Angkor Wat – City Temple, literally speaking, is the largest religious complex in the world. There are hundreds of publications about this place, so I’m gonna bring up only the most essential and interesting details, along with some practical advice. This glorious temple complex is indeed one of the most incredible places in the world. As you probably already know, Angkor Wat gets very busy, like most of the world-famous sacred places, so it’s a smart idea to go there for the Angkor Wat sunrise walk.
Angkor Wat sunrise tour.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat.
Timing depends on the season. From November through February, sunrise occurs between 6:30-6:50 AM.
During the summer months (April-June), it can be as early as 5:45 AM. Always check the exact sunrise time for your visit date and work backwards from there.
I recommend arriving 45-60 minutes before sunrise if you want a good viewing spot, but don’t stress if you’re 15-20 minutes “late”—you’ll still witness something extraordinary.
Angkor Wat sunrise is the best experience you can have in such a busy and touristic place. I strongly recommend booking your Angkor Wat ticket in advance, ideally a day before, to skip queues at the official office, guarantee entry (especially for Angkor Wat sunrise).
The best spots for Angkor Wat sunrise.
There are two reflection ponds in front of Angkor Wat’s main entrance, and 90% of sunrise visitors cluster around the left pond (also called the north pond).
But the right pond (south pond) offers an almost identical view with significantly fewer people.
You can also skip the ponds entirely for the initial sunrise, and instead, watch it from the main causeway or even from further back near the outer wall. Yes, you won’t get the mirror reflection, but you’ll have space to breathe, you can move around, and honestly, watching those five towers gradually shift from silhouette to golden stone is magical from any angle.
Angkor Wat ticket.
As of 2026, Angkor Wat ticket prices are:
- 1-day pass: $37 USD
- 3-day pass: $62 USD (valid for any three days within 10 days)
- 7-day pass: $72 USD (valid for one month)
My strong recommendation is to get the 3-day pass. Even if you think you only want to see Angkor Wat, trust me—once you’re there, you’ll want to explore more.
The difference between one day and three days is only $25, and you’ll thank yourself for the flexibility.
PRO TIP: Tickets purchased after 4:45 PM are valid starting the next day, but you can enter the park that same evening for sunset. This effectively gives you a bonus sunset session for free. The Angkor Wat ticket office is located about 4 kilometres from Angkor Wat itself, and while you can buy tickets online through the official Angkor Enterprise website, the on-site process is quick with dedicated counters and digital photo capture (yes, your face goes on the ticket).
How to get from Siem Rep to Angkor Wat?
If you are staying in Siem Reap, which is 6-8 kilometres from Angkor Wat, here are your main options to get to the Temple:
- Tuk-tuk: $15-25 per day (can fit 2-4 people comfortably)
- Private taxi/car: $35-50 per day (air-conditioned, good for beating the heat)
- Bicycle: $2-5 rental per day (only for the truly adventurous—remember that 4:00 AM wake-up call)
- E-bike rental: $10-15 per day (a nice middle ground)
I’ve tried them all, apart from e-bikes, and here’s my take: tuk-tuks are the sweet spot for most travellers. They’re affordable, your driver knows the routes, and there’s something wonderfully atmospheric about riding through the dark Cambodian countryside in an open-air tuk-tuk. Most drivers will wait for you at designated parking areas and act as your chauffeur for the entire day.
Just negotiate the price beforehand and agree on the itinerary. A good tuk-tuk driver is worth their weight in gold—they’ll suggest the best routes to avoid crowds, know which temples are quieter at which times, and can recommend local lunch spots that won’t obliterate your budget.
What to take for AngkoR Wat sunrise?
After visiting Bagan – the largest temple complex in the world in Myanmar, I learned the hard way what to bring for such attractions, especially if you are planning an Angkor Wat sunrise adventure.
- A good flashlight or headlamp:
- Water—lots of it: Cambodia is humid and hot even before sunrise. You’ll drink more than you think. The small vendors inside the park charge premium prices for water.
- Bug spray.
- Warm clothes.
- Sun protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. The sun gets intense quickly after it rises, and you’ll likely spend the entire morning exploring temples with limited shade.
3 days Angkor Wat.
As mentioned, I would definitely recommend spending 3 days in Angkor Wat, even if it sounds like a lot of sightseeing – trust me, it’s worth it.
HOW TO ESCAPE THE CROWDS IN ANGKOR WAT?
Timing tricks:
- Visit on weekdays rather than weekends (fewer Cambodian domestic tourists),
- The week after a major holiday sees fewer visitors,
- The 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM window is when tour buses deposit their maximum loads—avoid main temples during this time.
Spatial awareness:
- At any major temple, 80% of visitors cluster in 20% of the space (usually the most Instagrammable spots),
- Walk 50 meters in any direction and crowds thin significantly,
- Upper terraces and outer galleries have far fewer people than the main courtyards.
if you truly want a quieter experience, venture to the outer temples:
- Banteay Srei (beautiful pink sandstone carvings, about 37 km from Siem Reap),
- Beng Mealea (completely overgrown jungle temple, feels like you’re discovering it for the first time).
Angkor Wat history.
It is hard to believe Angkor Wat remained neglected for 500 years since the 15th century. It was built in 1113 (date might be different in other sources) for Vishnu, one of the most important gods in the Hindu pantheon. Vishnu, along with Brahma and Shiva are considered one of the holy trinity (trimurti) of Hinduism. The entire temple covers an area of about 500 acres and is one of the greatest archaeological sites of the mainland.
One of the precious pieces of the Angkor Wat walls is over 900 metres of stone ‘arras’ (stone sculpture), which consists of more than 20 000 figures from realistic scenes of the Indian Ramayana and Mahabharat epics (more to find in the post: Incredible Pai in the northern Thailand). The most famous is Khmer art, showing gods with demons mashing up a Milk Sea to extract an immortal elixir from the depths.
Dresscode for Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat is a sacred place, thus you should follow a dresscode. Wear lightweight, breathable clothing covering your knees and shoulders for both men and women.
How to visit Angkor Wat?
It is possible to discover the area on foot, by bike, by e-bike, by tuk-tuk. I explored 2 days on foot, which is an active way of sightseeing. Hiring a tuk-tuk for 20-25$ for the whole day is an option for day 3. It’s not that much if shared with someone and allows you to see a lot of remote temples in one day.
The best Angkor Wat sunrise tours.
Here are the best tour options for Angkor Wat sunrise:
The Small Circuit vs. Grand Circuit.
Small Circuit (17 km loop): Angkor Wat → Angkor Thom (Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King) → Ta Prohm → Banteay Kdei → back to Angkor Wat. This hits all the headline temples and can technically be done in one very long day, though I recommend spreading it over two.
Grand Circuit (26 km loop): Includes the Small Circuit temples plus Pre Rup, Eastern Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, and Preah Khan. These temples see fewer visitors and offer a different atmosphere—more overgrown, more mysterious, less “restored” feeling.
Accommodation in Angkor Wat.
There are plenty of accommodations in the area! You can get cheap options for oonly 5$, and a good one for $15-25. I usually stay in the cheap accomodation but once every two weeks I hire a better room just to have a little more comfort and facilities, like a proper shower (hot ;)). A lovely room with breakfast and a swimming pool was for 30$ per night.
Things to do in Angkor Wat.
STREET FOOD in Angkor Wat. Gosh, the street food was delicious! There are also lots of small restaurants around with very fair prices, even for the seafood and local specialities. Great fruit cocktails!
The only thing that was a little irritating were little children, who are pushed to follow you and ask for money. It is simply impossible to tip everyone and to cope with the level of disturbulance.. even when I asked kindly to leave us alone, they wouldn’t.
MASSAGE: After a long day, especially after the Angkor Wat sunrise tour, a massage is a great idea. They are really good there and prices are very reasonable compared to some other cities. A good one should not be more than 10$.
Interesting facts about Angkor Wat!
- Many temples of Angkor Wat are entwined by an old trees. It’s because the temples are made of sandstone which enables the trees to extract water from the stones.
- A Khmer architecture, in Khmer language, “City Temple”.
- It’s the only temple which remain a religious centre since its foundation.
PRO TIP: Before Angkor Wat you need to visit the BATS VALLEY. It’s a small park near Angkor Wat with really high trees full of bats. I have never seen hundreds of bats hanging in daylight over the trees. Some of them were spreading their wings, which made me realise they are really huge! Walking the valley, hearing all the sounds makes you feel like you’re in an Indiana Jones set.
Is the Angkor Wat sunrise tour worth it?
Absolutely, the sunrise is beautiful, but the real magic of Angkor Wat reveals itself slowly, in the details, in the light playing across stone at different times of day, the misterious tress wrapping the temples. The truth is, there is no other place like this.
These stones have witnessed nearly 900 years of sunrises. Kingdoms have risen and fallen, jungles have reclaimed and released the structures, and yet here they stand. The fact that we can visit, can climb the same stairs that 12th-century kings climbed.
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