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Thailand

Best temples in Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai’s temples are unusual for Thailand because the famous ones are new: works of contemporary art as much as places of worship. Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, begun in 1997 by the painter Chalermchai Kositpipat, is the one to see first; the Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten, glowing blue and gold, is second, and Wat Huay Pla Kang, with its giant white Guanyin, is third. Wat Phra Kaew is older, the place where the Emerald Buddha was found.

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Wat Huay Pla Kang

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Wat Huay Pla Kang is free to enter and no ticket for it is sold online.

No online ticket

Wat Phra Kaew sits in the town centre, with the Blue Temple a short ride north-east, Huay Pla Kang on the hills to the north and the White Temple about a quarter of an hour’s drive south on the main road. All four fit into one day, often as a long day trip from Chiang Mai. Shoulders and knees must be covered, strictly at the White Temple, and arriving at opening time beats the coach groups.

Tours and activities in Chiang Rai

Which one to choose in Chiang Rai

Temples in Chiang Rai: questions

How many temples are there in Chiang Rai?

This catalogue lists 4 temples, shrines and mosques in Chiang Rai, 1 of them with tickets or tours to book online. The most booked are Wat Rong Khun (White Temple).

Which is the oldest temple in Chiang Rai?

Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), founded in 1997, is the oldest in the catalogue for Chiang Rai.

Which temples in Chiang Rai are free to enter?

3 of the 4 temples in Chiang Rai charge no entry fee, among them Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple), Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai, Wat Huay Pla Kang. The entry fee is shown on each page.