Doi Tung & Royal Villa Tour: Princess Mother's Residence

Walk the Royal Villa where the Princess Mother lived, then climb to a temple holding Buddha's collarbone relics

A guided tour from Chiang Rai to Doi Tung combines the Royal Villa (the former residence of the late Princess Mother and centerpiece of the Doi Tung Development Project) with Wat Phra That Doi Tung, a temple famous for its sacred Buddhist relics brought from India roughly 1,000 years ago. The tour runs 3.5 hours and includes roundtrip hotel pickup, a live guide, and all admission fees. At least two people are required to confirm the departure. A single traveler may book but faces cancellation if the minimum is not met, with an alternative date or refund offered.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Doi Tung and Royal Villa

• Visit Royal Villa residence
• Tour Mae Fah Luang Garden
• See Wat Phra That Doi Tung temple

The experience

You're picked up from your Chiang Rai hotel and driven to Doi Tung, a hillside development in northern Thailand where the late Princess Mother established a project to improve the local community's quality of life. The Royal Villa sits at the heart of it: a house that blends traditional Lanna architecture with Swiss chalet design, built as her base to oversee the work on the ground. Inside, you walk through rooms that show how she lived and worked, and the building itself tells the story of her commitment to the region.

From the villa, the tour moves to Wat Phra That Doi Tung, a temple perched higher on the hillside. The temple is known across Thailand for housing a relic, the collarbone of Lord Buddha, that was brought directly from India around 1,000 years ago by the monk Mahākāśyapa and King Achutharat of Yonoknakphan. The site carries deep spiritual weight for Thai Buddhists, and the views from the temple grounds stretch across the valley. Your guide explains the history and significance of both the relic and the temple's role in northern Thai religious life.

The tour also passes through Mae Fah Luang Garden, a botanical garden on the hillside filled with flowers and sculptures along winding paths. The whole experience sits within the Doi Tung Development Project area, so you see how the Princess Mother's vision shaped the landscape and the community around it. Transport back to your hotel is included, and the entire outing takes 3.5 hours from start to finish.

What’s included

• Roundtrip hotel pickup from Chiang Rai.
• a guided tour of the Royal Villa and Wat Phra That Doi Tung with a live guide in English or Thai.
• admission to both sites.
• and passage through Mae Fah Luang Garden.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 13:30

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Thai

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by I Asia Thailand

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want a guide who speaks your language (English or Thai), and prefer being driven to the sites rather than navigating yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Thai.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What is inside the Royal Villa that I'll see on this tour?

The Royal Villa is the former residence of the late Princess Mother and shows how she lived while overseeing the Doi Tung Development Project. The house blends traditional Lanna and Swiss chalet architecture and displays her personal spaces and work areas, illustrating her dedication to improving the local community's quality of life.

What are the Buddha relics at Wat Phra That Doi Tung, and how did they get there?

Wat Phra That Doi Tung houses the collarbone of Lord Buddha, brought directly from India roughly 1,000 years ago by the monk Mahākāśyapa and King Achutharat of Yonoknakphan. The relic is one of the most sacred objects in Thai Buddhism and draws pilgrims and visitors from across the country.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

Roundtrip hotel pickup from Chiang Rai, the guided tour, and all admission fees are included. Food, drinks and snacks are not included. Gratuities for the guide are optional.

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

The tour runs 3.5 hours total. Departures are available in the morning or afternoon. Your specific start time will be confirmed when you book based on your hotel location and the option you choose.