Chiang Mai Temple & Meditation Walking Tour With A Former Monk 1

I was lucky to get Mr. Katoon to myself for the day. He was extremely knowledgable on the Thai culture and Buddhist traditions. He answered my million questions with kindness and patience. I learned a lot on this tour and enjoyed myself.

I enjoyed this visit - 3 temples with a former monk who is knowledgeable of Buddhism and the history was a great value add.

Fantastic guide, truly got to take in the significance of each temple, practice meditation and learn the principles of being a monk/Buddhist (some of which we’ll try to adhere to going forward)!

It was an enriching experience for me. The Ex-Monk guide “Kartoon,” shared his learnings and insights about Buddhism, as he explained the various parts of the Chiang Mai temple complex. The history of the Lana kingdom and people is deeply imbedded in the design and construction of this temple complex. I also learned about the ancient practice of chanting and meditation! And actually want to try to join monks in chanting…. Before i leave Chiang Mai. Thank you, Kartoon!

This was an excellent experience (and our favorite guided tour in Thailand compared to 4 others). Our guide was knowledgeable, spoke great English and engaged us with thoughtful conversation about Thailand and Buddhism. I couldn’t recommend this more highly.

Oir guide, Katoon was kind and gentle, he knows a lot about history and budism philosophy. Also an excellent photographer. Thanks, we had a good time

Great tour of the city temples Katoon was great in explaining the history and the meaning of the temples with a Buddhist context It was a peak into how the temples integrate in the lives of the people not just walk walk among cool looking buildings

It was the best experience ever!!! Really was able to understand Buddhism better. highly recommend to everyone. Katoon was very knowledgeable, patient and absolutely amazing!!

The tour wa very well laid out and imformative. It was intetesting to get a petspective from a former monk I was ill that day and my guide took te tour slowly and helping me along the way. I would highly recommemd this tour.

A great tour. The temples are beautiful, but the tour guide, Katoon, took it from good to truly great. A former monk, his perspective was fascinating. I cannot recommend him strongly enough - smart, thoughtful and engaging.

Katoon spoke good English, was courteous and kind, and explained in detail what we were hoping for—a more detailed understanding of the origins and precepts of Buddhism, the background to the temples, and a better understanding of what we were witnessing. He was really helpful and we thoroughly appreciated the tour.

This was wonderful. Cartoon (sp) was so informative and devoted about sharing the Buddha’s ways. Wonderful advice for any human. First day in Thailand. A little overwhelmed about what to do for first day. This was a perfect introduction.

I totally recommend Katoon, great guide. Trust me you will not regret. He is very open to answer any question. As he was a monk this brings you to a better understanding of the religion and culture of this country.

I had a great time with Mr. Katoon. His knowledge in Buddhistism helps me to understand about the history of Buddha and the temples. Accommodating person and also fun to be around with. Thank you Mr. Katoon.

Katoon is a fantastically friendly, very knowledgeable guide. We all enjoyed learning about Buddhism and the temples we visited. Thank you Katoon

This was an excellent tour for learning about the history of Chiang Mai and Budhism. The guide was very kind and informative and happy to answer my many questions. I would definitely recommend this tour!

The tour guide Carton was great and we spent about half of the tour sat around the monasteries speaking about Buddhism and meditation. He used to be a teacher as well when he was a monk so he speaks very well in both English and mandarin (I speak both) and answered tons of our questions about Buddhism and meditation. The tour around the temples were great as well and very informative, but the philosophical touch made it very memorable!

Great unique experience! I luckily got to enjoy this tour 1 on 1. He was very kind and informative. I learned a lot and he took a lot of pictures as well. Definitely recommend everyone to take this tour. Thank you!!!!! 🙏🏽☺️

This is a really lovely way to see a few of the temples in Chiang Mai. Nothing is very far apart, so the walking is light. Our guide Cartoon, a former monk, gives a different point of view when seeing the temples. He's happy to introduce you to some Buddhist stories (I didn't know snakes represent protection in Buddhism until this tour!) and will answer any questions you have. He's patient (you get plenty of time to look around) and friendly. If you get to go around Chian Mai with him then I think you're lucky!

We truly enjoyed this warm & insightful tour with Mr. Katoon—beautiful temples & open to questions. We have learned a lot of interesting things about Buddhism. We asked a lot of questions and our guide always had our back with answers to them and more. This is definitely one of the better tours around temples in Chang Mai, because you can learn not only about the history, but also about Buddhism and life here in general.

We had a great time visiting temples and learning about Buddhism, Thailand, and Chiang Mai history from our very kind and knowledgeable tour guide. Would recommend this tour over and over again!

Very insightful, enjoyable and cultured walking tours. Learnt lots I did not know about Buddhism and Chiang Mai. Beautiful temples and our guide was extremely thoughtful to our needs, very informative whilst also creating a relaxed environment for the tour. Would definitely recommend.

Katoon was simply amazing. He took great care of my fiance and I, explained more than just surface-level details and added SO much to our appreciation for, and understanding of, Buddhist teachings, the monks and all of its history. Would 100% book this experience again.

M. Katoon was a very good guide, and give us a lot of details and informations about the différents temples. I recommand Katoon if you want to visite temple in Chiang Mai.

Ask for Cartoon. He was great. Spoke and understood English very well, he was easy to understand and had a great personality. He knew the history and explained the culture of the temples, architecture and history in a clear concise manner. This was a perfectly paced tour, we highly recommend and don’t forget to request Cartoon

One of the most special experiences I've ever had! Exploring Chiang Mai's temples with a guide who used to be a monk made the whole visit so much more meaningful. It's not just sightseeing - it's learning, connecting, and truly understanding Thai culture and Buddhism. If you want to go beyond the photos and really grasp the stories, rituals, and symbolism behind each temple, this tour is an absolute must-do! Perfect from start to finish

Katoon is a great guide. He explained many details of the temples in a clear and relatable way. We discussed Buddhist practices and teachings and compared them to what I know and how I was raised. I highly recommend this tour to anyone really interested in learning and discovering more about these magnificent temples.

An informative and engaging tour of the temples and surroundings. Our guide, Katoon spoke English very well, was happy to answer our questions and provided some great insights to the Buddhist way of life. We really enjoyed the experiences of meditating, being blessed by a monk and seeing so many different temples. Well paced, we didn’t feel rushed.

Khatom is the best tour guide I’ve ever had! Walking through Chiang Mai’s most important temples with him was such a unique experience. Having been a monk for 18 years, he shares not only history and architecture but also deep Buddhist insights. He’s kind, patient, and always ready to take photos. A truly authentic and unforgettable tour. Highly recommended!

Lovely experience Tour guide was very thoughtful, even waited a bit for me, since I was late I had fun learning about Thailand culture

Lovely experience, tour was very attentive I was a little bit late and he waited for me with no complaints Always a warm smile

Excellent tour. Our guide, Katoon, was very knowledgeable and friendly. He explained the city’s past history, kings, Buddhist teachings, and the life of monks. When entering the temple, he explained about the architecture, parts of buildings and their purposes, how to do Buddhist greetings and be respectful in a temple. We did meditation. Although its only the tour guide and me in this tour only, he explained and guided me very well. He explained the Buddha postures, monk blessings, and murals inside temple. The whole route is interesting. There are temples, stupa. The guide is very kind to take pictures and know the good spot to take photos. If you want to travel and learn, book this tour. Highly recommend it!

Katoon was our Guide. My husband and I were lucky enough to do the tour alone. He was attentive and kind. He explained the whole route very well. I highly recommend it.

Excellent tour. I just wish I did this much earlier in my trip because so much great information about Buddhism, Chiang Mai, and Thai culture was provided. The guide is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and speaks very good English. You will be happy you signed up for this. Highly recommend it!

Buddhist traditions. Having a former monk as our guide made all the difference—his firsthand knowledge gave me the confidence to navigate temples with respect, understand proper etiquette, and engage in meaningful experiences I wouldn’t have known I could participate in without his guidance. Beyond etiquette, he provided insightful explanations of Buddhist teachings, helping me understand the different philosophies within Buddhism. We even had a brief moment of meditation in a temple, which made the experience even more immersive. He also provided insight into monastic life, explaining the different temple buildings and their purposes, as well as monk blessings and the times of day monks chant, offering a comprehensive understanding of temple traditions. My guide, Katoon, was exceptional—friendly, easy to talk to, and fluent in English, making every explanation clear, relatable, and thought-provoking. He also welcomed me with a delicious breakfast of sticky rice and mango, a thoughtful way to start the day. For such an affordable price, the depth of knowledge, cultural confidence, and unique experiences you gain make this tour absolutely worth it. If you want an authentic, respectful, and insightful temple experience, this is a must. ✨ HIGHLY RECOMMEND! ✨

I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of Thai culture and Buddhist traditions. Having a former monk as a guide made all the difference—his firsthand knowledge gave me the confidence to navigate temples with respect, understand proper etiquette, and engage in meaningful experiences I wouldn’t have known I could participate in without his guidance. Beyond etiquette, he provided insightful explanations of Buddhist teachings, helping me understand the different philosophies within Buddhism. We even had a brief moment of meditation in a temple, which made the experience even more immersive. He also provided insight into monastic life, explaining the different temple buildings and their purposes, as well as monk blessings and the times of day monks chant, offering a comprehensive understanding of temple traditions. My guide, Katoon, was exceptional—friendly, easy to talk to, and fluent in English, making every explanation clear, relatable, and thought-provoking. He also welcomed me with a delicious breakfast of sticky rice and mango, a thoughtful way to start the day. For such an affordable price, the depth of knowledge, cultural confidence, and unique experiences you gain make this tour absolutely worth it. If you want an authentic, respectful, and insightful temple experience, this tour is a must! ✨ HIGHLY RECOMMEND! ✨

Excellent experience the guide ex monk Katoon is super friendly and warm plus he knows in depth the world of Buddhism, explains with a lot of kindness and takes very good photos. Experience 100% recommended if you want an in-depth knowledge of the history of Buddhism in Chang Mai and Thailand.

The tour is very complete and interesting and the katoon guide is very friendly as well as knowing very in depth important information of Buddhism in the temples. A more than recommended experience if you want to truly know about Buddhist ñ culture.