A dazzling white temple by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, covered in mirror mosaic. You enter over a bridge above a sea of reaching hands, and the murals inside hide Neo from The Matrix, superheroes and Michael Jackson among the demons.
Price: Foreigners about 100 ฿
Insider tip: Arrive at the 8:00 opening: by noon the tour buses are here and the heat bounces off the white walls. No photos inside the main hall. From Chiang Mai it’s a day trip by car or tour, combined with the Blue Temple.
Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0
💙 Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten)
A deep-indigo temple with golden dragons on the railings and a white Buddha inside. It was built by a student of the White Temple’s creator and feels much calmer and more intimate.
Price: Free (donations welcome)
Insider tip: Best light is in the morning and late afternoon, when the blue seems to glow. Across the road they sell coconut ice cream served in half a coconut — perfect in the heat.
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0
🔺 Golden Triangle
The point where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet — and a frank museum about why this place was once famous for opium.
🔒 Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide
