See a sunrise you got up for

A sunrise you got up for is one you set an alarm for, walked or drove to in the dark, and waited for in the cold with someone beside you. The effort is the point: the slow light, the hush, and the moment everyone goes quiet as the sun clears the horizon.

Where to do it

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The five towers stand in silhouette against the dawn, reflected in the pond in front. Around the spring and autumn equinoxes the sun rises right over the central tower. Crowds come every morning, so buy your pass the day before and arrive early for a spot at the water's edge in Cambodia.

Haleakalā, United States

On Maui, dawn from the 3,055 m (10,023 ft) summit rises over a sea of clouds. Cars entering the summit district between 3 and 7 a.m. need a reservation from the National Park Service, and they go fast. It's near freezing before dawn, even in summer in this corner of the United States.

Mount Bromo, Indonesia

In East Java, jeeps climb to the Penanjakan viewpoint in the dark to watch first light reach Bromo's smoking crater, with Semeru behind. Volcanic activity sometimes closes the area, so check before you go to this corner of Indonesia.

Uluru, Australia

From the sunrise viewing area, the rock shifts from dark to deep red as the light comes up, with Kata Tjuta on the horizon. Climbing Uluru has been banned since 2019 out of respect for its traditional owners; walking around its base in Australia's Red Centre is the way to see it up close.

Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka

Pilgrims and hikers climb a long staircase through the night to reach the summit shrine for dawn, when the peak casts a triangular shadow across the land below. The pilgrimage season in Sri Lanka runs roughly December to May; outside it, the tea stalls on the path are mostly closed.

Taj Mahal, India

The gates open at sunrise, and the marble shifts from grey to pink to white as the light comes up. It's closed on Fridays. Queue early: dawn is the calmest hour at India's best-known monument.

Masada, Israel

Hikers climb the Snake Path up the desert fortress before dawn to watch the sun rise over the Dead Sea. In Israel's summer heat, a dark start is a must; check the park's opening hours.

Pico do Arieiro, Portugal

On Madeira, a road climbs almost to the summit of one of the island's highest peaks, where the sun often rises over a sea of clouds. It's cold and windy at dawn in this corner of Portugal, so bring a warm jacket.

When to go

The sky starts glowing well before the sun appears, and those colors are often the best part, so arrive 30 to 45 minutes early. Check the cloud forecast: high thin clouds catch color, low cloud hides everything.

How to make it happen

• Sleep close. Book a bed near the viewpoint the night before.
• Pack for the dark: a headlamp, warm layers, a hat and gloves for mountains, a hot drink and something to sit on.
• Go easy at altitude. Above about 2,500 m, altitude sickness is possible. Haleakalā's summit is higher than that, so move slowly, drink water and drive down if you feel sick.
• For the photo, tap the sky to set the exposure, then turn around and photograph each other's faces in the first light.

Pair it with a sunset from the water the same day, or watch dawn from a balloon. Haleakalā also ticks standing above 3,000 m.