Best Full-Day Angkor Wat Tour Including Ta Prohm and Bayon

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Full-Day Angkor Wat Tour Including Ta Prohm and Bayon (2025)

Ta Prohm’s wild trees, Bayon’s giant faces, and a full loop in one smooth day — yes, it’s possible.

Looking for the perfect way to see Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, and Bayon in one day? These three amazing temples make up the must-see spots in Cambodia’s famous Angkor park. Our expert guide shows the best full-day Angkor Wat tour including Ta Prohm and Bayon to fit everything into your trip.

Why Choose a Full-Day Tour of Angkor’s Big Three Temples?

When you visit Siem Reap, you can’t miss the chance to see these famous old buildings. The best full-day Angkor Wat tour including Ta Prohm and Bayon lets you check out all three main temples in just one day. This works great if your time in Cambodia is short.

Angkor Wat stands as the biggest religious building ever made. Ta Prohm shows what happens when nature takes back a place with its giant tree roots. Bayon amazes people with its 216 stone faces looking down from all sides. Each place tells a different part of the story of the Khmer Empire.

A good tour does more than just show you around. You get:

• Expert guides who know all the stories and facts
• Smart timing to miss the worst crowds
• Air-cooled rides between temples in the heat
• The best spots for taking amazing pictures
• Inside tips that most tourists never learn

Understanding Cambodia and Siem Reap: Your Gateway to Angkor

Cambodia sits in the heart of Southeast Asia, next to Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. The country mixes old ways with new growth. Most people visiting Cambodia come for one big reason: the Angkor temples.

Siem Reap, a small city in northwest Cambodia, works as the main base for people visiting Angkor. Just 20 years ago, it was a quiet town. Now it has nice hotels, good food spots, and busy markets. Even with all these new things, it still feels real and not too crowded.

From Siem Reap, the Angkor temples sit just a short ride away. When you first get to town, you might need a ride from the airport. Journey Cambodia offers smooth airport pickup services with cool drinks and a nice car waiting for you.

Some quick facts about visiting Angkor:

• You need an “Angkor Pass” to enter any temple
• A one-day pass costs $37 (as of 2025)
• The park opens at 5:00 AM and closes at 6:00 PM
• Proper clothes matter (cover your shoulders and knees)
• The three main temples sit a few miles apart from each other

Golden Hour At Angkor Wat – Tourists leave too early, locals know the light show that changes everything.

4 Best Full-Day Angkor Wat Tours Including Ta Prohm and Bayon in 2025

Now let’s look at the top tour choices for seeing all three main temples in one day:

1. Angkor Wat Highlights and Sunrise Guided Tour

The Angkor Wat Highlights and Sunrise Guided Tour starts super early but pays off big time. You get picked up from your hotel around 4:30 AM to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat – a sight that will stick in your mind forever.

What makes this the best full-day Angkor Wat tour including Ta Prohm and Bayon:

• You beat the worst crowds by starting early
• The morning light makes the best photos
• You see Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, and Bayon all in one day
• The tour ends early afternoon, so you still have free time
• Expert guides show you the best spots and tell the real stories

The tour follows a smart path:

1. Sunrise at Angkor Wat (5:00-7:30 AM)
2. Full tour inside Angkor Wat
3. Visit to Ta Prohm when the morning light streams through the trees
4. Exploration of Angkor Thom and the Bayon Temple
5. Return to your hotel around 1:00 PM

Nearly 95% of people rate this tour five stars, with many saying the guide’s deep knowledge made all the difference.

2. Angkor Wat Sunset Tour

If waking up super early sounds tough, the Angkor Wat Sunset Tour gives you another great choice. This best full-day Angkor Wat tour including Ta Prohm and Bayon starts at a more normal hour (8:00 AM) and ends with a beautiful sunset.

What sets this tour apart:

• Later start time (8:00 AM pickup)
• Visits five major sites including all three main temples
• Ends with an amazing sunset view
• Includes lunch at a local spot
• Cold drinks and cool towels in your ride all day

Your day follows this path:

1. Morning visit to Angkor Wat for your first look
2. Exploration of Ta Prohm and its famous tree roots
3. Lunch break at a local Khmer restaurant
4. Afternoon visit to Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple
5. Sunset viewing from a perfect spot
6. Return to your hotel around 6:30 PM

This tour works well for those who like to sleep in a bit but still want to see everything in one day.

3. 9:45 AM Pickup – Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm & Sunset Tour

For the latest possible start, check out the 9:45 AM Pickup tour. This flips the normal route, starting with Angkor Thom and Bayon, then visiting Ta Prohm, and saving Angkor Wat for last during the golden sunset hours.

The best full-day Angkor Wat tour including Ta Prohm and Bayon for late risers includes:

• Latest start time (9:45 AM)
• Reversed route to avoid the biggest crowds
• Extra time at Angkor Wat during the best light (3:00-6:00 PM)
• Smaller crowds at each spot due to going against the flow
• Exit through Angkor Wat’s east gate for unique views

Your day looks like this:

1. Morning visit to Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple
2. Lunch at a local place
3. Early afternoon at Ta Prohm when many tour groups have left
4. Extended time at Angkor Wat for sunset (3:00-6:00 PM)
5. Return to your hotel after sunset

This works great for people who hate early mornings or want a different view than the standard tours.

4. Private Premium Angkor Tour

For those wanting a more personal touch, a private tour gives you the most control. You get your own guide, your own ride, and a plan that fits just what you want.

What makes a private tour special:

• You set the pace – no waiting for other people
• Custom stops based on what you care about most
• Private guide all to yourself for deep questions
• Flexible timing for meal breaks and rest stops
• Premium air-cooled SUV just for your group

A typical private tour day:

1. Pickup at your chosen time (early for sunrise or later)
2. Visit to Angkor Wat with full explanation
3. Exploration of Ta Prohm at your own pace
4. Lunch where you want, when you want
5. Tour of Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple
6. Optional extra stops at smaller temples
7. Return when you decide you’ve seen enough

The price runs higher, but for small groups or families, the extra cost often works out to be worth it.

2 Days Exclusive Temple Highlights with Sunset and Sunrise

Best Full-Day Angkor Wat Tour Comparison

Best Tour by Month (2025)

What You Need to Know About the Big Three Temples

Angkor Wat: The Crown Jewel

Angkor Wat stands as the biggest religious building ever made. King Suryavarman II built it in the early 1100s as a Hindu temple, but later it became Buddhist. The temple shows Mount Meru, home of the gods in Hindu belief.

Key facts about Angkor Wat:

• Built: Early 12th century
• Size: 402 acres with a 623-foot-wide moat
• Style: Classic Khmer with five lotus-shaped towers
• Must-see spots: The Churning of the Ocean of Milk carving, third level, reflection pools

The temple looks most beautiful at sunrise when its towers reflect in the front pools, and at sunset when the stone glows golden in the late light.

Ta Prohm: Where Nature Takes Back

Ta Prohm became super famous after showing up in the Tomb Raider movie. Unlike other temples that got fixed up, this one was left partly taken over by jungle. Huge silk-cotton trees grow right through the walls.

Key facts about Ta Prohm:

• Built: 1186 CE by King Jayavarman VII
• Style: Bayon Era Buddhist monastery
• Must-see spots: The “Tomb Raider tree,” Hall of Dancers, dinosaur carving

The temple feels most magical in mid-morning when light breaks through the tree cover in beams, or late afternoon when the crowds thin out.

Bayon: The Temple of Faces

Bayon sits in the middle of the walled city of Angkor Thom. What makes it special? The 216 giant stone faces carved on 54 towers. Some think the faces show King Jayavarman VII who built it, while others say they show a Buddhist god.

Key facts about Bayon:

• Built: Late 12th century
• Style: Bayon Era with 54 face towers
• Must-see spots: Upper level with face towers, bas-reliefs showing daily life

The temple looks best in early morning or late afternoon when shadows bring out the faces. Midday light tends to wash out the details.

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Tips for Making the Most of Your Angkor Tour

Best Times to Visit

The time of year matters a lot for your visit:

• November to February: Coolest weather but most crowded
• March to May: Very hot but fewer people
• June to October: Some rain but lush green settings and the smallest crowds

For any given day, the best times are:

• 5:00-8:00 AM: Great for Angkor Wat (sunrise and early light)
• 8:00-10:00 AM: Perfect for Ta Prohm before big crowds
• 3:00-5:00 PM: Good for Bayon when light brings out the faces
• 5:00-6:00 PM: Nice for sunset views at allowed spots

What to Bring

Don’t forget these items:

• Temple pass (buy it the day before for early starts)
• Water bottle (most tours provide water but bring extra)
• Sun hat, glasses, and screen (the sun gets STRONG)
• Good walking shoes (you’ll walk 5+ miles in a day)
• Camera with extra batteries
• Small cash for drinks or snacks
• Temple-proper clothes (covered shoulders and knees)

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Why Choose Journey Cambodia for Your Angkor Tour

Journey Cambodia stands out as the top-rated tour company in Siem Reap for 2025. With over 10,000 good reviews, they know how to make the best full-day Angkor Wat tour including Ta Prohm and Bayon.

What sets them apart:

• All guides must pass tough tests on Khmer history
• Small groups (max 10 people) or private options
• Air-cooled rides with cold drinks and cool towels
• Early access strategies to beat crowds
• Strong ties to help local communities
• Ranked #1 on TripAdvisor out of 1,468 Siem Reap tour companies

Their top Angkor tours let you pick what fits you best – sunrise, sunset, or later start options. Each tour finds the perfect mix of seeing the big sites while still feeling special, not rushed.

Journey Cambodia Wins Top Tour Company Award in Siem Reap – #1 of 1,468 Tours and Activities in Siem Reap

Making Your Decision: Which Tour Fits You Best?

Picking the best full-day Angkor Wat tour including Ta Prohm and Bayon comes down to a few key things:

If you:

• Like to start early and finish early → Choose the Sunrise Tour
• Prefer to sleep in but still see it all → Pick the 9:45 AM Tour
• Want to see both morning and evening light → Go for the Sunset Tour
• Need a fully custom plan → Book a Private Tour
• Care most about getting great photos → Join a Photography Tour

The most important part? Book ahead. The best tours fill up fast, and you don’t want to miss seeing these amazing places in the best possible way.

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Your Perfect Day at Angkor Awaits

Finding the best full-day Angkor Wat tour including Ta Prohm and Bayon makes all the difference in your Cambodia trip. These old stones tell amazing stories that go back almost 1,000 years. A good guide brings them to life in ways you’d never get on your own.

Pick a tour that fits when you like to start your day and what you care about most. Get your camera ready, wear good shoes, and bring your sense of wonder. These temples will blow your mind with their size, beauty, and strange power.

Ready to book your perfect Angkor day? Contact Journey Cambodia to save your spot before they fill up. The temples have stood for 900 years – but your chance to see them at their best won’t wait forever.

Helpful Resources

1. Angkor Enterprise Official Site – For the latest on ticket prices and rules
2. Cambodia Visa Information – For entry requirements
3. UNESCO Angkor World Heritage Site – For deep background on why these temples matter