunrise
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
Reviews(425)
Chhay is a helpful, knowledgable and humorous guide. I enjoyed hearing from him share about the Khmer culture, royal family and personal experiences. He also knows the secret spots to take good photos. 100% recommending him to take me on a different temple tour next time. Thank you Chhay for this unforgettable experience
Dear Samuel, Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had an unforgettable experience exploring the temples with Chhay. He truly loves sharing the rich history of Khmer culture and finding those perfect, hidden photo spots. We will be sure to pass your kind words along to him. We can't wait to welcome you back for another temple tour next time. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
Guide Chay was honest and helpful guide. He gave us tips on where to take the best photo shots. He was informatve, explaiing about Khmer culture and history.
Dear Deswee, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful time with Chay. He takes great pride in sharing the rich history and culture of Cambodia, and he’ll be delighted to know his photography tips helped you capture some great memories. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
Our experience with Sam was absolutely exceptional. He was not only an incredible guide, but a true professor of Cambodian history, culture, and spirituality. There was not a single question he could not answer his knowledge is truly impressive. Beyond that, Sam is kind, patient, warm, and made the entire experience feel deeply special. He also takes the most beautiful photos and knows exactly how to capture memorable moments throughout the sunrise tour. I can genuinely say this was the best guided tour experience I have ever had in my life. If you are visiting Angkor Wat, you would be very lucky to have Sam as your guide. Thank you again for such an unforgettable experience.
Dear Rafaela, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a beautiful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your sunrise tour was the best guided experience of your life. Sam is indeed an incredible wealth of knowledge when it comes to Cambodian history and spirituality, and we are so proud to have him on our team. I will be sure to pass along your kind words and your compliments on his photography skills to him. He will be delighted! We hope to welcome you back to Angkor Wat someday. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
We had a wonderful experience with Mr. Sok Chea. He was very friendly and knowledgable and I would recommend him to anybody looking for an Ankor Wat tour.
Dear Harry, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful tour of Angkor Wat. Mr. Sok Chea is indeed a fantastic guide, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. He will be delighted to know he made your visit so memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Siem Reap in the future. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
I had a wonderful experience with Mr. Sok Chea. Sok was not only very informative, but also made very personable as well. The Angkor wat tour was beautiful and awe inspiring. We then went to buoyon temple and this was just as amazing! Sok was the best and will highly recommend this tour and Sok to others!
Dear Value Customer, Thank you so much for the fantastic review. We are thrilled to hear that you had such an awe-inspiring experience exploring Angkor Wat and Bayon Temple. I will be sure to pass your kind words along to Sok Chea—he will be absolutely delighted to know his informative and personable approach made your tour so memorable. Thank you for highly recommending us, and we hope to welcome you back to Siem Reap in the future. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
Our group had an amazing tour with our guide, Sok. Sok was extremely knowledgeable, accommodating, and fun, and gave us a tour of the many historical sites of the Angkor area. 10/10 would recommend and do again!
Dear Value Customer, Thank you so much for the wonderful review. We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing time exploring the historical sites of the Angkor area. Sok is indeed a fantastic guide—his knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to making every tour fun really shine through. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to him. We would love to welcome you back for another adventure in the future. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
Sam was a terrific and knowledgeable guide taking us to the key temples at Angkor Wat. He knows some great photo spots and took some amazing photos. He answered so many of our questions and gave us some great insights into Cambodian history, religion and its people. Da was a great driver, magically appearing to pick us up from different spots with a welcomed iced water and cold towel several. Sunrise at Angkor Wat is magical and we highly recommend Sam & Da.
Dear Value Customer, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your magical experience with us. We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a memorable sunrise tour. Sam will be delighted to know that his knowledge of Cambodian history and knack for finding those perfect photo spots made such a great impression. We will also be sure to pass along your kind words to Da takes great pride in keeping our guests comfortable and refreshed, and he’ll be happy to hear his timing with the cold towels and iced water was spot on. We hope to welcome you back to Cambodia for more adventures in the future. Best regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
We had a fantastic Angkor Wat tour from start to finish. The pickup was on time, the itinerary was well planned, and we got to see the best highlights without feeling rushed. Our guide SO was knowledgeable about the history and answered all our questions with amazing photos throughout. Sunrise at Angkor Wat was unforgettable, and the rest of the temples Angkor Thom, Ta Phrom, Bayon Temple were equally stunning. Our driver SAMBATH made us feel comfortable in the scorching heat at all times. Excellent service, highly recommend Journey Cambodia! Best tour we booked in Siem Reap!
Dear Rasika, Thank you for the wonderful review and for highly recommending Journey Cambodia. We are so glad you had an unforgettable sunrise experience and enjoyed exploring Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and Bayon Temple at a comfortable pace. So and Sambath will be thrilled to hear your compliments about their guidance, photography, and hospitality. We hope to see you again. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
Amazing experience, Mr So is an exceptional tour guide providing a plethora of insightful facts and details about the history of the temples that we visited. Highly recommend, one of the most beautiful experiences you can enjoy! Sambath was our amazing driver (and water provider)!
Dear Value Customer, Thank you for the fantastic review! We are so glad you enjoyed the rich history of the temples with Mr. So and appreciated Sambath’s excellent driving and hospitality. Your high recommendation means the world to our team. Safe travels on your next adventure! Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
We truly enjoyed our sunrise tour! Our guide, Sopheaprath, was wonderful — so knowledgeable about his culture. Our driver, Dara, went above and beyond by offering cold water and towels whenever needed, which made our experience even better. We wholeheartedly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Siem Reap!
Dear Lodwin, Thank you so much for your kind words! It is wonderful to know that Sopheaprath’s knowledge of our culture added depth to your visit, and that Dara’s attentive service with cold water and towels kept you comfortable throughout the morning. We take great pride in our team’s dedication to providing a seamless experience, and your recommendation means the world to us. We would love to welcome you back again in the future. Warmest Regards, Phalla Chhou (Mr.Paul) Operations Assistant Tel & WhatsApp:+85512334657 E-mail:info@journeycambodia.com
