Get a Sak Yant Tattoo by Monk at Temple
Get a Sak Yant Tattoo at a Temple by a Monk | Men & Women
Getting a Sak Yant Tattoo by a Monk at a Temple is one of the most Spiritual adventures you can have in Thailand. Following are details of Sak Yant Chiang Mai's Monk Temple Visit for a Sak Yant Monk Tattoo and Blessing for both Males and Females.
Getting a Monk Tattoo at a Sak Yant Temple in Thailand
The Spiritual Journey of Getting a Sak Yant Tattoo by a Monk at a Temple
Embarking on the path to obtaining a Sak Yant Temple Tattoo is not just about acquiring a beautiful piece of body art; it is a deeply spiritual journey. The Sak Yant, also known as Yantra tattooing, is an ancient form of tattooing that originates from Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. These Monk Tattoos are believed to be imbued with magical powers and blessings, and they are traditionally applied by Monks or Ajarns (masters). For those searching “Sak Yant Tattoo by Monk,” the experience goes far beyond the ink and needle—it’s about connecting with centuries-old traditions and receiving a sacred blessing.
Getting a Sak Yant Tattoo by a Monk at a Temple - A Transformative Experience
Getting a Sak Yant tattoo by a monk at a temple is a transformative experience. It’s a journey that combines physical endurance, spiritual awakening, and cultural immersion. The tattoo becomes a living part of you, a constant reminder of the blessings and protection bestowed upon you with your Monk Tattoo or as a reminder of your adventures while in Thailand.
For many, this experience is a turning point—a moment where the spiritual and the physical intersect, leaving a permanent mark that goes far beyond the skin. It’s a testament to the power of tradition, the sanctity of the monk’s craft, and the enduring appeal of the Sak Yant tattoo.
Coolest Adventure in Chiang Mai, Thailand
If you’re considering this sacred journey, approach it with an open heart and a respectful mind. The rewards are profound, offering not just a tattoo, but a lifelong connection to a rich spiritual heritage.
As the Sak Yant Monk prepares you for your authentic Thai Tattoo, you are surrounded by Buddhist statues, ancient Sak Yant relics, the faint scent of incense and sometimes the chanting of Temple Monks in the Background. Getting a Sak Yant Tattoo at a Temple by a Monk creates a magical emotional connection to Sak Yant you are about to receive.
Monk Tattoo from a Sak Yant Temple in Chiang Mai
Sak Yant Temple Highlights
3-4 Hour Tour to a remote location to visit a Temple Sak Yant Monk
Learn how to preform the proper protocol at Temples
Talk with Staff and Monk about your Magical Intentions
Receive the Traditional Thai Sak Yant Tattoo
Receive the Magical Blessing for the Sak Yant.
Return for Aftercare instructions and ointment
The following is the Sak Yant Chiang Mai Experience for visiting and getting a Sak Yant Tattoo by Monk at a Temple. It is important to know, that if you are looking for where to get a Sak Yant by Monk, that only Males are able to receive the Sak Yant within the Temple grounds. Females are still able to get a Sak Yant Tattoo at a Temple – however the Sak Yant itself is made by a Sak Yant Ajarn, and the Monk will bless it afterwards.
Sak Yant by Temple Monk Options
Sak Yant Chiang Mai is the only place in Thailand where a female can get a Sak Yant Tattoo at a Thai Temple or from a Monk. Here we compare the options between Males and Females (or Couples wishing to have the experience together). They are
- Sak Yant Monk Tattoo at Temple by Monk – Males Only – Males can receive a Sak Yant Tattoo by a Monk at a Temple
- Sak Yant at Temple by Ajarn | Blessing by Monk Having a Sak Yant Ajarn perform the actual Sak Yant at the Temple for females and having the Monk do the Blessing
1) Sak Yant by Monk at Temple for Males Only
Visit a working Sak Yant Monk at their rural temple and experience the Sak Yant Tradition old school style. Males are still able to get a Sak Yant at Temples by a Monk and females may watch but not get a Sak Yant themselves.
Males Only
2) Sak Yant at Temple by Ajarn, Blessing by Monk | for Females or Couples
Temple Visit Times
Monday-Saturday
9.00 am – 12.30 pm
1.30 pm – 5.30 pm
Tour Departure Location
Tour guide will pick up and drop off at our store location in Chiang Mai Old City. We do not pick you up from your hotel as you need to be prepared before going to receive your Sak Yant, and we apply aftercare – this must be done from our shop location. Come a few minutes early. Click Here for Map
Cost of Temple Sak Yant
3500 Baht
Extra Person getting Sak Yant 2000 Baht
Extra Person watching only 500 Baht
Monk Donation Starts: ฿ 1000 for small size Sak Yant
Larger or more than one Sak Yant design additional 500 Baht
Restrictions
2 people can go on Morning Tour
3 people in Afternoon Tour
Tidy Dress Required
What to Expect Getting a Sak Yant Monk Tattoo at a Temple
Thai Tattoo by Monk at a Sak Yant Temple process
You will come to Sak Yant Chiang Mai at our shop location on the day of your appointment in the Old City located at 27Arak Road. Click Here for Map
Arrive 10-15 minutes before so that the staff can make sure you are suitably dressed (and provide clothes if not), and brief you on the Tour. The Staff will guide you through the selection of the design, often suggesting one that suits your spiritual needs or personal circumstances. This personalized touch ensures that the tattoo is not just a piece of art but a meaningful talisman tailored to you.
Once we start, we will take you to a local market to purchase your offerings. The Offering usually involves 12 flowers, some incense, cigarettes, food, water, which we buy as part of our Tour Service.
Preparation
Before the tattooing begins, a ceremony usually takes place where offerings such as flowers, incense, and other symbolic items are presented to the spirits and deities. This ritual is a form of showing respect and asking for blessings. It’s a moment of reflection and meditation, preparing both the body and mind for the sacred process. You then bow 3 times (Video of how to do this in the FAQ section below)
Receiving the Monk Tattoo
The tattooing is typically done using a traditional metal needle, and the process can be quite different from modern tattoo methods.
During the tattooing, the monk may chant prayers and mantras, infusing the tattoo with spiritual power. The process can be painful, but it is also meditative, with each puncture a step deeper into the sacred.
After the Sak Yant at a Temple is Finished
After the Sak Yant it is completed, you will turn around and again bow 3 times to thank the monk.
Now is time for the blessing. Usually you will take your offering and both you and the monk will hold onto it for a few minutes while the Monk recites the blessing incantation. This is the magical part of the Sak Yant experience.
Staff Tip’s
Salaries in Thailand are very low, around US$300 per month, and every person employed in hospitality relies on Tip’s to make up for the low salaries. If you feel like a tip has been earned – the staff appreciate more than you can know
Getting a Sak Yant by a Monk at a Temple FAQ
A common myths regarding Thai Monks and Sak Yant Tattoos is that a ‘Monk can not touch a Female’. This is not true with regards to how Monks must behave in Thailand or prevents Monks from Touching Females. However it is Thai customs and culture that says females should not touch Monks, and while Monks are allowed to touch females, they tend not to as part of Thailand’s traditions not so much Monk restrictions.
Part of this self imposed restrictions means that Sak Yant Monks will not preform Sak Yant Monk Tattoos on females at a Temple. However Monks can bless the Monk Tattoo at a Temple, after an Ajarn has made it.
At Sak Yant Chiang Mai, we provide this option for females and couples who want to share the Sak Yant Experience getting their traditional Thai Monk Tattoo at the Temple.
A Sak Yant Monk is a Buddhist Monk who has specialized in the secret knowledge of magic and blessings associated with the Sak Yant Traditions. While all Buddhist Monks can give Blessings, the Sak Yant Monk has spent years studying ancient texts, different languages and the application of Bamboo Hand Poked Tattooing.
It is only the Sak Yant Monks who are able to provide the traditional Thai Monk Tattoo or Sak Yant.
We are a small company that provides a totally unique experience. The reality is that our limited Tour services are booked by customers several weeks and months in advance. If can be difficult to book a Sak Yant if you are only allowing a few days notice.
Booking your Sak Yant Online
This is by far the best option. We use an Online Booking system that lists each type of Sak Yant Service (Go here for details) on the days that they are available. Each Booking absolutely requires a reservation deposit to confirm complete the booking.
Booking at the Sak Yant Chiang Mai Office
We use the exact same Online system at our Office. However sometimes when the Booking Calendar does not allow you to make a booking because the time slot has been taken, we are able to manually do a double booking. If you are in Chiang Mai come on in and see us at our Old City Store Location
The main reason you would want to book a Sak Yant tattoo ahead of time, is because if you do not, someone else will; leaving no spare appointments for walk-in guest. This is especially true during the months of September – April, when Chiang Mai has it’s peak visitor season.
At Sak Yant Chiang Mai, we also need to plan which Sak Yant Master should come into our shop on each day. For our own ease we offer the Online booking option at 500 baht cheaper than the walk-in option.
If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment, we offer a full refund if you let us know within 3 days of your appointment. After this time, your booking fee is paid to the Monk as a donation, because they have already traveled the 40km from their Temples to see you.
There are several reasons but the bottom line, is that we are unable to provide every request with an appointment. Most of our guests are booked weeks and sometimes months in advance. Because of this we started the In-house service which has quickly also become full as well (although it is possible to sometimes get a booking by walking into our store or online a day or 2 ahead).
The honest truth is, we have enough guests who are very dedicated and serious about receiving a Sak Yant Tattoo, so we do not have the need, time or resources to accommodate people who are looking for a tourist tattoo.
We take the Sak Yant Tattoo Experience seriously! As Thai people, Sak Yant Chiang Mai staff, respect the Monks more than it is possible for a westerner to comprehend. As such we attempt to ensure that anyone we take to visit the Monks is also coming for genuine and sincere reasons. Any cancellations or failure to turn up by a guest, we ensure the Monk or Ajarn receive the deposit for the time they committed to preforming the Sak Yant.
Normally If you advise us of a cancellation within 3 days of the event we will refund in full your booking fee. If less than 3 days we will refund your deposit if another guest books the time slot.
However the corona virus situation resulted in 100 cancellations and has exhausted our bank accounts. Now we are unable to refund your booking but will credit it for your next trip to Thailand or refund it when business resumes back to normal
I am a Travel Blogger, can I get an Affiliate Commission if I write a Blog Post?
We appreciate that Digital Nomads need to earn an income from their websites (as indeed we use our website to earn a living) and that generally bloggers take tours from companies that offer affiliate marketing commissions and incentives if you write a Blog Post and have an affiliate link. However companies that offer affiliate incentives charge 2-4 times the price of our services, and your readers quickly ascertain you have your interests above providing information.
Sadly the short answer is No, we do not offer affiliate links for our service. While we understand the benefits of being able to offer incentives for marketing support in the way of blog post promotion – we have Monks on premises and have to follow ethical considerations.
The reality is when dealing with real Monks, we have to do our best to preserve their dignity and position in Thai society and offering affiliate marketing is going to far into commercialization of the experience we offer. We have also seen the results of blog posts written for affiliate commissions, which tend to be the same articles (copy provided by the tour company) repeated over and over in each article. If a guest wants to write a blogpost about their experience we do our best to assist them. But we feel our service and standards are best reported in our ratings and reviews, and do not feel the need to make snide comments (about genuineness) about other providers as you will find in paid for articles.
Yes
Understand that just like any other tour, you do not get to bring a friend along for free just because they want to look and not participate. At Sak Yant Chiang Mai, we charge a much reduced rate for additional people (and less for observers) but the bottom line is that this is a tour and while your friends are welcome to come and share the experience with you – just like the Elephant Camps, or Tiger visits – you do not get in for free just because you do not want to feed or bathe the Elephants, or touch the Tigers.
With our In-house service, your friends can watch for free
Etiquette for getting a Sak Yant Tattoo at a Temple
After you enter the Sak Yant Temple and sit in front of the Monk. You will greet the monk, with a “Wai” and keep your body lower than the Sak Yant Monk. This is done 3 times.
It is polite to first wai to the Temple Monk as is a sign of respect to the position of monk or elder. You will present your small “offering to the spirits” before the Sak Yant ceremony begins.
The Offering is showing respect to the monk that is going to do Sak Yant for you. Its a way to show them that you are prepared to accept their magic power and trust their skills.
This offering should be arranged on a tray which is included flowers, incense and a candle and the money offing. The monk will have a small accepting ceremony of the offering, on behalf of the spirits.
First thing you have to do is bow 3 times to respect as Buddhism way;
1 for Buddha
2 for Buddhism
3 for the Monk
Want to Get a Sak Yant?
Sak Yant Chiang Mai is Thailand’s leading Sak Yant provider – Over 10 Independent Sak Yant Masters working in Hygienic and comfortable Samnaks
Temple Sak Yant by Monk Location:
27 Arak Road
Chiang Mai
50200
Special Temple Monk Discount!
Bring your Friends!
Book Additional People on your Sak Yant Tattoo Experience
2000 Baht Extra per Person getting a Sak Yant
500 Baht for friends just wanting to watch
Our In-house service, it is free for your friends to watch
Get Real & Blessed Buddhist Prayer Beads
A range of Buddhist Beans available from our Store or Online Store.