Chiang Mai to White & Blue Temple Day Trip, Golden Triangle

The White Temple is a contemporary art installation built like a Buddhist temple, not a centuries-old shrine.

A 14-hour day trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai covers four major sites: the White Temple with its intricate all-white carvings, the vibrant Blue Temple, the Black House museum of dark wooden structures, and the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. An English-speaking guide leads the route. Hotel pickup, admission to all sites, and bottled water are included. You choose at checkout whether to add a Mekong River boat trip, a visit to the Long Neck Village, or both.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Mae Kachan Hot Spring20m
2. White Temple40m · entry included
3. Blue Temple2h
4. Golden Triangle2h · entry included

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai landmarks

• Pick up from Chiang Mai hotel
• Relax at Mae Kajan Hot Spring
• Visit the White Temple
• Explore the Blue Temple
• Enjoy Thai lunch nearby
• Tour the Black House Museum
• Visit Kayan Long Neck Village (optional)
• Arrive at the Golden Triangle
• Take Mekong River boat trip (optional)

The experience

The day starts with a 7 a.m. pickup from your Chiang Mai hotel and a drive north toward Chiang Rai. The first stop is Mae Kachan Hot Spring, where you can soak in the warm water, walk through the gardens, or grab a snack before the main tour begins. This break splits the long drive and sets the pace for what comes next.

The White Temple arrives as a shock of white: a contemporary art installation designed to look like a Buddhist temple, with intricate carvings and mosaics covering every surface. The structure is meant to represent a spiritual journey from hell to heaven, and the all-white color makes it unlike any temple you've seen. After that, you spend about 50 minutes at the Blue Temple, where sapphire-blue walls and golden accents create a completely different mood. A Thai lunch at a nearby restaurant breaks up the temple visits before you move on to the Black House, a complex of over 40 dark wooden structures built by artist Thawan Duchanee. The collection inside (animal skulls, traditional Lanna wood carvings, and other artifacts) is deliberately unsettling and nothing like a typical museum.

The final stretch depends on which option you booked. If you chose the Long Neck Village add-on, you'll visit a local community and meet women who wear brass rings around their necks as a cultural tradition. If you added the boat trip, you'll take a scenic ride along the Mekong River at the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar converge. From the water you can see the Don Sao market in Laos. If you booked both, you'll do both. If you chose neither, you'll wait in the van during these stops. The tour wraps up at the Golden Triangle, the legendary meeting point of three countries.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup from Chiang Mai Town.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• admission to the White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, and Golden Triangle.
• Thai lunch with vegetarian, gluten-free, and Halal options available.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• accident insurance.

Options for this experience

4 options

Excluding the boat and Karen VillageGuide in English or Thai · 07:00One-day tour of Chiang Rai covering the White & Blue Temple, Black Museum and Golden Triangle (excluding the boat trip and Karen village); pickup is included

Boat trip (excluding Karen Village)Guide in English or Thai · 07:00One-day Chiang Rai and boat tour: White & Blue Temple, Black Museum, Golden Triangle and boat trip (no Karen Village); pickup is included

Longneck Village (excluding the boat)Guide in English or Thai · 07:00One-day Chiang Rai and Longneck tour: White & Blue Temple, Black Museum, Golden Triangle and Longneck Village (excluding the boat trip); pickup is included

Including a boat ride and Longneck VillageGuide in English or Thai · 07:00Full package: one-day trip to Chiang Rai, Golden Triangle, boat trip and Longneck Village; includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Thai

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Parallel Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Chiang Mai and want to see three major temples plus the Golden Triangle in one 14-hour day. Choose a shorter half-day regional tour instead if you prefer a more relaxed pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Thai.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What should I wear when visiting the temples on this tour?

Shoulders and knees must be covered at all temples and sacred sites. Casual dress is fine as long as you follow the dress code. Plan for loose pants or a long skirt and a shirt with sleeves.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes, Thai cuisine is served at a restaurant between the Blue Temple and the Black House. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and Halal options are available if you need them.

What is the Black House, and why is it called that?

The Black House, or Baan Dam Museum, is a complex of over 40 dark wooden structures created by artist Thawan Duchanee. It houses a collection of art and artifacts, including animal skulls and traditional Lanna wood carvings, and is known for its deliberately unsettling atmosphere.

Can I skip the Long Neck Village or the boat trip if I don't want to do them?

Both the Long Neck Village and the Mekong River boat trip are optional add-ons you choose at checkout. If you don't book them, you'll stay in the van during those stops while other guests visit.

How long is the drive from Chiang Mai, and what time does the tour end?

This is a full-day trip lasting 14 hours total, starting with a 7 a.m. pickup. The long journey includes multiple stops and a lunch break, so plan for a full day away from Chiang Mai.