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The temples of Angkor Wat are one of those places you walk into that instantly remind you of why you travel. This wonderfully preserved history takes you back in time and makes it easy to envision just how the temples were in the 12th century. Being the largest religious monument in the world, some may wonder if one day you could even scratch the surface. But if organized well, you can definitely visit Angkor Wat in one day and explore the main highlights.
Due to Angkor Wat’s massive size, the hardest part about visiting isn’t surviving the heat or deciding which of the hundreds of temples you need to see! It’s figuring out the logistics when planning your day.
In this guide, I will explain all the transport options and the best way to visit Angkor Wat in one day.
Just briefly, Angkor Wat Facts & Location
The temples of Angkor Wat are located 10 minutes from Siem Reap city centre in Cambodia. This is the main drawcard for tourists visiting Siem Reap and I couldn’t imagine anyone visiting this part of Cambodia without spending at least one day at Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat is a temple complex built in the 12th century. Built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, then over time become solely Buddhist. But throughout many of the temples, there are representations of both Hindus & Buddhists.
Out of all the sacred sites in South East Asia, Angkor Wat is the most popular and you don’t need to be religious to appreciate the history and the importance of the temple.
Angkor Wat took 37 years to construct and even after the damage the temples endured during the civil war, so much is still well preserved.
The word “Angkor” translates to “capital city” in the Khmer language, and “Wat” means “temple.” After spending the day exploring anger wat I found it so much more than just temples, it’s still a city and I really underestimated how big it was.
It’s crazy to think there are literally hundreds of temples, spread out over 162 hectares.
But don’t let this overwhelm you in the planning stage. I’ve got you covered.
Angkor Wat Tickets, Prices & Opening Times
There are three ticket types you can purchase to Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat Entrance Fee 2022
1 day pass $37US
3 day pass $62US
7 day pass $72US
As an incentive to get more visitors the passes have been changed to give everyone more days to access the temples of Angkor Wat. The 1-day pass is valid for 2 consecutive days, a 3-day pass is valid for 5 days in a 10-day period and a 7-day pass is valid for 10 entries in a 30-day period.
This incentive is valid until 31st December 2022.
Majority of the temples open at 07:30 except for the temple called ‘Angkor Wat’, which opens at 5 am for visitors to see the sunrise.
Angkor Wat Ticket Office
The official Angkor ticket office is located 4km away from Siem Reap city centre and then it’s another 10-minute drive from the ticket office to the entrance of the temples.
The ticket office opens at 4:30 and closes at 5:30 pm every day.
If you have pre-booked transport to take you around the temples, they will also take you to the ticket office. It would be possible to walk between the two but not if you’re planning to arrive before sunrise.
How to Get Around Angkor Wat
The three most popular transport options to use to take you between the temples when you visit Angkor Wat in one day are, hiring a tuk-tuk & driver, going by yourself on a bicycle or booking a tour by van.
Tuk-Tuk
Basically from the minute, you step foot in Siem Reap you will have local tuk-tuk drivers offering their services to take you around the temples of Angkor Wat.
To visit Angkor Wat in one day drivers shouldn’t charge much more than $25US. These prices will vary depending on the driver but it’s always negotiable, so make sure you and the driver come to a fair agreement before the day starts.
Hire a Bicycle
Depending on the time of year you’re visiting and how hot it is, hiring a bike would be an awesome option.
Bike hire is only about $2 per day and with this transport, you would be completely on your own schedule to explore the temples of Angkor Wat.
But definitely take the weather into consideration. Particularly in April when the maximum temperature can reach 36 degrees (Celsius), I couldn’t imagine spending the day riding a bike and walking around in that heat.
The negative with choosing the tuk-tuk and bicycle option is that this cost is only for your transport. You will also need to purchase your entrance ticket into Angkor Wat and if you’re interested in what you’re looking at, it’s essential to hire a guide.
Guides don’t necessarily need to be pre-booked, there will be plenty of local guides outside the temples offering their services. It’s important that they’re knowledgeable about the ancient & recent history of Angkor Wat and can of course speak the language you’re familiar with.
Throughout the temples there isn’t heaps of literature and even when there is it’s sometimes hard to understand exactly which part of the temple they are referring to.
Tour by Van
So this last option is the one I took and is definitely what I would recommend to you!
Booking a tour by van with GetYourGuide includes air-conditioned transport, hotel pick up/drop off, tour guide and cold water.
For $20 per person, everything was organized and paid for, it just doesn’t include the entrance ticket to Angkor Wat but the tour guide will take you to the ticket office and help you with the process.
When I first arrived in Siem Reap and started to plan a one-day visit to Angkor Wat, I instantly felt overwhelmed with how big the complex is, which temples should I see, finding a tour guide and not getting ripped off when it comes to transport.
A tour like this is an easy option, it includes everything and takes all the stress out of planning a day at this sacred site.
Siem Reap: Angkor Wat: Small-Group Sunrise Tour.
Get Your Guide has a number of different tours to Angkor Wat, all vary slightly but I made sure I booked with a small group and also included sunrise.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
I don’t care if you’re not a morning person, sunrise at the Angkor Wat temple is an absolute must!
This stunning view is not only a photographer’s dream but starting the day outdoors, surrounded by so much history and in a place with so much spiritual importance, isn’t something you can do every day.
The gates open at 5 am and if you have booked a sunrise tour, the guide will ensure you arrive in time.
Try to get as close to the water as possible and avoid standing in front of any large rocks or bunches of lilypads, these will obstruct the view of capturing the dreamy images of the temples reflecting on the lake.
4 of The Best Temples
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat temple was the capital of the Khmer Empire and the temple that most visitors will see first. This is the famous location in which the sun rises behind the temples creating the most beautiful reflection on the lake.
After sunrise take the time to explore this perfectly symmetrical temple (which is so big it’s a complex within itself), everything is very well preserved, including some stunning wall carvings depicting Hindu gods.
There’s also a very steep staircase that will take you to the top of the middle section of the temples.
The Bayon
Bayon was my favourite temple of the day. The amount and fine details in the carvings & statutes are incredible.
This area wasn’t overly big and we spent close to an hour wandering around and learning more about the history. It was great having a guide to explain these ancient stories and point out smaller details we may not have noticed otherwise.
Also, close to The Bayon is a few other temples that would be possible to walk to and keep an eye out for the local monkeys, there were heaps around here and they’d be smart enough to snatch your belongings.
Ta Prohm
After playing Tomb Raider on play station way back in the 90s, I’d been so keen to visit this particular temple in Angkor Wat.
When I was searching for a tour on Get Your Guide having this temple included was a must!
Not only are the temples impressive in Ta Prohm but the trees are as well. The sheer size is insane and their roots wrapping around (and sometimes completely covering) the temples are stunning. Also throughout Ta Prohm, there are massive boulders that seem to have fallen over time, and I love that these have just been left as is. Making it feel more like you’re stepping back in ancient times.
I found it hard to keep up with our tour guide here, I was taking so many photos and he’d already be moving on to the next section.
This is one of the most touristy temples in the whole complex because from the moment of stepping out of the van local store owners will swarm fighting for your business to buy clothes and souvenirs.
Banteay Kdei
Our local tour guide, Mr T, called Banteay Kdei the VIP temple. Apart from a few cows passing through we had the whole temple to ourselves.
I’m not sure why this temple isn’t on more people’s radars, it was very interesting and has so many doorways & window frames making it feel like a maze.
Best Time to Visit Angkor Wat
There is never a bad time to visit Angkor Wat but a few things you should take into consideration when planning.
November to Mid-April is the dry season and generally, the temperate drops make it much more comfortable to spend the day outdoors.
Although come April the weather is starting to get very warm with daily temperatures reaching 36 degrees.
Then the wet season starts in May, this is when I visited. Thankfully I had perfect weather the day I visited Angkor Wat, but there were some massive downpours while I was in Siem Reap.
It is also suggested to avoid visiting during Chinese New Year as these weeks can get extremely busy.
Weather aside, another factor to consider is that the pandemic had a massive effect on Angkor Wat visitor numbers and with the current ticket incentives now is actually a great time to see Angkor Wat.
When I visited in mid-May 2022 since January 1st there had been 40,200 people visiting Angkor Wat. So on average, that’s 294 visitors per day!
Our guide said before the pandemic the Angkor Wat complex would see five to eight thousand people per day & 1,500 at sunrise.
Wow, what a difference.
Also, the morning I was there I’d say less than 300 people were there to witness the sunrise.
Angkor Wat Dress Code
Like many other religious sites around the world, there is a dress code at Angkor Wat. And as tourists, it’s important to abide by these rules & remain respectful to the places we are visiting.
Shoulders should be covered along with knees and cleavage.
I wore a long skirt & t.shirt and even in the heat, I found this quite comfortable.
Some people were wearing more revealing tops but carried a scarf to use as a cover-up when entering the temples and this was also ok.
When I booked our tour with get your guide they did advise of this dress code and said that people will be denied entry if they don’t abide by these rules.
What to Pack For a Day Trip
If you plan to visit Angkor Wat in one day, it’s necessary to be organized and arrive with everything you could need to make sure you have the best day possible.
Below I will list everything I had on me and I found all of it very useful.
Comfortable clothes & shoes; a day spent at Angkor Wat involves a lot of walking and most of the year it’s very hot. Trainers and cotton clothing are ideal.
Sunscreen & hat, are important for sun protection.
Bug spray.
Camera & tripod.
Power bank, especially if you use your phone camera a lot.
Food & Water, these days there are restaurants inside Angkor Wat but they are far more expensive than other places to eat in Siem Reap. Our guide advised as that as the Angkor Wat complex is a Unesco World Heritage Site, they pay higher fees to conduct business therefore the food is more expensive. Visitors do have the option to bring food into the complex but it can’t be eaten inside the temples.
In Conclusion
I was not in the slightest bit disappointed after my one day visit to Angkor Wat, it’s a place of mindfulness, fascinating history and a site you can tick off your bucket list.
This article includes all the information you need to plan your day exploring the temples of Angkor Wat, including location, ticket prices and transport options.
The 4 temples I mention above were included in the tour I booked with Get Your Guide. I’d highly recommend visiting them all as each has unique qualities. The tour ran from around 04:30 am to 2 pm so even if you can just visit Angkor Wat in one day, there would still be enough time in the afternoon to visit a couple more temples.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
Bonus tip; If arriving in Siem Reap by air and don’t want to deal with taxi drivers on arrival, use booking.com to find a hotel that includes airport transfers.
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
Planning a visit to Angkor Wat can be quite confusing as there are so many tours and packages on offer. I’m glad you’ve written such a comprehensive guide for first-time visitors here. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
What a nice introduction to Angkor Wat. It’s such a unique and interesting place to see. I appreciate all the information you have provided. Cambodia is one country I would love to explore someday, and this one-day guide will be handy.
Angor Wat sounds like such a cool experience. I love your photos, they really make me want to visit! Thank you for sharing.
Such a detailed guide to angkor wat. Love your photos and the info on different temples to visit. Would definitely come back to this if I go!
Wow! What a fascinating magical place. This is the perfect guide to be prepared before you go. I wouldn’t want to miss sunrise either!
What a beautiful place to visit. I love the architecture and to think it has stood since the 12th century is simply incredible. It’s wonderful to hear that it was a place for all faiths, very unusually for that period in history to be inclusive.
I agree Renee, and so very true
Angor Wat is high on my bucket list. There is so much to see, but I love you gave us the highlights if you only have one day. I am saving your post for a future trip!
Thanks for putting this together! I’ve never been to Cambodia but would love to go someday and this would definitely be on my list of places to visit while there! Definitely like the idea abobut hiring a bike!