Angkor Wat sunrise: what to plan
Most visitors go to the ponds in front of the temple to watch the towers appear against the morning sky. The park frame starts at 5:00 a.m., and Angkor Wat is open from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The exact time of sunrise changes through the year, so check the time for your date rather than relying on one fixed hour.
Three things shape the morning: your ticket, how you get there in the dark, and the weather. Clouds can hide the sun, and nobody can promise a clear reflection or a particular view. Plan for the walk and the light, and treat the sunrise itself as a bonus.
Our picks: sunrise at Angkor Wat
By bike, in a small group or as part of a full day.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Angkor sunrise by bike, e-bike or tuk-tuk
- Sunrise
- Guide and support vehicle
- Breakfast and lunch
Sunrise, then a day by bike with a guide and support vehicle, breakfast and lunch. The e-bike is an option; the Angkor Pass is extra.
Check availability →
Angkor Wat small-group tour with sunrise or sunset
- English-speaking guide
- Sunrise or sunset by option
- Hotel pickup
A full day with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned vehicle, starting at sunrise or ending at sunset by option. The Angkor Pass ($37 for one day) is extra.
Check availability →
Angkor Wat sunrise in a small group
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- English-speaking guide
- Bayon and the south gate
Sunrise at Angkor Wat, then Ta Keo, Ta Prohm, the Bayon and the south gate with a guide. The Angkor Pass is extra.
Check availability →Angkor Wat sunrise tours
Sunrise tours with early pickup, private and small-group, with live prices and availability. Check each card to see whether the Angkor Pass is included.
Tickets for a sunrise visit
The ticket counters open after the park does.
Buy before the morning
The counters open at 5:30 a.m., which is after the first light you want to catch. Buy online or in the app, or earlier at a counter.
Ticket guide →The evening rule for the one-day ticket
If you buy the one-day ticket dated for tomorrow after 4:45 p.m., you may enter the park that evening for sunset and use it fully the next day. The rule depends on the time of purchase, so ask when you buy.
Bring the ticket and a photo
Tickets are checked at the temples. The three- and seven-day passes need a photo, the one-day pass does not.
Children
Children under 12 are free. A passport can be asked for as proof of age.
The ponds and where to stand
No viewpoint is guaranteed.
Visitors gather at the ponds in front of Angkor Wat for the reflection. In September 2026 the northern pond was fenced off, and a temporary bamboo structure stood in the view from the southern pond. Access can change without notice, so do not plan around one spot, and be ready to take a different angle.
Arrive with time to spare. It is dark before sunrise, so bring a small light and wear shoes with good grip. Stones are slippery when wet.
Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
Phnom Bakheng is the hill temple many visitors choose for the evening. It is open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Access to the hilltop can be limited, so arriving early does not guarantee a place. If a sunset visit matters to you, plan the climb with time to spare and have a second option ready.
Pre Rup and Srah Srang are open from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and make quieter choices for a morning or an evening. Pre Rup has steep stairs, and local barriers can limit where you can go.
A practical sunrise morning
Times are a guide, not a promise.
Before dawn
Leave your hotel with enough time for the ride and the walk. A private sunrise tour can include pickup at 4:45 a.m. and breakfast. Check the sunrise time for your date.
At the ponds
Pick a spot, expect other visitors and stay flexible if an area is closed. Wait a little after the sun is up, because the light on the towers keeps changing.
Inside the temple
Cover your shoulders and knees. The top level, Bakan, has a minimum age of 12. Since June 2026 it is closed from 1 p.m. on the 14th and 28th of each month, and further closure days can apply around Buddhist holidays. Check on the day.
After breakfast
Continue to Angkor Thom, the Bayon and Ta Prohm. The itinerary page shows how the circuits fit together.
Angkor Wat sunrise: frequently asked questions
What time is sunrise at Angkor Wat?
It changes through the year. The park frame and Angkor Wat open at 5:00 a.m., so you can be there before first light. Check the sunrise time for your travel date.
Can I buy my ticket at the gate in the morning?
The counters open at 5:30 a.m., which is late for a sunrise visit. Buy online, in the app or on the previous day.
Is there a guaranteed spot for sunrise photos?
No. The northern pond was fenced off in September 2026, and access can change. Stay flexible and arrive early.
Is sunrise included in the Angkor Pass?
The pass is the entry ticket. It does not include a guide, a ride or breakfast. Many sunrise tours leave the pass out, so check each offer.
Can I climb the top level of Angkor Wat after sunrise?
Maybe. Bakan has a minimum age of 12 and maintenance days on the 14th and 28th of each month from 1 p.m. More closure days can apply around Buddhist holidays, so confirm on the day.
Is angkorpark.org an official site?
No. This is an independent guide with no link to the park authority, the ticketing company or a tour operator.