Chiang Mai Temples Tour by samlor

Chiang Mai Temples Tour by samlor

Wat Chiang Man, Chiang Mai’s oldest temple

This is a private tour. You will have to arrange a transfer from our hotel to Thapae Gate yourself. Your guide and samlor drivers will be waiting for you at the Thapae Gate. Start your Chiang Mai Temple Tour by samlor. You will visit some famous and lesser-known temples located within the Old City of Chiang Mai. First of all, we will head off to Wat Laam Chang. This temple has an ancient brick chedi. Almost opposite Wat Laam Chang is Wat Chiang Man, Chiang Mai’s oldest temple. King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Mai, built this temple in 1296. Your guide will explain the history of this temple and Buddhism in general.

Pedaling from temple to temple

We leave through the backdoor and head for Wat Phra Singh. This is probably Chiang Mai’s most revered temple. Wat Phra Sing currently houses Phra Chao Thong Tip, the most venerated Buddha statue in northern Thailand. From Wat Phra Singh, we make our way to Wat Phuak Hong, one of the lesser-visited temples with its characteristic Mon-style chedi, Wat Phuak Taem. The chedi of Wat Phuak Hong has niches with Buddha statues, characteristic of Mon Dvaravati temple architecture. We continue to Wat Phra Chao Mengrai, a significant and seldom visited temple named after the founder of Chiang Mai.

The Chiang Mai Gate Market and Wat Chedi Luang

The next stop is the Chiang Mai Gate market, the most popular market located within the moat. Markets are great places to find the living or intangible heritage of Chiang Mai. We taste some of the local delicacies on offer before hopping on the samlor to go to Wat Chedi Luang with its giant chedi. An earthquake in 1545 damaged the chedi. In the early 1990s, the Fine Arts Department reconstructed Wat Chedi Luang, partially financed by UNESCO and the Japanese government. Next to Wat Chedi Luang is Wat Phantao, which is a beautiful wooden temple. Finally, get on your samlor for the last stretch of your Chiang Mai Temple Tour, which will take you to Thapae Gate, where the tour ends.

Say goodbye to the drivers. Thanks very much for joining this tour and supporting the samlor community of Chiang Mai. We also offer a full-day Chiang Mai temple tour for those interested in temple architecture and Buddhism. Thanks very much for joining this tour and supporting the samlor community of Chiang Mai. More things to do in Chiang Mai you will find here.