• DurationFull day · approx. 11–12 hours
• Pick-up07:00 – 07:30, Chiang Mai city hotels
• Return18:30 – 19:00 at your hotel
• Tour typeJoin-in group tour
• TemplesWhite · Blue · Red
• Also visitsLalitta Café & Mae Kachan Hot Spring
• GuideTAT-certified · English or Chinese
• TransportAir-conditioned car or minivan
• LunchThai set menu · chicken or vegetarian
• Admission260 THB foreigner / 60 THB Thai

Why book this Chiang Rai temple tour

• All three famous temples in one day – the White Temple, the Blue Temple and the Red Temple, without renting a car or changing buses.
• Wat Rong Khun by Chalermchai Kositpipat – 50 minutes at the mirror-and-white masterpiece the artist devoted his life and fortune to.
• Lalitta Café included in the route – the forest café with misty pathways, fairy sculptures and a tiered waterfall that fills half of Chiang Rai’s photo feeds.
• A free foot soak at Mae Kachan Hot Spring, the natural hot-spring stream that breaks up the drive north.
• Optional Long Neck Karen village stop – join it for 300 THB per person, or simply explore the surrounding area instead.
• TAT-certified guide in English or Chinese – request your language when you book and we place you in the matching group.
• Lunch, drinking water, seasonal fruit and accident insurance all included in the tour price.

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Tour Itinerary

Times and durations are approximate. The order of stops may change without prior notice depending on traffic and local conditions.

1. 07:00

   Hotel pick-up in Chiang Mai

   Pick-up from hotels in Chiang Mai city between 07:00 and 07:30, then the scenic drive north on Route 118.

2. 20 min

   Mae Kachan Hot Spring

   Stretch your legs roughly halfway and enjoy a relaxing foot soak in the natural hot-spring stream.

3. 30 min

   Long Neck Karen village (optional)

   Visit the hilltribe village for a 300 THB per person entrance fee, paid on the spot. If you prefer not to join, you are free to explore the surrounding area.

4. 50 min

   White Temple – Wat Rong Khun

   The iconic all-white, mirror-inlaid temple by celebrated artist Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat, who devoted his life and fortune to a masterpiece that melds his own style with the timeless principles of Buddhist philosophy.

5. 25 min

   Thai set lunch

   Lunch at a local restaurant. Choose chicken or a vegetarian set – just tell us in advance.

6. 30 min

   Blue Temple – Wat Rong Suea Ten

   Sapphire-blue walls, gold detailing and a luminous white Buddha make this one of Chiang Rai’s most visually captivating modern Buddhist landmarks.

7. 40 min

   Lalitta Café

   Relax in a forest-like setting of lush greenery and misty pathways, built around a dramatic multi-tier waterfall dotted with fairy sculptures.

8. 30 min

   Red Temple – Wat Huay Pla Kang

   A nine-tier pagoda and a giant white Guan Yin statue in a striking blend of Chinese and Lanna architecture, with panoramic views over Chiang Rai from the top.

9. 18:30

   Back in Chiang Mai

   Arrive at your hotel in Chiang Mai between 18:30 and 19:00.

Are the White, Blue and Red Temples in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai?

They are all in Chiang Rai province – and this is the single most common mix-up among visitors. There is no White Temple, Blue Temple or Red Temple in Chiang Mai itself; the three are clustered around Chiang Rai city, roughly 180 km north of Chiang Mai on Route 118, about a 3-hour drive each way. That is exactly why a guided day trip works so well: you leave Chiang Mai early, cover all three temples plus the café and the hot spring in one loop, and sleep in Chiang Mai the same night.

The three temples at a glance

Temple names in other languages

Travellers arrive with the names in their own language, so here is a quick reference for the three temples visited on this tour.

Guides are available in English and Chinese on separate departures – please state your preferred language when you book.

A Closer Look at Each Stop

White Temple – Wat Rong Khun (วัดร่องขุ่น)

Thailand’s most photographed contemporary temple, designed and funded by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. Brilliant white plaster is inlaid with thousands of mirror fragments so the whole structure glitters in the sun, while the bridge to the main hall crosses a sea of reaching hands representing worldly desire. Foreign visitors pay a 200 THB entrance fee; Thai nationals enter free. You have around 50 minutes here – the longest stop of the day.

Blue Temple – Wat Rong Suea Ten (วัดร่องเสือเต้น)

Only a few kilometres from Chiang Rai city centre, the Blue Temple takes its name from the deep sapphire that covers every wall, ceiling and naga guardian, offset with gold leaf and a luminous white seated Buddha inside. It was completed far more recently than the White Temple and is often the surprise favourite of the day. Entry is free, and the tour allows about 30 minutes.

Red Temple – Wat Huay Pla Kang (วัดห้วยปลากั้ง)

Perched on a hill just outside Chiang Rai city, the Red Temple is best known for its nine-tier pagoda in Chinese-Lanna style and the giant white Guan Yin statue that towers over the surrounding valley. Climb or ride up inside the pagoda for panoramic views over Chiang Rai – one of the best viewpoints on the whole tour. The temple grounds are free to enter; the lift inside the pagoda costs 40 THB per person, paid on site, and the stairs are always free.

Lalitta Café, Chiang Rai (ลลิตา คาเฟ่)

A fairytale garden café in Rimkok, Mueang Chiang Rai – just minutes from the Red Temple, which is why the two sit back-to-back on this itinerary. Inspired by the mythical Himmapan forest, it wraps misty walkways, koi ponds and sculpted creatures around a dramatic multi-tier waterfall, and it is comfortably the most photographed café in Chiang Rai. Entry is 60 THB per person and the menu of coffee, cakes and Thai and Western dishes is paid separately at the counter. You have around 40 minutes here.

The name is also written Lalita, Lalitha or Lalitta Cafe, and appears as Лалитта in Russian. There is only one Lalitta Café and it is in Chiang Rai – not in Chiang Mai, Krabi or Phuket.

Mae Kachan Hot Spring (น้ำพุร้อนแม่ขะจาน)

The traditional halfway rest stop between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, where geothermal water bubbles up beside the highway. Soak your feet in the warm channels for about 20 minutes, browse the snack stalls, and get back on the road refreshed. No charge for the foot-soak area.

Long Neck Karen village – optional

A visit to a Kayan (Long Neck Karen) hilltribe village in Chiang Rai province, where women of the community are known for the brass coils worn around the neck, and handwoven scarves and crafts are sold directly by residents. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and the 300 THB per person village entrance fee is paid on the spot. Joining is completely optional – guests who prefer to skip it can explore the surrounding area while the group is inside.

Entrance Fees & Dress Code

Admission is added to your booking at checkout, so there is nothing to queue for or pay at the temple gate on the day. Paid separately on site: the Red Temple lift (40 THB) and the optional Long Neck Karen village (300 THB).

What’s Included

What to Bring

• Cash in Thai baht – for the optional Long Neck Karen village, the Red Temple lift and anything you order at Lalitta Café
• Clothing that covers shoulders and knees, or a scarf to cover up at the temples
• Comfortable walking shoes – there are stairs and uneven paths at the Red Temple and Lalitta Café
• A hat and sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• A camera or a well-charged phone

Good to Know Before You Book

• It is a long but rewarding day. Pick-up is between 07:00 and 07:30 and you are back in Chiang Mai around 18:30 to 19:00, with roughly three hours on the road in each direction. The drive is broken up by the hot spring and the village stop, and the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout.
• English and Chinese guides are available, but they run as separate groups. Please state your preferred language in the notes when you book so we can assign you to the right departure.
• Vegetarian lunch on request. The set lunch comes with a choice of chicken or vegetarian – let us know in advance. Please note the restaurant is not halal certified.
• The Long Neck Karen village is optional. The 300 THB fee is per person and is paid on the spot. Guests who prefer not to visit are free to explore the surrounding area while the group is inside.
• The Red Temple lift is a separate 40 THB. It carries you up the nine-tier pagoda; the stairs and the temple grounds themselves are free.
• This is a join-in group tour, so departures are shared with other travellers. If you would prefer a private vehicle and a flexible schedule, contact us for a quote.

Frequently Asked Questions