Chiang Rai White, Black and Blue Temple tour with pickup

Three temples in one morning, each one unlike anything else

A guided tour of Chiang Rai's three most distinctive temples and art spaces: Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), Wat Rong Suer Ten (the Blue Temple with its striking azure interior), and the Black House museum, a National Artist's residence. The tour includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a lunch stop, running approximately five hours from 7am. Children from age 2 are welcome. Infants sit on an adult's lap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit temples and hot spring in Chiang Rai

• Meet tour guide at hotel lobby
• Visit Maekhachan Hot Spring
• Visit White Temple
• Have lunch
• Visit Black House
• Return to hotel

The experience

You start at your hotel or guest house at 7am, picked up in an air-conditioned vehicle. The route opens at Maekhachan Hot Spring before moving to the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, a contemporary Buddhist and Hindu temple designed by National Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. Its all-white exterior and intricate detailing make it instantly recognizable. After lunch, you visit the Black House (Baan Si Dum), the residence and museum of National Artist Dr. Thawan Duchanee, where the architecture itself is the draw: a compound of uniquely designed buildings that feel more like an art installation than a traditional home.

The Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suer Ten, sits between these two stops. Its interior is painted in deep blue, a departure from the gold and red of most Thai temples, with a large white Buddha as the focal point. The three sites together show three different visions of what a sacred or artistic space can be. The tour wraps by early afternoon, giving you the rest of the day free in Chiang Rai.

What’s included

• Hotel or guest house pickup at 7am.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full route.
• entry to the White Temple, Blue Temple and Black House.
• lunch.
• return transport to your accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 9

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 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 today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Thai Holidays

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to visit three visually distinctive temples before morning crowds arrive: the 7am start and air-conditioned transport mean you're done by early afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

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 is the White Temple actually like when you get there?

Wat Rong Khun is a contemporary temple, not an ancient one, designed by a living National Artist. Its white exterior and intricate carved details are the main draw. It reads more like a modern art piece than a traditional Buddhist temple, which is exactly what makes it stand out.

Is the Blue Temple as blue as it sounds?

Yes. Wat Rong Suer Ten's interior is painted in a striking blue, which is rare in Thai temple design. A large white Buddha sits inside, creating a strong visual contrast that photographs well and feels genuinely different from other temples in the region.

What is the Black House and why is it on the tour?

The Black House (Baan Si Dum) is the residence and museum of Dr. Thawan Duchanee, a renowned Thai National Artist. It is a compound of several uniquely designed buildings. The architecture itself is the attraction, not a collection of objects inside.