Chiang Rai: White Temple, Blue Temple & Red Temple from Chiang Mai

Three temples, one long drive, and why the route actually works

You visit three temples across Chiang Rai in a single day: the White Temple's architectural detail, the Blue Temple's tranquil blue atmosphere, and the Red Temple's 9-tiered pagoda with panoramic countryside views. The guide handles the 172-kilometer drive from Chiang Mai (three hours each way), entry to the White Temple is included, and hotel pickup and drop-off remove the logistics. Lunch is on your own, which gives you control over where you eat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. White Temple1h 15m · entry included
2. Blue Temple1h 15m

Visit Chiang Rai temples and coffee shop

• Stop at DOI CHAANG Caffè Mae Suai
• Marvel at the White Temple
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Explore the Blue Temple
• Visit the Red Temple and pagoda

The experience

What if the temples you've seen in a hundred photos are even stranger in person? The White Temple isn't just white. It's a living artwork, all sharp angles and modern detail, designed by a Thai artist who decided a temple could look like nothing else on earth. You start the morning at a coffee shop called DOI CHAANG Caffè Mae Suai, somewhere between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, just to stretch your legs and settle into the drive. The distance is about 172 kilometers one way, so yeah, three hours in the van, but the guide talks the whole time and the air conditioning works.

After the White Temple, you break for lunch at a local restaurant (you pay for that yourself, which is fine because you get to choose what you eat), and then it's the Blue Temple. The name is literal. The walls are this vivid blue that photographs don't quite capture, and the whole place feels quieter than the White Temple, more like a place where people actually come to sit and think. The contrast between the two is the whole point of the day. You're not rushing. The guide sets the pace, and there's time to walk around, to notice the details, to take photos that don't look like everyone else's.

The Red Temple, Wat Huay Pla Kang, is where the day lands hardest. There's a massive 9-tiered pagoda, shrine halls that feel endless, and a colossal white Guan Yin statue that overlooks the Chiang Rai countryside from the top. You climb up there and the view just opens. It's the kind of moment that makes the three-hour drive back feel worth it. The tour wraps when you're back in Chiang Mai, usually in the evening, and you're tired in the way that means you actually did something.

The company running this is GSTC-certified, which means they're thinking about carbon footprint and not just moving bodies through temples. Your guide speaks English, the van is air-conditioned, and they give you water in a glass bottle instead of plastic. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't have to figure out how to get to a meeting point or negotiate a tuk-tuk ride at the end of a long day. If you want more space and fewer people in the van, you can upgrade to an Alphard. That's four people max instead of however many fits, plus snacks and cold towels.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Chiang Mai, an English-speaking guide for the entire journey, air-conditioned vehicle transport for the 172-kilometer round trip to Chiang Rai, entrance fee to the White Temple, and drinking water in a glass bottle.
• Lunch at a local restaurant is your own expense.
• If you upgrade to the Alphard van, you also receive complimentary snacks, cool towels, and soft drinks, with a maximum group size of four people.

Options for this experience

9 options

Guide in EnglishAvailable from 13 Jan 2027

Guide in English07:00

Guide in Japanese07:30

See 6 more options

Guide in English07:30

Guide in English07:30

Guide in FrenchAvailable from 14 Oct 2027

Guide in English07:30

Guide in English07:30

Guide in Spanish07:30

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 07:30

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (under 12)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Meeting Point: If your hotel is outside the free pickup area, the designated meeting point is the McDonald's at Thapae Gate in Chiang Mai Old City.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by TripGuru Thailand

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see three distinct temples in one day without arranging transport, entry fees, or timing yourself: the fixed itinerary and included guide handle all of that. Plan for a full day out: the three-hour drive each way is part of what makes visiting all three temples in a single trip possible.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, at 07:00 and 07:30. In Spanish and Japanese, at 07:30. In French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

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

Approximately 172 kilometers one way, roughly three hours each direction.

What's included in the tour price?

English-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fee to the White Temple (THB 100), and drinking water in a glass bottle. Lunch is separate and at your own expense.

Can I upgrade the transportation?

Yes. You can upgrade to an Alphard van for more spacious seating, a maximum of four people instead of a larger group, plus complimentary snacks, cool towels, and soft drinks.

Can I book this tour last-minute?

Yes. Last-minute bookings are available for the meeting point option.

What are the three temples on this tour?

The White Temple (modern architectural masterpiece with intricate details), the Blue Temple (known for vivid blue hues and serene atmosphere), and the Red Temple or Wat Huay Pla Kang (featuring a 9-tiered pagoda and colossal Guan Yin statue with panoramic views).

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own expense at a local Thai restaurant, which gives you the freedom to choose what you eat.

Is this tour environmentally conscious?

Yes. The tour operator is GSTC-certified for sustainable tourism practices and focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of tourism in Thailand.