Old City Temples 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour Chiang Mai

Wat Chedi Luang: the Great Stupa

Your walk begins at Wat Chedi Luang, the temple of the great stupa, in the centre of the Old City. Construction started in the late 14th century, and by the mid-15th century the brick chedi had risen to roughly 80 metres, the tallest structure of the Lanna kingdom. An earthquake in the 16th century brought down its upper part, and what remains today is a massive, weathered ruin with naga staircases and stone elephants around its base.

For almost a century the stupa held the Emerald Buddha, now in Bangkok; a jade replica sits in its eastern niche today. In the same grounds stand the city pillar shrine and a large assembly hall. A Wat Chedi Luang tour with a guide brings these layers of history to life, and the temple is open daily from early morning until early evening, with a small entrance fee paid at the gate.

Wat Phan Tao: the Teak Wood Temple

Right next door, Wat Phan Tao is small but one of the most beautiful buildings in Chiang Mai. Its assembly hall is built entirely of dark teak panels that once formed part of a royal residence, and the wooden walls, carved gables and a peacock with spread feathers above the entrance show the finest Lanna woodwork. Inside, the dim light falls on a gilded Buddha surrounded by old wooden pillars.

The name Phan Tao means a thousand kilns, recalling the furnaces where bronze Buddha images were cast for the neighbouring Wat Chedi Luang. Behind the hall a small garden with a pond, a white chedi and bamboo creates a peaceful corner. During the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong lantern festivals in November, the temple is decorated with paper lanterns and becomes one of the city's favourite photo spots.

Wat Phra Singh: the Lion Buddha Temple

The walk ends at Wat Phra Singh, at the western end of Ratchadamnoen Road, founded in the 14th century and one of the most important temples of northern Thailand. Its small Viharn Lai Kham houses the Phra Buddha Sihing, the Lion Buddha, a revered bronze image carried through the streets each April during the Songkran new year so that residents can sprinkle it with water.

The walls of the Viharn Lai Kham are covered with rare Lanna murals showing everyday life, costumes and local stories, while the gilded chedi, the large main hall and the scripture library raised on a high stucco base complete the grounds. Is Wat Phra Singh worth visiting? It is many travellers' favourite temple in Chiang Mai, and your guide gives you about an hour to explore it.

Walking the Old City of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, whose name means new city, was founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna kingdom, and its square Old City is still surrounded by a moat, sections of brick wall and the corner bastions of the original defences. The main gates, such as Tha Phae Gate in the east and Chiang Mai Gate in the south, are landmarks today, and inside the walls quiet lanes are lined with temples, wooden houses, cafés and small guesthouses.

Between the temples, this Chiang Mai walking tour follows these lanes at an easy pace, with your guide pointing out Lanna-style roofs, spirit houses and the daily life of the neighbourhood. The best time to walk is the morning or late afternoon, especially from November to February when the air is cool and dry. The tour finishes at Wat Phra Singh, close to cafés and restaurants.