Chiang Rai Temples: Private Tour with Lunch & Local Guide

Summary

Private Chiang Rai temple tour with lunch and local guide

You’ll travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by private car with a local guide, stopping first at Mae Kachan hot spring for coffee and a stretch. Explore the surreal White Temple, vibrant Blue Temple, and hilltop Wat Huay Pla Kang before relaxing at Lalitta Cafe. With lunch included and hotel pickup handled, you’ll have space to soak up every detail — these colors will stick with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the steam curling up from the Mae Kachan hot spring — not just a little mist, but thick enough that you could almost taste it in the air. Our driver handed me a coffee (strong, sweet), and we stretched our legs while locals sold eggs to boil in the bubbling pools. It’s funny how something as simple as hot water can feel like an event when you’re halfway between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, still shaking off sleep.

Our guide, Nok, had this way of telling stories that made even the drive interesting — she pointed out tiny roadside shrines and explained why some had red ribbons tied around them. When we finally reached Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), I just stood there for a second because it really does look unreal. The sunlight bounced off all that white glass and plaster so sharply it almost hurt my eyes. Inside, there were murals with superheroes mixed in with Buddhas — I didn’t expect that part at all. Lunch was simple but good: rice, spicy curry, something crunchy I never caught the name of (Nok tried to teach me but I definitely butchered it).

Afterward we visited the Blue Temple — Wat Rong Seur Ten — which is somehow both calm and electric at the same time. The blue is so deep it feels cool even in the heat. There was incense everywhere and a monk smiled at us when we shuffled past; I’m still not sure if he was amused or just being polite. Then we drove up to Wat Huay Pla Kang (some people call it the Red Temple), where this giant white statue looks out over green hills. You can see for miles up there if you squint through the haze.

Lalitta Cafe was our last stop before heading back to Chiang Mai — honestly, by then my brain was full of colors and stories and I just wanted something cold to drink. The cakes looked too pretty to eat but we did anyway. On the drive home I kept thinking about those temples; they’re nothing like what I’d pictured before coming here.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Temples Tour

• Drive from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
• Rest at Mae Kachan Hot Spring
• Visit White Temple and have lunch
• Visit Blue Temple (Wat Rong Seur Ten)
• Visit Huay Pla Kang Temple
• Visit Lalitta Cafe
• Drive back to Chiang Mai

Top questions

How long does the private Chiang Rai temple tour take?

The tour is a full-day trip including travel time from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and back.

Is lunch included on this day trip?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant is included in the tour price.

Which temples are visited on this tour?

The tour visits Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), Wat Rong Seur Ten (Blue Temple), Wat Huay Pla Kang (Red Temple), with an option for Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan instead of one stop.

Does this tour include hotel pickup in Chiang Mai?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Chiang Mai are included with an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is there an English-speaking guide?

Yes, an English-speaking local guide accompanies you throughout the day.

Are entrance fees covered?

All entrance fees are included in your booking.

What is Lalitta Cafe?

Lalitta Cafe is a scenic cafe in Chiang Rai where you can relax before returning to Chiang Mai.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or certain health conditions.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off by private air-conditioned car from Chiang Mai, all entrance fees to temples, drinking water throughout the trip, lunch at a local restaurant, tickets for cave of art at White Temple, accident insurance coverage, plus time to unwind at Lalitta Cafe before heading back in the evening.