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During our month in Cambodia, we finally booked a 2-day Angkor Wat tour! Personally, I believe Angkor Wat should be one of the Wonders of the World due to its massive size, jaw-dropping beauty and significant historic and religious importance.
→ Check out our guide on the top 7 things to do in Siem Reap beyond Angkor Wat & 2 to skip for some non-temple inspiration!
Since the Angkor Wat archeological site was one of the top items in our travel bucket list, we wanted to do it right. Before visiting, we researched thoroughly on how best to explore it, what tour options were available, and their respective costs and reviews. I won’t lie – it was a bit of work.
Thanks to the hours spent sweating (figuratively) over what tour to choose, and sweating (literally) around the temples, we put together this guide explaining the exact tour we loved, some alternative options, and all the things you need to make the planning of your visit a breeze.
Our Top Pick
Our personal FAVOURITE tour is the 2-Day Angkor Wat Tour with Sunrise and Sunset.
Watching the sunrise over the temple is a truly magical experience.
Being in a small group with a guide means you will learn very interesting facts about the Hindu and Buddhist temples and meet other travellers. Hands down the best way to experience this masterpiece!
Why Choose the 2-Day Angkor Wat Tour?
As history and culture lovers, choosing the 2-day Angkor Wat tour over a rushed 1-day option felt like the right decision. We had 2 weeks in Siem Reap, and this was plenty of time to explore all corners of Angkor Wat.
By choosing the 2-day option we benefited from a slower pace of exploring, and covering a much larger number of temples. Looking back now, we would have missed so much interesting facts, temples and experiences if we had gone for the 1-day tour that covers only the most popular sights.
While exploring the entire archeological area on your own and at your own pace is definitely possible, you might end up missing out on a lot of historical context. In fact, the complex contains dozens of temples and no informational plaques explaining what you’re seeing. (You would also surely miss out on an air conditioned minibus and a steady supply of cold water).
💡Note: You’ll need a 3-day pass for this tour, which leaves you with an extra day of solo exploring within its 7-day validity window.
Angkor Wat Ticket Prices
❗️Important Note: The entry fee to Angkor Wat is separate to the cost of all tours.
We strongly recommend purchasing your tickets via the official website beforehand. Buying online allows your group bypass the ticket counter lines at 5:00 AM so you can grab the best sunrise spots immediately. If on the day of the tour you don’t have the tickets, no worries. Your tour guide will stop at the main ticket counter (open daily from 4:30 AM to 5:30 PM) before the tour starts.
Entry fee options:
1-Day Pass: $37 (valid for 1 day)
3-Day Pass: $62 (valid for 7 days)
7-Day Pass: $72 (valid for 30 days)
💡 Pro Tip 1: Purchase a next-day single-day pass after 4:45 PM to access the park for sunset the evening before, making it valid for the full next day as well.
💡 Pro Tip 2: You can enter the outer Angkor Wat grounds completely free after 5:00 PM, even without a ticket, to watch the sunset by the lake and temples before the park closes at 6:00 PM. We did this too and managed to explore Banteay Kdei Temple (not covered by most tours) and take some beautiful pictures.
Overview Of The 2-Day Angkor Wat Tour
Angkor Wat Tour – Day 1
The Small Circuit & Sunrise
Get ready for an early start with a 4:00 AM hotel pickup (the tour operator will coordinate the details the day before). After picking up the rest of the group, you’ll head straight to the park ticket counter if anyone still needs to buy passes. Since our minivan arrived early, we got through this part very quickly.
Next, you’ll walk toward the temple for an unforgettable sunrise. We watched it from the Northern Library viewpoint, while others opted for the reflecting pond. The entire area glows in a warm orange shade for an hour, so have your camera ready!
After sunrise, your guide will lead you through the main Angkor Wat temple: Cambodia’s most iconic UNESCO site. You’ll wander through every corner, noticing the unique wall carvings and learning about its historical significance.
Afterward, you’ll visit a few more major temples via air-conditioned minivan. The exact order can vary depending on the day, the Small Circuit typically includes:
- 🛕Ta Prohm Temple: The famous “Tomb Raider” temple where massive banyan tree roots intertwine with 12th-century stone ruins.
- 🛕Bayon Temple: Dating back to the 12th century, this is famous for its 200 massive smiling stone faces. Built during Jayavarman VII’s reign, it was the only Buddhist state temple in the complex.
- 🛕Ta Keo Temple: A sandstone temple-mountain styled like a step-pyramid representing Mount Meru.
💡 Hint: Steep, demanding stairs are common in Hindu temples, symbolizing the difficult pilgrimage required to reach a sacred site.
- 🛺 South Gate Angkor Thom: One of the four grand gates into Angkor Thom, lined with statues of Gods and Demons. It is a premier photography spot to wrap up Day 1.
Angkor Wat Tour – Day 2
The Grand Circuit & Sunset
We both enjoyed the second day even more than the first. It felt less crowded, we visited lesser-known temples, and gave us a deeper understanding of the distinct architectural differences between Hindu and Buddhist sites.
Here are the temples we covered:
- 🛕Preah Khan Temple: The largest temple on this loop, featuring ornate stone carvings. It was built by King Jayavarman VII for his father, and its surrounding water network was historically used for bathing and purification.
- 🛕Ta Som Temple: A 12th-century Buddhist temple featuring intricate carvings and an iconic eastern gateway completely overgrown by a massive fig tree.
- 🛕Eastern Mebon Temple: Constructed as early as the 10th century and it features sandstone towers and realistic stone animal statues.
- 🛕Neak Poan Temple: A small Buddhist temple sitting on an artificial island inside a serene, picturesque lake setting.
- 🛕Pre Rup Temple: A striking Hindu temple built as a state temple-mountain. It is often mistaken for a crematorium due to its stone coffin-like structure, though it was actually used by Hindus for meditation during full moons.
- 🛕Bakan Sanctuary: Located on the highest tier of Angkor Wat, this sacred upper level requires climbing a steep staircase to reach.
Up there you will find a peaceful atmosphere with a golden Buddha statue and local shrines where people gather to pray. It was our last stop before heading out to watch the sunset.
- 🛕Phnom Bakheang Temple: Built in the late 9th century atop a hill, this is widely considered the best place to watch the sunset. Most tours wrap up their second day here so visitors can take in panoramic views of the jungle and distant temples from above.
Exploring Solo on an Electric Scooter
The day before our tour, we rented an electric scooter from Siem Reap and entered the park after 5:00 PM for free. We visited Banteay Kdei Temple, a sandstone Buddhist monastery, and had it completely to ourselves.
Driving around the lakes at sunset as locals gathered to relax gave us a unique atmosphere that made us realize why spending 2–3 days here is totally worth it.
Quick Practical Notes:
❗️ Lunch Breaks: Both tour days include a scheduled midday lunch stop at restaurants inside the archaeological park. Because they are the only options around, they are pricier than city eateries. If you’re on a tight budget, pack some snacks.
❗️ Dress Code: Shoulders and knees must remain strictly covered for both men and women when entering any active religious or archaeological sites across the Angkor complex.
Cool Facts We Learned About Angkor Archaeological Park Metropolis
As curiosity-driven travelers with a deep appreciation for history and culture, this section was by far our favorite part of the experience. Here are a few fascinating things we learned during our tour:
- It was the capital of the Khmer empire, which fundamentally shaping the future and identity of Cambodia.
- In the 13th century, it was the largest pre-industrial, low-density urban sprawl in the world, housing a population of around 1 million people.
- The metropolis spanned over 1,000 square kilometers of combined urban and agricultural land, outsizing medieval European hubs like London by a wide margin.
- It functioned as a sophisticated “hydraulic city,” capturing monsoon rains using giant reservoirs, canals, and temple moats to irrigate fields and control seasonal floods.
- The moats surrounding the temples were also essential to stabilise the structures. The temples were in fact built on sand, so while there was water to keep it wet, the foundations could remain solid and stable.
- The city ultimately declined in the 1400s due to extreme climate shifts and a loss of faith in royal authority, leading to political collapse and a mass migration south toward Phnom Penh.
Final Verdict: Should You Book A Tour For Angkor Wat?
I really can’t recommend a 2-day Angkor Wat Tour enough. While visiting the complex independently is also nice, learning the hidden history behind the ruins and understanding the intricate details of the wall carvings gives you a completely different level of appreciation for this UNESCO site.
If you are short on time, prefer a private tour, or simply want to browse other styles, I’ve put together a list of the most popular and highly reviewed tours below:
Alternative Tours
🛕 Full-Day Angkor Wat Sunrise Private Tour with Guide from Siem Reap
5 stars · 3,442 reviews
🛕 Angkor Wat Sunrise tour with Small Group and Guide tours
5 stars · 4,333 reviews
🛕 1-Day Tour Angkor Wat Sunrise or Sunset Tour with Guide
5 stars · 13,292 reviews
⏰ Planning the rest of your trip? Don’t miss our other Cambodia guides:
→Saracen Bay Accommodation Guide
→ How to spend 2 days in Koh Rong Samloem
→ Cambodia Transport Guide
→ Siem Reap Beyond Angkor Wat
→ Is Phnom Penh Worth Visiting?
→ Phnom Penh Killing Fields and S21
→ How to Spend 10 Days in Cambodia
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Angkor Archaeological Park entry passes are priced by tier: a 1-Day Pass costs $37, a 3-Day Pass costs $62, and a 7-Day Pass costs $72. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the main ticket counter.
During the dry season from November to February, when the weather is cooler and skies are clear, though this is also peak tourist season. If you want to avoid massive crowds, the shoulder months of November or March offer a great balance of good weather and fewer visitors.
A 2-day tour is significantly better because the temple complex spans over 1,000 square kilometers. A single day forces you to rush through a handful of crowded structures, whereas two days allows you to cover both the Small and Grand Circuits at a slower, more enjoyable pace.
Yes, some of the temples are active sacred religious sites, so both men and women must dress modestly by keeping their shoulders and knees completely covered. Security guards can deny entry to the upper levels of temples like Angkor Wat if you are not properly covered.
Yes, especially if you want a reliable English-speaking guide or specific small or private group during peak dry season months. Booking a few weeks ahead ensures you secure your preferred dates. They all have free cancellation so if your plans change you won’t lose your money.
