Angkor Wat sunrise and the Bayon in the morning
The usual plan is to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat and to visit the Bayon afterwards. The two temples keep different hours. Angkor Wat usually opens from 5 a.m. (check the current hours before you go), while the Bayon is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. under the Angkor Pass rules. So do not plan on standing inside the Bayon at first light.
If you searched for Bayon temple sunrise, the practical answer is this: the temple can be seen from the outside in the morning light, which is not the same as access to the inside.
Our picks: Angkor Wat sunrise tours
All three start with sunrise at Angkor Wat and reach the Bayon afterwards, so none of them puts you inside the Bayon at dawn. Take the breakfast tour for a small group, or the e-bike day if you prefer to ride.
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.
Sunrise e-bike tour with breakfast and lunch
- E-bike and helmet
- Breakfast and lunch
- Bayon and Ta Prohm
You watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, then ride on to the Bayon, Ta Prohm and Srah Srang with a guide. Entrance tickets are extra.
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Sunrise small-group tour with breakfast and the Bayon
- Angkor Wat sunrise
- Breakfast
- Terraces, Bayon and Baphuon
The Bayon comes after sunrise at Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and the two terraces. Guide and hotel transfer are included, the Angkor Pass is extra.
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Angkor Wat sunrise or sunset tour with the Bayon
- Bayon and Ta Prohm
- Sunrise or sunset option
- Air-conditioned minibus
The route passes through the south gate of Angkor Thom to the Bayon, with an English-speaking guide and local tax included. The temple pass is extra.
Check availability →Angkor Wat sunrise tours with the Bayon
Sunrise starts, small-group and private tours that include the Bayon, with live prices and availability.
A morning in three steps
From the ticket to the Bayon.
1. Get your pass the day before
The main ticket counter opens daily from 5:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A pass bought late in the afternoon the day before can be used on the next day, and it can also cover that evening's sunset. Buy before 4:30 p.m. to be safe, and ask at the counter about the exact cut-off. The three-day and seven-day passes need a photo. The one-day pass does not.
2. Angkor Wat for first light
Angkor Wat usually opens from 5 a.m. (check the current hours before you go), and the time of sunrise changes through the year, so look up the time for your date. Clouds can hide the sun, and nobody can promise a clear view or a reflection in the pond. Treat the sunrise as a bonus and the morning as the plan. Details on Angkor Wat are in the Angkor Wat sunrise guide.
3. The Bayon after it opens
The Bayon opens at 7:30 a.m. The temple is busier after the Angkor Wat sunrise and again later in the morning, and no hour is guaranteed to be quiet. For what to wear and how to behave, see the visiting tips.
Times at a glance
Opening hours for the same morning.
| Place | Hours | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Main ticket counter | 5:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Buy the day before to go straight to the gate |
| Angkor Wat | Usually from 5:00 a.m.; check the current hours | Sunrise start |
| Bayon | 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Second stop |
For most visitors, the simplest plan is Angkor Wat at first light and the Bayon from 7:30 a.m., on a tour that names both. A guide can handle the transfer between the two and the timing of the day.
What to check on a sunrise tour
The wording matters more than the price.
Pickup time
A sunrise start means a pickup in the dark. Check the pickup time, the pickup place and whether the Angkor Pass is included.
When the Bayon begins
Ask when the Bayon visit starts. It cannot begin before the temple opens, so a good itinerary schedules it after 7:30 a.m.
The upper terrace
The upper terrace may be closed (as of July 2026), so check on site. The faces page shows what you can see from the lower levels.
Other tour formats
Small-group and private day tours are compared on the tours page.
Angkor Wat sunrise and the Bayon: frequently asked questions
Can I watch the sunrise at the Bayon?
The Bayon opens at 7:30 a.m., so plan the sunrise at Angkor Wat and visit the Bayon afterwards.
What time is the sunrise at Angkor Wat?
The exact time changes through the year. Look up the sunrise time for your date and plan to arrive before it. Angkor Wat usually opens from 5 a.m.; check the current hours before you go.
Do I need to buy my ticket the day before?
It helps. The ticket counter also opens at 5:00 a.m., so a pass bought the afternoon before lets you go straight in. Buy before 4:30 p.m. to be safe for next-day validity, and ask at the counter.
Does a sunrise tour include the Bayon?
Many do, but not all. Look for the Bayon in the itinerary and for the time at which the visit starts.
Can I go up to the upper terrace of the Bayon in the morning?
The upper terrace may be closed (as of July 2026), so check on site.
What does the Angkor Pass cost, and do I need a photo?
In 2026 a one-day pass costs $37 and needs no photo. The three-day pass ($62) and the seven-day pass ($72) require a photo.