The Trek to Wat Chaloem is One of the Most Epic Day Trips from Chiang Mai
If you’re looking for one of the most adventurous, off-the-beaten-track day trips from Chiang Mai then look no further than Wat Chaloem temple. No it’s not on the tourist radar yet, but yes it wholeheartedly deserves to be! It’s one of the best hidden travel destinations of Thailand and will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your trip to the north, if you make the pilgrimage to this stunning site. Read on for the lowdown on how to get yourself some of the action.
???? Header Photo Credit: Warin, ไทย: วัดเฉลิมพระเกียรติวรวิหาร / Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan
Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat and the Floating Pagodas
You might have heard people talk about floating pagodas and wondered what they’re talking about. Are they describing a temple floating around on a lake? Nope! Wat Chaloem ‘floats’ because of its insane location, perched on top of craggy limestone peaks and appearing to float above the plains below. Add in a bit of early morning mist and you’ve got yourself quite the sight!
It’s a fully functioning temple made up of several pagodas spread across rocky outcrops, and even the most atheist visitor would be forgiven for getting a shiver up their spine looking at this feat of religious engineering. It’s quite spectacular.