TEMPLES & SHRINES · TEMPLE SUNRISE TOURS
Angkor's causeway, Borobudur's terraces, a hill above Bagan. The 15 below are the dawn starts worth the alarm, compared on pickup time, what breakfast arrangement they make and how much of the site you get to yourself.
Start with hotel pickup or meet at Onederz Siem Reap for an eight-hour temple circuit. Choose sunrise or sunset, then visit Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei with an English-speaking guide such as Mr. T, Sen, David, or Chanthy.
“David was absolutely amazing, I loved the sunset tour with him! I learned a lot and would not hesitate to book with David again.”
Start before dawn for Angkor Wat, then visit Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei with an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Sen, David, Rith, and Mr T are praised for clear stories, humor, and helpful photos. Choose a shared group or private outing.
“We had the best time! Rith was extremely friendly, funny and informative, and waited for us to get our breakfast this morning lol and it was like having a real harry styles with the singing. We got told the full history of the different temples. We were provided cold water at every stop and the van had air conditioning which took us between each temple. The food stop for lunch was also very good and reasonably priced.”
Join an English-speaking guide such as Sam, Vone, Pheap, or Sok for two full days among Angkor’s major temples. You’ll see sunrise at Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Bayon, Preah Khan, Ta Som, and more, with air-conditioned transport, cold water, and time for photos.
“A fantastic and intense two days. The first day started with a disappointing sunrise - trust nature - but our tour guide, Saying ensured we had an informative and interesting day visiting the more well known (and crowded) temples. We arrived back at 1.30, exhausted but very happy. For me, day two was the better day, visiting the quieter temples. Sam was a fantastic guide - knowledgeable and with a great sense of fun. It was great having some temples almost to ourselves. The day concluded with a beautiful sunset and a 7pm arrival back. I would thoroughly recommend the trip for a great way to see most of the…”
Start at 4:30 am for sunrise at Angkor Wat, then visit Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, and Angkor Thom by air-conditioned minivan. An English-speaking guide such as Sam, Sok, Vone, or Sary explains the temples, takes photos, and provides water. The group is limited to 12 people.
“We liked it. It was a good group, driver, and guide. The guide was attentive and took the time to explain.”
Start around 4:30 am for sunrise at Angkor Wat, then tour Ta Prohm, Bayon, Angkor Thom, and Srah Srang with an English-speaking guide. Small groups reach 15 people, and guides such as Pal, Sak, Chhay, and Yuth add history, photo tips, and local insight. The temple pass costs $37 extra.
“Our guide Sauron Pal was extremely helpful! Together with our driver Nao the service is impeccable. Couldn’t recommend more!”
Start around 4:30 a.m. for sunrise at Angkor Wat, then explore Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei with a private English-speaking guide. Guides such as Se, Sopha, Sa, Curly, and Samuth are praised for temple knowledge, photos, and flexible pacing. Transport, water, and cold towels are included.
“Wonderful tour with our excellent guide Mare. He is extremely knowledgeable, his English is great, he was able to take us to special places for our comfort and photos, and we loved his personality. We learned so much from Mare about the 4 temples we visited. We highly recommend this tour and Mare as its guide!”
Start before dawn with an APSARA-authorized English-speaking guide, then visit Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm by air-conditioned minibus. Breakfast is included, but the Angkor Pass costs extra. Guides such as King Kong, Lok, Chendra, and Phleap are praised for clear stories and good photos.
“We had an unforgettable experience with our tour guide, Mr. Lok, on a sunrise tour of Angkor Wat. From the very early pickup to the final moments of the tour, everything was perfectly organized and on time. Mr. Lok has an incredible gift foRead more”
Start before dawn with hotel pickup, then explore Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, Bayon, and Angkor Thom with an English-speaking guide. Air-conditioned transport, cold water, and wet towels help during this long walking day. The $14 tour excludes the $37 Angkor Pass and meals.
“Nick ( Kosal ) was fantastic and super friendly! Had an amazing tour. Pick up from my hostel was easy and transport was super comfy (with great AC!) Super interesting tour and would highly recommend!”
Spend two full days at Angkor with guides such as Pal, Sak, Sokpee, or Chhay, depending on assignment. Visit Angkor Wat at sunrise, see Ta Prohm and Bayon, travel to Banteay Srei, and cool off between temples in an air-conditioned vehicle with cold water and towels.
“The sunset was marred by the heavy smog which made viewing less than ideal. The incline up to the pinnacle for viewing was problematic for anyone with breathing issues or asthma due to the heat and pollution. As far as the sunrise portion, be advised that we made our way there at 4:30am via iPhone flashlights and sat on the ground for 1.5 hours until the sun came up. In hindsight we should have opted for the sunrise and skipped the sunset since seeing Angkor Wat in shadow as the sun began to rise was worth it. Overall our guide was knowledgeable and personable and he made the 2 days…”
Start before dawn for Angkor Wat’s sunrise, then spend the morning at Bayon, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, and other ancient sites. An English-speaking guide such as Vone, Sok, Nick, or Ho Heang explains the carvings, faith, and Khmer history. Expect an air-conditioned minibus, small group, cold water, and a long day.
“lovely trip with Ho Heang. very knowledgeable and took time to explain everything thoroughly and check if we had questions. Temples absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately a very hot day so we were all a bit wilted by the end.”
Leave Siem Reap around 4:15 AM for Angkor Wat sunrise, then explore Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, and Bayon with an English-speaking guide such as Pal, Bun, Sak, or Sok. Expect a small-group van, temple history, photo help, bottled water, cool towels, and a separate $37 Angkor Pass.
“What an amazing day with Sal and our driver Vicket. Everything just fell into place ...perfect weather, no mosquitoes and a stunning predawn and sunrise. Sak is without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable tour leaders I have ever encountered and, although he was not feeling 100%, he did not let it impact on our tour of Angkor Wat. This tour truly exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Siem Reap.”
Start before dawn for Borobudur sunrise and a guaranteed climb onto the temple structure, then explore Prambanan with a local guide. Drivers such as Kiki, Eza, Fahmi, and Nabiel are known for clear communication, flexible pacing, and useful food stops. Expect 10 to 11 hours, heat, stairs, and two extraordinary temples.
“Fantastic tour of both temples. Our organiser/driver Kiki was great and super friendly, and made entry to each site seamless and stress free. Tours at each temple were informative and the guides were funny and friendly. Overall a great experience!”
Start before dawn for Doi Suthep’s 309-step climb and sunrise views, then visit the Kruba Srivichai Monument, jungle-set Wat Pha Lat, and 700-year-old Wat Umong. English- or Spanish-speaking guides, hotel pickup, temple fees, water, and a careful air-conditioned van are included.
“Great experience and our tour guide James, having first hand experience of being a former monk, was especially informative and made the tour super interesting.”
Start before dawn for exclusive sunrise access and a guided climb at Borobudur, then visit Prambanan with an English-speaking guide. Drivers such as Irfan, Noe, Teguh, and Jay add local insight, flexible stops, umbrellas, and practical care to this long but rewarding day from Yogyakarta.
“Wonderful experience with beautiful temples. Irfan was a great driver with lots of knowledge. He took great care of us the whole day!”
See Angkor Wat at sunrise, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei, Preah Khan, Bayon, and more over two well-planned days. English-speaking guides such as Pal, Chhay, Sokpee, and Saruon lead the visits, while air-conditioned transport, water, and cold towels keep the heat manageable.
“This experience was incredible. We loved the temple choices and schedules, and the lunch and breakfast spot. Pickup and drop off was easy and convenient. We loved that the bus had cool towels and always had water. The tour was so sRead more”
Sunrise, sunset, on foot or by tuk-tuk.
