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angkor-wat-sunrise-hero.webpAngkor Wat's five towers silhouetted against an orange and pink sunrise, reflected in the north pond
Hotel pickup before dawn, a front-row spot at the reflecting pond, then Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and the faces of Bayon before the heat and the crowds. Just your group, an English-speaking guide, and your choice of tuk-tuk, air-conditioned car/SUV or VIP Alphard van.
In short: Our private Angkor Wat sunrise tour includes an English-speaking guide and hotel pickup in Siem Reap at about 4:45 am. Prices are per group, not per person: $60 by tuk-tuk (up to 3 people), $80 by air-conditioned car/SUV (up to 3 people) or $90 by VIP Toyota Alphard van (up to 6 people). After sunrise at the reflecting pond you visit Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Bayon and Angkor Thom, and you're back around 1 pm. The Angkor Pass is not included: each visitor buys it at the official ticket office or online at angkorenterprise.gov.kh ($37 for 1 day, children under 12 free). Example: a couple by tuk-tuk pays $60 + 2 × $37 = $134 in total. Book on WhatsApp +855 93 886 934; no deposit, pay on the day in US dollars or Khmer riel.
Times shift with the season (sunrise moves by almost an hour through the year). We send your exact pickup time the evening before.
Your guide meets you in the lobby and you ride out through the quiet streets to the temple park. If you still need your Angkor Pass, we stop at the official ticket office on the way.
tuk-tuk-pickup-before-dawn.webpTuk-tuk waiting outside a Siem Reap hotel before dawn with its lights onAngkor Wat opens at 5:00 am. Your guide walks you in by torchlight to the north pond inside the west gate, the classic view of the five towers reflected in the water, and finds you a good place before the crowd arrives.
angkor-wat-reflection-pond.webpVisitors at the north reflecting pond of Angkor Wat watching the sky turn pink before sunriseOnce the sun is up, most visitors leave for breakfast. That's when we go inside: the bas-relief galleries, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, carved apsara dancers and, when it's open, the steep climb to the upper level.
angkor-wat-bas-reliefs.webpGuide explaining the Churning of the Ocean of Milk bas-relief in Angkor Wat's galleryA stop at a local restaurant near the temples for noodle soup, fried rice or coffee (paid by you, usually $3 to $6). Or bring a breakfast box from your hotel.
khmer-breakfast-near-angkor.webpKhmer noodle soup and iced coffee on a table at a small restaurant near Angkor WatGiant tree roots pour over the walls and doorways. Your guide knows the quieter corners and the best angles away from the queue at the famous tree.
ta-prohm-tree-roots.webpHuge silk-cotton tree roots growing over a stone doorway at Ta Prohm templeThrough the South Gate with its row of stone gods and demons, to the Bayon and its 200-plus smiling faces. Then Baphuon and a walk along the Terrace of the Elephants.
bayon-smiling-faces.webpSmiling stone faces carved on the towers of Bayon temple in Angkor ThomHome in time for lunch and a swim in the heat of the day. Want to stay out longer, add Banteay Srei, or finish with sunset? Ask us and we'll quote it.
The order can change on the day to stay ahead of tour buses, for example Ta Prohm before Bayon. The upper level of Angkor Wat is closed on some Buddhist holy days; your guide will tell you in advance.
Every tour is private and includes your English-speaking guide, your own vehicle and hotel pickup. The only other cost is the Angkor Pass, which each visitor buys directly from the official seller.
tuk-tuk-angkor-wat.webpCambodian tuk-tuk parked by the moat of Angkor Wat in the early morningUp to 3 people
Open-air, breezy and the classic way to see Angkor. Best for couples and small groups who don't mind the heat later in the morning.
Book by tuk-tuk
air-conditioned-suv-angkor.webpClean air-conditioned SUV parked at the Angkor Wat west entranceUp to 3 people
Cool, dust-free and quiet between temples. A good choice for the hot season (March to May) and for anyone who wants a rest between stops.
Book by car/SUV
vip-alphard-van-interior.webpLeather captain seats inside a VIP Toyota Alphard van used for Angkor toursUp to 6 people, best value for groups
Toyota Alphard with reclining captain seats, strong air-conditioning and room for everyone. For a family of 5 or 6 friends, it works out at $15 to $18 a person.
Book the AlphardPrices checked . Riel amounts use 4,000 riel to the dollar; US dollars and Khmer riel are accepted equally.
| Group | Vehicle | Tour (per group) | Angkor Pass, 1 day | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | Tuk-tuk | $60 | $37 | $97 | $97 |
| 2 people | Tuk-tuk | $60 | 2 × $37 | $134 | $67 |
| 2 people | Air-conditioned car/SUV | $80 | 2 × $37 | $154 | $77 |
| 3 people | Air-conditioned car/SUV | $80 | 3 × $37 | $191 | about $64 |
| 4 people | VIP Alphard van | $90 | 4 × $37 | $238 | $59.50 |
| 6 people | VIP Alphard van | $90 | 6 × $37 | $312 | $52 |
$90 Alphard, passes for the 2 adults only
$90 + $74 = $164 total
$60 tuk-tuk, 2 × $62 passes (use the other two days on your own or with us)
$60 + $124 = $184 total
We send two vehicles with one or two guides. Message us for a group price.
Quoted on WhatsApp
Choose your group and vehicle. We'll put your details into a WhatsApp message so you can confirm in one tap.
About $67 per person. Pay the tour on the day in US dollars or Khmer riel; the pass is paid to Angkor Enterprise.
Send this to WhatsAppApproximate sunrise time in the middle of each month. The sky starts to colour 20 to 30 minutes earlier, which is often the best moment for photos.
Around the spring and autumn equinoxes (about 21 March and 22 September) the sun rises almost directly over the central tower when seen from the west entrance. These are the busiest sunrise mornings of the year, so we pick you up a little earlier.
The pass is not part of our price. It is sold only by Angkor Enterprise, the government agency, and carries your photo, so each visitor buys their own.
| Pass | Price | Valid |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | $37 or 148,000 riel | One calendar day |
| 3 days | $62 or 248,000 riel | Any 3 days within 10 days |
| 7 days | $72 or 288,000 riel | Any 7 days within a month |
| Under 12 | Free | Bring the child's passport |
Buy at angkorenterprise.gov.kh at least a day ahead, then show the QR code on your phone. No queue at 4:45 am.
The Angkor ticket office on Road 60 takes your photo and prints the pass. Queues build before sunrise, so going the afternoon before is easier. If you need to buy on the morning, we stop there on the way.
Passes from anywhere else are not valid. The price is the same everywhere it's legally sold.
Shoulders and knees covered, which is required for Angkor Wat's upper level. Comfortable shoes and a light layer for the cool early morning.
Your Angkor Pass (or QR code), a phone light for the dark walk in, sunscreen, a hat and a little cash for breakfast.
November to March has the clearest skies. From May to October, clouds can make the colours more dramatic, the ponds are full for reflections and there are fewer visitors.
Nobody can promise a clear sunrise. Even on grey mornings the temple is calm and cool at dawn, which is the real reason to go early.
english-speaking-guide-angkor-wat.webpSmiling Cambodian tour guide in uniform shirt explaining Angkor Wat to two visitorsYour guide grew up around these temples. Expect the stories behind the carvings, the history of the Khmer Empire, and the practical things: where to stand, when to move, and how to avoid the busiest moments.
You book directly with the local team, so there's no booking platform in the middle and you can message your guide before the day with any question.
Ask a questionOur private sunrise tour with an English-speaking guide and hotel pickup costs from $60 per group by tuk-tuk (up to 3 people), $80 by air-conditioned car/SUV (up to 3 people) or $90 by VIP Toyota Alphard van (up to 6 people). The Angkor Pass is extra: $37 per person for 1 day, children under 12 free. Example: 2 people by tuk-tuk pay $60 + 2 × $37 = $134 in total.
No. Each visitor buys their own Angkor Pass, because it carries your photo. Buy it online at angkorenterprise.gov.kh or at the official Angkor ticket office on Road 60. Prices are $37 (1 day), $62 (3 days) and $72 (7 days). Children under 12 enter free with their passport.
Hotel pickup is usually between 4:30 and 5:00 am. Angkor Wat opens at 5:00 am and sunrise is between about 5:35 am (May–July) and 6:25 am (December–February). We set your exact pickup time the day before.
Roughly 6:25 am in January, 6:10 am in March, 5:50 am in April, 5:35–5:40 am in May and June, 5:50 am in August to October, 6:00 am in November and 6:15 am in December. The sky starts to colour about 20–30 minutes before sunrise.
The left (north) reflecting pond inside the western entrance gives the classic view of the five towers reflected in the water. Your guide takes you there early to get a good spot.
After sunrise you explore Angkor Wat itself, then Ta Prohm (the jungle temple), the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon with its stone faces, Baphuon and the Terrace of the Elephants. You are back at your hotel around 1 pm. The order can be changed to avoid crowds.
Tuk-tuk ($60, up to 3 people) is open-air and the classic Siem Reap ride. The air-conditioned car/SUV ($80, up to 3 people) is cooler and better for the heat of late morning. The VIP Toyota Alphard van ($90) is the most comfortable option and fits up to 6 people, so it is the best value for families and groups of 4 to 6.
Yes. Every tour is private for your group only, with your own English-speaking guide and vehicle.
No deposit or online payment is needed. You pay in cash on the day of the tour, in US dollars or Cambodian riel; both are accepted equally.
Cover your shoulders and knees, which is required for the upper level of Angkor Wat. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a light layer for the early morning, plus a torch or phone light for walking in before dawn.
Yes, often. November to March has the clearest skies, but from May to October the clouds can make the sunrise colours more dramatic, the ponds are full for reflections and there are fewer visitors. No one can guarantee a clear sunrise in any season.
Send a WhatsApp message to +855 93 886 934 or email [email protected] with your date, number of people, hotel and preferred vehicle. Next-day tours are often possible.
Background photo (wide)srah-srang-sunrise.webpGolden sunrise over the still water of Srah Srang reservoir near Angkor
Tell us your date, group size and hotel. We reply on WhatsApp with your guide's name, pickup time and total price. No deposit.
Chat on WhatsAppWhatsApp +855 93 886 934 or email [email protected]