Tips · Cambodia
How to See Sunrise at Angkor Wat: Timing, Rides, What to Bring
Angkor Wat sunrise, step by step: night-before prep, tuk-tuk, app or car, what to bring, etiquette by the moat, and the morning after.
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The shape of a sunrise morning
Entry to Angkor Wat opens before dawn, so the most popular plan is to watch sunrise by the moat and then walk straight into the temple. Angkor Wat is about 6 km from town, so you ride out by tuk-tuk or car.
The flow is simple. Sort your pass and transport the day before, leave before dawn, wait by the moat, and head inside once the sun is up. See one or two nearby temples before the heat builds, then rest at your hotel through midday.
For pass types, a full itinerary and the dress code from the start, read our first-visit guide to Angkor Wat. This post focuses only on the sunrise morning.
When to leave: three things to do the night before
Sunrise time changes with the season, and opening times can change too. Check exact times locally and with official sources, and work backwards so you arrive well before the sun comes up.
To avoid a rushed start, finish these three things the night before. You must have a ticket to enter the Angkor temples, sold at the official ticket counter or on the official website/app (angkorenterprise.gov.kh). Check pass types, prices and ticket office hours officially.
- Pass: buy it at the official counter or online by the day before
- Transport: agree the tuk-tuk route, pickup time and fare the day before
- Clothes: lay out knee- and shoulder-covering clothes (required inside the temples)
Getting there before dawn: tuk-tuk, app or car
The most common ride is a tuk-tuk (remork-moto), a carriage towed by a motorbike. Hire one for the day and the same driver can take you from sunrise through the morning temples. Agree the route and fare before you set off.
If you'd rather not haggle, use a ride-hailing app, which fixes the fare in advance. If you struggle in the heat or travel with children, an air-conditioned taxi hired for the day is easiest.
Where you stay matters too. Staying north of town, towards Angkor, shortens the pre-dawn ride. Pub Street can be noisy late, so get an early night before sunrise day.
What to bring: ready for dawn and midday
It gets hot soon after sunrise, so pack for midday heat even though you leave at dawn. Shorts and skirts above the knee and bare shoulders are prohibited inside the temples.
The riel is Cambodia's currency, but US dollars are commonly used in tourist areas. Carry small notes for the tuk-tuk and breakfast.
- Your Angkor pass (bought the day before)
- Bottoms that cover the knee, a top that covers the shoulders, a scarf or light cover-up
- Comfortable shoes for steps and uphill paths
- Water, a hat and sunscreen
- Small US dollar notes
By the moat: sunrise etiquette
Angkor's temples are still sacred places. Even when hunting for a good spot, don't lean or sit on temple structures or touch carvings. Many structures are fragile, so follow the signs and don't climb on loose stones.
You may meet monks in the early morning. Ask before taking photos, and women should not touch or sit too close to monks. The official visitor code says buying from, or giving money or candy to, children encourages begging.
After sunrise: the morning route and breakfast
Once the sun is up, explore inside Angkor Wat. Then head into the walled city of Angkor Thom for the Bayon and its carved stone faces; the earlier you go, the fewer the crowds and the less the heat.
Rest at your hotel through midday. If you skipped breakfast, num banh chok (rice noodles in a fish-based curry broth) or clear-broth kuy teav from a market or stall is the local morning meal. If you're wary of ice, choose bottled drinks.
With energy to spare, visit root-wrapped Ta Prohm in the afternoon and watch sunset from hilltop Phnom Bakheng. Sunrise plus sunset makes a long day, so keep the next day light.
When to go, and safety
The rainy season usually starts around May and brings frequent rain into the autumn, followed by a dry season until the next spring. The turn of the year is relatively cool within the dry season, good for temple walking. Season start dates vary, so check the local forecast before you go.
Korea's foreign ministry rates Siem Reap at level 1, while areas such as within 50 km of the Thai border and Sihanoukville city are at level 3 (leave). Check your own government's latest travel advice for Cambodia before you go, and turn down too-good-to-be-true offers from strangers, such as overseas job offers.
Cambodian entry and visa rules can change, so check the official e-visa site (evisa.gov.kh) before you travel.
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FAQ
What time should I leave my hotel for sunrise?
Sunrise and opening times vary with the season and official operations. Check them locally and with official sources, and leave so you arrive well before dawn. Angkor Wat is about 6 km from town.
Can I buy my pass on the morning of sunrise?
Sort it by the day before at the official counter or on the official website/app (angkorenterprise.gov.kh) so you can leave straight away. Check ticket office hours and prices officially.
Tuk-tuk or app for the pre-dawn ride?
A tuk-tuk agreed the day before can stay with you from sunrise through the morning temples. If you don't want to haggle, a ride-hailing app fixes the fare; if heat is a concern, hire an air-conditioned taxi.
Does the dress code apply at sunrise?
Shorts and skirts above the knee and bare shoulders are prohibited inside the temples. You go in right after sunrise, so wear long clothing or bring a scarf from the start.
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