If possible, it’s ideal to schedule your visit to Wat Saket with the annual Loy Krathong festival that happens every November during the full moon. Best known to both locals and tourists as the Golden Mount, Wat Saket plays host to a lively fair during this sacred week. Celebrations include an elaborate procession illuminated by candlelight, a rainbow’s worth of traditional lanterns, fresh authentic Thai food, and a carnival-like atmosphere. While the wat itself is quite majestic, the Golden Mount is what most visitors come here specifically to see.

One must climb over 300 stairs that spiral up the artificially-constructed hill in order to reach its peak — a journey that serves as a pilgrimage for worshippers during Loy Krathong. For those unable to come for the festival, the same walk can be made anytime throughout the year. Once atop the Golden Mount, onlookers are treated to exceptional vistas of Bangkok below. We recommend going in the early morning, since the stairs can get quite packed in the afternoon; cooler weather is also found earlier in the day.