Chiang Rai Day Trip from Chiang Mai: White & Blue Temples

Northern Thailand tour, temple visits, hot spring dip, scenic long drive experience

This day trip from Chiang Mai takes you to Chiang Rai Province to see the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) and Blue Temple (Wat Rong Sear Tean), two modern Buddhist temples that break from traditional Thai architecture, plus Mae Kachan Hot Spring and your choice of either the Black House Museum or the Red Temple with its towering Guan Yin statue. Round-trip transport, guide, lunch and water are included. The full day runs 13 to 14 hours with a 50-minute drive each way. Temple dress codes apply (no tank tops, no short pants, no flip-flops). You can choose to stay at Central Plaza in Chiang Rai instead of returning to your hotel, though bags must be small.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Mae Kachan Hot Spring30m
2. White Temple1h
3. Blue Temple1h

Explore Chiang Rai's highlights

• Pickup from Chiang Mai hotel
• Travel to Mae Kachan Hot Spring
• Visit Mae Kachan Hot Spring
• Visit White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
• Visit Blue Temple (Wat Rong Sear Tean)
• Choose Baan Dam Museum or Wat Huay Pla Kang
• Optional visit to Karen Long-neck tribe
• Return to Chiang Mai hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Chiang Mai's Old Town or Nimman area, then a 50-minute drive north to Mae Kachan Hot Spring. This natural hot spring reaches 90°C (194°F) (hot enough that locals boil eggs in the water in minutes), but you can only dip your feet briefly. The spring sits in the landscape as a stop between Chiang Mai and the temples, a place to step out and feel the heat before moving on.

The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) comes next. Designed and opened in 1997 by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, it's a privately owned art exhibit built in the style of a Buddhist temple, all white with intricate carved details. The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Sear Tean) follows: monumental and modern, distinguished by vivid blue coloring and elaborate carvings that set it apart from the golden temples most visitors expect. Both require casual dress: no tank tops or short pants, no flip-flops or sports shoes. At one of these temples, you'll have time to walk and photograph before moving to your second choice.

You pick between two options at checkout. The Baan Dam White Blue Temples option adds the Black House Museum (Baan Dam), a mix of traditional northern Thai buildings with unconventional contemporary architecture created by artist Thawan Duchanee. The Red White Blue Temples option instead includes Wat Huay Pla Kang, home to a towering red Guan Yin statue. You can ride an elevator inside the statue and take in panoramic views over the countryside. Lunch, drinking water and seasonal fruits are included with both. The return drive to Chiang Mai takes around three hours and arrives between 8:30pm and 9:00pm.

An optional visit to the Karen Long-neck tribe village is available (300 THB per person admission, paid separately). If you skip it, the guide will ask you to wait about an hour while others visit. You can spend that time at a nearby market. Alternatively, you can choose to end the day at Central Plaza in Chiang Rai instead of returning to your hotel, though your bag should be small if you do.

What’s included

• Round-trip air-conditioned transport from Chiang Mai's Old Town or Nimman area.
• English-speaking guide.
• lunch and drinking water.
• seasonal fruits.
• life insurance.
• admission to Mae Kachan Hot Spring, the White Temple and Blue Temple, plus either the Black House Museum or Wat Huay Pla Kang depending on which option you choose.

Options for this experience

4 options

Baan Dam White Blue (STD)Guide in English · 07:00Day trip from Chiang Mai to see Chiang Rai's White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House (Baan Dam Museum), and Mae Kajan Hot Springs. Lasts 12 hours, with lunch and round-trip transfer included. Pickup time is 7:00–7:30 am. Admission fees are not included. Pickup is included.

Red White Blue (STD)Guide in English · 07:00Explore Chiang Rai's highlights on a 12-hour trip from Chiang Mai: White and Blue Temples, Mae Kajan Hot Springs, Red Temple, and Lalita Café, with lunch and round-trip transfers. Pickup between 7:00 and 7:30 am. Admission fees are not included. Pickup is included.

Baan Dam White Blue (All-in)Guide in English · 07:00Enjoy a smoother art-and-temple journey through Chiang Rai, visiting White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, and Mae Kajan Hot Springs, with a buffet lunch and hotel transfers. Lasts 12 hours, and admission to selected main attractions is included. Pickup is included.

Red White Blue (All-in)Guide in English · 07:00Take a more comfortable temple trip around Chiang Rai, covering White, Blue, and Red Temples, Lalita Café, and Mae Kajan Hot Springs, with lunch and round-trip transfers. The tour lasts 12 hours, and admission to selected attractions is included. Pickup is included.

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 to10h before

AgesAdult (7 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Oh-Hoo

Is this one for you?Book the Baan Dam option if you want to see how a contemporary artist reimagined traditional Thai architecture. Book the Red White Blue option if you'd rather ride inside a towering statue and see countryside views. The long drive, 13 to 14 hours total, is what makes visiting two contrasting temples and a hot spring possible in a single day from Chiang Mai, so plan for an early pickup and a late return.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): 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's the White Temple actually like when you get there?

Wat Rong Khun is a privately owned Buddhist temple designed by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and opened in 1997. It's distinguished by its all-white color and intricate carved details throughout, a stark contrast to the golden temples most visitors see in Thailand. You'll have time to walk around and photograph it before moving to the next stop.

Can I swim or bathe in Mae Kachan Hot Spring?

Mae Kachan Hot Spring reaches temperatures of 90°C (194°F): hot enough to boil an egg in minutes. The water is too hot for bathing, so you can only dip your feet briefly to feel the heat.

What's the difference between the two tour options?

The Baan Dam White Blue Temples option includes the Black House Museum, a mix of traditional and contemporary architecture created by artist Thawan Duchanee. The Red White Blue Temples option instead includes Wat Huay Pla Kang, where you can ride an elevator inside a towering red Guan Yin statue and see panoramic views over Chiang Rai's countryside. Both options visit the White and Blue Temples and include lunch.

How long is the drive from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?

The drive north to Mae Kachan Hot Spring takes around 50 minutes. The return drive to Chiang Mai takes around three hours, arriving between 8:30pm and 9:00pm. The full day runs 13 to 14 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.

What should I wear to visit the temples?

The White Temple requires casual dress: no tank tops (t-shirts are fine), no short pants (long jeans are fine), and no flip-flops or sports shoes (sneakers are acceptable). This dress code applies to both the White and Blue Temples.

Is lunch included, and what about water?

Yes, lunch, drinking water and seasonal fruits are included with the tour. An English-speaking guide accompanies the group throughout the day.