Angkor Wat Afternoon Tour: Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
Experience the magic of Cambodia with an Angkor Wat afternoon tour. Climb the steep celestial stairs, catch the Phnom Bakheng sunset, and enjoy local bites.
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Experience the magic of Cambodia with an Angkor Wat afternoon tour. Climb the steep celestial stairs, catch the Phnom Bakheng sunset, and enjoy local bites.
Exploring the Magic of Siem Reap: Afternoon Itinerary
Angkor Wat & Phnom Bakheng Sunset Experience
Written by Global Explorer
Hi everyone! Today, I'm sharing the second half of my second day in Cambodia.
This is the afternoon segment of the popular Angkor Small Circuit Tour,
where we explore the iconic Angkor Wat and catch the sunset at Phnom Bakheng.
Our guide, Nimol, was incredible at bringing the history to life
while showing us the absolute best photo spots away from the massive crowds.
If you missed my morning itinerary, you can catch up on the details here:
Angkor Wat Small Circuit Morning Tour Guide Review
Part 1: Stepping into the Legend of Angkor Wat
After surviving the intense morning heat, we took a much-needed break
at a local cafe to recharge before diving into our afternoon adventure.
Typically, standard itineraries might arrange Angkor Wat at a different time,
but because of a schedule conflict with accessing the top tier of the temple on our original day,
we customized our tour to explore Angkor Wat in the afternoon.
Angkor Wat, the crown jewel of Cambodia, is widely recognized
as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu,
it was later converted into a Buddhist temple by King Jayavarman VII.
This unique history means you can witness a beautiful blend of
both Hindu mythology and Buddhist iconography within the same complex.
Walking across the grand causeway toward the temple towers,
a structure I had only ever seen in photos, felt surreal.
The scale of the architecture is absolutely breathtaking.
This particular spot was recommended by our guide, Nimol.
It's the ancient library building framing the main temple towers.
The composition here is so stunning that I immediately
used it as my main blog header! Pro tip: Have your guide or friend
stand further back and zoom in to get that dramatic compressed perspective.
Nimol really knew how to work the camera!
Next up is the famous reflection pond.
It was quite windy when we visited, and I was worried
we wouldn't get that perfect mirror effect on the water,
but I think the shot still turned out beautifully!
To capture a sharper reflection when the water is slightly choppy,
try squatting down low with your camera lens as close to the water level as possible.
It dramatically reduces the visible ripples in your frame.
We continued our exploration along the stone corridors.
One major tip for anyone visiting Siem Reap:
Please wear supportive, comfortable sneakers!
I made the mistake of wearing sandals, thinking it would keep me cool,
but after hours of walking over uneven stone blocks and climbing steep, narrow stairs,
my feet were completely exhausted.
Our guide mentioned that Hindu temples in Cambodia
tend to have much steeper staircases compared to purely Buddhist ones.
Since Angkor Wat originated as a Hindu temple,
prepare yourself for some serious vertical climbs.
Take your time and hold onto the handrails tightly.
The temple complex is structured across three distinct tiers.
To reach the sacred third tier (Bakan Sanctuary),
you have to scale a wooden staircase built over the original stone steps,
which features a dizzying 70-degree incline.
Historically, this steep design was intentional—forcing visitors
to bow their heads and climb on hands and feet as a sign of humility
when entering the heavenly realm of the gods.
Reaching the top and looking out over the endless green canopy
made every single step of that climb worth it.
Part 2: Chasing the Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
After finishing our tour of Angkor Wat, we headed to Phnom Bakheng,
a temple famous for offering one of the best sunset views in the region.
Phnom Bakheng is one of the oldest temples in the Angkor area,
built on top of a natural hill, which provides a perfect elevated
vantage point to watch the sun go down over the landscape.
The hike up the hill takes about 20 minutes on a winding dirt path.
If you have mobility concerns or are simply too tired from walking,
there are local transport options like motorbike taxis available to take you up.
But for most travelers, the walk is a gentle climb under the shade of trees,
so don't worry too much about it being overly strenuous.
We grabbed our spots around 5:00 PM and waited for the magic hour.
Unfortunately, nature had other plans for us that evening.
Even though we visited in March—which is smack in the middle of the dry season—
the sky remained heavily overcast, and the sun simply faded into a gray haze.
While we missed out on a fiery golden hour, the peaceful evening breeze
and the panoramic views of the jungle below were still a wonderful way
to wrap up our temple explorations.
Dinner Stop: WILD - Creative Bar & Spring Rolls
Our tour driver dropped us off right at our dinner spot,
a highly recommended restaurant called WILD, located in Siem Reap.
This place has an incredibly hip, tropical garden vibe
and specializes in creative, freshly made spring rolls.
If you are looking for a light, delicious, and vegetable-packed meal,
this is the perfect spot. Pairing their crispy, innovative spring rolls with
a cold craft beer in their beautifully lit courtyard was the highlight of our evening.
It was the ultimate way to unwind after a long day of exploring ancient ruins.
📍 WILD - Creative Bar & Spring Rolls Restaurant
Wat Damnak, Aleah Road, Krong Siem Reap 17000, Cambodia
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Originally, Angkor Wat is not included in the afternoon itinerary of the Small Tour. However, on the day of our visit, we were unable to access the top floor of Angkor Wat, so we inevitably had to include it in our afternoon schedule to complete the tour.
This is because the 3rd and final floor of Angkor Wat represents the path to the heavenly realm where the gods reside. To encourage people to lower their bodies as much as possible when heading there, the forty or so stairs were built at a steep 70-degree angle.
Since Phnom Bakheng is a temple built on a hill, you have to walk up for about 20 minutes to see the sunset. If you find it difficult to walk, you also have the option of taking a motorbike up the hill.
'WILD' is a restaurant where you can enjoy healthy spring rolls packed with vegetables along with a beer in a trendy atmosphere. It is located in the Wat Damnak area of Siem Reap, making it a great place to have a relaxing dinner after the tour.
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