Wat Luang Khun Win

Very old temple in the middle of jungle. Very calming and peaceful environment. A place where nature and human are in synergy. Incredible temple to visit. Free to enter and walk around, no tickets needed. I feel like not many tourists visit this place, so it's quite empty. At least it was during my visit on Saturday.

The road towards this place is very narrow with lots of steep hills and sharp turns. Place is about 2 hours drive from Chiang Mai. Plenty of parking in front, and parking is free.

It’s breathtaking beautiful! When walking in the temple people would immerse in the peaceful atmosphere and 700+ years history. The road to the temple is quite rough, quite challenging for big bikes and city cars.

Date of visit : Mon 4 Nov 2022
Time : 10.30 am

This is probably a hidden gem out to the west of Chiangmai city in the hills. Although listed as about 1.5 hrs from the city, it’s off-road or dirt track once we hit the hills. The track is also quite narrow. It took us about easily 3 hrs and you’d need a 4 WD. We also avoided the weekends.

The temple consists of 2 parts : the new and the old. The Buddha is all carved in wood. The Sleeping Buddha is so serene and beautiful.

Guarding the new temple are the Nagas, 2 majestic dragon like serpent guardian angels at the beginning of the flight of stairs leading up to the temple. Absolutely grand and mystic creatures !

All in all, a peaceful setting for the off the beaten track adventurers. Highly recommended !

The ancient temple with age more than 700 years old. You need to go by 4x4 car or take the local truck to go up to the temple.

The way up is so adventurous (around 1 hr in small, bumpy road up the hill). Small sedan/eco car can still make it though. Be cautious if you would like to go during rainy season. Roads up would definitely be muddy making it more difficult.

The temples up there are beautiful. Serene and peaceful environment, totally no phone signal. It was really cooling and humid up there! Nice.

Wat Luang Khun Win is one of the most impressive temples (especially the location) I have ever been to. It was hot and covered with smog in Chiang Mai and you come to a different world when you arrive at this location. Forest is still green and much cooler (due to high the elevation) and felt very comfortable. The whole atmosphere is soothing and peaceful. The temple is said to be around 700 years old and there are various photographs of senior monks and prominent personal is displayed in the pavilion with the standing Buddha statue. Most of the buildings and buddha statues and decorations are made by wood. There are kutis (where monks live) integrated into the forest around the temple premises (out of bounds for visitors) also made. The Naga stairs with unique steps and the wooden pavilion with a reclining Buddha statue impressed me.
Once you arrive Wat Sop Win (temple on the main road, about 1-1.5 hrs from Chiang Mai), you need to park your vehicle at the parking area of the transport hub. Driving a normal car to the Wat Luang Khun Win temple is not recommended (unless your vehicle is offroad capable) as the road is only a dirt track (at least most of the road). I paid THB800 (return, regardless how many passengers) for the transport (my one was a Songthaew. But there are different vehicles, mostly pickups waiting on the queue) and didn't have to worry about where to go as the directions are only in Thai (if any). The approx. 5km trip from the transport hub to the temple took almost an hour but it is an unforgettable trip as you pass local villages and interesting landscape. There is also a viewpoint where you can stop to view of the mountains and the valley (I couldn't see much due to the smog which is common during this time of the year). If you have time, this should be one of your must do things during your visit to Chiang Mai.
Please note that there are no possibilities to buy food/drinks at the temple area. This is good as no littering and place is kept clean. Also, a free Wi-Fi service is available at the temple. Toilettes are very clean and well maintained. In fact, the whole temple area is cleaned (including path ways) regularly.

Temple complex hidden in the forest at the end of a small road. Beautiful wood carvings on the outer and inner walls of the temple. Majestic lying Buddha in one temple and a large wooden standing Buddha in another.
Site is well-maintained.
Although it will take more than hour from Chiang Mai to reach this place, it’s well worth it.

It's a jewel hidden in the jungle. You have to earn it by making a journey in 4x4.
One of the best things I have ever done in Thailand

Wooden temple and wooden Buddha! Very beautiful up high mountain in Chiangmai. If the weather is nice , can do hiking 10 km to the temple from parking lot

A hidden gem in the mountains. It takes around 2 hours from Chiang Mai old town, but it might actually take a bit more. The temple’s location is on a hill deep within the forest, the journey is filled with rugged paths. It is recommended to use a four-wheel drive or park at the Wat Luang Khun Win Tourist Center – Ban Huai Yuak and run a village rural transport service. Great experience and worth to visit. ✨❤✨

Beautiful wooden wat set deep in the forest. A winding, steep dirt road leads to the temple complex. An absolute must stop location. An enormous teak Buddha is housed in the complex.

Must visit in lifetime.

Almost 2 hours from inner Chieng Mai.
If you don't drive off road or pickup truck and do not have driving up hill experience , please rent Villager transport.

Place is historic and beautiful.

Must visit.

A beautiful old Temple must have to visit in this area.
The almost main Architecture is built of wood and the buddha inside is made from wood too.
At the entrance of the temple have an awesome stair that looks like the skin of Naka
and nearby the main building have another old one that is a library so very beautiful and seems to be a traditional architecture of Lanna
At the front of the main entrance near the parking, can have a drink made by organic coffee beans and will see the process of making coffee there too

After hiking 12 km, on top of a hill in middle of thick tropical jungle, you will find Wat Luang Khun Win temple. Absolutely a spectacular view, to see a functioning 800 years wooden temple. On top of that it was great to randomly meet David Blaine their with his 20-man camera crew.

Fantastic temple in the middle jungle. So nice and clam.

Road from Google maps works perfectly fine and goes the whole way there, the road is definately bumpy and tough but see many sedans and small motorbikes making the journey too, busy on the weekend. Beautiful nice temple and peacefull nice atmosphere... Worth the trip...

This is amazing journey, the road to this temple is unbelievable , if rainy season have 4x4

Off-road trail, please contact the villager to visit the Temple. Normal car, e.g., sedan cannot drive through the trail.

Peaceful and beautiful place.

Lan-Na architecture and natural.

Amazing temple. However, the northern approach is not doable with a regular car. You absolutely need to take the approach from south of Chiang Mai. I love enduro and off road and was so impressed our Xc60 Volvo cooperated, but in reality that’s a totally crazy way to approach. Also the road shown by google ends up in a small village without a way through. One must turn at a big tree and then some time after there is a Thai direction sign again. Locals will confirm that the off-road approach is too dangerous.

If you drive anything other than a Land Cruiser or big pickup don’t try to follow google maps from the northern approach.

The peaceful place for mind practicing, vibe around was very good and can feel calm inside once you have step into the temple area, way ylto the temple was so rough better to have 4 wheels drive to the temple and of course the road probably have cut of during rainy season, motor bike can but be very careful