There’s probably no better Bangkok temple to visit at sunset than the Golden Mount, otherwise known as “Wat Saket”. Located in the Old Town, on an artificial hill, the Golden Mount stands at 80-meters tall offering spectacular views of the city’s ancient temples and sprawling skyscrapers.

Reaching the summit of Wat Saket requires walking up 344 steps, but it’s a gradual incline with small steps wrapping around the mount - nothing your average traveler can’t handle. On the terrace, you’ll be greeted by a gleaming golden Chedi, and see monks and devotees make merit and pray. The atmosphere at the top, especially during golden hour, is magical!

We arrived at the entrance just before 6:00 PM, and already the soft light was creating a serene ambience. We could see the sun starting to dip towards the horizon, but we were too close to get a decent frame. So Cam ran down the road toward the temple walls to capture the Golden Mount with the orange sun peaking through the trees. Then we bought tickets (100 THB for Cam and free for Kat) and made our way up the steps.

Golden Mount - Sunset Views — *Sunset from the street*

Golden Mount - Entrance — *The Golden Mount entrance*

Climbing the 344 Steps of the Golden Mount

The journey to the top of the Golden Mount is just as enjoyable as the temple itself. You’ll walk up a winding red staircase, wander past lush plants, little waterfalls and fish ponds, and hear mesmerising Buddhist chants along the way. It’s a leisurely walk, taking no longer than 10-20 minutes, depending on how long you stop for photos and to ring the bells!

Our favorite part of the climb was ringing the prayer bells and gongs for good luck. There’s a giant black and gold gong that you can strike right before the summit, and another one on the terrace. The sound of gongs humming and bells ringing is a constant throughout this temple visit.

The staircase is also lined with Thai flags and yellow monarchy flags, which makes for fantastic “Thailand travel photos”. There’s lots of different vantage points on the way up to capture the sunset, like through window frames adorned with chimes, but the best views are found on the terrace.

Golden Mount - Giant Gong — *Giant gong*

Golden Mount - Ringing Bells — *Ringing the bells*

Stunning Sunsets at the Top of Wat Saket

We only had 15 minutes to savor the sunset on the terrace before the sun disappeared, but it was still plenty of time to take photos. Being 80-meters high allowed us to look down on the red terracotta roofs of the temples nearby, bathed in golden light, which made for a gorgeous scene.

There were lots of people at the top, unsurprising, but everyone was courteous and respectful. Tourists waited patiently in line for a sunset opening, while monks and local Thais made merit and prayed in the background. The gong went off a few too many times, thanks to some cheeky tourists, but it didn’t take away from the peaceful atmosphere!

Keep in mind that the sunset time in Bangkok changes throughout the year, falling as early as 5:50 PM in November and as late as 6:50 PM in July. It’s a good idea to arrive an hour beforehand, so you can find the best photography vantage points on the ground and/or head up to The Press Skybar (with its direct temple views) for a quick sunset cocktail.

Golden Mount - Thai Flag at Sunset — *Sunsets from Wat Saket*

Golden Mount - Sunset Views from the Top — *Sunsets from Wat Saket*

Golden Mount - Golden Chedi — *Local Thais praying*

Wian Thian: The Sacred 3-Lap Ritual

For Cam, the highlight of visiting the Golden Mount was watching Kat do something called the “Wian Thian”: a 3-lap ritual walk around the golden chedi of Wat Saket. Kat paid 100 THB for a Sanghadana set (orange robes) and carried them in her palms during the three laps. She then finished by doing a series of prayers and presenting the orange robes to the monks.

The three laps represent the “Triple Gem”. One lap focuses on the virtues of the Buddha, another on the Buddha’s teachings, and the final lap is dedicated to the community of monks who keep the religion alive. In other contexts, the Wian Thian is done with candles, lotus flowers or incense, but when we visited Wat Saket the offering was done in Sanghadana sets.

For Kat, practices like these are all about respecting her religion and maintaining good karma (or good luck). Cam followed behind her as she walked around the chedi three times, weaving in between tourists and other worshippers, while Buddhist chants played and the sun sank closer to the skyline. It was an incredibly special moment for the both of us.

Golden Mount - Wian Thian Orange Robes — *Wian Thian*

Golden Mount - 3 Laps Around the Chedi — *3-Lap ritual*

Is the Golden Mount Worth Visiting?

After enjoying sunsets and sacred rituals at the top, we decided to make our way back down the 344 steps. Near the bottom, we stumbled across one final Buddha statue dressed in golden cloth. Kat made her last prayer here before we headed directly to the food stalls for some much needed snacks and refreshments: grilled meats and mango smoothies!

It was hard to leave in the end because we couldn’t stop looking back at the temple. The lights started to glow against the night sky and a crescent moon appeared above. It was the cherry on top of a perfect evening! We honestly can’t recommend visiting the Golden Mount enough - it’s probably our second favorite temple in Bangkok only behind Wat Paknam.

Golden Mount - Buddha with Golden Cloth — *Buddha statue*

Golden Mount - Food Stalls — *Food stalls at the base*

Golden Mount - Moon — *Views as we left*

Golden Mount - Kat and Cam — *Views as we left*

FAQs on the Golden Mount (Wat Saket)

What are the Golden Mount’s opening hours?

The Golden Mount opens its doors between 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily. We suggest arriving well before 6:00 PM: giving yourself enough time to line up for tickets, walk the 344 steps and admire the sunset. To catch the sunrise, we recommend visiting other temples such as Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple) which opens at 6:00 AM.

What is the best way to get to the Golden Mount?

The most direct way to the Golden Mount is taking a Grab taxi. However, Bangkok’s traffic can be notoriously bad around 5:00 PM and being stuck on the roads is frustrating (to put it mildly). Catching the MRT Blue Line to Sam Yot Station, followed by a quick tuk-tuk ride or 15-minute walk, isn’t a bad option. Or you could via water, taking the Saen Saep Canal Boat to Panfa Leelard Pier and then walking the final 5-minute stretch.

What is the dress code & entry fee for the Golden Mount?

Like most Thai temples, modest dressware is required at the Golden Mount (Wat Saket). The most important areas to cover are your knees, shoulders and stomach (no tank tops). Cam wore shorts and a tee, and Kat wore long pants and a tee, and we didn’t encounter any problems. Foreigners are charged a 100 THB entry fee while Thai citizens can enter for free.

Golden Mount at Night — *The Golden Mount*

Golden Mount (Wat Saket): The Best Sunset Temple in Bangkok