Angkor Wat ToursAngkor Wat Small Group Sunrise Tour
This Angkor Wat small group sunrise tour costs $15 per person and runs 8 to 9 hours with hotel pickup in the Siem Reap city area. An English-speaking guide leads a group capped at 15 people from the Angkor Wat sunrise to Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, the Bayon, Angkor Thom South Gate, Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. The Angkor Pass of $37 is not in the price, so the day costs $52 in total. Food is extra. This page explains what the money covers, how the morning runs and which travelers should book a different Angkor Wat tour instead. Compare it with the other Angkor Wat tours.
About This Tour
Angkor Wat Travel Tour runs this sunrise day from Siem Reap in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off. A live English-speaking guide explains Khmer history at each stop, and the itinerary allows 3 hours at Angkor Wat for the sunrise before the day moves on to Ta Prohm and the Angkor Thom temples. Cold water and a cold towel are provided.
The listing sells the same product for sunrise or sunset, so pick the sunrise option when booking. The $15 is the lowest option for the shared small group, and a private option for up to 25 people costs more. Cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and reserve now and pay later is available.
$15 per person for the shared small group. The private option costs more. The price does not include the Angkor Pass or food.
$52 in total: the $15 tour plus the one-day Angkor Pass at $37 per person.
8 to 9 hours, ending with drop-off in Siem Reap.
At your hotel in the Siem Reap city area. Check availability to see starting times, the exact time is confirmed after you book.
Shared groups are capped at 15 people. A private option takes up to 25 people at a higher price.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times are not published, they appear when you check a date. Reserve now and pay later keeps the booking open while you confirm the rest of your trip.
Quick answer The short answer
This small-group sunrise day costs $15 per person, runs 8 to 9 hours and takes groups of up to 15 in an air-conditioned vehicle. The $37 one-day Angkor Pass is extra, so the day comes to $52 with the pass. Food is not included, cold water and a cold towel are.
Key takeaways
- The price breakdown shows what the $15 covers and what you pay on top.
- The day stop by stop follows the listing's own itinerary from pickup to drop-off.
- Travelers who want a later start should look at the full-day tour with sunset.
- More Angkor Wat tours are compared on the homepage.
What Time to Be at Angkor Wat for Sunrise
The park opens at 5:00 AM and the tour buses arrive from 6:30 AM, so the pickup time decides how the morning goes. This listing shows its exact start time only when you check a date.
The Pickup Window on Comparable Tours
Angkor Temples Park opens at 5:00 AM and closes at 6:30 PM on the official ticket page. On rival small-group sunrise tours the hotel pickup runs 4:20 to 5:10 AM: ASEAN Angkor Guide puts its pickup at 4:30-5:00 AM with arrival at Angkor Wat by 5:15 AM, an hour before tour buses arrive from 6:30 AM. AsiaByLocals states a 4:20-5:10 AM window with a 20-minute drive and says its ticket office opens at 04:30. The drive from central Siem Reap to Angkor Wat is about 6 km, roughly 20 minutes by car. Wake-up around 4 AM is the realistic plan.
This listing states no fixed clock time, so check the date on the Angkor Wat Small-Group Sunrise Tour page to see the confirmed pickup time.
Planning Back from Sunrise
Siem Reap sunrise shifts with the season: 6:31 AM on 15 Jan, 6:12 AM on 15 Mar and 5:37 AM on 15 Jun, per sunrise-sunset.org. The month-by-month times earlier on this page pair with the 5:00 AM park opening, which means you stand at the reflecting pools in the dark for a while on most dates. The guide buys or checks the Angkor Pass with you on the way, and the guide explains Khmer history at each stop.
Source: Angkor Enterprise, ASEAN Angkor Guide, AsiaByLocals, Wikivoyage, sunrise-sunset.org.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $15 buys transport, a guide and a few small comforts. Almost everything else, from the Angkor Pass to lunch, is extra.
What Is in the Price
The listing includes an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off in the Siem Reap city area, an English-speaking tour guide, cold water and a cold towel. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later.
The guide explains Khmer history at each stop and the itinerary allows 3 hours at Angkor Wat for the sunrise. Japanese is offered as a language alongside English.
What You Pay on Top
The Angkor Pass is the big extra: $37 per person for a one-day pass. Buy it online one day before the tour, or the guide helps you buy it on the day. Food is also excluded, and the itinerary's Banteay Kdei breakfast stop of 45 minutes is marked optional, so breakfast is at your own cost. Bring money for lunch, drinks beyond the provided water and any tips.
One honest note on the listing itself: the description is the same for sunrise and sunset, so read carefully and pick the sunrise option when booking. The $15 shown is also the lowest option, the private version costs more, so confirm the total on the booking page before you pay.
The Money Line by Line
The table sets the inclusions against the extras, using only what the listing states. The $52 total is the price plus the pass as the listing presents it.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tour price | Yes, $15 per person | Lowest option, shared group. Private costs more |
| Angkor Pass, 1 day | No | $37 per person, bought online the day before or with the guide on the day |
| Your total with the pass | Not in the price | $52 per person for the shared option |
| Hotel pickup and drop-off | Yes | Siem Reap city area, 2 pickup and 2 drop-off locations |
| Guide | Yes | Live English-speaking guide, Japanese also offered |
| Cold water and cold towel | Yes | Included |
| Food and drinks | No | Optional 45-minute breakfast stop at Banteay Kdei, lunch at your own cost |
| Cancellation | Yes | Free up to 24 hours before departure |
Getting the Pass on the Day
If you could not buy the Angkor Pass online the day before, the guide helps you buy it on the morning of the tour, the same arrangement ASEAN Angkor Guide describes on its comparable trip. Have the US$37 ready in cash or card, since the pass is the only mandatory extra on top of the $15 tour price, giving a per-person total of $52 with the pass. For context on group size, ASEAN caps its small-group trip at 14 people and Siem Reap Shuttle states 10 to 12, against the cap of 15 on this listing.
A line of visitors waiting at the reflecting pond for sunrise at Angkor Wat. Photo: Shyamal, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the Day Runs
The listing's itinerary gives a length for each stage rather than clock times, since the starting time depends on the date you book. Here is the day in the order the listing sets out.
From Your Hotel to the Sunrise
You are picked up at your hotel in the Siem Reap city area, with 2 pickup location options, and driven to the main entrance of Angkor Wat by bus or coach. The drive stage is listed at 45 minutes. The Angkor Wat stop is a guided sunrise visit of 3 hours, the longest block of the day, and the guide explains the history of the temple and the Khmer empire as you go.
Ta Prohm to Angkor Thom
After Angkor Wat the day moves to Ta Prohm for an hour, the jungle temple where trees grow through the stones. A 45-minute optional block at Banteay Kdei covers coffee and breakfast, at your own cost. The listing also shows Banteay Kdei as a 45-minute visit.
From there the route reaches the Bayon Temple for an hour, with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Baphuon and its face towers. The final coach stage of 45 minutes returns to Siem Reap, with 2 drop-off locations.
The Itinerary at a Glance
The times below come from the listing's own itinerary, which notes that itineraries are subject to change.
| Time | Stop | Time there |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Hotel pickup, Siem Reap city area | 2 pickup options |
| 45 minutes | Drive to Angkor Wat | By bus or coach |
| Sunrise | Angkor Wat, guided visit | 3 hours |
| Mid-morning | Ta Prohm | 1 hour |
| Optional | Banteay Kdei, coffee and breakfast | 45 minutes, at your own cost |
| Visit | Banteay Kdei | 45 minutes |
| Visit | Bayon Temple, with Angkor Thom South Gate, Baphuon and the terraces | 1 hour |
| 45 minutes | Return drive and drop-off, Siem Reap | 2 drop-off locations |
Where the Inclusions and the Itinerary Disagree
The full description mentions lunch before the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, but the itinerary table does not show a lunch stop and food is on the not-included list. The sites list also names Baphuon, Angkor Thom South Gate and the Terrace of the Leper King while the itinerary table only names the Bayon by name. Confirm the exact stops and the lunch arrangement with the operator before booking if these matter to you.
Where to Stand for the Sunrise
The classic view is from the edge of the northern reflecting pool, where the five towers double in the water, and that edge fills first. AsiaByLocals notes the southern pool is usually quieter and still mirrors the towers on the right morning. ASEAN Angkor Guide advises claiming a reflection-pool spot by about 5:15 AM, roughly an hour before the tour buses arrive.
Follow the guide's call on the day. For a longer look at the temple itself, the guide keeps the group at Angkor Wat for about 3 hours before moving to Ta Prohm.
What You See: Bayon, Ta Prohm and the South Gate
The route packs four named stops into one day. Two or three facts on each make the choice easier.
Bayon
The Bayon was built by Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th century as his state temple at the centre of Angkor Thom. It once had 49 face towers and 37 survive, carved with the large faces the temple is known for. Sources count about 200 faces, and 216 is also cited, depending on how partly preserved faces are treated.
The central tower rises 43 m.
Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm was founded by Jayavarman VII in 1186 as a Buddhist monastery and honours his mother. The École française d'Extrême-Orient chose to leave it largely as found, so trees grow over the stones, which made it the Tomb Raider location. The foundation stele records more than 12,500 residents, including 615 dancers.
Angkor Thom South Gate and the Terraces
Angkor Thom was founded by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century behind 8 m walls about 3 km long on each side. Each gate tower stands 23 m tall, and the South Gate bridge carries its line of guardian figures. From there the day takes in the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King before the return to Siem Reap.
Source: Wikipedia: Bayon, Wikipedia: Ta Prohm, Wikipedia: Angkor Thom.
Breakfast After the Sunrise
On this listing the morning meal is optional and at your own cost. Here is what the 45-minute stop involves and how other small-group tours treat breakfast.
The Optional 45-Minute Stop
The itinerary shows a 45-minute optional coffee and breakfast stop before Banteay Kdei, and food sits in the not-included list, so you pay for whatever you order. Cold water and a cold towel are included instead. No menu price is published on the listing, so bring cash and treat the stop as skippable if you ate at the hotel.
How Other Listings Handle Breakfast
Breakfast is a real difference between small-group sunrise products. ASEAN Angkor Guide describes a village breakfast in Preah Dak on its tour, with palm cake, Khmer coffee and fried rice noodles over 45 minutes, plus a vegetarian option of bread with omelette and spring rolls. Siem Reap Shuttle stops at a local restaurant near Srah Srang and states that breakfast is not included there either.
If a bundled meal matters, compare this tour with the Angkor Wat Highlights Sunrise Tour, where breakfast at Srah Srang is also at your own expense, or the Angkor Sunrise Tour by Vespa or Tuk Tuk, which includes breakfast and lunch in the price.
Source: ASEAN Angkor Guide, Siem Reap Shuttle.
Who This Trip Rules Out
This listing fits travelers who want the sunrise, a guide and a low shared price. Several groups should book differently.
Families with Very Small Children and Anyone with Back Problems
The listing states the tour is not suitable for children under 4 years and not suitable for people with back problems, and children must be accompanied by an adult. If a later morning matters, the Angkor Wat Full-Day Tour with Sunset picks up between 9:10 and 9:30 AM and ends with sunset at Phnom Bakheng.
Travelers Who Want Their Own Pace
The shared group is capped at 15 people and the schedule is fixed. If you would rather have the vehicle to yourself, the Angkor Wat Private Tuk-Tuk Tour sells one price per group of up to 3, and the Private Angkor Sunrise Tour runs 7 hours with hotel pickup at 4:45 AM.
Travelers with More Than One Day
One day covers the highlights only. If you want the outer temples and a second circuit, the Angkor Wat 2-Day Tour adds Pre Rup, Preah Khan, Neak Pean and Ta Som on day two, plus a Phnom Bakheng sunset, and three days reach Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea. Compare every option among Angkor Wat tours.
Pass, Season and Paperwork
Three things decide how smooth the day goes: the Angkor Pass, the dress code and the heat.
The Angkor Pass
The one-day Angkor Temples Park pass costs $37 and gives access to more than 50 temples. The official site sells passes online and entry runs from 5:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Your photo is printed on the pass and it is checked at almost all sites.
Children under 12 enter free with their passport. Buy yours online the day before this tour, or let the guide help you buy it on the day. Read more in the Angkor Wat tickets guide.
Sunrise and the Seasons
Park entry begins at 5:00 AM and the sun rises around 6:31 AM in mid-January and 5:51 AM in mid-April in Siem Reap, so pickup happens well before dawn on any sunrise option. November to February is peak season at roughly 25 to 30 C, and January averages a high of 31.7 C with little rain. March to May reaches about 40 C, April averages a high of 35.8 C, and the rainy season runs through October.
Start early, carry water and read the Angkor Wat sunrise guide before you go.
Dress Code and Paperwork
The dress code requires long trousers or a long skirt and covered shoulders, and a scarf over bare shoulders is not accepted. The rule is strictly enforced on Angkor Wat's uppermost level, where only the wooden steps with a handrail on the eastern side lead to the third tier. Bring comfortable shoes, a camera and light clothing that covers you.
Most visitors need a Cambodian tourist visa: the e-visa costs $30, is single entry and allows up to 30 days, and the official visa on arrival fee is $30 for tourism, though border staff often ask US$35 to 40. Apply at least 4 days ahead. Practical detail sits in the Siem Reap guide.
Sources: Angkor Enterprise, Wikivoyage Angkor, FCDO Cambodia entry requirements.
One-Day, Three-Day and Seven-Day Angkor Passes
This one-day tour needs only the $37 pass, but the full price list matters if you stay longer. All three passes come from the official Angkor Enterprise ticket page.
The Three Passes and How Long Each Lasts
The official site sells the 1-day pass for US$37, the 3-day pass for US$62 and the 7-day pass for US$72. Validity is not what the names suggest: the 3-day pass expires 7 days after purchase, so the three visit days must fall inside one week, and the 7-day pass expires in 30 days. The pass carries your photo and is checked at almost all sites, so it cannot be shared.
Children under 12 enter free with their passport.
| Pass | Price | Visit days | Expires in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-day | US$37 | 1 day | 1 day |
| 3-day | $62.00 (US$62) | 3 days | 7 days |
| 7-day | $72.00 (US$72) | 7 days | 30 days |
Which Pass This Tour Needs
The tour price is $15 per person and the day covers Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei and Angkor Thom, so the one-day pass at US$37 is enough and the realistic total with the pass is $52 per person. A second temple day means the 3-day pass instead. The three-day Angkor Wat 3-Day Tour card adds that pass at $62 per person.
Buy online at ticket.angkorenterprise.gov.kh the day before, or the guide helps you buy it on the day. A pass bought after 5:00 PM counts from the next day, so an evening arrival can be used for a preview entry.
Source: Angkor Enterprise, Wikivoyage.
The Day Step by Step
The listing gives stage lengths rather than clock times, so the steps follow its own order.
-
Pickup
Hotel pickup in Siem Reap
An air-conditioned vehicle collects you at your hotel in the Siem Reap city area. The exact pickup time is confirmed after you check availability.
-
45 minutes
Drive to Angkor Wat
The bus or coach stage to the main entrance of Angkor Wat is listed at 45 minutes.
-
3 hours
Angkor Wat sunrise
A guided visit of 3 hours at the main entrance for the sunrise. The guide explains Khmer history and the temple's story as the light rises over the towers.
-
1 hour
Ta Prohm
The jungle temple where trees wrap the stones, visited for an hour with the guide.
-
45 minutes
Banteay Kdei and breakfast
An optional 45-minute stop with coffee and breakfast at your own cost, followed by a 45-minute visit of the temple built by Jayavarman VII.
-
1 hour
Bayon and Angkor Thom
An hour at the Bayon with its face towers, plus the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King from the full description.
-
Return
Back to Siem Reap
A 45-minute drive back to one of 2 drop-off locations in Siem Reap, 8 to 9 hours after pickup.
Pros and Cons
The strengths and the honest limits of this listing, taken from what it states.
What we genuinely like
- The lowest shared price among the sunrise group tours in the catalog at $15 per person, $52 with the one-day Angkor Pass
- Group capped at 15 people with a live English-speaking guide who explains Khmer history at each stop
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Siem Reap city area in an air-conditioned vehicle, with cold water and a cold towel
- 3 hours at Angkor Wat for the sunrise and an hour at Ta Prohm on one day
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve now, pay later
- A strong review record, 5.0 from 12,495 verified bookings on GetYourGuide
The honest downsides
- The $37 Angkor Pass and all food are extra, the optional breakfast stop and lunch are at your own cost
- The same listing sells sunrise and sunset, so you must pick the right option when booking
- No published pickup time, you only see starting times when you check a date
- Not suitable for children under 4 or people with back problems, and the dawn start is demanding
- The itinerary is subject to change and the description's lunch stop does not appear in the itinerary table
Who it's NOT for: Not for travelers with very young children, back problems, or anyone who wants a private pace rather than a 15-person group.
Questions About This Tour
How much does this Angkor Wat small group sunrise tour cost in total?
The tour is $15 per person and the one-day Angkor Pass is $37 extra, so you pay $52 in total for the shared option. The private option costs more. Food and drinks beyond the provided cold water are additional, and the full-day tour with sunset is a comparison point at $14 with the same $37 pass.
Is the Angkor Pass included in the price?
No. The pass costs $37 per person for one day and you buy it online one day before the tour, or the guide helps you buy it on the day. The official one-day pass gives access to more than 50 temples and is explained in the Angkor Wat tickets guide.
What time is the pickup for the sunrise?
The listing does not publish a clock time, it says to check availability for starting times, which are confirmed after booking. Sunrise in Siem Reap falls around 6:31 AM in mid-January and 5:51 AM in mid-April, and park entry begins at 5:00 AM, so pickup is well before dawn. Details of the morning are in the Angkor Wat sunrise guide.
How big is the group?
The standard shared group takes up to 15 people and the private option takes up to 25. If you want a smaller or private vehicle, the Angkor Wat Private Tuk-Tuk Tour sells one price per group of up to 3.
What should I wear and bring?
The dress code requires long trousers or a long skirt with covered shoulders, and a scarf over bare shoulders is not accepted. Bring comfortable shoes, a camera and comfortable clothes, plus money for the $37 pass, breakfast and lunch. More practical detail is in the Siem Reap guide.
Can I cancel this tour?
Yes. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and reserve now and pay later is available. If your plans shift by a day, the Angkor Wat 2-Day Tour is the multi-day alternative.
Is this the same listing for sunrise and sunset?
Yes, the operator sells one listing for both, so choose the sunrise option when booking. If a sunrise start is too early, the Angkor Wat Full-Day Tour with Sunset picks up between 9:10 and 9:30 AM and ends with sunset instead.
Is it worth seeing Angkor Wat at sunrise?
The temple faces west, and at the equinoxes the sun rises over the central tower when seen from the western causeway. The tower stands 65 m above the ground. Park entry opens at 5:00 AM and this small-group tour holds the sunrise slot for about 3 hours before the day moves on, with a 5.0 rating from 12,495 verified reviews. See the Angkor Wat sunrise guide for the seasonal details.
What is the best tour to Angkor Wat?
For a first morning this small-group listing at $15 per person, $52 with the Angkor Pass, is the pick because it caps the group at 15 and covers the sunrise plus Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei and Angkor Thom in 8 to 9 hours. Travelers who want fewer people can compare the Private Angkor Sunrise Tour or browse all Angkor Wat tours by category.
What time do you need to be at Angkor Wat for sunrise?
The park opens at 5:00 AM, and comparable small-group sunrise tours pick up between 4:20 and 5:10 AM to be in place before the buses arrive from 6:30 AM. This listing shows no fixed clock time until you check a date, so plan a wake-up around 4 AM. The pickup details sit in the itinerary section above.
What Travelers Said
Indiana Jones was a fantastic and engaging guide who spoke wonderful English. He taught us about the history of the temples and answered any questions we had. He was also very knowledgable about the best picture spots. Mr William (the tour driver) provided a comfortable air conditioned bus with cold fresh water after every stop. We did the sunrise tour and beat all the crowds. Would fully recommend to anybody looking to explore Angkor Wat.
Had a great tour with Mr. C and our driver! We got to see some truly unreal-looking temples at Angkor, and it was amazing getting to explore them in real life. The restaurant we stopped at for lunch was actually pretty good, especially considering it was more of a tourist spot. I also really liked that we had a small group. It felt like the perfect number of people and made the experience much more enjoyable. I’d definitely recommend this tour if you want a great introduction to Angkor and want to see some of the major highlights without spending multiple days exploring the temples.
David was a very engaging guide. the day ran smoothly
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure