My ultimate goal is to show you – my guest, my friend – the most memorable places during your time in Chiang Mai. With my team of local Thai tour guides and expats, we offer a great selection of tours and activities that are chosen based on a balance of quality, value, affordability, and excellent service.
The city of Chiang Rai is a truly colorful place with its beautiful temples painted in bright colors. You can spend the day exploring the “Three Colors of Chiang Rai”: the White Temple, the Black House and the Blue Temple. You may also want to visit Wat Huay Pla Kang, the Chinese Lanna fusion temple.
A private tour of these sites will give you the opportunity to learn about the history of the temples, the culture that surrounds them, and the stories of the artists and visionaries who created them.
Please Note : Your guide will make sure you’ve enough time for each activity. However, the schedule may change depending on weather and traffic conditions.
We’ll pick you up at your hotel in Chiang Mai and drive you a few hours over mountain roads and through the countryside to Chiang Rai. On the way we’ll stop at a natural hot spring where you can relax, stretch your legs and enjoy a cup of coffee.
We’ll pick you up at your hotel in Chiang Mai and drive you a few hours over mountain roads and through the countryside to Chiang Rai. On the way we’ll stop at a natural hot spring where you can relax, stretch your legs and enjoy a cup of coffee.
The White Temple ( Wat Rong Khun )
If you want to get a glimpse of the religious culture of Thailand, this is the perfect place to start. The intricate and beautiful design of this temple is sure to leave a lasting impression. Painted all in white, it’s a unique sight. The exterior of the building is decorated with intricate details and adorned with mirrors and glass that sparkle in the sun.
The White Temple, designed by the famous Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, is rich in symbols reflecting the teachings of the Buddha on the path to enlightenment. From the art and architecture to the sculptures and paintings, every aspect of the temple points to a higher state of being, free from greed, desire and destruction. As you pass the unsettling pit of outstretched hands, you enter a room with huge murals depicting pop culture icons and cartoon characters. As you exit the fantastic building, you can admire a peaceful garden and watch the sky reflected in a koi pond. The White Temple houses some of the most beautiful bathrooms in the world. So if you need to go to the bathroom, this is the best time to do it. The baths are completely covered in gold, which makes them even more breathtaking.
The Black House, or Baan Dam
The next stop on the temple tour is the Black House. The Black House was built by Thawan Duchanee, who’s also a famous artist. It’s the visual opposite of the White Temple. The Black House consists of a series of buildings made of wood painted black, deep brown wood and other materials. It houses a collection of paintings, sculptures, carvings, installations and furniture gathered by Thawan Duchanee. Many of these pieces are made from animal skins, bones or horns. These paintings depict Buddhist teachings or illustrate the suffering that Buddha experienced in the world.
Even though the Black House and the White Temple appear to be complete opposites at first glance, the two structures have quite a bit in common. The two landmarks use very unique, controversial, and even shocking visuals to convey Buddhist philosophy, warn against the dangers of evil and desire, and encourage visitors toward enlightenment. The Black House has its own bizarre bathrooms decorated with buffalo horns and animal skins. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can sample local food at one of the nearby restaurants.
The Thai food is fresh and delicious, and you won’t be disappointed.
Blue Temple
After lunch we go directly to the Wat Rong Suea also know as Blue Temple. This magnificent temple is completely covered in shining gold and painted in a brilliant royal blue. The contrast between the two hues is stunning and unique. Look for signs that this temple was created by a disciple of Chalermchai Kositpipat – the ornaments of the Blue Temple were created in a similar manner. The art and design of the temple are more modern than those of other temples in the region, as it was completed only a few years ago, in 2016. Both the interior and exterior of the Blue Temple are very impressive, with elaborate sculptures of Nagas and Garudas in blue and gold.
The modern components of the Blue Temple contrast with its historical elements. The Blue Temple was built on an ancient temple that had been abandoned a century earlier. It’s reported that wild tigers roamed the area after the temple was abandoned, earning the Blue Temple its Thai nickname, which literally means “Tiger Temple.”
Wat Huay Pla Kang
The last stop of the tour is optional, but highly recommended. Wat Huay Pla Kang is a fourth temple in Chiang Rai that’s as remarkable and unusual as its colorful siblings, although it’s still relatively unknown to tourists. Wat Huay Pla Kang, like the Black House and the White and Blue Temples, was built by a visionary monk named Phra Ajarn Phob Chok.
Wat Huay Pla Kang is a blend of Lanna and Chinese architecture, unlike other temples in Chiang Rai that are typically designed in Lanna style or a combination of Lanna and traditional Thai elements. The temple is massive, with a 9-story chedi overlooking the valley, and it’s built on a mountain. The chedi is built in a pyramid shape, which isn’t common in China or Thailand, although the top resembles a traditional Thai chedi with a bell shape. If you walk through the temple’s Naga snake guards, you’ll notice that they’re Chinese dragons, not Naga snakes.
Inside the temple there are many statues made of sandalwood. The largest of them is a two-story statue of Guan Yin. Chinese deities stand next to Thai Buddhas in the large central area under the massive chedi.
Wat Huay Pla Kang is breathtaking in itself, but the Guan Yin monument next to it’s the real attraction. This colossal structure is 23 stories high, and visitors can ride an elevator to the very top for a modest price to enjoy panoramic views of the countryside. Admire the artwork depicting legendary creatures and scenes from Buddhist cosmology as you walk through the top floor. From the various windows, you can catch a glimpse of the communities, farmlands, and distant mountains.
You’ll get a whole new view of the culture and buildings in the region as you spend a day visiting so many different temples.
Please let your tour guide know if you’ve any special dietary requirements or allergies. We can provide vegetarian meals upon request.
