Long Neck Village, Silver Temple & Chiang Mai Top Cultural Sites
Description
Discover the cultural heart of Chiang Mai in just 4 hours aboard a traditional red ‘songtaew’ (a converted pickup truck with benches installed in the back - no airconditioning). This short yet enriching tour takes you to three of the city’s most iconic temples. You'll also visit a Karen Long Neck Village, where you’ll gain insight into the traditions and lifestyle of the Karen Padaung people. Tour Highlights: Wat Chedi Luang: Wander around the impressive Great Stupa that once housed the Emerald Buddha. Wat Phra Singh: Marvel at Chiang Mai’s most sacred temple, famous for its Lanna-style architecture and golden chedis. Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple): Be amazed by the intricate silver craftsmanship of this unique temple, a hidden gem. Karen Long Neck Village: Meet the Karen Padaung community and learn about their rich cultural heritage and way of life. Maximum 10 persons per group.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Wat Sri Suphan, also known as the Silver Temple, is a unique and visually stunning temple in Chiang Mai, famous for its intricately handcrafted silver decorations. Located near Wua Lai Road, the city’s traditional silver-making district, the temple showcases exquisite silver carvings that depict Buddhist teachings, Lanna culture, and mythical creatures. Wat Sri Suphan is a must-visit for those interested in Lanna heritage, traditional craftsmanship, and unique temple architecture.
Wat Chedi Luang, or the Temple of the Great Stupa, is one of Chiang Mai’s most historic and revered landmarks. Built in the 14th-15th century, this ancient temple once housed the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most sacred relic. The temple’s massive brick chedi (pagoda), though partially ruined by an earthquake in the 16th century, still stands as an awe-inspiring structure, showcasing the grandeur of old Lanna architecture. Surrounding the chedi are beautifully adorned temples and the City Pillar Shrine (Inthakin Shrine), an important spiritual site for locals. Visitors to Wat Chedi Luang can explore its rich history, stunning architecture, and serene atmosphere, making it a must-visit cultural site in Chiang Mai.
Wat Phra Singh, one of Chiang Mai’s most important and revered temples, is renowned for its classic Lanna architecture, intricate wood carvings, and sacred Buddha images. Built in 1345, the temple houses the highly revered Phra Buddha Sihing, which is believed to be one of the most significant Buddha statues in Northern Thailand. The temple complex features beautifully decorated viharns (prayer halls), golden chedis, and detailed murals that depict ancient Thai folklore and Buddhist teachings.
The Karen Long Neck Village offers a fascinating glimpse into the traditions and way of life of the Karen Padaung people. Known for their distinctive brass neck rings, which symbolize beauty and cultural identity, the women of the village have preserved this tradition for generations. Visitors can observe traditional weaving, interact with the locals, and learn about their history, customs, and craftsmanship. A visit to the Karen Long Neck Village is a unique and culturally enriching experience, offering insight into one of Thailand’s most fascinating ethnic communities. *The duration included traveling time from Chiang Mai City*
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We only pick up from hotels and accommodations located within the Old City of Chiang Mai or directly next to the Old City walls. If your hotel or accommodation is outside this area, you are required to meet the group in front of the Burger King at Thapae Gate (the eastern gate of the Old City) in Chiang Mai: https://goo.gl/maps/DDmdjcwPCpSLbPEt9. Pick-up is scheduled between 8:30 and 9:00 hrs for the morning tour, and between 13:00 and 13:30 hrs for the afternoon tour. As our tours operate on a group basis, we kindly ask everyone to be on time. We can only wait for a maximum of 10 minutes after the scheduled meeting time. After the 10 minutes grace period, the guide will start with the tour. If you’re unable to make it on time, please inform us before the tour starts. If possible, we’ll do our best to reschedule you for the next available day or time slot. Please note that a rescheduling fee will apply.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Pick-up is scheduled between 8:30 and 9:00 hrs for the morning tour, and between 13:00 and 13:30 hrs for the afternoon tour.
- As our tours operate on a group basis, we kindly ask everyone to be on time. We can only wait for a maximum of 10 minutes after the scheduled meeting time. After the 10 minutes grace period, the guide will start with the tour. If you’re unable to make it on time, please inform us before the tour starts. If possible, we’ll do our best to reschedule you for the next available day or time slot. Please note that a rescheduling fee will apply. No refund will be provided in case of late arrival.
- Remember that temples are sacred places and you must dress appropriately. Shoulders and knees need to be covered (for both men and women). No leggings, tight pants, or revealing tops, otherwise access might be denied.
- This tour is operated with a typical Thai “songthaew”. A songthaew is a converted pick-up truck with two benches in the back, open sides, and no air-conditioning. It’s an authentic way locals travel around Chiang Mai.
- We only pick up from hotels and accommodations located within the Old City of Chiang Mai or directly next to the Old City walls. If your hotel or accommodation is outside this area, you are required to meet the group in front of the Burger King at Thapae Gate (the eastern gate of the Old City) in Chiang Mai.
Reviews(20)
Despite the bad weather, Nancy made it a nice afternoon. Temples and things we wouldn't have seen otherwise. Good explanation and enthusiastic guide.
Rain or shine, we're so happy to hear you had a great time exploring Chiang Mai with Nancy. It's wonderful to know you enjoyed discovering places you might not have found on your own, and that Nancy's enthusiasm and insights made the experience even more memorable. Thank you for traveling with WanderSiam. We hope to see you again on your next adventure in Thailand.
Nancy from WanderSiam gave us an excellent tour, explaining the history and culture in detail. She was exceptionally flexible and adapted to our personal interests. She also showed us how to respectfully support the people in the Long Neck Karen Village. This tour is an absolute must for anyone visiting Chiang Mai !!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We're delighted to hear Nancy made your Chiang Mai experience so memorable with her knowledge, flexibility, and thoughtful guidance. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable journey with WanderSiam.
Good experience. Good trip. THANK YOU YOU JANE.
Thank you for your review. We're delighted to hear that you had a good experience and enjoyed the trip. Jane will be very happy to receive your kind words and appreciation. Thank you for choosing to travel with us. We hope to welcome you again on another wonderful experience in Thailand.
We booked this trip because it was 4 hours and that was plenty of time to see the temples and visit long neck village. Jane was our tour guide and she did a fantastic job explaining everything to us and taking our time at every location. We got lucky and we were the only ones on the tour. I would highly recommend if looking to see temples but not wanting to spend an entire day. Thank you again Jane!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that the shorter itinerary was a perfect fit for your plans. It's especially great to know that Jane made the experience so enjoyable with her informative explanations and thoughtful guidance throughout the day. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Thailand!
We had hotel pick up which was soo convenient. Had great explanations by Jane at the Karen village and temples. Jane was knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. She also checked I with how we were all doing since it was such a hot day. She gave us the option of skipping the last temple which was a good call and all of us agreed since it was such a hot summer day! Fun to talk with Jane.
Thank you for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated Jane's knowledge, sense of humor, and thoughtful care throughout the day. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her. Thank you for joining us, and we're glad you had such an enjoyable experience despite the heat!
This tour was great and we learned a lot about the history of the long neck tribe as well as got indepth knowledge on the temples. The guide was really sweet and explained everything clearly, she also took pictures for us and made us a short video based on them at the end of the tour. Would highly recommend.
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review. These are the stories that keep us so motivated to continue doing what we’re doing, and we’re so happy to hear that you had a great experience!
The experience was amazing, Nancy was very careful and explained everything about the Karen tribe and the long neck culture. Very recommended experience!
We appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your experience! Your review made our day! Thank you and we hope to see you again.
Jane was a joy of knowledge. I will book the tour again.
Really great, short but very interesting tour for any new commer to Chiang Mai.. 4 must see places, very convient transportation, enough time to wander around the temples, great tour guiding :)
Thank you for your review. We are glad to hear you had an enjoyable experience and we hope to see you back on one of our other tours.
We were picked up right in time and headed to the long neck village. Our guide spoke great English and answered all our questions. Note that the ride to the village is 30-40 minutes. On a really hot day, riding in the back of the truck might get uncomfortable. That said, it was an authentic experience. Very happy with the tour.
Sawadee kha Carlos, We greatly appreciate your 5-star rating and we are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience with us!
