What the White Temple actually is
Wat Rong Khun is a working Buddhist temple designed by the Chiang Rai-born artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who began rebuilding it in 1997 and is still adding to it today. The white stands for the purity of the Buddha; the mirrored glass set into the plaster is what makes it glitter in the sun. The temple was damaged in the 2014 earthquake and has since been restored — you will often see craftsmen still at work in the grounds.
It is not an old temple, and it is not meant to look like one. That is a large part of its appeal: the detail is extraordinary, and some of it is deliberately unsettling.
What to look out for
The bridge and the reaching hands
The way into the main hall (the ubosot) is a bridge over a pit of hundreds of sculpted hands reaching up from below. They represent desire and suffering; crossing the bridge stands for leaving them behind. It is one-way, so you cannot turn back for another photo — take it on the way in.
The murals inside the main hall
Inside, the walls are painted in gold and flame colours, with modern figures from films, comics and world events worked into the scenes. Photography is not allowed inside the hall, so give yourself a few minutes simply to look. Shoes come off at the door.
The golden building
The ornate gold building across the grounds is the one everyone asks about. Gold represents the body and worldly things, in contrast to the white temple — and yes, it houses the toilets.
The Cave of Art and the gallery
The Cave of Art is now included in the ฿200 ticket. There is also a gallery of the artist’s paintings in the grounds — worth twenty minutes if you are not in a hurry.
Tickets, hours and the rules
| Ticket (foreign visitors) | ฿200 since 1 January 2026, up from ฿100 — includes the Cave of Art |
|---|---|
| Free entry | Thai nationals, visitors aged 70 and over, children under 120 cm |
| Opening hours | 08:00–17:00 every day |
| Dress code | Shoulders and knees covered — no vests, tank tops, shorts or short skirts |
| Photos | Fine everywhere outside; not allowed inside the main hall |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours for the main sights; longer with the gallery |
Many guidebooks and older blog posts still show the old ฿100 price. Our Chiang Rai entrance fees page lists every ticket on the usual route, as we see them at the gate.
When to go
The temple is at its quietest in the first hour after opening, before the coaches arrive, and the white plaster is easier on the eyes in the softer morning light. Midday is bright and hot, so bring sunglasses and water. November to February is the cool, busy season; June to October is the green season, when the countryside is at its greenest and the temple is quieter.
How to get there
| Option | How it works | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Local bus | From Chiang Rai bus terminal 1 (platform 8), many times a day; it stops on the main road by the temple | About ฿20–25 |
| Grab or taxi | About 15–20 minutes from the city centre; agree how you will get back | Varies |
| Join tour | Hotel pickup in Chiang Rai, the White Temple plus six more sights in one day | ฿1,200 per person, booked direct |
| Private driver | Your own car or van for the day, any stops you like in Chiang Rai province | ฿3,000 car / ฿5,000 van |
Seeing it as part of a day out
Most people pair the White Temple with the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten, free to enter and open until 20:00) and the Black House (Baan Dam Museum), which sit on the other side of the city. Our Chiang Rai 7 Highlights Join Tour covers all three plus the Choui Fong tea plantation, the Golden Triangle, the House of Opium and a hill-tribe village, with an English-speaking guide and a Thai buffet lunch. We collect you from your hotel in Chiang Rai between 08:00 and 08:30 and bring you back between 18:00 and 19:00, with never more than nine travellers in a van.
Booked direct with us it is ฿1,200 per person, paid on the day. Entrance fees are paid at each site, only where you choose to go in — about ฿630 if you visit them all.
If you would rather set your own pace, our Full-Day Private Driver is ฿3,000 for a car (up to three people) or ฿5,000 for a van (up to nine), from 08:00 to 18:00. Coming from Chiang Mai? Our guide to the Chiang Rai day trip from Chiang Mai compares the options.
Frequently asked questions
Is the White Temple worth it?
Yes — it is unlike any other temple in Thailand, and even people who have seen plenty of temples tend to be glad they went. Just go early to avoid the crowds.
Can I wear shorts?
No. Shoulders and knees need to be covered. A light scarf or sarong in your bag is the easiest way to be ready.
Is it still ฿100?
No. The foreign visitor ticket rose to ฿200 on 1 January 2026, and the Cave of Art is now included.
Can I visit the White Temple and the Blue Temple on the same day?
Easily — they are only around half an hour apart by road, and the Blue Temple stays open until 20:00.
About us
JTTT Travel Thailand is a local tour operator in Chiang Rai, registered with the Thai Department of Tourism under TAT Licence 21/01119. Our guides take travellers to the White Temple several times a week, so the details on this page are ones we see ourselves. If something has changed, tell us at jttt.travel@gmail.com and we will check and update it.
— JTTT-Travel Thailand