🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Phrachomklao Rachanuson — or what locals just call Wat Phra Phutthabat Pu Pha Daeng — sits in Ban Thung Thong, Wichetnakhon subdistrict, Chae Hom district, about 50 km north of Lampang town. What makes the temple stick in your memory are the rows of small white stupas perched along the limestone ridge; from a distance they look like they're floating in the sky. Compared with the famous temples in town, far fewer people have made it out here.
Why people make the trip
The pull of this place is its setting. The pavilions and stupas sit around 815 metres above sea level, clinging to a limestone crag that juts up from the plain. Once you reach the top, the view opens up all around you — rice fields and the mountains of Chae Hom in every direction. The white stupas scattered along the ridge were, as the story goes, built one by one from the locals' faith over more than ten years, adding up to more than a dozen in total. The summit is also where a sacred Buddha footprint is enshrined.
- White stupas along the ridge — the main photo spot that put this temple on the map. The small stupas step along the limestone, and you can frame them up close or from afar.
- 360-degree view — from the top you see the Chae Hom rice fields and the surrounding mountain ranges, with a chance of a thin morning mist in the early hours.
- The Buddha footprint — the place of worship at the summit, and the source of the name Wat Phra Phutthabat Pu Pha Daeng.
- Golden stupa and white stupa cluster — there's a gold-coloured stupa plus a group of white stupas along the cliff face to stop and pay respects to on the way up.
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How the climb works
This is the part to brace yourself for, because you can't drive your own car all the way to the top. The road up is steep and narrow, and you have to use the temple's shuttle vehicles only. Here's roughly how it goes.
From the car park to the summit stupas
On the shuttle fee — straight talk
The fee for the shuttle up the mountain gets reported differently depending on the source and the time you go. Some put it at a flat charter of around 600 THB per truck round trip (seats about 10 people, so roughly 60 THB each), while at other times it's charged per head at around 100 THB for the up-and-down. If only a few of you turn up, you may have to wait to fill the truck with another group. Bring cash and double-check with the staff at the car park when you're there.
When the view looks best
The view opens up best in the cool season, roughly November to February — clear skies, cool air, and a chance of thin morning mist. As for the time of day, go in the morning: the sun isn't harsh yet while you climb the stairs, and the morning light makes the white stupas stand out against the sky. By late afternoon it gets hot and you're shooting into the light.
- Best season — Nov–Feb: cool air, clear skies, open views
- Best time of day — morning, around 8:00–10:00, before the sun gets harsh and the light is good
- What to avoid — rainy days or just after rain, when the stairs and the climb get slippery
- Shuttle hours — generally around 7:30–16:30 (sometimes until 17:00); head up before afternoon so you have time to come back down
What to bring and prepare
Shoes and clothing
Wear sneakers or shoes you can climb stairs in comfortably, skip the flip-flops, and dress modestly since it's a temple.
Water and a hat/umbrella
Those 300-plus steps are tougher than they look — carry water, and bring a hat or umbrella for the shadeless summit.
Cash
The shuttle fee and any merit-making are cash only — there are no shops or card machines up top, so bring small notes.
Health and small kids
The climb is steep with a lot of steps. If your knees aren't great, you're older, or you're bringing small children, gauge your stamina first, take it slow, and rest in stages.
Getting to the temple
From Lampang town, drive Highway 1035 toward Chae Hom district, about 50 km, roughly 1 hour, then turn into Ban Thung Thong following the signs to the temple. The last stretch is a rural road, but a regular car handles it fine all the way to the car park. If you don't have your own vehicle, renting a car or chartering one from town for the day is the way to go — public transport barely reaches this spot, and you'd still have to take the temple shuttle up the mountain anyway.
Make a full day of it
Since the temple is out toward Chae Hom, it pairs easily with the nature spots in northern Lampang. Climb Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat in the morning, then carry on to Chae Son National Park in the afternoon for a soak in the hot springs, or stop at a temple or café on the drive back to town — that's a full day right there.
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