Chiang Mai Temple & Meditation Walking Tour with a Former Monk 1

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Chiang Mai, Thailand

3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Chiang Mai’s temples are popular stops for visitors, but this tour stands out as you can go beyond sightseeing and take part in mindfulness and meditation practices. After meeting your guide, enjoy a tour to ancient temples and monasteries, with in-depth insights on the history and practices of Buddhism. You can also enjoy plenty of great photo opportunities throughout.

Enjoy a tour that checks off multiple temples in Chiang Mai
No need for a map: A guide takes care of the navigating
Perfect way to get insights on Buddhism that you’d miss otherwise
Get tips on meditation that you can practice when you get home

What's Included

English or Chinese-speaking guide holding a TAT license

Entrance fee

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Three Kings Monument
QXRP+3WX, Prapokklao Road, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Please be in the front of the three king monument.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.9:00 am

Itinerary

Three Kings Monument

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wat Sadeu Muang

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wat Phra Singh

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Wat Phan Tao

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 31 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Excellent

Daniel_L, Mar 2026

The tour wa very well laid out and imformative. It was intetesting to get a petspective from a former monk I was ill that day and my guide took te tour slowly and helping me along the way. I would highly recommemd this tour.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

Great Tour Led by Former Monk

Jeff_D, Feb 2026

A great tour. The temples are beautiful, but the tour guide, Katoon, took it from good to truly great. A former monk, his perspective was fascinating. I cannot recommend him strongly enough - smart, thoughtful and engaging.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

Excellent tour of temples and an introduction to Buddhism.

Donald_M, Jan 2026

Katoon spoke good English, was courteous and kind, and explained in detail what we were hoping for—a more detailed understanding of the origins and precepts of Buddhism, the background to the temples, and a better understanding of what we were witnessing. He was really helpful and we thoroughly appreciated the tour.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

A sweet taste of temples.

Bruce_C, Jan 2026

This was wonderful. Cartoon (sp) was so informative and devoted about sharing the Buddha’s ways. Wonderful advice for any human. First day in Thailand. A little overwhelmed about what to do for first day. This was a perfect introduction.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

Sorted and temples

Matthew_R, Dec 2025

This is a really lovely way to see a few of the temples in Chiang Mai. Nothing is very far apart, so the walking is light. Our guide Cartoon, a former monk, gives a different point of view when seeing the temples. He's happy to introduce you to some Buddhist stories (I didn't know snakes represent protection in Buddhism until this tour!) and will answer any questions you have. He's patient (you get plenty of time to look around) and friendly. If you get to go around Chian Mai with him then I think you're lucky!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

Highly recommend!

Melissa_M, Nov 2025

We had a great time visiting temples and learning about Buddhism, Thailand, and Chiang Mai history from our very kind and knowledgeable tour guide. Would recommend this tour over and over again!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

Temple of Chiang Mai

Alain_L, Oct 2025

M. Katoon was a very good guide, and give us a lot of details and informations about the différents temples. I recommand Katoon if you want to visite temple in Chiang Mai.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

best Chiang Mai Temple tour

Roberta_B, Oct 2025

Ask for Cartoon. He was great. Spoke and understood English very well, he was easy to understand and had a great personality. He knew the history and explained the culture of the temples, architecture and history in a clear concise manner. This was a perfectly paced tour, we highly recommend and don’t forget to request Cartoon

Response from Host, Oct 2025

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

The Most Authentic Temple Tour in Chiang Mai

Jessica_T, Aug 2025

Khatom is the best tour guide I’ve ever had! Walking through Chiang Mai’s most important temples with him was such a unique experience. Having been a monk for 18 years, he shares not only history and architecture but also deep Buddhist insights. He’s kind, patient, and always ready to take photos. A truly authentic and unforgettable tour. Highly recommended!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

Lovely experience ...

Alejandro_R, Aug 2025

Lovely experience Tour guide was very thoughtful, even waited a bit for me, since I was late I had fun learning about Thailand culture

Response from Host, Aug 2025

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

Katoon was our Guide. My...

Adriana_G, Jul 2025

Katoon was our Guide. My husband and I were lucky enough to do the tour alone. He was attentive and kind. He explained the whole route very well. I highly recommend it.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

An Enlightening & Invaluable Temple Tour with a Former Monk!

Gya_W, Mar 2025

I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of Thai culture and Buddhist traditions. Having a former monk as a guide made all the difference—his firsthand knowledge gave me the confidence to navigate temples with respect, understand proper etiquette, and engage in meaningful experiences I wouldn’t have known I could participate in without his guidance. Beyond etiquette, he provided insightful explanations of Buddhist teachings, helping me understand the different philosophies within Buddhism. We even had a brief moment of meditation in a temple, which made the experience even more immersive. He also provided insight into monastic life, explaining the different temple buildings and their purposes, as well as monk blessings and the times of day monks chant, offering a comprehensive understanding of temple traditions. My guide, Katoon, was exceptional—friendly, easy to talk to, and fluent in English, making every explanation clear, relatable, and thought-provoking. He also welcomed me with a delicious breakfast of sticky rice and mango, a thoughtful way to start the day. For such an affordable price, the depth of knowledge, cultural confidence, and unique experiences you gain make this tour absolutely worth it. If you want an authentic, respectful, and insightful temple experience, this tour is a must! ✨ HIGHLY RECOMMEND! ✨

Response from Host, Mar 2025

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

Temples and old city Chaing Mai

Maria_T, Jan 2026

Excellent experience the guide ex monk Katoon is super friendly and warm plus he knows in depth the world of Buddhism, explains with a lot of kindness and takes very good photos. Experience 100% recommended if you want an in-depth knowledge of the history of Buddhism in Chang Mai and Thailand.

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Response from Host, Jan 2026

I really appreciate your review. Hope to see you for the next time. Best regards.

Excellent

MariaIsabel_R, Jul 2025

Understanding Buddhism from the perspective of a former monk was an enriching and different experience. The love and knowledge Katoon has is amazing. Super recommended

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