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Guide · Wat Rong Suea Ten
Blue Temple in Chiang Rai: inside Wat Rong Suea Ten
The Blue Temple in Chiang Rai is a hall of deep blue and gold with a white Buddha at its heart, close to the city. Here is what to look for, how long tours stay and how to visit.
Check availabilityfrom $68 · cancellation is free
Editorial team, chiang-rai-tour.comUpdated October 27, 20266 minutes to read8 sources
Quick answer, in blue
- 01What it is
- A working temple in blue with fine architecture and murals.1
- 02Where
- 306 Moo 2, Mae Kok Road, in Rim Kok on the edge of the city.1
- 03Time on tours
- Usually 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the tour.
- 04Entrance fee
- Included on the most booked day trip from Chiang Mai.
- 05Best paired with
- The White Temple and Wat Huay Pla Kang on the same day.
Why the Blue Temple belongs on your list
Chiang Rai's temples are famous for colour, and this one is the deepest of them. Airports of Thailand describes Wat Rong Suea Ten as a blue temple decorated with fine architecture and murals, where visitors pay homage to the Buddha images and stop for photos.1 The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists it with the White Temple and Baan Dam as the attractions that define the city.2
Where the White Temple dazzles, the Blue Temple glows. Sapphire walls and gold trim cover the hall, guardian serpents run down the stair rails, and inside a white Buddha sits at the heart of the hall. The effect is calmer than the White Temple, and it can feel the more peaceful of the pair.
It also helps that it is close to town. The address is 306 Moo 2, Mae Kok Road, in Rim Kok Subdistrict of Mueang District.1 That makes it an easy add-on to any Chiang Rai day, even a short one, and a good first stop if you arrive in the afternoon.
A temple afternoon
The usual order on a day trip
-
First
Wat Rong Khun
The White Temple comes first on the most booked day.
-
30 min drive
Wat Rong Suea Ten
The bus continues to the Blue Temple.
-
Inside
The white Buddha
Visitors pay homage to the Buddha images in the blue hall.1
-
15 min drive
Huay Pla Kang Temple
The last temple, with the giant Guan Yin.
-
Evening
Back to Chiang Mai
About 3 hours on the road back to the drop-off points in Chiang Mai.
What to look for inside and outside
Start outside. Take in the whole hall from the courtyard before you climb the steps: the blue roofs layered one above another, the gold flame shapes along the eaves, and the tall guardian figures at the entrance. Walk around the side to see the blue and gold chedi next to the hall, which most photographs leave out.
Inside, the white Buddha is the focus. It sits on an altar of blue and silver, under a ceiling and walls covered in murals. Airports of Thailand notes that visitors come to pay homage to the Buddha images, so remember you are in a place of worship: kneel or sit with your feet pointing away from the image rather than standing over people at prayer.1
The murals reward a closer look. Scenes of the Buddha's life and of heavenly beings fill the walls in blue, turquoise and gold. If you visit with a guide, ask them to walk you through a panel or two. Without one, step back to the rear of the hall, sit quietly for a few minutes and let your eyes adjust to the detail.
Minutes at the temple
How long each tour stays at the Blue Temple
minutes
Tours with the Blue Temple
Blue Temple tours compared
| Tour | Starts in | From | At the temple | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All tickets, 7 sites | Chiang Rai | $68 | 30 min | 581 |
| Highlights & lunch buffet | Chiang Rai | $41 | 30 min | 1,730 |
| Hot spring & temples | Chiang Mai | $33 | Not stated | 7,712 |
| Temples, 4 languages | Chiang Mai | $37 | 1 hour | 4,591 |
| Private trip | Chiang Mai | $149 | 60 min | 1,402 |
From-prices, review counts and time at the temple as each listing gives them; prices change.
Pick a tour
Three tours that stop at the Blue Temple
Highest rated
Free lunch buffet
Lowest priceDecision helper
How to fit in the Blue Temple
Where you sleep decides most of it.
All-tickets day
It spends 30 minutes at the Blue Temple among seven sites.
Go on your own
The temple is in Rim Kok, at the edge of the city.1
A day trip
The most booked day includes the Blue Temple fee.
Private or 4-language day
Both list a full hour at the Blue Temple, twice the usual stop.
Any of the above
Every one of these tours also visits Wat Rong Khun.
The stands-out blue temple gives you the feeling of tranquility, decorated with fine architecture and murals. Visitors pay homage to the Buddha images and stop to snap souvenir photos.
How long tours stay, and how to visit on your own
The tours compared here give the Blue Temple between half an hour and an hour. The all-tickets day sold on this page spends 30 minutes there, as does the highlights day starting in Chiang Rai, while another Chiang Rai day lists 40 minutes. The temple day from Chiang Mai with guides in 4 languages gives it 1 hour.
Half an hour covers the hall, the Buddha and a few photos. An hour lets you sit inside, walk the grounds and see the chedi without rushing. The private trip from Chiang Mai lists 60 minutes at the Blue Temple, which suits people who want time to look rather than tick it off.
On your own, it is an easy short ride from the city. Go in the morning before the day trips from Chiang Mai arrive, or late in the afternoon when the light turns the blue warmer. Combine it with Baan Dam to the north or Wat Huay Pla Kang to make a half-day temple loop without a tour. Agree a waiting price with your driver before you set off, and keep the address written in Thai on your phone for the ride back.
Checklist
Before you step inside
01
Dress
- Sleeves and knee-length clothing
- Shoes that slip off easily
- A scarf or sarong in your bag
02
Behave
- Step over the threshold
- Hat and sunglasses off inside
- Give way to people at prayer
03
Plan
- Allow half an hour to an hour
- Come early or late for space
- Check if your tour pays the fee
Price check
A Blue Temple tour for your group
Choose a Blue Temple tour, then add your number of travellers.
People
Total from$135
per guest from $68
Check availabilityfree cancellationWe multiply each tour's starting price by the number of travellers you enter and convert it at the European Central Bank reference rate; the booking page shows the exact total.
Video
Inside the Blue Temple of Chiang Rai
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The White and Blue Temple in Chiang Rai in one day
The tours on this page all pair the two, and the contrast between them is the point. On the most booked day trip from Chiang Mai, the bus drives 30 minutes from Wat Rong Khun to Wat Rong Suea Ten, then 15 minutes on to Huay Pla Kang Temple. Seeing the White and Blue Temple in Chiang Rai back to back makes each one look sharper.
If you are planning your own day, see the White Temple first, while the light is soft and the queues are shorter, then come to the Blue Temple around midday when its cool interior is a relief. Finish at Wat Huay Pla Kang, where the lift inside the Guan Yin statue gives a panoramic view.3
From Chiang Rai, the all-tickets day on this page visits the White and Blue Temples, Baan Dam, a Long Neck Karen village, Choui Fong Tea Farm, the Golden Triangle and the House of Opium in 10 hours. It is a lot in one day, but it covers a long list of the province's stops with one booking.
What to wear and how to behave
The Blue Temple is a working temple, so the usual rules apply. TAT asks men to wear a shirt with sleeves and long trousers or shorts that cover the knees, and women a skirt longer than knee length and a top with sleeves, not spaghetti straps.4 Carry a scarf or a sarong if you are dressed for the heat.
Shoes come off before you enter the hall, and shoe racks wait outside.5 Step over the raised threshold, not on it.6 Inside, remove your hat and sunglasses, silence your phone and speak softly.7
Photography is usually fine, but TAT points out that it is rude to get in the way of people who are praying or making a donation.8 Wait for a gap, shoot from the side, and never pose with your back turned close to the Buddha image. A small donation in the box by the door is a kind way to say thank you.
Getting the fee and the tour right
If entrance fees matter to your budget, check what your tour includes. The most booked day trip from Chiang Mai includes the entrance fees for the White Temple, the Blue Temple and Huay Pla Kang Temple in its price, and one Chiang Rai day lists all tickets included.
The all-tickets day on this page starts from $68, is limited to 9 people, and has 581 reviews averaging 4.93. The highlights day from Chiang Rai with a free lunch buffet starts from $41 and has 1,730 reviews. Both pick you up in Chiang Rai.
From Chiang Mai the cheapest way to see the Blue Temple on a tour is the most booked day trip, from $33. It costs a long day on the road, though, so if you are in Chiang Rai already, a local day or your own short ride makes more sense.
Small tips for a better visit
Bring sunglasses for the courtyard and take them off at the door; the change from bright sun to the blue interior takes a moment. A lens cloth helps too, as phones fog when you step from the heat into the cooler hall. Keep a bottle of water in your bag, but finish it outside.
If you want the hall to yourself, aim for the quiet edges of the day and avoid the window when the big day trips pass through. Have your camera ready before you reach the entrance steps, so you are not holding up the queue for photos there.
Finally, look up. It is easy to stay at eye level and miss the painted ceiling, the gold detail on the beams and the serpents running down the roof lines. A few quiet minutes inside the hall, looking slowly, will stay with you longer than a stack of quick photos.
Your temple day
White, blue and red, in one day from Chiang Mai.
Three temple entrance fees included, guides in English or Spanish, and free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
You ask,we answer.
Where is the Blue Temple?
In Rim Kok, near the city. Airports of Thailand gives the address as 306 Moo 2, Mae Kok Road, Rim Kok Subdistrict, Mueang District.1
What is the Thai name of the Blue Temple?
Wat Rong Suea Ten. TAT also writes it Wat Rong Sue Ten and lists it among Chiang Rai's main attractions.2
How long should I spend at the Blue Temple?
Thirty minutes to an hour. Tours give it 30 to 60 minutes; an hour lets you sit inside and see the grounds.
Is the Blue Temple fee included on day trips?
On the most booked one, yes. The most booked day trip from Chiang Mai includes the Blue Temple entrance fee in its price.
Can I take photos inside the Blue Temple?
Usually, with care. TAT says most temples allow photos, but it is rude to get in the way of people praying.8
What should I wear to the Blue Temple?
Sleeves and covered knees. TAT asks for sleeved tops and clothes that cover the knees, and bare feet inside temple halls.45
Which tour visits the Blue Temple from Chiang Rai?
Several full-day tours do. The all-tickets day spends 30 minutes there among its stops, from $68.
Sources
Evidence for this guide
- 1Airports of Thailand, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International AirportExperience the magnificence of the five unseen ravishing temples in Chiang Rai↩
- 2Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Open to the New Shades product presentation by TAT Deputy Governor↩
- 3Airports of Thailand, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International AirportExperience the magnificence of the five unseen ravishing temples in Chiang Rai↩
- 4Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Observing temple and sacred site etiquette while in Thailand↩
- 5Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Observing temple and sacred site etiquette while in Thailand↩
- 6Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Observing temple and sacred site etiquette while in Thailand↩
- 7Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Observing temple and sacred site etiquette while in Thailand↩
- 8Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Observing temple and sacred site etiquette while in Thailand↩
