Buddhism is the main religion practiced in Thailand, so there is no wander that you can find Buddhism temples everywhere in the country as temples play a very active part in daily life and many temples with quite long history are still in active. People come to the temples every day to pray to Buddha for health or good fortune and they sometimes talk with the monks. The structures of the temples are in such unbelievable elegant style for tourists to visit. UME Travel will also take you to discover the ancient temple ruins in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai to find the hidden art. These temples are the most beautiful and impressive structures you would really like to see.
Must-see palace & temples in Bangkok
The Grand Palace
Wat Pho (The Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
Wat Arun (The Dawn Temple)
Wat Traimit (The Golden Buddha)
How to see all must-see Bangkok temples in one day
To plan a temple tour in Bangkok, it will be a good choice to start with the dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace. It's undoubtedly the city's most famous landmark. You will see the Palace, which is used for many different occasions, and you will see The Coronation Hall, the Funeral Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the mysterious, and famous Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is also located in the palace area. Continue to Wat Pho, which is one of Bangkok’s oldest and largest temples and just located 400 meters from the Grand Palace. Wat Pho was built by King Rama I about 200 years ago and houses the gigantic, gold-plated Reclining Buddha image. This unique image is 49 meters long and 12 meters high with beautifully inlaid mother-of-pearl soles.
When you walk out from the Wat Pho, there’s a pier and a small market with many local restaurants right opposite there, find your lunch here and then walk to the pier and take a water taxi to go across the river - Wat Arun is waiting there, which is also called "The Dawn Temple". After getting back to the pier, if time allows, take a Tuk Tuk to visit the Wat Traimit (The Golden Buddha), which takes about 10 minutes drive and this temple is located near the China Town area, you can end up with a delicious seafood dinner here.
Must-see temples in Chiang Rai
Wat Rong Suea Ten (The Blue Temple)
Baan Dam (The ‘Black Temple’)
Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple)
How to see all must-see Chiang Rai temples in one day
If you plan to visit all the must-see temples in Chiang Rai, better choose Chiang Mai as your next destination, thus you can join a tour or rent a car and driver from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai with all the temples along the roads between these two cities.
You will start your visit from the Wat Rong Suea Ten or the ‘The Blue Temple’ which is located in the city center and was built by the student of Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat who built The famous White Temple. The outside is gorgeous, but the inside is even more spectacular with beautiful paintings and a huge white Buddha in the center. Your second stop can be ‘The Black Temple/House’, known as ‘Baan Dam’ in Thai. Baan Dam is Thawan Duchanee’s artful portrayal of hell. The opaque decor and dead animals adorning each room make Duchanee’s estate the complete opposite of the White Temple, the glimpse of heaven designed by his teacher Chalermchai Kositpipat. Although off the beaten track, the Black House is not something to be overlooked. Then you can head to Chiang Mai, on the way, you will see Wat Rong Khun or ‘The White Temple’, blending traditional Buddhist art with contemporary themes. Just followed by a short visit to the hot spring for relaxation, you will finally arrive in Chiang Mai.
Must-see temples in Chiang Mai
Wat Chiang Man
Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Pra Singh
Wat Suan Dok
Wat Phra That
How to see all must-see Chiang Mai temples in one day
There are five must-see temples in Chiang Mai, three of which are located in Chiang Mai old city with two outside. Start your Chiang Mai old-city temple tour by visiting the first three famous temples: Wat Chiang Man (AD 1297), the oldest temple within the city walls; Wat Chedi Luang (AD 1411), where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined; Wat Pra Singh (AD 1345), housing a very sacred 1,500-year-old Buddha image, all these three temples are within walking distance in the old city area. After having lunch in the old city area, you can go outside to visit the Doi Suthep mountain where you will find the Wat Phra That at the very top. It is one of Northern Thailand’s most sacred temples. On the way to Doi Suthep, you will pass by the Wat Suan Dok (AD 1371), where the ashes of Chiang Mai's Royal Family are interred.
Must-see temples in Phuket
Wat Chalong
Phuket Big Buddha
How to see all must-see Phuket temples in one day
You'll take in Phuket Island's natural beauty and visit all the must-see temples if you take a private island around tour. You will be driven along beach roads through Patong, Karon, Kata, and Rawai. Visit the hilltop 'Three Beaches' viewpoint where you can take in a great vista of the beautiful bays of Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon, as well as Kho Pu Island, at one of the island's best scenic spots. You will continue to visit Phuket's Big Buddha, which is one of the most important and revered landmarks on the island. The huge image sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and, at 45 meters tall, can be seen from as far away as Phuket Town and Karon Beach. Then go to Wat Chalong is the largest and most revered. The temple complex was built in its current location in 1837. Some remains of older structures have been found, however, it is unknown exactly how old they are. It also includes a leisurely drive around Phuket Town to view the old Sino-Portuguese buildings, and visit the Jui Tui Shrine.