Watching the sun rise behind Angkor Wat’s five towers is the most popular start to a Siem Reap trip, and also the most misunderstood. This guide gives you the real gate and ticket-office hours, sunrise times for every month, the best places to stand and what to wear, and it was checked on 14 October 2026.
Quick answer: Angkor Wat’s gates open at 5:00 AM every day. The sun rises between about 5:36 AM in June and 6:30 AM in January, so aim to be in position 30 to 45 minutes before it. The ticket office opens at 4:30 AM, but buying your Angkor Pass online the day before saves you the queue: US$37 for one day, or US$62 for three days (valid within seven days). Shoulders and knees must be covered.
What time is the Angkor Wat sunrise, and when should you arrive?
Sunrise at Angkor is later than most visitors expect, and it moves by almost an hour across the year. The park gates open at 5:00 AM in every month, so you can always be inside before the sun appears.
The colour matters more than the moment the sun clears the towers. First light arrives about 22 minutes before sunrise, and the slow shift from dark to colour is the part people remember. That is why you should be standing where you want to be 30 to 45 minutes early.
| Month | Sunrise (about) | Be in position by |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6:31 AM | 5:50 AM |
| February | 6:27 AM | 5:45 AM |
| March | 6:12 AM | 5:30 AM |
| April | 5:52 AM | 5:10 AM |
| May | 5:38 AM | 5:00 AM (gates open) |
| June | 5:37 AM | 5:00 AM (gates open) |
| July | 5:45 AM | 5:05 AM |
| August | 5:52 AM | 5:10 AM |
| September | 5:53 AM | 5:15 AM |
| October | 5:55 AM | 5:15 AM |
| November | 6:03 AM | 5:25 AM |
| December | 6:19 AM | 5:40 AM |
Times are calculated for Siem Reap on the 15th of each month and change by a few minutes through the month. Leave your hotel about 30 minutes before the time in the last column; local guide site Siemreap.net suggests about 5:15 AM in January and about 4:45 AM in June. Our Angkor Wat sunrise tour picks you up at 4:30 AM, so you are at the gates when they open.
How to buy your Angkor Pass for a sunrise visit
Buy your pass online the day before, at the official site, ticket.angkorenterprise.gov.kh. The ticket office opens at 4:30 AM, so you can also buy on the morning, but buying online the day before means no counter queue before sunrise. The e-ticket arrives by email and works from your phone. If you join our sunrise tour and still need a pass, we stop at the ticket office on the way.
- 1-day pass: US$37, valid on the date it shows
- 3-day pass: US$62, any three days within seven days
- 7-day pass: US$72, any seven days within one month
The 3-day and 7-day passes need a photo, taken at purchase or uploaded online. Passes are not refundable or transferable. Here is a useful rule: a pass dated for tomorrow lets you into the park from 4:45 PM today, and that evening does not count as a pass day. That gives you a free sunset the evening before your sunrise.
Where to stand: the best sunrise spots
- The reflection pools at Angkor Wat. This is the classic view: the five towers mirrored in the water as the sky changes colour. You will share it with a large crowd, often several thousand people in the busy months. Guides generally say the northern pool draws the biggest crowd and the southern pool is often quieter.
- Outside the pools. If you dislike crowds, stay back from the water and watch the temple silhouette appear against the sky. You lose the reflection but gain space.
- Srah Srang. This 700-metre royal bathing pool, east of Angkor Thom, has a stone terrace for watching the sunrise and a reflection that never dries up, even in the dry season. It opens at 5:00 AM and few tourists go.
- Pre Rup. This temple mountain also opens at 5:00 AM and has far fewer visitors than Angkor Wat.
- Phnom Bakheng, the Bayon and East Mebon. These open at 6:00 AM, so they work for sunrise only from mid-November to the end of March, when the sun rises after 6:00.
Equinox sunrise. In March and September the sun rises almost directly behind the central tower, which draws extra crowds. The temple’s axis is about 2 to 3 degrees off, so the best alignment is one or two days either side of the official equinox date.
Dry season or green season: when is the sunrise best?
The dry season (November to February) has the clearest skies and the most reliable colour, with January the clearest month. The green season is quieter, and Siemreap.net notes that sunrises in the rainy months can be more dramatic, although clouds can also hide the sun. For a full month-by-month comparison, read our best time to visit Angkor Wat guide.
What to wear and bring for the Angkor Wat sunrise
Angkor’s official visitor code says that shorts and skirts above the knees and bare shoulders are prohibited in sacred places, and respectful dress is strongly encouraged. Dress that way from the moment you leave your hotel.
- A sleeved top and long trousers, a long skirt or knee-length shorts
- A phone torch or headlamp for the dark walk across the causeway
- A light layer for the cooler months, plus insect repellent and water
- A small bag: the code discourages backpacks, sharp-tipped umbrellas, tripods and high heels inside temples
Leave the drone at home, because flying one in the park needs advance written permission. Ask before photographing monks, and women should not touch monks or stand or sit too close to them. Smoking is banned at Angkor, and wild macaques live around the temples, so keep food zipped away.
After sunrise: make the most of the morning
Many visitors leave for breakfast soon after the sun is up. Use that quieter window to explore the galleries and carvings of Angkor Wat itself, which is open from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Then move on while the air is still cool: the Bayon opens at 6:00 AM, and Ta Prohm is best before the heat and the tour buses arrive.
Our sunrise tour follows this plan, with a visit to a local market (breakfast there is optional) and a licensed guide, so you do not have to navigate in the dark.
Pair your sunrise with another day
- Sunrise and a floating village in one day: the Angkor sunrise and floating village private tour
- No sunrise, fewer crowds: the Angkor full-day tour without the crowds
- A sunset to match your sunrise: the Grand Circuit and Bakheng sunset tour
- A day on the Tonle Sap: the floating village tour or the quieter Kampong Khleang tour
- Countryside and carvings: the Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean tour
- Remote temples and waterfalls: the Koh Ker and Beng Mealea day trip or the Phnom Kulen waterfall tour
- Two days, unhurried: the 2-day private Angkor tour
Flying in from abroad? Check our Cambodia visa guide before you book.
Angkor Wat sunrise FAQ
What time does Angkor Wat open for sunrise?
The park gates open at 5:00 AM every day, and Angkor Wat itself is open from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
What time is the sunrise at Angkor Wat?
Between about 5:36 AM in June and 6:30 AM in January. Use the table above for your month.
How early should I arrive?
Be in position 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise. In practice that means leaving town around 5:15 AM in January and about 4:45 AM in June.
Can I buy a ticket on the morning of my sunrise visit?
Yes. The ticket office opens at 4:30 AM every day, before the park gates open at 5:00 AM. Buying online the day before is quicker, because you skip the counter queue.
How much is an Angkor Wat ticket?
US$37 for one day, US$62 for three days (any three days within seven days) and US$72 for seven days (within one month).
Is the Angkor Wat sunrise crowded?
Yes, especially at the reflection pools from November to February. Srah Srang and Pre Rup are quieter alternatives, and the green season has fewer people.
What should I wear?
Cover your shoulders and knees. Shorts and skirts above the knee and bare shoulders are not allowed in sacred places.
Can I use a tripod or a drone?
Tripods are discouraged inside the temples, and a drone needs advance written permission.
Can children watch the sunrise?
Yes. Children under 12 enter free, so bring a passport as proof of age, and under-12s may not climb the upper tower of Angkor Wat.
Book your Angkor Wat sunrise with a local guide
Let Tivorn, a licensed Siem Reap guide with more than 10 years of experience, handle the early start: hotel pickup in Siem Reap city, the right timing for your date and a plan for the morning after sunrise. You can book now and pay on the day, with no deposit, as set out in our Terms.
Message Tivorn on WhatsApp to book your sunrise or see the sunrise tour and all tours.
Last checked: 14 October 2026. Sunrise, opening-hour and ticket details come from Siemreap.net’s sunrise guide and hours and admission guide; dress and conduct rules from the Angkor Enterprise visitor code. Ticket-office hours are confirmed by our own daily guides. Sunrise times in the table are calculated for Siem Reap. Always confirm tickets on the official Angkor Enterprise site.