Chiang Rai temples tour from Chiang Mai: White, Blue & Red

Three temples in one day, each one a different story

A full-day tour from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai's most photographed temples (the White Temple with its mirrored glass, the Blue Temple with its vibrant hues, and the Red Temple with its intricate artworks) plus a stop at Mae Kachan Hot Spring. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, all entrance fees, bottled water, and an English-speaking guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Mae Kachan Hot Spring15m · entry included
2. White Temple1h · entry included
3. Blue Temple1h · entry included

Chiang Rai temples and hot spring tour

• Visit natural hot spring
• Explore White Temple
• Visit Blue Temple
• Admire Wat Huai Pla Kung and Red Temple

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup in Chiang Mai and heads north to Chiang Rai. Before reaching the temples, you stop at Mae Kachan Hot Spring, where mineral-rich water rises in steam from the ground, not a place to swim, but a chance to see the geology that feeds the region. From there the day moves through three temples, each one built around a different vision of Buddhist art and architecture.

The White Temple comes first, its plaster and mirrored glass catching light and reflecting in a surrounding pond. The Blue Temple, built on the site of an older structure, draws its name from the vibrant blue that covers its surfaces and details. It sits where tigers were once believed to roam. The Red Temple follows, its walls and interiors layered with color and carved scenes that tell Thai spiritual stories. Between the Blue and Red temples, you also visit Wat Huai Pla Kung, where a towering statue of Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, overlooks the countryside. Lunch, local food, and bottled water are included, served partway through the day. The guide speaks English and walks you through the spiritual and cultural meaning of what you're seeing at each stop. The full day runs 11 hours from pickup to drop-off back at your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Chiang Mai.
• entrance fees to all temples and the hot spring.
• a local lunch.
• bottled water.
• an air-conditioned vehicle.
• and an English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Under 9: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Operated by Chiang Mai Footsteps Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Chiang Mai and want to visit all three famous temples in one day. The tour departs from your hotel and handles the full route, so you see the White, Blue, and Red Temples without managing your own transport between sites.

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Top questions

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 exactly is the White Temple, and why does it look so different from other temples in Thailand?

The White Temple is a modern Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai covered entirely in white plaster and embedded with mirrored glass, creating a reflective surface that catches sunlight and stands out dramatically against the landscape. Its unique architecture (intricate, gleaming, and symmetrical) makes it one of Thailand's most photographed temples, and the guide explains the Buddhist symbolism woven into its design.

Can I swim or bathe in the Mae Kachan Hot Spring?

Mae Kachan Hot Spring is not a swimming or bathing site. The stop lets you observe the mineral-rich water and steam rising from the ground, giving you a sense of the natural geology of the region without entering the water.

How long does the tour take, and what time does it start and end?

The full tour runs 11 hours from hotel pickup in Chiang Mai to drop-off back at your hotel. Hotel pickup is included, so the timing starts and ends at your accommodation.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will I eat?

Yes, a local lunch is included in the tour price. You'll eat traditional Thai food partway through the day as part of the itinerary.

What's the difference between the Blue Temple and the Red Temple?

The Blue Temple is known for its vibrant blue color and elaborate details, built on the site of an older temple with historical roots in the region. The Red Temple is rich in vibrant reds and other colors, with intricate artworks and carvings that narrate Thai spiritual stories and folklore throughout its spaces.