Wat Phra That Doi Wao

Wat Phra That Doi Wao sits on a hill above Mae Sai, Chiang Rai’s northernmost border town, with the chedi and viewpoint looking straight across the frontier into Tachileik, Myanmar. The temple grounds are free; a 150-metre glass skywalk added to the hillside in November 2023 is a separate ticketed extra.

The hill’s name, Doi Wao, means “Scorpion Hill” — local tradition holds that scorpions were once common here, and a large scorpion statue on the grounds nods to the name. The main chedi mixes Thai and Burmese design, gilded and visible from the market streets below. Some local accounts connect the temple’s history to 1965 fighting between Thai forces and Kuomintang remnant troops along this border, though the details vary between sources, so treat that as local tradition rather than settled fact.

Insider Tip: The skywalk (207 steps up, glass floor over the drop) is the newer draw and worth the separate 50 THB ticket for the border view — but the free viewpoint beside the chedi gives almost the same panorama over Mae Sai and Tachileik without the climb or the queue.

From the hilltop you can see the Mae Sai–Tachileik border crossing and market directly below, with Myanmar’s hills extending into the distance on a clear day. The site sits within Wat Phra That Doi Wao’s own hill park rather than a larger nature reserve, so the walk up is short.

Dress modestly — cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering any building. Sarongs are sometimes available at the entrance if needed. Early morning is quietest, before the border-crossing traffic and market below pick up. For other Mae Sai-district stops nearby, Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Non National Park and Pla Cave are both a short drive away.