Once the capital city of Cambodia, the temples of Angkor Wat are what remains of the Khmer Empire. Angkor fell from power in 1431 when a Khmer rebellion forced the ruling power to flee. Angkor Wat city is thought to have been home to around 1 million people. The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 and has since seen a popular destination. This remains one of my favorite places in the world. Having visited it now twice I figured out the perfect How to See Angkor Wat in a Day Itinerary.

Below is How to See Angkor Wat in a Day Itinerary

Temples You will See



Option 1 While this one is “two” days you will still only need 1 ticket. This option is perfect for those who have a bit more time in Siem Reap and don’t want to feel rushed. Day 1 5:30 PM – Purchase Tickets Arrive at the ticket office and wait until about 5:25PM to purchase your ticket for tomorrow. Entrance is free after 5:30 to the park. You will just have to show your ticket for the next day upon entrance. Viola you get to enter the park on a one day ticket twice. 6:00 PM – Sunset at Pre Rup Run back to your Tuk- Tuk and ask your driver to take you to Pre Rup. Climb the steep steps and claim your spot for an epic sunset. Make sure to bring water it will be hot.

Day 2

4:30 AM Rise & Shine

Depending on the time of year you may need to wake up earlier or later. Make sure to check out the sunrise time for the most accurate time. Head to Angkor Wat for sunrise.

5:45 AM Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Aim to be here atlas 15- 20 minutes before actual time to get a good spot. Aim for one of the lakes so you get the perfect shot.

6:15 AM Angkor Wat Temple

Head inside of Angkor Wat while it is still cool. If you want to avoid the crowds I suggest skipping Angkor Wat until mid-day and head to the next temple immediately after sunrise. During noon Angkor Wat is less crowded but significantly hotter.

7:00 AM Baphuon Temple

Head towards Bayon Temple. It won’t be open yet but just a 5 minute walk away is Baphuon Temple. Walk around this temple has a stunning path way. Bonus we didn’t see any other tourists there.

7:30 AM Bayon Temple

Baron Temple opens at 7:30 AM get here just as it opens to avoid crowds. When we arrived we were one of a handful of tourists inside. This is the spot to get the face to face shots.

8:30 AM Ta Prohm Temple

This is at the Tomb Raider temple made famous by the movie. Aim to get here as close to opening time as possible. When we arrived around 8:30 AM it was already filling up but not too bad.

9:30 AM Ta Som Temple

Another temple that features overgrown trees this is a great spot to get some selfies. Most tourist don’t know about this spot which makes it less busy than other spots.

11:00 AM Angkor Wat Picnic

If you are up to it head back to Angkor Wat by now the crowds will have gone down and you can enjoy a picnic overlooking the temple.

Option 2 This option is for the fast paced travelers or those on a budget. If you are short on time and only want to spend a few hours exploring the temples pick this option. Also if you do not want to hire a tuk tuk for two days this is a good option for you. Day 1 4:30 AM Rise & Shine Depending on the time of year you may need to wake up earlier or later. Make sure to check out the sunrise time for the most accurate time. Head to the office to grab your ticket. And then Angkor Wat for sunrise. 5:45 AM Sunrise at Angkor Wat Aim to be here atlas 15- 20 minutes before actual time to get a good spot. Aim for one of the lakes so you get the perfect shot. 6:15 AM Angkor Wat Temple Head inside of Angkor Wat while it is still cool. If you want to avoid the crowds I suggest skipping Angkor Wat until mid-day and head to the next temple immediately after sunrise. During noon Angkor Wat is less crowded but significantly hotter. 7:00 AM Baphuon Temple Head towards Bayon Temple. It won’t be open yet but just a 5 minute walk away is Baphuon Temple. Walk around this temple has a stunning path way. Bonus we didn’t see any other tourists there. 7:30 AM Bayon Temple Baron Temple opens at 7:30 AM get here just as it opens to avoid crowds. When we arrived we were one of a handful of tourists inside. This is the spot to get the face to face shots. 8:30 AM Ta Prohm Temple This is at the Tomb Raider temple made famous by the movie. Aim to get here as close to opening time as possible. When we arrived around 8:30 AM it was already filling up but not too bad. 9:30 AM Ta Som Temple Another temple that features overgrown trees this is a great spot to get some selfies. Most tourist don’t know about this spot which makes it less busy than other spots. 11:00 AM Angkor Wat Picnic If you are up to it head back to Angkor Wat by now the crowds will have gone down and you can enjoy a picnic overlooking the temple. 12:30 AM Pre Rup Temple Your last stop head to Pre Rup Temple. Climb to the top and you will be one of a handful of people there to witness the view from above.

You can find our Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat 2018 Here

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