Nestled in the jungle and accessible via a road that, for the last five kilometers, resembles a bumpy dirt track, lies Wat Luang Khun Win, an ancient temple said to be over 700 years old. Largely unknown to foreign tourists, it has seen a surge in visits from Thais since the construction of the staircase and the new pavilion, and especially since numerous social media posts showcasing its beauty. I have little information about the history of Wat Luang Khun Win, as there is hardly any information about it online, and the only monk I saw was unavailable for discussion. However, the location in the heart of the jungle, the beauty of the Naga staircase with its unique steps, and the small wooden pavilion with the reclining Buddha alone make the detour worthwhile! A somewhat challenging detour (see below).

Wat Luang Khun Win is located in the Mae Wang district, about 60 kilometers east of Chiang Mai. The drive there takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. For the last 5 kilometers, which are on a dirt jungle track, you'll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle (4x4). If you don't have your own vehicle, there's a parking area where you can stop and hire a pickup truck to take you the last 5 km (600 THB per vehicle, regardless of the number of passengers). I planned a detour to Wat Luang Khun Win on my way to Doi Inthanon (allow an extra 1 hour and 30 minutes for turning off the main road, the return trip, and visiting the temple). The road winds through beautiful mountain scenery and rice paddies before it enters the jungle. My trekking guide friend, with whom I was there, was enthusiastic about this temple and will soon be including it in one of his tours to Doi Inthanon. If you're interested, contact him using the form at the bottom of this page.

Wat Luang Khun Win is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Luang Khun Win? Wat Luang Khun Win is located in the Mae Wang district, about 60 kilometers east of Chiang Mai. The drive takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. For the last 5 kilometers, which are on a dirt jungle track, you'll need a 4x4 vehicle. If you don't have your own car, there's a parking area where you can stop and hire a pickup truck to take you the last 5 km (600 THB per vehicle, regardless of the number of passengers). I planned a detour to Wat Luang Khun Win on my way to Doi Inthanon (allow an extra 1 hour and 30 minutes for the turnoff from the main road and back, as well as for visiting the temple). The road winds through beautiful mountain scenery and rice paddies before it enters the jungle. My trekking guide friend, with whom I was there, was enthusiastic about this temple and will soon be including it in one of his tours to Doi Inthanon. If you are interested, please contact Tee using the form at the bottom of this page.