Getting a Sak Yant in Chiang Mai with Ajarn Tu Nametta

Who is Ajarn Tu Nametta?

Ajarn Tu tattoos by hand using a small needle designed specifically for Sak Yant, inserted into a handle for traditional application. The needle itself is part of an unusual custom in his lineage, as he returns the used needle to his disciple as a keepsake, symbolizing their connection to the ajarn and to the sacred art itself.

The ink he uses is imported from America and chosen for its quality. He can also blend herbs into the ink upon request. His designs may incorporate both Lanna and Khmer scripts, reflecting the cultural and spiritual roots that shape his work.

Outside of tattooing, he enjoys construction, candle-making, and creating sacred objects. For Ajarn Tu, the real purpose of Sak Yant is to inspire people to think, speak, and act with goodness, while keeping a steady commitment to Buddhist principles.

A unique aspect of receiving a Sak Yant from Ajarn Tu Nametta is the offering ritual. Before tattooing begins, specific items are traditionally presented to him: a small bottle of white liquor, white flowers, a small handful of incense, a small handful of candles, one piece of fruit such as bananas, pineapples, or apples, and a pack of cigarettes. This offering is included in your experience.

Although still lesser known internationally than some others, Ajarn Tu has traveled to China to perform Sak Yant and share his knowledge with a wider audience. In the event he becomes unavailable on the date you reserve due to last-minute ceremonies or funerals 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 protect and honor one of Thailand’s sacred ancestral traditions, while also creating a respectful space for guests who are looking for perspective, grounding, or meaning during important chapters of their lives. Many people come to Sak Yant while moving through hardship, trauma, uncertainty, or major life obstacles. We understand those waters intimately because WSE was born from them too, and we have learned how to hold a safe, supportive space for guests who are looking for grounding, perspective, or a different way of seeing their journey.

That begins with preserving the integrity of the practice itself. Sak Yant should not be reduced to a tattoo shop appointment or a co-op environment that strips away the atmosphere, customs, and reverence that give it its true depth. It should be received in the ajarn’s own sacred space, where respect is shown to the master, his lineage, his years of training, his wisdom, and the traditional setting in which this practice is intended to be given. That is how Thai people have long approached it, and that is the spirit we believe deserves to be maintained.

It also means respecting the ajarn’s value. We do not try to push volume through our ajarns or pressure them to lower their rates because a guest is foreign. We honor the rates they set for their time, their discipline, their sacred work, and their self-worth. We are equally careful about who we partner with. After vetting more than 70 ajarns around the country, we narrowed our list down to those who meet the standards we care most about and that our guests care most about too: hygiene, quality, and traditions. Ajarn Tu is one of the Chiang Mai ajarns who meet those standards.

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

What Makes This Experience Different

Many people imagine getting a Sak Yant means arriving at a famous temple, waiting through crowds, and accepting a rushed process with little explanation or personal connection. We built this experience around something far more careful, intimate, and respectful than that.

We do not take guests into high-volume settings where consultations are limited, hygiene may feel unclear, or the process becomes more transactional than meaningful. Instead, you visit a carefully vetted ajarn in a more private, traditional environment, supported by a licensed guide who helps you communicate clearly from the moment the day begins until the moment it ends.

The consultation remains the center of the experience. Rather than choosing only by appearance, you are invited to talk openly about your goals, fears, values, and present challenges so Ajarn Tu can suggest something more fitting, more personal, and more rooted in your actual life.

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 toward the quieter rural area outside the city where Ajarn Tu’s samnak is located.

During the drive, your guide helps introduce the process, shares how Sak Yant fits into Thai life today, and answers many of the questions guests are already carrying with them before they ever arrive. By the time you reach the samnak, you begin to feel the difference in atmosphere right away.

This is not a tourist tattoo shop. It is a working sacred space, often with local people there as well, waiting for blessings, guidance, and protection. The sounds, smells, ritual objects, and quiet structure of the setting all help shape the experience into something that feels much bigger than a tattoo appointment.

With your guide translating throughout, you will sit down with Ajarn Tu for your consultation. This is where you speak about the parts of your life that matter most to you, including your values, goals, fears, and challenges, so he can recommend a yant that feels more personally suited to your needs. If you already have a design in mind, you are welcome to discuss that with him as well.

Before the tattooing begins, the traditional offering is presented. For Ajarn Tu, this includes a small bottle of white liquor, white flowers, a small handful of incense, a small handful of candles, one piece of fruit such as bananas, pineapples, or apples, and a pack of cigarettes. These offerings are already included in your experience and prepared in advance.

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 while the ceremonial portions are relatively short, the tattoo itself can take anywhere from a brief session to much longer, depending on the size, intricacy, and location chosen.

After your Sak Yant has been completed and blessed, your guide brings you for a simple local meal, often in a nearby market setting, so you can recharge, reflect on what you have just experienced, and ask any remaining questions that may have come up during the process.

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

How choosing a Sak Yant really works

We generally discourage guests from selecting a yantra before meeting the ajarn. The reason is simple: many definitions found online are vague, inaccurate, or tied to someone else’s personal reasons for receiving that design.

During your consultation, you can tell Ajarn Tu what matters to you most in life, what challenges you are facing, and what you hope to work on. Based on your intentions, he can suggest a yant that feels more personal and more relevant to you than something chosen only by appearance.

You always have the right to request your own design, but traditionally, Thai people trust that the ajarn is choosing something appropriate based on what has been shared with him. The more honest and thoughtful the conversation, the more meaningful the outcome often becomes.

The characters surrounding a yant are not ordinary sentences. They are combinations of old and newer scripts written in code, with each character representing a kata. Only trained ajarns can properly read them, 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.	3000 THB extra	4000 THB extra	3000 THB extra	4000 THB extra	6000 THB extra	8000 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 Tu’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 Tu
  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, fruit, candles, the bottle of white liquor, cigarettes, 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 receive a Sak Yant with Ajarn Tu?

Yes. Ajarn Tu works with both men and women. As with our current practice for Sak Yant experiences, no photos of women are allowed during the tattooing process itself, though photos before and after are fine.

What is unique about Ajarn Tu’s offering ritual?

Before tattooing begins, specific items are traditionally presented to Ajarn Tu: a small bottle of white liquor, white flowers, a small handful of incense, a small handful of candles, one piece of fruit such as bananas, pineapples, or apples, and a pack of cigarettes. These offerings are included in your experience, so you do not need to prepare them yourself.

What scripts does Ajarn Tu use in his Sak Yant?

Ajarn Tu’s designs may incorporate both Lanna and Khmer scripts, reflecting the lineages and cultural influences that shape his work.

What kind of needle and ink does Ajarn Tu use?

Ajarn Tu tattoos by hand using a small needle designed specifically for Sak Yant, inserted into a handle for traditional application. His ink is imported from America and chosen for its quality, and he can blend herbs into the ink upon request.

Can I choose my own design?

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

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.

Has Ajarn Tu worked outside Thailand?

Yes. Although he is still less internationally known than some others, Ajarn Tu has traveled to China to perform Sak Yant and share his knowledge beyond Thailand.

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.

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.

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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.