Getting a Sak Yant in Chiang Mai with Ajarn Sam

Who is Ajarn Sam?

Ajarn Sam originally participated in a monk program at a Dhamma retreat in Mae Rim before moving to Ayutthaya to become a monk at Worapho Temple. He later returned to Chiang Mai, became a monk leader at Chedi Mae Krua Temple, and continued learning about Sak Yant and Ka-Tha from fellow monks and ajarns.

He started giving Sak Yant when he was seventeen, and his northern style is known for being light-handed, with very fine and concise line work.

Hygiene is one of the reasons we trust him. His khem sak tips are sterilized through heat, UV treatment, and high-concentration alcohol, and new ink pots and gloves are used for each guest.

Ajarn Sam works with both men and women, listens carefully during consultations, and is known for sharing grounded Buddhist ideas about living more thoughtfully and with intention.

In the event Ajarn Sam becomes unavailable on the date you reserve due to a last-minute Buddhist ceremony or funeral he must attend, we will coordinate with you to either reschedule your appointment with him or move your reservation to another one of the skilled and trusted ajarns we work with for getting Sak Yant in Chiang Mai.

Item	Details
Pick-up Point	Your hotel or Airbnb in Chiang Mai city – your hotel info can be emailed to us after your online reservation – must be within 5 km (3 miles) of old-town Chiang Mai – for hotels outside of the pickup zone, a central meeting point can be arranged
Drop-off Point	Your Chiang Mai hotel
Duration	Between 3 to 5 hours, depending on the distance of your hotel, consultation length, tattoo size and complexity, and the number of people in your private group
Physical Level	Moderate (some pain is involved and varies depending on placement and your own tolerance)
Cultural Rating	High – deep cultural exchange
Ages	18+ (must be 18 or older to receive a tattoo, though observers may be younger)
Group Size	Private – Max 4 Sak Yant / people per booking (larger groups may be possible on request)

Why We Created This Experience

We created this experience to help honor one of Thailand’s most sacred ancestral practices, while also creating a respectful space for guests who are seeking perspective, meaning, or grounding during important chapters of their lives. Many people come to Sak Yant while moving through trauma, hardship, personal obstacles, or major transitions. We understand those troubled waters more than most, because WSE was born in similar ones, and we have become very experienced at helping guests feel supported as they step into something deeply personal.

For us, that means protecting the integrity of the process. Sak Yant should not be reduced to a tattoo shop appointment or a “co-op” setting that strips away the values, atmosphere, and traditions that make it special. It should be received in the ajarn’s own sacred space, where respect is shown to the master, his lineage, his decades of training, his knowledge, his wisdom, and the traditional setting in which this practice is meant to be given. That is how it has long been received by Thai people, and that is the spirit we believe should be preserved.

That respect also extends to the value of the ajarn’s work. We do not try to pressure ajarns into charging less simply because someone is a foreign guest, or pushing volume through them. We honor the rates they set for their time, skill, experience, and self-worth. We also take great care in choosing who we work with. After vetting more than 70 ajarns around the country, we narrowed our partnerships down to those who meet the standards we care most about and that our guests care most about too: hygiene, quality, and traditions. Ajarn Sam is one of the Chiang Mai ajarns who meets those standards.

What comes from all of that is an experience that is carefully facilitated, fully translated, and grounded in real respect. We do not promise spirituality, because that comes from within each guest. What we do offer is something sacred and ancestral, shared in the traditional and authentic way it is intended to be given, with the support, context, and care that help guests feel safe enough to be fully present for it.

What Makes This Experience Different

Many visitors think getting a Sak Yant means turning up at a famous temple or co-op, waiting in long lines, and accepting a rushed process with little explanation. We built this experience around something much more personal and much more careful than that.

We do not take people to busy temple environments where consultations are limited, quality can feel rushed, translation is minimal, or hygiene standards may not match what guests expect. Instead, you visit a carefully vetted ajarn in a more intimate setting, with a licensed guide who helps you communicate clearly from start to finish.

The consultation is the heart of the day. Rather than choosing a tattoo only by appearance, you have the chance to talk through your goals, fears, values, and current challenges so Ajarn Sam can suggest something more personal and more appropriate for you.

What to Expect During the Day

On the day of your Sak Yant ceremony, your guide will meet you at your hotel or at an agreed meeting point in central Chiang Mai. From there, you travel together out toward the rural area where Ajarn Sam’s samnak is located.

During the journey, your guide helps introduce the process, explains more about how Sak Yant fits into Thai life today, and begins answering the questions many guests already have before they even arrive.

Once you reach the samnak, the setting itself begins to shape the day. This is not a tourist tattoo shop. It is a working traditional space, often with locals there as well, and the atmosphere helps you understand how seriously Ajarn Sam takes his work and the old customs around it.

With your guide translating throughout, you will sit down with Ajarn Sam for your consultation. This is where you talk about the parts of your life that matter most to you, including goals, fears, values, and challenges, so he can recommend a yant that fits you more personally. If you already have a design in mind, you may absolutely discuss it with him as well.

Once the consultation is complete and the design and placement are agreed upon, the Sak Yant begins. Traditional rituals are observed before and after, and the tattoo itself may take anywhere from a short session to much longer, depending on the size, complexity, and location chosen.

After your Sak Yant has been completed and blessed, your guide brings you for a simple local meal so you can recharge, reflect on the experience, and ask any remaining questions you still have about what you just went through.

When the meal is finished, we arrange transport back to your hotel so you can rest, process the day, and settle into your onward journey with your new Sak Yant.

How choosing a Sak Yant really works

We generally discourage guests from choosing a yantra before visiting an ajarn. The reason is simple: the definitions you find online are often vague, inaccurate, or based on someone else’s reasons for getting that design.

During your consultation, you can tell Ajarn Sam about what is important to you in life, what you want to work on, and what challenges you are currently facing. Based on your intentions, he can suggest a yant that is more personal to you rather than just visually familiar.

You absolutely have the right to request a design for yourself, but traditionally, Thai people trust that the ajarn is choosing something that suits them based on what they share with him. The deeper and more honest the conversation, the more personal the outcome tends to feel.

The characters around a yant are not ordinary sentences. They are combinations of old and new scripts written in code, with each character representing a kata. Only trained ajarns can read them properly, and often only within their own lineage.

What Sak Yant size is included?

Our experience includes a Sak Yant up to the same size and detail level as the popular Haw Taew (5 lines) design. There are thousands of designs within that size and detail level. Your ajarn can always find a unique yantra design that embodies your intentions, within the included size and detail level.

Interested in getting a larger/more detailed Sak Yant?

Getting a larger or more detailed Sak Yant is more of a personal aesthetic choice (as there are designs for every need/value/goal in all sizes, so there are no limitations to the included size for meeting your potential enchantments. Here are some of the potential costs for increasing Sak Yant with your ajarn (these are some of the commonly requested designs, of course, with over 10,000 possibilities, we can’t list them all):

Haw Taew	Chat Pet	Gao Yod s/m	Gao Yod l/xl	Paed Tidt s/m	Paed Tidt l/xl	Suea Koo s/m	Suea Koo l/xl
inc.	inc.	inc.	2500 THB extra	inc.	1500-2500 THB extra	4500 THB extra	6500-8500 THB extra

*inc. = example of included size and/or detail level. Any extra rates are the cost in addition to the base rate.

This chart is just for a rough reference. With so many variations of each design, it may not cover some specific designs, and is best used for a mental idea for preparation on how much baht to bring based on roughly the size and/or detail level you might wish to increase to. Challenging locations may come with a slight additional increase in cost, too, like ribs or arms, depending on the design, size, detail, and challenge level of the placement.

Requesting specific designs which are not from Ajarn Sam’s personal collection also comes at additional costs, sometimes much more than this chart, though he likely has very similar designs which he can offer within the range suggested above.

Please be sure to bring enough cash with you to accommodate the size and detail you are considering, as there are no ATMs nearby, and any additional costs will need to be paid directly to your ajarn after your consultation with him, to determine the right design for you, but before he starts tattooing.

Examples of larger or more detailed Sak Yant

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 and detail level of an Ink Experience, which comes at an additional cost, payable locally, based on the size, placement, and detail level chosen.

Is this experience right for me?

This experience is a strong fit for travelers who want more than just a tattoo appointment. It works especially well for people who value consultation, context, translation, and a more personal connection to the process.

It is also a good fit for travelers who want to work with a vetted ajarn in a traditional setting rather than taking a chance on a rushed walk-in environment with limited explanation or unclear hygiene practices.

If you are open-minded, curious, and willing to have an honest conversation about what matters to you before choosing your design, this is one of the most meaningful ways to experience Sak Yant in Chiang Mai.

What to Bring

A little practical preparation helps this day run more comfortably.

• Loose, comfortable clothing
  Wear something breathable that gives easy access to the area you may want tattooed.
• Dark-colored clothing
  This helps avoid visible marks from ink or small spots of blood during and after the tattoo.
• Cash in Thai baht
  Bring enough cash for any size upgrade, tips, drinks, or personal spending. There are no ATMs nearby if you decide to increase the size or detail level of your Sak Yant.

What is included in your Ink Experience in Chiang Mai?

Your Sak Yant experience includes the essentials needed for the day to flow smoothly, respectfully, and with good support throughout.

• Information provided before your experience
  Helpful details are shared in advance so you can be properly prepared.
• Pick-up and drop-off transfers to your hotel
  Your hotel must be centrally located within Chiang Mai or a central meeting point can be arranged.
• Private vehicle to reach the ajarn
  We use a private vehicle to get to the ajarn, as he is located outside the city. We will use either a small SUV or a bigger Songtaew, depending on your group size.
• Specially trained and licensed guide
  Your guide facilitates the experience and translates throughout the day.
• Fully translated consultation with Ajarn Sam
  You can discuss what yant would best suit you based on your values, passions, fears, goals, or current challenges.
• All offerings for the ritual
  Flowers, incense, and the necessary ritual materials are included.
• A high-quality, traditional, and clean Sak Yant
  The included size is up to the same size and detail level as a standard Haw Taew. Larger or more detailed work requires extra payment direct to the ajarn.
• Food
  A simple lunch and snacks are included to help keep your energy levels up.
• Pre-arranged support guests
  Friends or family who wish to observe and support you during the experience must be added during checkout as part of your private group.

What is not included in your Ink Experience in Chiang Mai?

A few things remain separate from your booking so you can stay flexible around the rest of your Chiang Mai plans.

• Travel insurance (Compulsory)
  We recommend SafetyWing.
• International flights or transportation to and from the itinerary’s start point
• Accommodation in Chiang Mai
  We suggest Agoda for hotel options.
• Activities not listed in the itinerary
• Meals not listed in the itinerary
• All drinks
• Gratuities, tips, and spending money

Ready to Reserve Your Date?

If this feels like the right Chiang Mai Sak Yant experience for you, it is best to reserve your date as soon as your travel plans are confirmed.

We suggest planning your Sak Yant after any water-based activities such as beach visits, rafting, or elephant bathing, and when possible, keeping the rest of your day flexible so you are not rushing to a flight, bus, or another activity immediately after.

Email us with any questions you may have regarding this experience at [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

Can women get a Sak Yant with Ajarn Sam?

Yes. Ajarn Sam tattoos both men and women. As with the current practice for this experience, photos of women are not allowed during the tattooing process, though photos before and after are fine.

Can I choose my own design?

Yes, you absolutely can request a design. That said, we generally encourage guests to first have the consultation and hear Ajarn Sam’s suggestion, as many online definitions are either vague, inaccurate, or based on someone else’s reasons for getting that yant.

Are the needles clean, and are new items used for each guest?

Yes, cleanliness is always part of our vetting. In Chiang Mai, the khem sak tips are not usually brand new because of their size, but they are thoroughly sterilized through heat, UV treatment, and high-concentration alcohol. New ink pots and new gloves are used for every guest.

Does the guide speak English?

Yes. English is the language we guarantee for your guide, along with Thai or the relevant local dialect when speaking with the ajarn. We cannot guarantee knowledge of other languages.

How long should I plan for the experience?

The average experience is about 3 to 5 hours, but exact timing depends on transport distance, traffic, weather, consultation length, pain threshold, tattoo size and complexity, and the number of people in your private booking. It is best to make this the main thing you are doing that day.

What is included in the experience?

Your booking includes hotel pickup and drop-off within the Chiang Mai pickup zone, a licensed guide and translator, your consultation with Ajarn Sam, ritual offerings, one included Sak Yant up to the stated size and detail level, and a simple meal with snacks.

Can a friend or family member come with me?

Yes, but they need to be pre-arranged during checkout by selecting the total number of people in your private group and the total number of Sak Yant being booked. This helps us plan the correct guide time, transport, and food.

What is in the ink?

Every ajarn keeps the exact recipe of his ink somewhat private, but what we have been told is that the black ink is generally made from charcoal, herbs, and oil. Red ink traditionally uses herbs, oils, and a red flower pigment from Myanmar. We have also confirmed that there is no lead in the inks.

Our other Thailand Experiences

Need a place to stay in Chiang Mai?

To make things easier, we’ve added an interactive map below where you can search for accommodations across Chiang Mai. Input your travel dates and number of guests to explore options from trusted platforms like Agoda and Booking.com. We’ve pinned a spot close to Wat Chedi Luang, a central landmark in the heart of Chiang Mai’s historic Old City. This area is perfect for anyone wanting to connect with the ancient culture of the north while being within walking distance to the city’s temples, markets, food vendors, and more.

Please double-check the currency displayed, as it may vary depending on your device settings or the website you’re viewing.

Supporting Local Projects with our TRiP Foundation

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 supported by this experience, please visit our Thailand TRIP projects.

Cancellation & Rebooking Policy

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.

If You Need to Cancel or Reschedule

All bookings are subject to the following terms:

More than 14 Days’ Notice

Your payment will be placed into a Lifetime Deposit (Safety Deposit Box). This can be:

• Used for a future date
• Transferred to a friend or family member

Refunds are not available unless WSE Travel cancels your booking due to reasons beyond your control.

7–14 Days’ Notice

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.

Less than 7 Days’ Notice

The full cost of the tour is retained to pay the locals contracted in full. 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.

Travel Insurance or Liability Waiver Required

Because life can be unpredictable — and because we are required to uphold our commitments to local partners — all guests must either:

• Provide proof of comprehensive travel insurance, or
• Sign a Liability Waiver Form at the start of their trip

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:

• Illness
• Missed flights
• Emergency cancellations
• Non-refundable bookings

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. 

Thank You for Traveling Responsibly

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.