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If you would like to reserve space for your Sak Yant in Bangkok, you can see availability right in the calendar below. It will be a private tour for you, so as soon as you book we will block off that time slot from anyone else as well.
Though the experience should only take between 3-5 hours from pick-up to drop-off, we suggest planning it for a day you have nothing else planned, as times may need to shift slightly, and you may be tired after your tattoo.
To book your experience, you can select the number of people (including observers/support guests not getting a sak yant), the total number of sak yant desired by you or your private group, select the date and available time, and proceed to Book Now.
Please make sure all 4 fields are properly selected for the Book Now field to appear.
Upon completion of your online reservation, within a few minutes, you will get a welcome email requesting some additional information (such as pickup location and passport details), sent to the email you use during checkout (if you don’t see it, it may be in your junk-mail folder). Please reply to that as soon as you can.
Is the date you’re looking for not available? Consider booking with another ajarn for a sak yant in Bangkok, or another city, such as our sak yant in Chiang Mai or Sak Yant in Phuket.
Please note: This experience includes ‘up to’ a medium size, medium detailed sak yant (examples below). If you would like larger or more detailed yantras, please let us know in your customer notes when making your booking (they come at an extra cost, depending on size/detail, payable locally).
Please also note: Songkran Festival is a holiday in Thailand, and Sak Yant will not be available during this time (April 13-16)! This is another opportunity to consider getting a sak yant on another date or in another city before or after your visit to Bangkok.
We believe that the ancient art of the Sak Yant in Bangkok (bamboo tattoo) is one of the most personal and spiritual experiences one can have in this part of South East Asia. We feel that this experience is best enjoyed with someone who understands the process, in addition to having an Ajarn (tattoo master) who faithfully takes his work seriously. We think the quality of the yantra, in addition to having proper sterilization of the equipment, adds to your experience of being able to enter the process with the assurance that everything will be ok afterward.
By sourcing one of Bangkok’s most revered Ajarns, and adequately training our Travel Gurus (local guide experts), we have carefully crafted one of the most culturally immersive, mindful experiences one could hope for while getting ‘inked’ in an ancient form.
If you are looking for a specific protection/aid in life, a spiritual connection to the east, or a travel memory that will last a lifetime, this may be what you’ve been seeking.
Please Note: Price is all-inclusive of a consultation and a medium-sized sak yant (about the size of an average hand), though it is possible the Ajarn may ask for an additional sum if you would prefer to choose your own design or a larger yant, rather than one he has chosen based on your expressed needs. We include up to an hour session with the ajarn (this includes both the time for consultation, translations, questions, and answers) as well as the yantra (which are much faster than tattoo machines). Each additional 30 mins needed for larger or more detailed yantras is about $100 USD or 3200 THB (which can be paid locally to the ajarn in cash). It depends on how big, how much time, and how much detail is being added, though if you are planning on getting something bigger/more detailed than what we include, we need to let him know in advance, as he blocks time slots for each reservation, and may already have the time after your reservation filled up.
Want more info on getting a Sak Yant in Bangkok? Please visit our FAQ – Sak Yant resource guide!
Thinking of getting multiple Sak Yant in Bangkok on the same day? Travelling as a couple or with a friend and want to share the experience? Since you do not need to hire a guide twice, a discount* will automatically be applied as you increase the number of sak yant.
*No bulk discounts are available for single yant purchases or for multi-day bookings.
Interested in hiring a private guide for more adventures around Bangkok? Book your licensed tour guide here on our Bangkok Local Experience.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Pick-up Point | Your hotel or Airbnb in Bangkok city – your hotel info can be emailed to us after your online reservation – must be within central Bangkok City – for hotels outside of the pickup zone, a central meeting point can be arranged |
| Drop-off Point | Your Bangkok Hotel |
| Duration | Between 3-5 hours (depending on the distance of your hotel, and duration of your consultation) |
| Physical Level | Moderate (some pain is involved – varies depending on the location of the tattoo, and your own tolerance) |
| Cultural Rating | High – Deep cultural exchange |
| Ages | 18+ (must be 18 or older for getting tattoos – observers may be younger) |
| Group Size | Private – Max 4 sak yant/people per booking (larger groups may be possible on request) |
On the day of your Sak Yant ceremony, we will have a Travel Guru (local guide) meet you at your hotel or an agreed-upon location. You will travel together to a rural area of the city of Bangkok, in which a revered Ajarn’s samnak (traditional sak yant studio) is located. Upon arrival, you will begin to feel the authenticity and seclusion of this ajarn’s practice and see how serious and involved he really is. Often there are several other locals there awaiting their own blessing and protection from him.
You will be guided through the entire ceremony with the help of your travel guru. The duration of the ceremonies is only about 15 mins total before and after, though the duration of the Sak Yant in Bangkok itself can range anywhere between 15 mins to 4 hours depending on the size and intricacy of the design chosen. It all happens in an incredible setting and one that not many would ever forget. The smells, the sounds, the statues and masks, and the incense burning.
Upon completion of your sacred blessing, our travel guru will escort you to a local food market for a well-deserved meal, where you can reflect on your experience while further being exposed to the local culture through the sights, sounds, and tastes of this part of Bangkok.
With your new protection and a full belly, our guide will help arrange transit for your journey back to your hotel, happy and blessed.
In his thirties, Ajarn Ya quickly established himself as a dynamic practitioner of Sak Yant, Thailand’s sacred tattoo art, since 2018. His entry into this spiritual world was shaped by the teachings of numerous masters, including Ajarn Thoy Dabot, Ajarn Chai Ladkrabang from Bangkok, Ajarn Hanbunlerd, and others, who gave him a deep foundation of inspiration and guidance.
A blend of tradition and modernity marks Ajarn Ya’s approach to Sak Yant. For cleaning his khem sak (medal rod), he adheres to a meticulous cleaning process involving an alcohol wash, a disinfectant soak, and heat treatment, ensuring the highest hygiene standards. When it comes to tattoo needle-tips, he opts for a modern approach, using disposable needles that guarantee safety and cleanliness.
The ink used in his Sak Yant practice is of exceptional quality, imported from the USA. This ready-made ink is specifically formulated for tattooing, ensuring vibrant and lasting designs for his clients.
Ajarn Ya’s expertise in Sak Yant has reached an international audience, with his work taking him to countries like China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. Beyond his professional life, Ajarn Ya is a devoted family man, cherishing his time with his daughter and engaging in the creation of treasury amulets.
Ajarn Ya is known for his adaptability and client-focused approach. He skillfully redesigns and modifies Sak Yant designs to align with the individual desires and spiritual needs of his clients, showcasing his artistic versatility and dedication to personalizing the Sak Yant experience.
Based in Bangkok, Ajarn Ya represents the new generation of Sak Yant masters – blending traditional wisdom with contemporary practices, and imbuing his art with a deep sense of family and cultural heritage. His journey in the art of Sak Yant is not just a profession but a pathway to spiritual and artistic fulfillment.
Your sak yant experience includes:
– information provided before your experience to educate you and properly prepare you
– pick-up and drop-off transfers to your hotel (must be centrally located within Bangkok).
Note: We will choose the fastest transit based on the location of your hotel. This could be a taxi, Skytrain, subway, boat, or any combination of these
– a specially trained and licensed guide who will facilitate your experience
– a fully translated consultation with the ajarn to discuss what yant would best suit you based on your life’s values (your passions, fears, goals, and challenges you face).
– all offerings for the ritual (flowers, incense, etc)
– a high quality, traditional, and clean sak yant (included medium size – larger requests require advanced notice due to the extra time needed, and more to be paid locally, depending on size and detail level).
– food (simple lunch and snacks) to keep your energy levels up
Please note: These are for example purposes only. Please do not select any of these based on appearance. They are just to give an idea of the included size and detail level on an Ink Experience.
Important: All sak yant must be above the waist – no exceptions. This is due to sexual associations with sak yant below the waist, which the ajarns are not comfortable giving.
– Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
– International flights or transportation to/from the itinerary’s start point
– Accommodation in Bangkok (we suggest Agoda for the best hotel rates)
– Activities not listed in the itinerary
– Meals not listed in the itinerary
– Gratuities and tips
– All drinks
– Spending Money
Please note: These (larger sak yant shown) are for example purposes only. Please do not select any of these based on appearance. They are just to give an idea of the non-included size & detail level of this Ink Experience. If you request a larger size or a more detailed design than what is included or suggested to you by the ajarn, you will be asked to pay an additional sum locally based on size and detail.
Additional fees are to be discussed with and paid to the ajarn prior to him at the beginning so there will be no surprises afterward. However, if you are happy with his suggested yant and size included in this experience, no additional expenses will be incurred and all your expenses (food, transport, guide, consultation, yantra) have already been paid for.
Larger/more detailed sak yant sessions MUST BE PRE-ARRANGED! If you have not told us already that you wish for a larger or more detailed design, we have not blocked enough time for that. You will be limited to the time arranged for what is included.
Getting a Sak Yant in Bangkok – The process of getting a sak yant (Bamboo Tattoo) is a sacred experience – one that has ancient roots dating back many centuries in South East Asia and has grown and evolved over time. We feel very fortunate to be able to offer this experience to our guests.
As with any permanent design you are planning to put on your body, it’s probably a good idea to know a bit about the process prior to getting a Sak Yant (Please see our FAQs – Everything you NEED to know about getting a Sak Yant in Bangkok resource). Based on old traditions, it is common for locals to come to meet with their Ajarn (tattoo master) prior to getting a Sak Yant, to be able to consult them on things troubling their lives. Here, they would discuss their passions, their goals in life, the challenges they face, and even their fears – anything based on their values. This enables Ajarn to select a yantra (there are over 1000 designs of the tattoos associated with various types of protection) that would be fully personalized, to help the guest and to give them an enchantment.
There is a common misconception that ajarns just choose based on reading your aura or energy. This idea is likely due to some foreigners not having the ability to communicate with the ajarn, and so they would choose a yantra that holds a general protection spell for them, as they could not communicate on any deeper level. It would appear that they read their mind or energy, though it is much more likely they were just unsure of what else to give, and gave something powerful, though more generalized.
We try to bridge that gap with a full consultation prior to your experience. When you visit Bangkok to get a sak yant on our ink experience, you will be able to converse with the ajarn with the aid of your Travel Guru (licensed local guide), to hear the ajarn’s teachings and suggestions for what might help you in your onward journey. It is a beautiful process, and we encourage everyone to go through it, even if you already have a design in mind – he may give you a better suggestion more suited to you.
We take hygiene and quality very seriously and have many interviewed ajarns to ensure that we could find the best suited for you to get a sak yant in Bangkok. The ajarn we practice with is also comfortable to give a sak yant to women. You will be assured good quality, and hygiene, while being very traditional in the ceremonies, with a respected ajarn – so you can come worry-free and be able to be more ‘present’ both mentally, physically, and spiritually for your experience.
Getting ‘invisible’ sak yant tattoos is also possible, such as the oil-based one shown in the video above.
We’ve created an interactive map below to help you find your ideal base while exploring Thailand’s capital. You can adjust your dates and group size to compare options from hotels to short-term rentals, across platforms like Agoda, Booking.com, and more. We’ve marked a spot near Sukhumvit’s Asoke intersection — a well-connected hub where the BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway cross. Staying in this area makes getting around Bangkok smooth and stress-free, whether you’re heading to the Grand Palace, the airport, or exploring nearby food stalls, shopping malls, or nightlife spots.
Please double-check the currency displayed, as it may vary depending on your device settings or the website you’re viewing.
For every TRiP that you go on with WSE Travel, we will donate 2% of the total sales price to an environmental or community-based project in the country you’re visiting. We want to ensure that every guest we help, in turn, helps support and preserve the destination we’re experiencing together as a direct result. We live by an ethos to Travel Responsibly & Impact Positively (TRiP).
For more information on the projects this experience supports, please visit our Thailand TRIP projects.
All tours, services, and experiences booked through WSE Travel are bound to our Terms and Conditions, which were modeled after most other travel services such as flights, hotels, and other tour operators.
At Where Sidewalks End, your reservation is more than a transaction — it’s a direct contract with local professionals who rely on this work as a primary source of income. As such, we are obligated to honor the livelihoods of our local partners — including guides, Ajarns (masters), and drivers — who dedicate their time exclusively to your experience.
In many of the destinations where we operate, labor protections and fair wage commitments are upheld by local laws — and we are both ethically and contractually required to adhere to them. Once a booking is confirmed, the service providers committed to your experience are financially compensated for reserving their time — even in the event of cancellation. This ensures fair and dignified treatment for all involved in delivering your experience.
All bookings are subject to the following terms:
Your payment will be placed into a Lifetime Deposit (Safety Deposit Box). This can be:
Refunds are not available, unless WSE Travel cancels your booking due to reasons beyond your control.
A 50% rebooking fee will apply. This helps offset the compensation obligations to your dedicated team of local guides and service providers, who have reserved their day exclusively for your private tour and may not be able to secure alternate work with us or others on short notice.
The full cost of the tour is retained. As this is a private experience, your local team’s time is fully dedicated to your session. A new team will be hired for any future rebooking.
These policies are a compassionate extension of our official Terms & Conditions, designed to support both our guests and the ethical standards of responsible tourism.
Because life can be unpredictable — and because we are required to uphold our commitments to local partners — all guests must either:
We highly recommend SafetyWing Nomad Insurance — trusted by global travelers for its flexible, affordable coverage and very competitive rates.
Travel insurance can help protect you from financial losses related to:
If you choose to travel without Travel Insurance, you will be required to fill out a Liability Waiver Form at the beginning of your trip.
We deeply appreciate your understanding and support of ethical tourism. Your booking directly sustains local communities and helps preserve cultural traditions in a meaningful and lasting way.
If you have any questions or need help rescheduling, please contact us — we’re always happy to assist.
Dimitri Vallette (verified owner) –
I’ve just received my first Sak Yant, and the experience profoundly exceeded my expectations.
This wasn’t about getting a tattoo to show off. It was about receiving a sacred mark, an agreement inked into my body, a personal contract between myself and the unseen spiritual forces that reside within this ancient tradition.
Before committing, I had the privilege of chatting with Ian Ord. His guidance was exceptional. Our email exchanges weren’t transactional; they were thoughtful, respectful, and instrumental in helping me make an informed decision. I didn’t approach this lightly, after all, this mark is permanent, both physically and energetically.
I’m especially grateful I chose Ajarn Ya. While I have no doubt that all Ajarns carry immense wisdom and skill, I was deeply moved by what Ajarn Ya does beyond his practice, supporting and uplifting those in need within his community. That spoke volumes to me about the man behind the “magic”.
Upon arrival, I was immediately humbled. The contrast between Ajarn Ya’s home and the urban chaos of Sukhumvit was striking, but instead of feeling out of place, it felt deeply right. There was an authenticity in that space that made receiving the Sak Yant feel sacred, grounded, and undeniably real.
I came in with an open mind, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious. I had no idea what to expect. I gave Ajarn Ya full authority over the design, trusting in the process, though part of me still hoped I would resonate with what he chose.
I did, beyond words.
When he revealed the design and explained its meaning, I first smiled… then I got goosebumps. It was as if the design already knew me.
The inking itself took just 20 minutes, though it felt longer under the sting of the needle. I’m someone more familiar with emotional pain than physical, and this reminded me: anything meaningful demands a price. In this case, a bit of pain was the price of transformation.
Did I walk away feeling like a new man? Not instantly. But I know that transformation isn’t always immediate. As I continue to honor the Sak Yant, and Ajarn Ya’s blessing, I believe the change will unfold over time, as it’s meant to, I believe.
If you’re still reading this and considering a Sak Yant, I urge you: do your research. Don’t choose one just because it looks cool. Choose it because you see yourself in its meaning. Get a regular tattoo for aesthetics, but don’t lie to yourself about what a Sak Yant is.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to WSE for facilitating this unforgettable journey. Thank you, Ajarn Ya, for the blessing. And special thanks to Gob, my translator and guide, whose kindness and presence added even more meaning to the experience. He conveyed my intentions with care and depth, and took the time to introduce me to the foundations of Thai Buddhism, something I now want to explore further.
Thank you for being part of something that will stay with me for life.
Kelli (verified owner) –
This was the most magical experience! Although our guide Khun Nong was extremely personable and sweet, there was still quite a bit of a language barrier. We chatted a bit on the ride, and he is extremely knowledgeable about Thailand but I was under the impression we would speak more about my values and the “why” for my tattoo. He asked me what my values were as we were walking into see Ajarn Ya. He didn’t really explain it to me either except for telling me that the first line was the alphabet, so now when people ask me what it means I say a blessing for my family. There was no looking through yantras or other sak yants in his book, no explaining what things meant or any of that from the guide and at one point I was communication with Ajarn Ya, and I think he told the guide to stop looking thru the books and pay attention to us as we were discussing placement lol. Aside from that I loved every second of this experience! Ajarn Ya showed me the packaged needle before he opened it to make sure that I knew it was new and I told him that was one of the reasons I picked him. He was so welcoming and accommodating, always making sure I was comfortable. He had a premade stencil that he first put on the inside of my arm but then showed me how it would change and not be straight when I moved my arm so we agreed the back of my arm was better. He was very patient with me while I was deciding placement and showing me how it would change when arm moving etc. which I appreciated. I will say that this method may have hurt a little bit more than machine tattooing, but it was very similar in the aspect of it wasn’t a constant pain, just at various times it made me wince. He placed the stencil outline on my arm and then completely freehanded the letters and designs. He definitely is a master! I was very impressed. He blessed the tattoo and me, then gave me a bracelet and another blessing and even included my friend who came along for support in the experience by giving her a bracelet and blessing it as well. I am SO thankful for WSE for vetting and sharing the information you need before getting your sak yant, I wouldn’t have done it without the guidance! This was such an amazing experience and I was shaking afterward because I was so happy and feeling blessed. He allowed us to film, and take pictures with him. If I go back to Bangkok and get another sak yant, I wouldn’t even consider going to anyone else. The money and tips he receives, he gives it back to the kids of his community.
When it was finished, our guide asked if we wanted to go downtown or back to the hotel and we said hotel. There wasn’t a meal with him as stated in my itinerary, but that may have been partly lost in translation when he was asking us about downtown. Overall though, I didn’t mind not having a meal because the entire experience was already beyond my expectations!
John The Traveler (verified owner) –
Very happy with my first Sak Yant tattoo, thanks to WSE, Ajarn Ya, and Khun Nong (Jess). The pre-process was very thorough and planned, easing my nerves a lot. My guide arrived early and was very nice, offering snacks and juice as we rode to the studio location. It was super helpful to have her there to explain the process, as sorting through the various designs based on my personal story and mantras took a little time. However, we all worked together on finding the perfect design, and came up with five very meaningful mantras that were infused into the Yant design, and the final product is beautiful. My tattoo was placed on my right shoulder blade, and the inking process took only about 30 minutes. After the tattoo, there was a blessing and I took notes about the tattoo and other things that were in the room that I was curious about. Ajarn Ya was very patient with my many questions about the items in the room. For lunch, we had soup at a small place in the neighborhood within walking distance from the Ajarn’s studio. I’m so glad I did this, as I was a little hesitant at first not being Buddhist and wondering if I should or shouldn’t do it, but now I feel like it enhances my spirituality and believe that it will be a reminder to me to live my purpose and stay true to the mantras I chose. Many thanks to the WSE team for making this such a seamless process. I would certainly consider getting another one someday! My tattoo did not bleed at all, and is healing quickly, only with some itchiness. I had no issues on my multiple flights totalling 18 hours home, or carrying a heavy backpack.
Delia (verified owner) –
I had a really great time getting the Sak Yant. The guide khun Koi was super punctual and very sweet. She told me a lot about Sak Yants, and was like a tour guide as we drove through the city, explaining certain buildings and giving historic and present day facts. She could answer all of the questions I had, even the ones not about the Tattoo, but about specific things from Thai culture and was all around a very pleasant person. She made me feel very well prepared and was a comforting presence during the (very painful, partly because I chose my spine as placement) tattooing process. Ajarn Ya was very nice too and did a great job with the tattoo. I was glad khun Koi was there to translate though. If not for the pain while getting tattooed, I would immediately do it again. Afterwards it immediately stopped hurting too. The tattoo seems to be healing very well even though I had to sit through my flight the next day. I feel very blessed to have had this experience and hope the Sak yant will bring me luck.
The communication with the WSE team was also very smooth, as they would answer very quickly and were very helpful.