Watching the sun come up behind Angkor Wat is the moment most visitors remember from Cambodia. After more than 20 years of sunrise starts, here is how San Park makes sure his guests get the best of it.
What time to leave your hotel
Plan to be picked up around 5:00 AM. Sunrise itself is between about 5:30 and 6:15 AM depending on the month, but the sky starts colouring 20–30 minutes earlier, and you need time to walk the causeway in the dark.
If you don’t have your Angkor Pass yet, leave earlier and stop at the official ticket office on the way. It opens before sunrise.
Where to stand
The classic photo is from the left (north) reflecting pond, which shows all five towers mirrored in the water. Arriving early gets you a front-row spot.
- The pond can dry out late in the dry season (April–May). Then the right-hand pond or the grass in front of the library can be better.
- Around the spring and autumn equinoxes (late March and late September) the sun rises almost directly over the central tower.
Best months for colour
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool and dry | Nov – Feb | Clearest skies, busiest crowds |
| Hot | Mar – May | Hazy, warm even at dawn |
| Green | Jun – Oct | Dramatic clouds, fewer people, sometimes no visible sun |
What to bring
- A phone light or small torch
- A light jacket (yes, really, between December and February)
- Insect repellent
- Clothes covering shoulders and knees, so you can go straight inside afterwards
Beat the crowds after sunrise
This is the most useful tip: don’t leave straight after sunrise. Most groups head back for breakfast, and the galleries and bas-reliefs are quiet until about 8 AM. On San’s 2-day tour you explore Angkor Wat right after sunrise, then go for breakfast before Bayon and Ta Prohm.
Read more in the Angkor Wat temple guide.