How to Get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Chiang Mai (Complete Guide)

Comparing your Sak Yant Options

Different ways to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Chiang Mai

Getting a Sak Yant Tattoo in Chiang Mai is one of the most unique cultural experiences in Thailand, combining traditional Thai tattooing with centuries-old Buddhist and animist blessings. Whether you are seeking protection, good fortune, or personal transformation, Chiang Mai offers several authentic ways to receive a Sak Yant, from Temple Monks to experienced Ajarns trained in sacred tattoo practices. Understanding these options is essential, as each approach provides a very different experience in terms of setting, ritual, and level of comfort.

This guide explains exactly how to get a Sak Yant in Chiang Mai, including the differences between Monks and Ajarns, temple versus private settings, pricing expectations, and what to expect during the ceremony. Further down the page, you’ll find a clear breakdown of each option available, helping you choose the right Sak Yant experience based on your goals, budget, and level of authenticity you are looking for.

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Why get your Sak Yant in Chiang Mai?

At Sak Yant Chiang Mai, we’ve guided over 300,000 traditional Thai tattoo and blessing experiences since 2016. Our team brings together multiple respected Sak Yant masters, each trained in different Ajarn lineages with sacred practices passed down for hundreds of years. Northern Thailand offers a rich heritage of knowledge that has existed 8 times longer than the more well known Wat bang Phra Lineage

This unique combination allows us to offer a more complete and authentic Sak Yant experience, giving you access to a wider range of designs, blessings, and traditions in one place.

Over 1000+ 5 Star Reviews - The Best Place to get a Sak Yant in Chiang Mai

Quick comparison of Sak Yant options in Chiang Mai:

Option	Time	Cost	Comfort	Best For
In-House Ajarn Samnak Sak Yant	~1 hour	Low	High	Most visitors, easy experience, Males and Females
Ajarn + Monk (Temple)	~3+hours	Medium	Medium	Balanced traditional for Females and Couples
Monk at Temple	~3+ hours	Medium	Medium	Traditional seekers – Males Only
Ajarn at Samnak	~2–3 hours	Higher	High	Comfort + Authenticity
Private Monk Samnak	~3 hours	Higher	High	Private traditional experience

Monk vs Ajarn: What’s the Difference?

Sak Yant Tattoo by Ajarn

Former Monks, now full time Shamans
Females OK
Less formal and more relaxed situation
Able to take photos and videos
Sak Yants for personal desires allowed
Wider range of Magical skills
Include Thai Magic as well as Buddhist Blessings

Sak Yant Tattoo by Monk

Unable to preform Sak Yant on Females at a Temple (is able at our In-House Service)
More formal approach, requiring stricter protocols
Can not take photos of the Sak Yant getting done
Sometimes busy preforming Monks duties at Temples
Some designs are off limits due to personal over spiritual magical blessing

Sak Yant tattoos are done by Sak Yant Masters, who can be either Monks or Ajarns. Both must lead a spiritually dedicated life, involving daily meditation and strict ethical rules. This training usually begins at Buddhist monasteries, where Monks with a special aptitude or interest can further their knowledge at special temples. Most Sak Yant Masters achieve mastery while still Monks.

However, not all Monks choose to remain in the monastic life long-term, as some desire families or other pursuits. Those who leave but still wish to serve the community spiritually can become Ajarns.

Monk Sak Yant Masters reside in temples and perform other monastic duties, while Sak Yant Ajarns reintegrate into the community, offering counseling, magical services, and blessings. Unlike Monks, Ajarns follow fewer restrictive rules, allowing them to learn disciplines outside the temple, interact with women, drive cars, and engage in various everyday tasks.

Temple vs Samnak: Which Should You Choose?

Sak Yant at Temple

The Sak Yant Temple is where a Monk who preforms the traditional Thai Tattoos resides. Only Males are able to have a Sak Yant by a Monk at a Temple. Although at Sak Yant Chiang Mai we are able to provide a Monk at a Samnak and an Ajarn at the Temple (with Blessing from a Monk) for Females and couples wishing to go together.

Temples that preform Sak Yants are usually doing it because they need funds for additional buildings. So all of the Sak Yant Temples are smaller and rural Temples some 35-50km outside of Chiang Mai city.

In-House Sak Yant at Samnak

The Samnak is a holy room that has been especially created for the application of Sak Yant Tattoos, Magical Rituals and Blessings.

All Sak Yant Masters have their own Samnak where they preform the Sak Yant. Even Monks at Temples have a Samnak on the Temple grounds.

At Sak Yant Chiang Mai we have 3 Samnaks used for visiting Sak Yant Master Ajarns. Both Males and Females can have a Sak Yant at a Samnak and this is an excellent choice for couples, females or those who prefer a cheaper service without a 3 hour tour to a Temple

Choosing between a temple and a samnak for your Sak Yant experience depends on what you value most. A temple setting offers the old school romantic ideals that many people bring with them in prior expectations. It is a deeply traditional environment, often with monks performing the tattoo as part of a religious ritual, which can feel more spiritual but will involve longer wait times, less privacy, and less physical comfort.

A samnak, on the other hand, is typically run by an Ajarn and provides a quicker, cheaper and more comfortable experience, with greater flexibility.

At Sak Yant Chiang Mai we offer a variety of options for getting a Sak Yant Tattoo and Blessing. Both the Temple Visit and the In-house options have the same Traditional Rituals, including the offering and the Magical Blessing.

Different Sak Yant Options listed from Popularity and Cost

1) Get a Sak Yant in Chiang Mai In-House Ajarn Samnak Option

Males & Females

This option is available for Men, Females and Couples. This service is similar to both the Monk at Samnak and Ajarn at Samnak service but done in the old city at Sak Yant Chiang Mai – without the additional costs of the tour service.

Generally quicker (one hour appointments can be made rather than half day tours, more comfortable (carpet and AC rooms) and is cheaper since there is no tour or travel involved. Different Sak Yant Masters are In-House each day – usually Ajarns.

This service costs start at 2000-5500 baht which includes the donation (larger and complex designs are more). Each booking is for one hour and one person. Two people or larger designs will require two or more bookings.

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2) Get a Sak Yant in Chiang Mai from Ajarn and Blessing from Monk at Temple

Males, Females & Couples

This option is available for Men, Females and Couples; and only available from Sak Yant Chiang Mai. Here a Female is able to get a Sak Yant in Chiang Mai at a Temple. The Sak Yant itself is performed by a Sak Yant Ajarn and then the Sak Yant is blessed by the Monk at the Temple. While the Ajarn is perfectly capable of performing the Blessing, the Monks Blessing is an extra nice touch to the experience.

This option for for Females that really wish to experience the Sak Yant in Chiang Mai at a Temple or couples that want to share the experience together.

This service costs 3500 baht for the 3 hour tour plus the donation cost of the Sak Yant (starting at 1000 baht but depending on size). Additional people can go for 2000 baht if getting a Sak Yant or 500 baht if just watching.

Larger designs and each additional Sak Yant (If more than one wanted) an additional 500 Baht each design.

1 person can get a large design, 2 people small to medium size design, 3 people small to medium size

Morning Time = 2 people Max getting a Sak Yant
Afternoon Time = 3 People Max getting a Sak Yant

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3) Get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Chiang Mai by Monk at Temple

Males Only

This option is available only for Men, as a Monk will not provide a Sak Yant for a female at a Temple. Females will have to consider options 1 and 2.

For those wanting the full on experience there is a half day tour where you are driven to a Monk at their Temple. Sak Yant Chiang Mai has 3 or 4 Monks who offer this service to us.

The tour option will require following stricter protocols of behavior, standard of dress. Out at the Temples, it is physically less comfortable (concrete floors and no AC) and a tour will take about 3 hours, where you may need to wait for other people who arrived before you.

Larger designs and each additional Sak Yant (If more than one wanted) an additional 500 Baht each design.

1 person can get a large design, 2 people small to medium size design, 3 people small to medium size

Morning Time = 2 people Max getting a Sak Yant
Afternoon Time = 3 People Max getting a Sak Yant

We do recommend you book online a couple of weeks ahead of time to ensure availability of

More Details

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4) Sak Yant Master Ajarn at Their Samnak

Males, Females & Couples

This service is provided by most independent Sak Yant guides and tour services around Chiang Mai. At Sak Yant Chiang Mai we usually do not do this service since the Sak Yant Masters are coming to our location; saving you additional costs of hiring a guide and car.

However as many of our guests are returning, it is customary to have any additional Sak Yants performed by the same Master. We will provide this service if a guest is unable to book an appointment on a day their previous Master is available or if they wish to visit a particular Sak Yant Ajarn.

Ajarns usually live closer than Monks at their Temples so this service could cost 2500 baht for the tour plus the donation cost of the Sak Yant (starting at 1000 baht but depending on size). Ajarn Deang is a little further away so the cost for him is 3500 Baht.

Larger designs and each additional Sak Yant (If more than one wanted) an additional 500 Baht each design.

1 person can get a large design, 2 people small to medium size design, 3 people small to medium size

Morning Time = 2 people Max getting a Sak Yant
Afternoon Time = 3 People Max getting a Sak Yant

5) Get a Sak Yant from Monk Ajarn Rung in Chiang Mai Samnak

Males, Females & Couples

This option is available for Men, Females and Couples. In Chiang Mai, Rung Monk is a Sak Yant Master who spends most of his day at his Sak Yant Samnak providing Sak Yant in Chiang Mai for a variety of Sak Yant providers in Chiang Mai.

A Visit to Ajarn Rung is available from a couple of Sak Yant Providers. Where Sidewalks End (WSE) charge 9,500 baht for a small design and lunch. At Sak Yant Chiang Mai the same service costs 3500 baht for the tour plus the donation cost of the Sak Yant.

Rung Monk is accustomed to a higher donation price (almost double what other Monks and Sak Yant Masters desire) due to his service being used by Western owned travel services. Preferring to keep the Sak Yant Experience affordable we usually recommend option 2.

If someone particularly wishes to go to Ajarn Rung at his Samnak, we can go there. However the donation costs will be higher than we quoted on our Sak Yant pricing page as all the other Sak Yant Masters in our co-op have agreed to lower price standardization.

Book Additional People on your Sak Yant Tattoo in Chiang Mai Experience

2000 Baht Extra per Person getting a Sak Yant (Save 1500 Baht)

500 Baht for friends just wanting to watch

Our In-house service, it is free for your friends to watch

Our job at Sak Yant Chiang Mai is to make your Sak Yant Choice Easy!

We know that making the choice of where to get a Sak Yant in Chiang Mai can be confusing. We will talk with you about your desires and intentions and choice of designs. We will make sure you understand the process and how to act when in front of a Sak Yant Master and receiving a Tattoo. We will provide you with the Rules after obtaining a Traditional Thai Tattoo and provide medicated ointment. We go above and beyond anyone else making Sak Yant Chiang Mai the best place for finding out how to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Chiang Mai, Thailand