· SOUTHEAST ASIA · THAILAND · PHOTOGRAPHY ·
28 Unique Photogenic Temples in Thailand (to avoid the crowds)
Scribbled by Claire ⬩ 29 Mar 2026
Visiting Thailand’s Buddhist temples is a popular, if super-touristy, addition to most itineraries. We’ve shared our favourite (and prettiest) temples throughout the country, which not only have a near-zero chance of crowds, but also offer epic photo opportunities.
Thailand is well known for its photogenic Buddhist temples.
So, if you’re visiting Thailand for more than just beaches, then popping into a few temples should be a no-brainer for your itinerary. However, most people stick to the famous temples in Chiang Mai’s old town and maybe a few in Bangkok. These are often the most generic, heavily trafficked, and least camera-friendly of the options available.
The thing is, Thailand’s temples are *enormously* varied if you venture out a little. I’ve seen absolutely everything, from hilltop Disney-like castles, human-sized model durians, thousands of Japanese kitsune foxes, millions of colourful lanterns and, of course, ‘eggplant’ sculptures (more than you’d expect!). I’ve walked through multiple dragon’s bodies, posed with huge model zebras, wandered caves full of colourful nagas, and been totally alone in a futuristic setting I can only imagine to be at home in something like Bladerunner.
Then there’s the backdrop. We’ve seen entire temple structures floating on a lotus flower in Koh Samui; looming golden Buddhas hidden in shrouded, mystical-feeling forests near Phayao; temples perched on the crest of a sharp arête in Lampang; cloud-shrouded hilltop statues in Nan. You name it, Thailand probably has it!
In reality, many of Thailand’s tens of thousands of temples are similar. Over the many years that we’ve been living and adventuring around Thailand, we have visited literally hundreds of them (maybe even thousands?). From these, we have chosen the most unique, quirky, photogenic, and downright different options (plus a few classics because they deserve to be on this list).
So, below are some of our most memorable, picturesque temples from across Thailand, split into the central, southern and northern regions. We’ve written where they are nearest, any entry fees (for foreigners), and provided a map so you can choose the most sensational ones that fit with your trip.
IN THIS GUIDE //
Thailand’s Magical Temples
Northern Thailand
– 1. Wat Analayothipyaram
– 2. Sukhothai’s Wat Si Chum
– 3. Royal Pagodas at Doi Inthanon
– 4. Wat Phra That Doi Phra Chan
– 5. Loha Prasat Sri Mueang Pong
– 6. Wat Sri Mongkol
– 7. Wat Rong Khun
– 8. Wat Phra That Haripunchai Woramahawihan
– 9. Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat
– 10. Wat Phuket
– 11. Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
– 12. Wat Phra That Chae Haeng Phra Aram Luang
Central Thailand
– 13. Wat Phuttha Prommayan
– 14. Na Jasa Tai Chue Shrine
– 15. Wat Khao Wong Phrachan
– 16. Wat Maneewong
– 17. Wat Phikun Thong Phra Aram Luang
– 18. Wat Tham Krabok
– 19. Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen
– 20. Wat Ban Tham
– 21. Wat Tham Suea
– 22. Grand Palace
– 23. Wat Pho
– 24. Viharn Sien
– 25. Wat Phra Phutthabat Rathaworamahawihan
– 26. Wat Sam Phran
Southern Thailand
– 27. Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol
– 28. Wat Plai Laem
Temple Google Map
Where to Next?
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– Northern Thailand –
Northern Thailand is home to many of the country’s best Buddhist temples. The northern geography often dictates their locations – they’re commonly found in rural locations, on mountains or hilltops with vast views.
Below are our favourites – the most memorable and the most photogenic.
1. Wat Analayothipyaram
Location: 25-minute drive west of Phayao
Entry fee: free
Why visit: walking around this minimally visited, shadowy forest temple made me feel like I was within some eerie woods in a jump-scare film! It’s the kind of place where you never know what you’ll find down each path, with only the occasional sound of birds for company. Wandering through the area felt like ‘A Quiet Place’ (but luckily without any death-monsters).
That said, it’s really pretty, not actually creepy at all (apart from a fountain with loads of baby-like statues on it) and I was totally enamoured by how remote and peaceful the entire place was. There are also some unique features – an angular, brutal-looking Bodh Gaya style chedi covered in tiles that I’d never seen anything similar to before, and reflective teal ocean-inspired tiles underfoot, including crabs and turtles.
It’s definitely worth visiting on a north Thai road trip. The nearby town of Phayao, situated on the edge of a huge lake, is also lovely with its cool waterfront vibe, a decent night market and excellent pizza!
2. Sukhothai’s Wat Si Chum
Location: Sukhothai Old Town
Entry fee: 120 baht
Why visit: situated inside Sukhothai Historical Park (Thailand’s first capital), this spot is home to a very distinctive, brutally designed temple, home to a striking giant stone Buddha (its hand was bigger than me).
I didn’t want to include anywhere that isn’t a present-day place of worship on this list (because otherwise it’s just ruins then, isn’t it?) but this spot still has people visiting consistently throughout the day to pay their respects and is treated as a proper Buddhist place of worship.
It’s only worth visiting Wat Si Chum if you’re going to explore the Historical Park, too, and I highly recommend that you do (it’s one of my favourite places in Thailand).
We’ve written a trip planning guide for Sukhothai with loads of photos if you’re interested in visiting.
DID YOU KNOW: royal temple classes
A small number of Thailand’s 40,000 temples have been given a kind of royal designation, based on their importance, history, and royal connections. This means they receive special funding.
These royal designations are split into four categories. Below notes how many of each there are:
Special Class – 1
First Class – 23
Second Class – 42
Third Class – more than 200
12 of the temples on this list are Royal temples (called Phra Aram Luang in Thai).
The one Special Class is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) in Bangkok.
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3. Royal Pagodas of Doi Inthanon
Location: Doi Inthanon National Park, a two-hour drive from Chiang Mai
Entry fee: 300 baht national park fee
Why visit: these are some of the most famous temples in northern Thailand. The duo are located on the peak of the country’s highest mountain (Doi Inthanon) in a national park of the same name. They have enviable views across the surrounding countryside and are situated within some really beautiful manicured gardens.
They’re both really striking, but honestly my favourite part is the flower garden. It’s enormous, contains multiple water features, and surrounds both the pagodas. I just don’t see that many amazing flower displays in Thailand (outside of the flower festivals, anyway), and these are particularly impressive.
If you’re going to visit these temples, make sure to check out the actual mountain peak, as well as some of the more imposing waterfalls in the park, such as Wachirathan. They’re all included with your entry ticket.
4. Wat Phra That Doi Phra Chan
Location: around 30-minute drive south of Lampang
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this temple has a triple whammy. Firstly, it’s got a cool Japanese theme, with thousands of kitsune fox models encircling a thoroughly un-Thai looking Buddha, accompanied by an unexplained statue of Totoro and a bunch of genuine red torii gates. While walking through here I could easily picture being back in Japan.
Secondly, on the other side of this hillside complex is a stunning, classic-looking golden temple with a super-photogenic golden gate that looks out across the countryside (we had unlucky misty weather so no expansive views, though).
Lastly, easily missed at the bottom of the hill, the temple complex has possibly the coolest looking (literally) Buddha statue. It genuinely looks like an ice sculpture, housed in a large blue temple dome and guarded by some massive angry-looking blue statues.
It’s just magnificent.
5. Loha Prasat Sri Mueang Pong
Location: 45-minute drive west of Chiang Mai
Entry fee: 40 baht for the return truck drive (you can’t drive yourself)
Why visit: it’s visually quite unbelievable. I didn’t even plan to visit, however, we were riding around the Samoeng Loop outside Chiang Mai and saw something shiny and fantasy Disney-like on the top of a distant hill. I couldn’t quite believe how crazy it looked, so off we went to investigate.
Loha Prasat Sri Mueang Pong is imposing, intricate and glistening-white, with fluttering ribbons and gold tipped spires. It’s also less visited (we saw just a few people even though it was mid-late afternoon during peak season), so you can experience one of Northern Thailand’s most unique temples without worrying about the crowds.
I personally enjoyed visiting this ‘white temple’ far more than Chiang Rai’s more well-known one (although they are both worth your time).
6. Wat Sri Mongkol
Location: a 20-minute drive south of Pua, in Nan Province
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this is the ultimate intentionally Instagrammable temple. It’s full of unique statues, places to pose, fountains, mist machines and pretty prop umbrellas. After the garden walkways, at the centre, lies a very intricate and attractive temple complex.
The whole place appeared to be built for entertainment (it was entirely Thai visitors when we were there and they were having a whale of a time getting their pictures). Obviously, it’s still a temple, but it’s definitely a fun temple (whatever that means). I had no idea what I was going to see here, but it all surprised me in the most entertaining way.
There were musicians, a cafe, and all sorts of things to catch your eye. Kids would have an absolute ball here!
DID YOU KNOW: Temple Language
Thai temples aren’t always just named after the place they’re in (like ‘Winchester Cathedral’, nearby where I grew up in England, for example).
There are loads of words that you’ll see repeated in the names of Thai Buddhist temples. Below are a few of the meanings:
Wat – literally means ‘temple’
Mahathat – ‘relic of the Buddha’
Phra – denotes the present of a sacred object
Chaloem – ‘prestigious’ or ‘honour’
Ratcha – king
Mongkol – ‘auspicious’ or ‘good fortune’
Luang – ‘big’ or ‘royal’
Phutta – ‘of the Buddha’
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7. Wat Rong Khun
Location: around 20-minute drive south of Chiang Rai
Entry fee: 200 baht for entry to the building (entry to the rest of the complex is free, though)
Why visit: Chiang Rai’s White Temple is one of the most famous in the entire of Thailand, for excellent reason. It’s the most intricate construction I’ve ever seen, and also one of the maddest. As with a few of the temples on this list, it’s not historic and more of an artistic project that is also used as a place of worship.
I’ve previously described this temple as an ‘artist’s fever dream’ and I cannot find a more accurate description. It’s full of hidden details, so pay attention to the little things. As you walk on the bridge over a sea of desperate-seeming hands stretching towards you, it’s unnerving and beautiful in equal measures (also take your time to spot the penises and the creepy screaming face on the bottom of a foot).
From the outside, the entire temple glistens from the thousands of tiny mirror mosaics that reflect the colour of the sun, so it glows orange at sunrise and pink at sunset.
This spot does get busy, even at opening time. There’s not much you can do to avoid these inevitable crowds, but visiting later in the day can sometimes help.
For more photos and information, check out our three favourite temples in Chiang Rai.
8. Wat Phra That Haripunchai Woramahawihan
Location: in Lamphun, around a 40-minute drive south of Chiang Mai
Entry fee: 50 baht
Why visit: this older Royal temple in Lamphun, dating from the 9th century, is known for its vast array of lanterns.
They’re particularly prevalent during the Lamphun Lantern Festival (also named the Hundred‑Thousand Lantern Festival), which runs from September to November (ending at Yi Peng/Loy Krathong). It’s a little different to the more touristy, questionable lantern events in Chiang Mai where glowing lanterns are sent into the skies. Instead, it’s about the streets being decorated by an unimaginable number of lights (which is far better for the environment).
We visited during the day just after the Lantern Festival had ended so we could see all the lanterns, but not lit up. It was awesome, but would have been even more impressive if we had been there a month earlier!
The temple complex is beautiful and quite traditional, with a giant golden stupa and lots of offerings and worshippers, even during the day. It was one of the most interesting spots for watching people do various ceremonial practices – like pouring offerings down narrow channels and banging gongs.
In my opinion, it’s worth visiting, even outside of lantern season.
9. Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat
Location: around 60-minute drive north of Lampang
Entry fee: 60 baht for the return truck drive, 30 baht for temple maintenance, 200 baht for entry (290 baht total)
Why visit: these small temple buildings are perched on some seriously precarious, serrated mountain-top rocks. It looks ridiculous and I cannot even imagine how, or understand why, it was built.
I’d argue that this place has the best vistas of any Thai temple we’ve visited – you feel like you’re up in the clouds, perched along the dramatic and jagged mountain range. Even if there wasn’t an implausible temple at the top, it’d be worth the walk for the views.
The temple is reached by a shared open-air truck (a songthaew) which takes you up a steep track (it’s so steep I honestly felt like I might fall out, so hold on tight). Then, you walk the final part which signs say is more than 700 steps (I didn’t find these too hard – they’re evenly spaced metal stairs – so I’m sure most people would be fine with them). There are a few different viewpoints at the top (which add on a few extra steps!) and first thing in the morning, it was extremely peaceful and cool (we were first to arrive).
Definitely choose to visit this spot when the weather is nice (morning is best because the temples face east).
WHAT TO WEAR IN THAI TEMPLES
The dress code for Buddhist temples is generally the same across Thailand. Ensure you:
⬩Cover shoulders and knees
⬩Don’t wear any disrespectful logos or slogans
⬩Remove your shoes whenever there are signs to do so
⬩Don’t wear low cut tops
⬩Avoid showing any depictions of the Buddha (especially tattoos)
⬩Avoid ripped jeans, pyjamas, or messy clothes
⬩Sometimes men can be refused entry if they wear knee length shorts
Tight clothing is a variable issue around Thailand – I always wear dark leggings and a loose t-shirt with a jacket tied around my waist, which has been acceptable in almost every temple. However, there are a few stricter places where I’ve wrapped a scarf around me. In the Grand Temple in Bangkok, I always wear a long skirt over my leggings because the dress code there is very strict. Men should wear long trousers, not shorts.
It’s best to take socks because it’s easier to walk around in socks than barefoot in many cases!
Slip on shoes make things easier, but I personally wear trainers and lace them up each and every time.
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10. Wat Phuket
Location: in the town of Pua, around an 80-minute drive north of Nan
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this temple isn’t that large or flashy, or really that unique, to be honest. However, I think few visitors come here and it holds such a pretty setting looking out over Pua’s agricultural lands. The trees in the courtyard are all decorated with huge ribbons that catch the sun and flutter in the wind, plus there are cute places to take photos all around the edges. Within the main temple, the decor was one of the more beautiful I’ve seen, with paintings of forest trees behind the Buddha.
However, the most memorable thing is the terrifying robot skeleton dude who shouts at you if you get too close! Genuinely, visit for the android monk – I have no idea what it’s saying, but it’s funny (I’ve since seen a few of these around other temples near Bangkok and the novelty does not wear off).
The temple also has some visitor accommodations on the lower level and a nice fabric store around the corner. Choose to visit at sunrise or sunset for best views across the countryside.
Park in the school car park just outside the gate.
11. Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
Location: a 25-minute drive southwest from Lampang
Entry fee: 40 baht
Why visit: this is a rare occurence on this list of a genuinely ancient temple. It originated in the 13th century and feels ancient when you wander around it. The complex isn’t huge, but it is distinctive, with a wooden Lanna-style viharn with murals on the inside (don’t forget to look up) and loads of cow statues – it is a significant temple for anyone born in the year of the ox.
It was actually pretty busy with Thai visitors when we visited on a weekday afternoon, but there were no foreign tourists. There were also some super-skinny looking horses outside who didn’t look too happy in the heat (just from my observations), so only take a horse and cart ride if you think they look in good condition.
We’d recommend this temple to anyone renting a car and driving around Lampang. However, we wouldn’t suggest getting a taxi all the way from Chiang Mai to see it – that’s a bit overkill!
12. Wat Phra That Chae Haeng Phra Aram Luang
Location: just outside the city of Nan
Entry fee: free
Why visit: there are a few reasons to go – firstly, it’s all about rabbits (and there are some seriously dramatic-looking rabbit figurines). Second, the walled complex is the most important in Nan, with a beautifully decorated pagoda and reclining Buddha. It’s also said to be the home of a relic of the Buddha – apparently from their left wrist. Thirdly, it’s a third-class Royal Temple (means it’s been designated by the Royal Family) and dates back to around the 1300s.
Seriously, though, visit for the rabbits (it’s especially auspicious if you were born in the year of the rabbit!). They are literally everywhere, including keychains, candles, sculptures, and an enormous statue.
I enjoyed my visit here more than expected – I thought this was just going to be a typical Thai temple, but it was surprisingly quite unique. The vibe was busy, but only from Thai visitors there to make their wishes, pay their respects, and circle the pagoda, so it didn’t feel hectic or crowded.
We spent a while looking for the reclining Buddha – it’s hidden in a separate viharn outside the walled section.
Parking was easy.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED DRIVING IN THAILAND?
Getting around Thailand is so straightforward and efficient if you have a rental car. It’s definitely the best way to explore the country’s many temples!
The roads are easy to navigate, well maintained and, as a photographer, it’s almost essential to have your own transport to get around on your own schedule.
It’s also super affordable, too, particularly if there is more than one of you travelling together.
If you’re unsure, check out our thoughts on driving in Thailand to see if it’s for you.
If you’ve already decided to rent a car, consider booking one through the company we always use – Discover Cars. They’re the absolute best and have been our rental companion (and savior, thanks to their insurance) in many destinations across the world.
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– Central Thailand –
Below are some Buddhist temples in Central Thailand that we think are well worth visiting. It’s my favourite area to explore since there are not only few tourists but also some of the most spectacular architecture in Thailand.
This area has an enormous density of royally-designated temples, and we have found some memorable, rarely visited, and distinctive spots.
Many of these temples feel distinct from northern Thailand’s offerings because the physical geography of the region is very different. There are fewer hills and more sparse farmland, so the temples are often located adjacent to rivers or canals instead of hill or mountain tops.
Most are really easy to reach, either within Bangkok, or a few hours outside via car or train.
We’ve not included the highly photogenic Sanctuary of Truth, Pattaya, in this list because it’s not actually a temple and the tours are horrendous! If you want to learn more, check out my little ramble about it.
13. Wat Phuttha Prommayan
Location: in the countryside, around a two-hour drive east from Bangkok
Entry fee: 20 baht for the return boat journey.
Why visit: this brand new, gleaming silver temple is sat on the banks of Bang Pakong River, which snakes around the region for several hundred kilometres and encloses this temple on an island that can only be reached by boat.
Wat Phuttha Prommayan’s crazy beautiful architecture kind of has to be seen, really, and no photos will fully do it justice. It literally shimmers in the sun, with millions of tiny mirrors reflecting the sun at all angles. Inside the temple, the mirror mosaics continue, making the experience of sitting within the rows of glistening columns just a bit surreal.
The temple also has an improbably green-blue lake and, from above, everything is so white that it looks like it’s coated in snow.
It’s minimally visited but easily one of the coolest temples in Thailand – definitely include it on your trip if you can!
14. Na Jasa Tai Chue Shrine
Location: Chon Buri
Entry fee: free
Why visit: it’s the most intricate Chinese temple I’ve seen in Thailand – hands down. This was another unplanned stop, but we drove past it and I was genuinely shocked by its scale and detail, so we immediately pulled into the car park.
The intricacy and colours are astounding, with a giant golden fountain in the middle, enormous gates and loads of buildings full of statues to explore. It’s more exciting than anything I’ve seen in Bangkok’s Chinatown! However, the best part was the lack of crowds when we visited during mid-afternoon.
Some reviews talk about parking on the street and limited spaces, but there is a huge car park just to the south (you can see it on Google Maps). For a decent Chinese-style meal to go with this temple, check out Ko Aun Dim Sum, just around the corner.
15. Wat Khao Wong Phrachan
Location: about a 30-minute drive north of Lopburi
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this temple has an incredible hillside golden Buddha with literally no visitors. It also has a hill top temple reached by 3790 steps! It’s pretty crazy as a setting goes, with the Buddha halfway up, and a separate (enormous) set of steps winding up the mountain to a small complex at the summit.
We did not attempt the unshaded 3790 steps because we visited during an April heatwave (the midday temperature showed as 46 degrees C and honestly think I may have died trying). There was also nobody else attempting this walk, either, so I’m guessing it was a smart choice. The entire area is unshaded, so genuinely don’t attempt if you’re not in tip-top condition and thoroughly comfortable with insane temperatures.
Visiting in the cooler winter months is smart if you want to scale the mountain. However, if you’re just happy to check out the Buddha statue and views (still worth it), then it’s possible to drive up around the back of the statue to avoid basically having to deal with almost any steps at all.
16. Wat Maneewong
Location: an hour southeast of Saraburi and an hour from the southern entrance to Khao Yai National Park
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this temple has an enormous manmade warehouse-style cave, jammed full of swirling naga statues and a treasure trove of golden trinkets and buddha statues. It is utterly improbable.
Our random, impromptu visit on the way to Khao Yai National Park was a surprise, to say the least. I had no idea what to expect – from the back car park we had to pick our way through a warren of market stalls and monks’ quarters until we found a rather outrageous temple entrance that led to one of the strangest places I’ve ever visited.
It’s huge – first you wander through a cavernous room filled with rows of realistic monk statues, then you enter another room full of twisting, swirling nagas all lit up with colour artificial lighting – it felt similar to a queueing area at one of those intense indoor rides at a theme park. Then, there’s a huge Buddha statue, behind which is an enormous pile of gold models and pirate booty. It would have made the Goonies kids very happy indeed. Remember, all this is inside a fake cave. It’s genuinely unreal and unique.
They close spot on 5pm, so don’t arrive late.
17. Wat Phikun Thong Phra Aram Luang
Location: a 30-minute drive north of Ang Thong
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this temple has some amazing photography opportunities if you get decent weather!
The complex is quite charming and mostly pretty traditional, full of the usual gold-guilded statues and white buildings (and a pink Ganesha statue on a small island next to a flower garden). Additionally, there’s some lovely angles to photograph the giant golden Buddha from and some quirky statues, too. I saw a couple of larger-than-life-sized toothy grinning zebras with teeth braces made from Spongebob images).
It’s a very peaceful place, with no foreign visitors (that we saw) and a really nice cafe (De’champ) nearby. There is a large shaded outdoor food court next to the covered car parking, too, if you want an excellently priced local meal.
18. Wat Tham Krabok
Location: a 30-minute drive east of Lopburi
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this temple is a quick but quite striking stop, hidden in the hills between Saraburi and Lopburi. The main visual draw to this complex is the vast, black, circular, seated and standing Buddha statues. It’s absolutely massive and no photo can really do it justice. Be warned, there’s an odd lack of symmetry that makes it seriously difficult to photograph (bring a super wide lens – mine couldn’t cope).
However, another interesting fact is that the temple specialises in treating drug addictions. It’s actually quite famous globally for its unusual work with more than one-hundred thousand drug users, with quite a few famous Western visitors having spent time here in the past.
It’s also known historically as a refuge for Laos Hmong people after the United States’ Secret War (worth learning about if you don’t know much about it). The fascinating history of this temple is definitely good for a quick read if you’re going to visit.
19. Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen
Location: Bangkok
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this first-class royal complex in Bangkok is renowned (mostly) for its 69-metre golden meditating Buddha. It’s pretty new (construction was completed in 2021) and recent renovations have now finished.
The towering image can be seen from miles around and is particularly pretty during either the early hours or sunset. This golden Buddha has become popular with tourists – it’s a highly photogenic spot which can be combined with an adventure around Bangkok’s historic districts.
There are several ways to visit – the most popular is to take a longtail boat ride along the canals (khlongs), or you can you get a taxi or MRT train and explore the area on foot.
20. Wat Ban Tham
Location: Kanchanburi
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this temple is seriously super cool. First you walk up a bunch of steps and then wind your way through a beautifully decorated dragon’s body. Then, you traverse some really unexpectedly unnerving caves full of offerings before scrambling up the mountainside for a bit. You pass another optional cave, before finally reaching a small chedi on the summit with some of the best views of Kanchanaburi!
We only stopped at this temple because I saw a huge dragon winding it’s way up the hill by the side of the road. Little did I realise that I’d be hiking right to the top of the mountain by the end of the afternoon! I didn’t take any water – so make sure you do.
It’s a little photogenic adventure and we’d highly recommend it.
WANT TO TAKE A BETTER TRAVEL PHOTO?
There are three parts to travel photography –
⬩ Planning your trip
⬩ Taking the photo
⬩ Editing the end result
To get the highest quality, most sophisticated photos from your travels, you’ll need to perfect all three (plus a tiny bit of luck).
So, we’ve written a lot of country-specific guides about planning trips to various destinations, and also collated our absolute top tips for taking photos on location avoiding the rain would probably be our number one!). We’ve also written a dedicated post on how to take the best black and white travel photography. Check them out if you’re interested!
We also write about typical editing mistakes to avoid. To complement that, we’ve collated a more intermediate user’s guide to editing travel photography. This covers more elegant, advanced and refined skills, ones that will promote your photos to the centerpiece of anybody’s wall.
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21. Wat Tham Suea
Location: a 20-minute drive from Kanchanburi
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this massive temple complex is really striking if you’re a photographer, and the most impressive one in Kanchanaburi (in my humble opinion). It’s extremely busy with foreign tourists compared with many other temples on this list, which in general is a bit of a negative for me, but if you visit early enough you can avoid most them!
Wat Tham Suea is situated on a hill, with rice-paddy countryside views, brightly painted steps and even a funicular type thing to take you up the stairs (if you’re feeling so inclined!). It’s a tiger-themed temple, so expect to see loads of tiger statues among the other usual quirky Thai temple decor. It also has a unique golden Buddha ensconced in an intricate leaf-shaped enclosure which I found really pretty.
There are towers you can walk up for exceptional views over the rice paddies (the best panoramas are during the wetter season).
We parked up behind the temple and avoided having to take the steep stairs at the beginning (not sure if we were supposed to, but it seemed fine).
22. Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha
Location: Bangkok
Entry fee: 500 baht
Why visit: this is the most iconic and important temple in Thailand and on almost every visitor’s itinerary. It’s the only special-class Royal temple in the whole country and home to the revered Emerald Buddha within Wat Phra Kaew and the Royal residences.
Even though I’m shockingly crowd averse, I’ve visited this temple three times now, and recommend you do the same if you’re spending time in Bangkok. It’s absolutely not unknown, it’s also insanely crowded even first thing in the morning, and is the most expensive on this list (by far). However, it’s pretty popular for a reason and a great addition to your Bangkok itinerary.
Don’t miss the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles – it’s beautifully curated and really interesting.
23. Wat Pho
Location: Bangkok
Entry fee: 300 baht
Why visit: this first-class Royal temple, situated right next door to the Grand Palace, is just as pretty as the Grand Palace but around half the price. Visit first thing in the morning while everyone else is in the Grand Palace for a slightly less hectic experience!
It’s a great option if you’re on a budget (I actually much prefer this spot to the Grand Palace), with a 46-metre reclining golden Buddha (check out the details on the soles of its feet) and some outrageously intricate stupas.
The temple is also home to the birthplace of Thai massage. You can visit a small museum within the complex that explains the history of traditional medicine and also get an actual massage if you want!
24. Viharn Sien
Location: around a 30-minute drive south of Pattaya
Entry fee: 50 baht
Why visit: Nick was literally obsessed with this grand Chinese-style temple (to be fair, it’s more of a museum). It’s full of statues, including actual life-size replicas of Chinese Terracotta Warriors and other millennia old ceramics from ancient China. It’s honestly more of a museum than a typical temple, but for the small entry fee you are getting some serious bang for your buck. It’s multiple floors are jammed full of various Chinese carvings, artifacts, and art.
The courtyard garden at the entrance is lovely, too, and there are excellent views from the upper floor.
While you’re in the area, check out the first-class royal temple of Wat Yansangwararam (it’s got a very cool Bodh Gaya style temple), and the cool Buddha carved onto a hill at Khao Chi Chan.
25. Wat Phra Phutthabat Rathaworamahawihan
Location: a 20-minute drive east of Lopburi
Entry fee: free (we’ve read there is a 30 baht fee but we didn’t have to pay anything)
Why visit: this older, highly significant Buddhist temple is said to house a sacred footprint of the Buddha. So, it’s very popular with Buddhists who come and stick gold leaf in it and can get very busy. The main pagoda is really, really photogenic and the complex is definitely worth a stop to investigate, if you’re driving through.
There’s a small museum on site explaining more about the Buddha’s footprint with some English signs (only open on weekends), and you can also take a walk up into the hills behind the complex to a small shrine if you fancy it.
26. Wat Sam Phran
Location: a 1.5-hour drive west of Bangkok
Entry fee: 80 baht (technically it’s described as a donation, but it’s kind of enforced, so I consider it an entry fee).
Why visit: this pink towering temple is visually pretty unique, even for Thailand. You can scale the 16 pink storeys within the body of a spiralling dragon, which is also a pretty niche experience!
I’ve written more about this elsewhere, but I think this temple is worth visiting specifically if you’re driving towards Kanchanaburi. It’s literally right on the way and well worth a stop. It’s not only quite photogenic and distinctive, but what I really loved are the peculiar gardens full of thousands of footprints and quirky statues.
Where’s Ayutthaya?
You may be wondering why the incredible ancient city of Ayutthaya is not on this list.
It’s a smashing little town, full of Buddhist temples and temple-ruins, so we’ve actually written an entire dedicated photography post that includes loads of photos, the best spots, times of day, and loads more.
We’ve visited four times now, so thought it was time to do the site justice with a whole write up!
Check it out if you’re interested: Our Ayutthaya Photography Guide
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– Southern Thailand –
We haven’t visited that many spectacular temples in southern Thailand. There are fewer to choose from because a lot of the region is Muslim, so there are often loads of colourful little mosques instead of the typical shiny Buddhist temples. However, one of my favourite-ever Thai temples is in this section, so it’s worth a read!
We’ve also done far fewer offbeat road trips in the south, so our experiences are more limited. We’ll update this when we get around to investigating the region more (although there will never been as many in the south as the centre and north!).
27. Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol
Location: in Krabi, a 1.5-hour-drive from Phuket airport and a 1-hour-drive from Krabi Town
Entry fee: 50 baht
Why visit: if there was one place on this list that impressed and surprised me more than any other, it’s the 95-metre-tall (so I’m informed) Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol. This absolute masterpiece is otherworldly (and even taller than it looks in the photos).
It also glows and gleams, just like in the photos, and the geometric patterns on the tower play the light and shadows game impeccably. Inside the tower complex, there are vast numbers of golden Buddhas lining the walls, along with elephant statues and very detailed paintings.
The characteristic style was inspired (very obviously) from the almost identical UNESCO designated Mahabodhi Temple in Gaya, northeastern India. There is also a similar structure near Pattaya with the Royal Temple of Wat Yansangwararam (but it’s less impressive, in my opinion).
Honestly, I’ve just never seen anything like it. The photos can persuade you far more than I can.
28. Wat Plai Laem
Location: in northern Koh Samui, not far from the airport
Entry fee: free
Why visit: this temple is, by far, the nicest thing about Koh Samui, in my opinion. If you’re going to visit Koh Samui (which we wouldn’t recommend), definitely don’t miss this gem of a Chinese temple.
It has three main sections – an enormous statue of Budai (a historical Chinese monk), a statue of an 18-armed Guanjin, and a more traditional-looking Thai temple which has been built to appear like it’s floating on a lotus flower in a lake.
They’re very photogenic and the lake setting is really nice too. Plus, at least when we visited in the afternoon, there weren’t masses of people there (most people we saw in Samui were on the beach, riding a motorbike in swimwear drunk, or frequenting a sexpat bar).
There’s a small amount of free parking in the complex.
Photo Locations Google Map
Below is a Google Map indicating all the temples we mention in this post.
To save it, select the star next to the title.
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Where to Next?
One of the reasons I wrote about my favourite Thai temples is because I genuinely care about the overtourism situation in Thailand. Many of these spots avoid the typical large hordes of foreign tourists and it’s very rare to see bus loads of people turning up.
Each individual temple is worth visiting in my opinion, but many spots can also be linked together into a nice easy road trip that offers far more than just temples (think: national parks, small local towns, empty beaches, winding empty roads – everything you could want from a trip to Thailand).
We would highly recommend (if not urge) anyone who is comfortable driving to get behind the wheel in Thailand and explore beyond the few spots that every international visitor congregates at. Tourism in Thailand has really taken a toll on certain popular regions and checking out lesser visited regions really shares the love.
I’m all about the slower, more thoughtful travel experiences, and if you want to see a bit of Thailand that isn’t overrun (which much of the popular spots are now), renting a car is by far the best way to do that.
If you’re interested in what it’s like to rent a car in Thailand, we’ve written a little guide which talks about everything you need to know.
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Thank you, Claire + Nick
