Angkor Wat 1-Day Sunrise Tour: Exploring Cambodia’s Ancient Wonders

Welcome back to Team Tala Travels! In this article, we will share with you our recent trip to Cambodia’s Ancient Wonder: Angkor Wat! 

If you are coming to Siem Reap for a short time only, don’t fret! You can still enjoy Angkor Wat by going on a one-day sunrise tour, just like we did! 

We stayed in Siem Reap for 4 days, but in the interest of time, and because we are travelling with a child, we decided to go to Angkor Wat for only one day. 

If you want to know the different places we stayed in for the duration of our Siem Reap adventure, check out this video: 10 places you should visit in Siem Reap. 

One-Day Sunrise Tour in Angkor Wat

If you have a limited time in Siem Reap but still want to immerse yourself in the beauty and history of Angkor Wat, then a One-Day Sunrise Angkor Wat Tour is best for you. This tour is a half-day tour that starts just before sunrise and ends at around lunch time. 

We booked a One-Day Sunrise Angkor Wat Tour via Klook.com. Actually, we initially wanted to go on a DIY Angkor Wat tour and just hire a tuktuk driver to drive us around Angkor Wat. However, as a last minute decision, we chose to go on a guided tour so that we can maximize the chance to learn more about Angkor Wat’s history and architecture from a trained and experienced tour guide.

There are many other Angkor Wat tours to choose from, such as this one. 

Still deciding whether to book a guided tour or do a DIY tour? Check out this chart for comparison. 

	Guided Tour	DIY Tour
Cost	Higher cost – cost usually includes transportation and tour guide fees	Lower – you can choose a tuktuk driver with the cheapest rates. This rate already includes the guide fee
Convenience	High convenience – everything will be arranged for you. You just need to show up and follow your guide	Low to medium – you will take care of your own logistical plans and make sure that your driver understands the route
Flexibility	Low – there is low flexibility since you need to follow the itinerary and the amount of time you are allowed to stay in one place. You have to wait for the rest of the group before moving to the next stop	High – you can adjust your schedule based on the amount of time you want to spend on one place
Local Knowledge	High – The tour guide will explain the history and provide interesting facts about each place in the itinerary	Low- you need to read about the place yourself
Access to Hidden Gems	High – the presence of a reliable tour guide can give you the chance to see less-visited sites	Low – you will easily miss out hidden gems that you did not encounter in your research
Language Support	High – most tour guides have knowledge of the English language	Low – some local tuktuk drivers have limited speaking abilities in English
Photography Guidance	High – Guides know the best spots to take photos.	Medium – you will need to look for great photo spots yourself

Make sure to read the features of both options before coming up with a decision. In our case, we decided to go for a guided tour because we did not know any tuktuk driver trustworthy enough to bring us to the tour. Also, we saw that the price in Klook for a small group Angkor Wat tour is just 750PHP or 12.80USD per person. The three of us will cost us 38.40 USD, inclusive of transportation, guide, and a relaxed trip. It might be a little more expensive than hiring our own tuktuk driver, but it certainly gave us a more relaxed tour around Angkor Wat.

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One-Day Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour Itinerary 

Here is a well-paced one-day Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour itinerary. It covers the main areas of the Angkor Archaeological Park, such as the Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm. 

1. Early Morning: Sunrise at Angkor Wat

4:30 to 5:00 AM – Pickup and Drive to Angkor Wat

Departure: If you are going on a guided tour, the pickup time from your hotel will depend on the number of people participating in the tour. In our case, there were only 12 people in the van, which made pickup time easier and faster. 

Arrival: Transit time from the city to Angkor Wat takes 20 to 30 minutes. You can check Google Maps on your device for the exact transit time if you are going on a DIY trip. 

You should arrive at Angkor Wat 20 to 30 minutes before the sun rises to make sure that you have enough time to walk to the front of the temple from the parking lot. Also, coming early will help you secure the perfect spot to catch the sun as it begins to rise over the temples. 

Buying Tickets: You will stop by the ticket center to purchase your Angkor Wat pass. This pass has a QR code that needs to be scanned by temple staff in every temple that you visit. To make sure that you have the QR code all the time, take a photo of it on your phone. Without a QR code, you will not be allowed to enter the temples. 

Ticket prices depend on the number of days you want to explore Angkor Wat. A one-day pass costs $37, while a 7-day pass costs $72. Learn more about the Angkor Wat pass here. 

5:30 to 6:00 AM – Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Sunrise Location: Once you get to Angkor Wat, look for the reflection pool in front of the temple. This is the ideal spot to catch the sunrise since it offers a magnificent view of the temple silhouette while the sky changes its color from red to orange to blue.

Timing: Since many people yearn to catch a glimpse of the fascinating sunrise at Angkor Wat, expect a huge crowd around the pool area. Make sure you arrive early to catch the perfect photo. 

Photography: Be prepared with your cameras. Some people also make a time-lapse video to catch the changing of sunrise colors against the temples. 

It is difficult to get a perfect photo of yourself without photobombers because of the huge crowd during the sunrise. If you want a perfect photo with no other people around, I suggest that you stay a few minutes after the crowds have dispersed and take a perfect photo souvenir with Angkor Wat.

There are also photographers who will offer you a shot with the Angkor Wat for $1. We did not try it, but you certainly can! Tag us in your photo if you choose to avail of it so we can see how it looks! 

6:30 AM – Explore Angkor Wat

After watching the sunrise, you can already explore the temple complex by yourself. 

If you are still not aware, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the whole world! Many tourists go to Cambodia to see this massive Buddhist temple complex. 

This temple complex, which took 30 years to build, was originally built for the Hindu god Vishnu. But right now, it is considered a Buddhist temple. 

Tips

If you are on a tour, be mindful of the time that you need to be back to your meetup spot. Synchronize your clock with your guide to avoid being the cause of delay in the group. 

Some guides, like ours, are generous in taking photos of people in the group. He offered to take photos of our family, which we accepted with delight! We know that he is a pro in capturing Angkor Wat photos, so we definitely obliged to his generosity! 

Noon, our guide, gave us 15 minutes to explore the Angkor Wat grounds by ourselves. Afterwards, we gathered together and entered the Main Temple together. 

One of the advantages of going on a guided tour is the presence of a local guide who shares his knowledge about Angkor Wat’s history and architecture to the group .

Through our guide Noon, we learned that the big stones used in constructing the Angkor Wat temples were carried by elephants during the dry season. In the rainy season, stones were delivered to the complex by boat! 

We also learned that Angkor Wat used to be a Hindu temple before it was transformed into a Buddhist temple when the new king reigned. At present, both Hinduism and Buddhism are the main religions in Cambodia. 

At around 7:20, we gathered to go back to the van and head to our next destination. 

7:30 AM – Explore the South Gate of Angkor Wat

The South Gate of Angkor Wat, also called Tonle Om Gate, is a very famous spot in the archaeological complex. This is one of the five ancient gates that provided access to the giant stones used in the construction of the Angkor Wat. 

Looking at it and going through it feels that you are entering the heavens where gods live! Its architecture is simply superb!

There are lines of busts lining both sides of the road leading to the gate. Our guide said that the figures on one side are gods, while those on the other side are demons. This depicts the constant battle between good and evil in life. 

Our guide gave us 15 minutes to explore the area. Afterwards, we headed back to the van and went inside the South Gate to go to Bayon Temple. 

The van ride going to Bayon Temple from the South Gate took only 3 minutes. You can also choose to walk to the Bayon Temple, which can take you approximately 20 minutes. 

8:10 AM – Explore the Bayon Temple: The Temple of Smiling Faces

The Bayon Temple is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Cambodia. It is famous for its 200+ stone faces, which are said to represent the god Brahma. These faces gaze out in every direction and appear to have calm expressions, which are definitely a sight to behold for every visitor in the complex! 

Our guide walked us through every intricate detail at the Bayon Temple. One part of the wall detailed how armies from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos battled against each other on their boats in the river. Noon also mentioned that one of the reasons that the Cambodians celebrate the Water Festival is to honor the valiant boat warriors of the Khmer Empire.

Your guide will walk you through the temple, explaining the significance of the unique architecture and detailing the numerous bas-reliefs that depict scenes of daily life, battles, and even historical events of the time.

8:35 AM – Explore the Terrace of the Elephants

The Terrace of the Elephants is just a 2-minute ride from the Bayon Temple. This is also one of the most visited sites in the Angkor complex. It is a long and tall platform that King Jayavarman VII used to see his armies returning victoriously from battle. 

Its original structure already deteriorated, but the ornate carvings of elephants on the walls can still be seen. 

There is nothing more to be seen here other than the wall carvings, so we stayed here for only 5 minutes or so. 

There is an option to try to walk on the long platform, but because we were tired and hungry, and also because the weather was so hot, we decided to skip that part and go straight to lunch.

8:45 AM – Lunch at a Local Village

I know! 8:45 is too early for lunch, but for those of us who did not have any breakfast yet, we welcomed this early lunch or brunch with open arms and open mouths!

Our guide said we will have lunch at a local village. Later on, we found out that it would be in a restaurant at a local village that serves really good food and drinks! Many tour companies bring their groups here, so when we got to the restaurant, familiar faces of tourists from Angkor Wat greeted us.

Our whole group was seated on a long table. There were only 13 of us, so we were able to fit on a long dinner table. Having lunch with our group gave us the chance to connect with new people, have conversations, and simply get to know each other. We found out that we all share one passion, which is, —- traveling! You guessed it right!

At the restaurant, I ordered vegetable spring rolls, while Tala ordered rice and fried chicken. We had mixed fruit shakes for our drinks. Tatay ordered beef loklak, rice, and hot coffee. 

There is also a souvenir stand where tourists can buy refrigerator magnets, Angkor Wat paper weights, and keychains. We got an Angkor Wat refrigerator magnet! 

Do not forget to use the toilet at the restaurant so there will be no problem finding one at the next destination!

10:15 AM – Explore Ta Prohm Temple or the Tomb Raider Temple

Ta Prohm temple is one of the most famous temples in the Angkor Wat complex. One of the reasons for its fame is the presence of a large tree root on top of the temple roof. Tree roots entwined with the stone structures is simply a sight to behold! 

Our guide said that Ta Prohm is a temple that the king built for his mother. However, it was not preserved anymore and was left in its natural state until it was discovered in the 19th century. As such, tree roots started to grow on top of the temple grounds. 

Another reason that Ta Prohm is famous is because it was used as a setting in the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001. The iconic scene of Angelina Jolie running inside the temple ruins and posing victoriously outside the temple with trees in the background has made the temple popular among tourists. Expect many tourists posing like Lara Croft in this temple.

Long Walk Ahead

 In going to Ta Prohm, expect to walk a few hundred meters from the parking lot to the main temple ruins. Revel in the beauty of the trees over you, but be prepared for the scorching heat of the sun if you go during the dry season. 

On the way, you will pass a group of musicians playing traditional Cambodian instruments. These musicians were either blind, maimed, or victims of landmines. With them is a sign saying that they are playing musical instruments as a way of preserving their dignity. Instead of staying on the streets and begging for money, they use their musical skills to acquire funds. 

10:50 AM – End of the Sunrise Tour

At 10:50 am, we headed back to the van. The van brought us back to our hotel to relax, rest, and relish our adventure in the Angkor Wat Complex. 

This is a trip that we will always remember and treasure. Not only did we learn about the history of Angkor Wat, we also made new friends and enjoyed the company of our tour mates. 

Tips for Your Tour:

• Dress modestly: Since you’ll be visiting religious sites, wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
• Bring sunscreen and water: It can get hot, so make sure you stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun.
• Bring light snacks: There is no food available in the complex, so if you are traveling with little ones or if you have a medical condition that requires you to fill up, make sure to bring light snacks like crackers or energy bars.
• Camera ready: The sunrise at Angkor Wat and the other temples will offer plenty of amazing photo opportunities, so don’t forget your camera or smartphone!
• Comfortable shoes: You’ll be walking quite a bit, so wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.

What’s Next?

Going to Angkor Wat is an activity that we will always cherish. With the beauty of the architecture and the history of Angkor Wat, I recommend everybody to visit this place at least once in their lives. And make sure to capture the sunrise at Angkor Wat!

Whether you decide to go on a DIY Angkor Wat Sunrise adventure or join a small group tour, I am sure that you will gain a lot of insights and experience the beauty of Angkor Wat when you go visit! 

That’s it for our travel blog in Angkor Wat! Tell us your experiences after visiting this majestic place! 

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