Only have 1 day to visit Angkor Wat? No problem! We’ve put together this Angkor Wat 1-day itinerary to help you make the most of your limited time at this incredible UNESCO World Heritage site.
With over 1000 temples within a 400 square kilometre area, it is impossible to see it all in just one day, or even one week. However, this itinerary will help you plan your time effectively to ensure that you see what most consider the Angkor Wat highlights.
If you have more than one day then we’d recommend you checking out our 3-day Angkor Wat itinerary.
For more detailed information on EVERYTHING you need to know about visiting Angkor Wat, including tickets, transport, packing, etc, check out our Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat.
A note on responsible tourism:
Due to its religious and cultural importance to the Cambodian people, it is imperative that you dress modestly and act respectfully during your time here.
Layout of Angkor Wat
Hopefully, this map and information will allow you to get your head around the layout of the main section of Angkor Wat Archaeological Park. This should help you to customise your own perfect Angkor Wat 1 Day Itinerary.
There are two main circuits (or “loops”) to choose from; the big loop aka grand circuit (shown in green) and the small loop aka small circuit (shown in red). Both loops include the Angkor Wat Temple and Angkor Thom Temple before branching off to different routes.
Our Angkor Wat 1-day itinerary will actually combine these routes to offer you what we consider the absolute highlights of each.
Most drivers will take tourists around these loops in a clockwise circuit; therefore, this itinerary recommends traveling in a counter-clockwise fashion to help avoid the crowds.
Below are the main temples you will visit in each loop. As previously mentioned, there are over 1000 temples in the complex so this guide only has you visiting the “main” temples!
Small Loop
The small loop consists of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, and Prasat Kravan.
Big Loop
The big loop includes Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup.
Angkor Wat 1-Day Itinerary
No Cambodia itinerary is complete without a visit to Angkor Wat. It is an absolute dream destination for your travel bucket list. Even if you have only 1 day to explore Angkor Wat, you can still cover some of the main temples.
The 1-day itinerary proposed below is what we consider to be the best route. We’ve taken into consideration timing, avoiding crowds, and maximising what you are able to enjoyably see.
By the end of the day you’re likely to be exhausted. We would recommend booking a comfortable room with air conditioning as you will greatly appreciate it after a hot, tiring day of exploring. Click here for current accommodation availability and prices in Siem Reap.
Stop #1: Angkor Wat Temple at Sunrise
Angkor Wat is the largest and most iconic temple within the Angkor complex. It was built over three decades in the early 12th century and was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. However, by the end of the 12th century it had gradually become converted to a Buddhist temple.
The temple opens at 5am and it is worth arriving early to secure your spot for sunrise, particularly if you want to get best photos of Angkor Wat. We arrived at 4:40am and were the first at the gate, narrowly beating a large group, which allowed us to get a front row position at the edge of the water for an unobstructed photo. There are two ponds, one to the left and one to the right, offering reflections of Angkor Wat. However, when we were there in April the one to the left was completely dried up! If you are there more for the experience than the photo, then arriving any time around 5am will give you ample time to explore as the sun rises.
The next temple you’ll visit doesn’t open until 7:30am, so take your time to enjoy Angkor Wat or to have some breakfast. If breakfast is included at your hotel then you may have the option to get a takeaway breakfast, otherwise there are plenty of food vendors within Angkor.
Stop #2: Ta Prohm Temple
Ta Prohm Temple does not open until 7:30am, but be sure to arrive 10-15 minutes early to ensure you’re first in line to enter. Ta Prohm is the second-most popular temple so being there first will save you a lot of time and effort in getting photos without other tourists.
You may have also heard of Ta Prohm referred to as the “Tomb Raider Temple” as it was made famous by the blockbuster hit starring Angelina Jolie. It is nestled within the jungle and is famed for the distinctive tree roots that grow over the temple ruins.
Stop #3: Banteay Kdei Temple
Banteay Kdei Temple is similar in style to Ta Prohm, but it is much smaller. We found this temple to be peaceful and quiet; a nice respite after the crowds at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm.
Although undergoing renovation, it is largely unrestored and well worth a visit. The temple has served as an active monastery on and off since its construction in the latter 12thcentury up until the 1960s. Our favourite spot was towards the far side of the temple, where you’ll find a large tree encroaching the outer wall.
Stop #4: Pre Rup Temple
Pre Rup was one of our favourite temples. While we visited it for sunrise, and it is popular for sunset, I am certain that it will be a marvel at any time of day. It is one of the older temples, dating back to 961 as a dedication to the Hindu Goddess Shiva. The staircase up may get you sweating a bit, but the views from the top are so worth it!
Stop #5: East Mebon Temple
East Mebon is 9 years older than Pre Rup, dating back to 952 and was also built as a dedication to Shiva. It was originally built on a small man-made island, however the water that once surrounded it has now dried up. You will find 2-metre tall elephants on each corner of the first tier as well as lions guarding the stairways.
Stop #6: Ta Som Temple
Ta Som is a smaller Buddhist temple from the 12th century. Its most prominent feature is the strangler fig tree that engulfs its eastern gate, providing a similar photo opportunity to the more popular shot at Ta Prohm. It is often missed by other tourists, so it’s not uncommon to have the place to yourself. When we visited, we briefly shared the experience with a group of monks and their families who were in and out quickly enough for us to take plenty of photos with no one else in them.
Stop #7: Neak Pean Temple
We honestly found Neak Pean to be underwhelming and would recommend skipping it if you’re short on time. The wooden bridge leading to it is entirely exposed so be prepared for a very hot walk if you do decide to visit it.
If you are keeping good pace and want to see everything, by all means give Neak Pean a look. If you would prefer to conserve energy and maybe get back ahead of the crowds, this would be the one to bypass.
Stop #8: Preah Khan Temple
Preah Khan is one of the larger temple complexes within Angkor Wat and at one time served as a city, temple and Buddhist university, housing around 100,000 people.
It is similar in aesthetics to Ta Prohm, with the jungle and trees enveloping different sections of the ancient ruins. However, its seemingly endless passageways create a feeling like you are within some kind of labyrinth.
Stop #9: Bayon Temple
Bayon temple closes at 5:30pm and you’ll likely want at least an hour to explore, so make sure you arrive with plenty of time. It lies within the heart of Angkor Thom, the old capital city, and is often referred to as the “face temple” due to the multitude of smiling faces carved into it.
Unlike some of the other temples, Bayon is one that is best experienced up close, where you can be immersed amongst the 216 mysterious faces. The uniqueness of being surrounded by so many smiling faces is also one of the reasons that Bayon is one of my favourite temples.
There also tend to be a lot of cheeky monkeys hanging out here, so keep your shiny bits tucked safely away!
Potential stop: Sunset at Phnom Bakeng Temple
If you still have the energy, Phnom Bakeng is a popular spot for sunset. However, only 300 people are permitted to enter the temple at a time so if you wish to be within the temple for sunset you will need to get in line no later than 4pm, and perhaps even earlier. It is also a steep, although relatively short, walk up a hill to get there.
If the line is too long for sunset entry, there is an overlook of Angkor Wat that you can access by continuing on the trail just another minute or two. I honestly found more this view more impressive than the sunset view from the temple itself with a decent zoom lens.
Personally, I don’t think the sunset view is worth the amount of time you have to wait in line and would rather opt to take more time at the other temples, but the option is there! If you didn’t do so the day prior, I would recommend instead finishing back at Angkor Wat for sunset, or spending a bit more time at Bayon.
Bonus Sunset at Angkor Wat
A sneaky little bonus for you! The one-day pass is only valid on the day of purchase, however tickets issued after 5pm are valid for the following day. Additionally, if you buy your ticket after 5pm, you can enter Angkor Wat for sunset that same evening. I would highly recommend taking advantage of this! Be aware that there will be long lines for the 1 day passes at the ticket office, so get there with plenty of time to line up.
After getting our tickets, we went straight to Angkor Wat, arriving there around 5:15pm. They technically close Angkor Wat at 5:30pm, but it’s a slow process so we were there until around 5:45pm. As we were some of the last people to leave, we were able to get most of our photos unobstructed by other tourists. It also gives you the opportunity to get a lay of the land for sunrise the next day!
Final Thoughts on this Angkor Wat 1 Day Itinerary
While it will be a busy and exhausting day, it is absolutely possible to spend just 1 day at Angkor Wat and cover quite a lot of ground! Of course, with a 1 Day Angkor Wat Itinerary, you’d never be able to cover all the temples. However, it’ll give you a great oversight of this impressive archaeological site.
I hope you’ve found this Angkor Wat 1-day itinerary useful. Please don’t forget to check out my Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat for EVERYTHING you need to know about Angkor Wat.
I’d love to hear your suggestions or any feedback in the comments below.
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I love this! You crammed so much excitement into one day and your pictures are stunning. Amazing guide, saving for next time I go to Cambodia
Thank you so much. It’s such a beautiful part of the country.
Thank you so much for making one day possible! We will only have 1 full day and a half day in Siem Reap. We will do the full day at Ankor Wat and will search your site for something to do on the half day.
It’s absolutely possible! It’ll be a pretty full-on day, but totally worth it. I hope you have the most amazing time! I highly recommend going to Phare Circus – it was incredible when we went and the perfect way to spend an evening.