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First check out the FAQ Section
How to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand
Where is the Best Place to Get a Real Sak Yant Bamboo Tattoo in Thailand
How to Find the Best Sak Yant Experience in Thailand
The simple answer is the best place to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand is from a Real Sak Yant Master who is close to your physical location with the ability to communicate with you. Do not EVER get a Traditional Thai Tattoo from a Tattoo Parlor
While there are various factors that will differ (including the type of Rituals in the experience, the cost, and the quality of the tattoo itself) there is no single Sak Yant Master who is ‘better’ than any other. There are Sak Yant Masters and Temples that are more well known and popular – however no Sak Yant Master will ever use the words ‘best’, ‘better’ etc to describe other Sak Yant Masters.
Where to Get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand
Looking for the best place to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand? Getting a real Sak Yant tattoo in Thailand is actually a pretty easy thing to do. There are Sak Yant Temples with Monks who will perform the Tattoo and Blessing dotted around the country. There are also many independent Sak Yant Ajarn Masters listed throughout Google Maps and Facebook.
The simple answer for those people with a limited tour itinerary is the Sak Yant Master closest to where you are staying. This article will cover the most important considerations to think about to help make your choice deciding among your many options of getting a traditional tattoo in Thailand.
For those who know already that they will be in either Chiang Mai, Phuket or Bangkok you can skip to the separate articles highlingting these areas below
How to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Chiang Mai Link
How to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Bangkok Link
How to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Phuket Link
Things to Consider finding the Best Place to get a Sak Yant in Thailand
Avoid the Fake Sak Yant imitation 'Bamboo Tattoo' by Tattoo Shops
Tattoo Parlors and Tattoo Artists CAN’T do a Sak Yant Tattoo
Sak Yant tattoos are traditional tattoos that have been practiced in Thailand for centuries. They are ALWAYS done by Buddhist Monks or Sak Yant masters who use a steel rod called a Kem. Sak Yant tattoos are believed to have magical powers and are often used as protection against evil spirits or for good luck. The power of the Sak Yant comes from the spiritual practice and lifestyle of the Sak Yant Master.
The imitation Sak Yant Bamboo Tattoo Tourist Scam
Many tattoo studios all over Thailand will advertise bamboo tattoos, in the hopes of attracting tourists who have not done any research. A Tattoo artist can not only read the incorrect magical text on the designs the downloaded online – they also can’t administer any magic or power to the meaningless designs they create. Tattoo Artists advertising and providing fake Spiritual and Cultural tradition (like a Sak Yant) is very disrespectful.
Bamboo Tattoo is not the same thing as a Sak Yant
Perhaps the most important thing to realize, is that the “Traditional Thai Bamboo Tattoo” is not a real thing. It is a marketing gimmick made up around the year 2000 as Tattoo Artists started to capitalize on the growing popularity of the Real Sak Yant Tattoo. You can find out more in the article The History of Traditional Thai Bamboo Tattoo
Where are You in Thailand? Location Location Location
Location Matters
If you’re heading to Phuket or Bangkok, don’t bother looking for a Sak Yant Master in Chiang Mai. Most major cities in Thailand have legitimate Sak Yant Masters but avoid the small tourist islands as they lack authentic masters.
You will easily be able to find a real Sak Master by going to a search engine or Google Maps and type in “Sak Yant Near Me”.
Location vs. Cost
Location and cost are key when choosing where to get a Sak Yant in Thailand. Bangkok and Phuket are pricier due to the higher cost of living. If you only want one design, staying where you are, might be the cheaper option.
However, if you want multiple designs or a full back Sak Yant, flying to Chiang Mai, could save you money. Generally everything is cheaper in Chiang Mai and it could be worth the time and effort to call a few Sak Yant Ajarns and ask about pricing for the design you like.
You can read this article for a basic idea of the Cost of a Sak Yant in Thailand
The Quality of the Sak Yant Experience
Sak Yant’s are more than a Tattoo – they are a Spiritual Experience
Some of the highest rated and most popular places around Thailand to get a Sak Yant Tattoo the reviews talk about it being the best thing to do in Thailand – for many people a top life experience. If you want to have the same type of experience, then you will have to ensure a few things.
The Sak Yant Ritual
The Sak Yant ritual involves 3 aspects which go into making the ultimate Sak Yant Experience. Make sure which place you go to for a Sak Yant includes these aspects. The easiest way to know is to ask, the second best way is to have a look at the social media photos. Avoid any place that does not include photos of the Spiritualistic ritual including:
1) Making the offerring before the tattoo begins
2) The Tattoo Itself, both the hand-poked process and the results after it is finished
3) The Blessing and charging of power.
The Cost of a Sak Yant in Thailand
Living costs are higher in popular tourist areas, affecting Sak Yant prices. Sak Yants in Thailand range from $30 to $1200, depending on the design, location, and master.
Contrary to myths, Sak Yants have never been done for a donation of your choice. This is never something Thai people do and a myth created by travel bloggers who went to Wat Bang Phra and could not speak Thai and never asked how much to donate. You can read more about why Sak Yant Tattoos are not Free
Getting a Sak Yant involves two costs:
- Offering: 20-200 baht to show respect to the master.
- Donation: Varies based on the design’s size and complexity.
immitation Sak Yants from tattoo shops cost 2-4 times more than genuine ones from masters.
For more details on costs you can read “Cost of Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand”
Best Place to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand
1) Best Place to Get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand? - Sak Yant Chiang Mai
The best place to get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand is Sak Yant Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand A co-op of over 10 local masters, both Monks and Ajarns, providing authentic Sak Yant and blessings from Samnaks and Temples at half to a third the cost of Bangkok or Phuket
Sak Yant Chiang Mai was set up in 2017 when a few Temple Monks asked a guide they trusted to represent them in an official capacity. The Monks then invited other Sak Yant Masters they knew and Sak Yant Chiang Mai became the leading Sak Yant provider outside of Wat Bang Phra in Bangkok.
As a co-op of many different Masters Sak Yant Chiang Mai is able to provide both Temple Monks at the Temple and Ajarns working from their own Samnaks in the city center. And they can provide Sak Yant Tattoos in Thailand for less than both Bangkok and Phuket where the cost of living is much higher.
Sak Yant Chiang Mai has 100's of Reviews saying "Best Experience in Thailand"
Our job at Sak Yant Chiang Mai is to make your Sak Yant Choice Easy!
2) Best Place to Get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand? - Sak Yant Bangkok
Get a Sak Yant in Bangkok has options with multiple Masters and an English speaking guide to ensure you understand everything that is happening and fine tune your experience
If you are looking for a complete Experience the best place for a Sak Yant Tattoo in Bangkok is first and foremost at a business that replicates the same ethics and standards as Sak Yant Chiang Mai.
Sak Yant Bangkok provides an English speaking guide who will meet you take you to one of many different Sak Yant Masters in Bangkok. They help translate your intentions and desires for a unique and custom Sak Yant Tattoo in Bangkok.
Ajarn Ya is a well known and respected Sak Yant Master who is often referred to as the Saint of the Slums. Ajarn Ya’s Samnak is located in the Bangkok slums, where he regularly provides food and cash to the children in the area.
The same can be said about Ajarn God and Ajarn To who also work along side of Sak Yant Bangkok