Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, is not an ancient shrine but a living work of art. It was designed and built by the Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and opened to visitors in 1997, and it is still being added to. The gleaming white ubosot is covered in mirrored glass and silver ornament, and you cross a bridge over a sea of reaching hands to enter. Inside, murals mix Buddhist imagery with startlingly modern figures. The temple is in Chiang Rai province, roughly three hours north of Chiang Mai, so visiting means a day trip. Tiqets lists the White Temple venue with guided day tours of about eleven hours that also visit the Blue Temple and other stops, with a live English guide, in groups of up to nine on one option. Opening hours are listed as daily, from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon.
The journey is part of the day. Tours typically leave Chiang Mai early in the morning, stop at a hot spring or a viewpoint on the way, reach the White Temple before the crowds build, then continue to the Blue Temple, a newer temple with deep blue interiors, and often a further stop such as a tribal village or the Black House museum. Compare itineraries, because some tours add long stops at souvenir shops, and the better ones spend more time at the temples.
The temple has a strict dress code, with no sleeveless tops, short shorts or revealing clothing, and photography is not allowed inside the main hall, so be ready to put the camera away. The grounds are large and mostly open, so a hat and water bottle help, and early arrival is the best way to avoid heat and crowds. Some activities near the village-style stops raise ethical concerns, so choose a tour that focuses on the temples.
If your time is limited, this is the day trip that gives the most contrast with the old-city temples. Chiang Mai's temples are golden, aged and Lanna in style, while Wat Rong Khun is white, sculptural and contemporary. Plan a lighter day after it, since an eleven-hour tour is tiring. Travellers who prefer a slower pace can stay a night in Chiang Rai and visit the temples at leisure the next morning.
What to expect
The experience
A long guided day tour by van from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, visiting the White Temple, the Blue Temple and one or two further stops such as a hot spring or a village.
Best time
Go in the cool season from November to February, when the white buildings are not too hot to visit; ask for an early arrival at the White Temple.
How long
About eleven hours door to door, with roughly three hours of driving each way.
Tips
Dress modestly, expect no photos inside the main hall, bring a hat and water, and pick a tour that spends its time at the temples rather than in shops.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want one extraordinary sight beyond Chiang Mai and do not mind a long day.
- Families
- Possible with older children; the drive is long, so bring snacks and a plan for the van.
- Couples
- Stay a night in Chiang Rai if you want to see the temples without an early start.
- Pair with
- A slow old-city day afterwards, or Doi Inthanon on another day.
- Time needed
- One long day, or two days with an overnight in Chiang Rai.
Good questions
How far is the White Temple from Chiang Mai?+
It is in Chiang Rai province, about three hours by road each way. Most visitors go on a guided day tour with hotel pick-up.
What are the opening hours?+
Tiqets lists the temple as open daily from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon. Check before you go, as special closures can occur.
What else do day tours visit?+
Common stops are the Blue Temple, a hot spring, a viewpoint and sometimes the Black House museum. Check the itinerary for the exact stops before you book.
What should I wear?+
Dress modestly, with covered shoulders and knees. The temple can refuse entry to people in revealing clothing, and photos are not allowed inside the main hall.
Is the White Temple an ancient temple?+
No. It is a contemporary art temple designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, which opened in 1997 and is still being added to.
