Do I Need A Tour Guide for Angkor Wat? [2024]

Do you need a tour to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest landmarks. An ancient temple complex located in Siem Reap, Cambodia, this impressive site is recognised as the largest religious structure on our planet. Spanning some 162.6 hectares or 402 acres, there can be an overwhelming amount to explore. Given Angkor Wat’s sheer size, you may be wondering – Do I Need a Tour Guide for Angkor Wat? This short guide will answer all your questions.

About Angkor Wat

A tour enables you to learn more about Angkor Wat’s storied history.

Founded as early as the 12th century, Angkor Wat is a true phenomenon that should be on every traveller’s list. Just a short distance from the bustling town of Siem Reap, Cambodia’s pride and joy features structures dedicated to both Hinduism and Buddhism – all featuring ornate Khmer architecture made out of sandstone.

Serving as a monument to King Suryavarman II, it took 30 years to build and today stands as one of the most recognisable structures of all time. Angkor Wat is one of the most jaw-dropping destinations I’ve visited in my life.

Handpicked Tours

Bird’s eye view overlooking the Angkor Wat complex.

There are so many Angkor Wat Tours out there that it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Scam tours are abound, and not all tours are organised in a way to deliver you the most informed information and history behind the sites.

I’ve had friends book a Angkor Wat sunset tour and miss the sunset due to the guide losing track of time, so if you want to have the best experience possible, it’s crucial that you pick a reputable tour. For this reason, we’ve gone and scoured the internet to handpick the Best Angkor Wat Tours for you.

All the tours we’ve chosen have been reviewed 5-stars by thousands of reviewers, and are extremely affordable.

• 2-Day Angkor Wat Complete Circuit Tour (with sunset) is my most recommended 5-Star tour, and the one that I went on during my visit. I predicted that I needed two whole days to fully explore the magnificence of the complex, and I was right. This tour took me to all the highlights of the complex and equipped me with the knowledge I needed to understand the context behind the structures.

• Sunrise Tour of Angkor Wat from Siem Reap is a tour that will guarantee a beautiful Angkor Wat sunrise experience. Would recommend if you are on a budget and just want to do the highlights. This tour is also rated 5 stars.

• Private Sunrise Tour with Guide Including Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm and Banteay Kdei – this private tour is suitable for you if you not only want to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, but also visit worthwhile surrounding attractions. Rated 5 Stars.

Ta Prohm – part of the 2-Day Angkor Wat Tour and Private Sunrise Tour.

How Many Days in Angkor Wat?

How many days do you need to explore Angkor Wat?

Considering you’ll probably travel a long way to just get to Siem Reap, I would allow a minimum of 2 days in Angkor Wat. There’s just so much history and beauty to take in that one day will feel a bit rushed.

Of course, 1 day is better than nothing at all. But if you have the time up your sleeve, I would say 2 days exploring Angkor Wat is definitely worth it.

👉 Check Out: 2-Day Angkor Wat Complete Circuit Tour (with sunset)

What Were my Favourite Sites around Angkor Wat?

Bayon Temple, Siem Reap

Apart from Angkor Wat itself, my highlights were Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, Terrace of the Elephants, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei and Phnom Bakheng. Phnom Bakheng, in particular was a truly STUNNING spot for the sunset, and I would 100% recommend adding this to your itinerary. It’s a little bit of a hike, but the views up there are unbeatable.

Tomb Raider Temple, otherwise known as Ta Prohm

Asher at Victory Gate

Controversial opinion here, but I don’t even think Angkor Wat (as unforgettable as it is), was my favourite place on the tour that I went on. That would either be Ta Prohm – which is famous for being featured in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) or Banteay Kdei – a stuning network of structures where the buildings blend into the trees.

Structures of Angkor Wat

You can find all these sights on this 2-Day Angkor Wat Complete Circuit Tour (with sunset) that I went on.

Final Verdict – Do I Need a Tour Guide for Angkor Wat?

Look at how massive the Angkor Wat complex is!

Yes. I would say going on a tour and having a guide explain the history behind Angkor Wat definitely enhances the experience.  If you’re a fan of culture, history architecture and want to learn more about the background of each place, then I would say going on a tour is a must. There’s simply too much history for you to learn all by yourself.

Also, the sites are actually quite a distance from each other and you wouldn’t really be able to walk from place to place, so the included transport is a necessity.

Cute monkeys at Angkor Wat.

However, if you mainly just want to take photos of Angkor Wat and aren’t that interested about all the other stuff or visiting the surrounding sites, then it’s doable to just visit Angkor Wat without a tour (although I really don’t think it would be a worthwhile experience).

Are you thinking about visiting the incredible Angkor Wat? Let me know in the comments below!

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