Thai Clothing Rental + Photoshoot at Wat Arun, Bangkok: My Absolute Thai Review

You’ve probably seen photos of people dressed up in traditional Thai clothing, posing in front of Wat Arun plastered all over social media. When my friend visited Thailand for the first time, I thought it would be a fun way of giving her a taster of Thai culture. What better excuse than getting dressed in these beautiful clothing and spending an afternoon at an iconic temple in Bangkok? The inspiration came from my Hanbok rental experience in Seoul, South Korea. I reckon it’s a great activity to do with your girl friends, especially if you’re looking for something outside of the ordinary sightseeing.

I arranged for a Thai traditional costume rental through Absolute Thai Costume Rental and headed to Wat Arun for a photoshoot. The experience turned out to be quite different to that of our Hanbok experience. This was focused on dressing up and having your photographs taken at the temple – rather than joining a guided walking tour. I won’t lie, I went in a little sceptical going in as I wasn’t sure if this was going to feel more like a social media photoshoot rather than a cultural activity. But I ended up enjoying the afternoon more than I expected.

In this review, I’ll be sharing my honest experience with Absolute Thai, the inclusions in the package, how much we paid, what’s worth knowing before you book… Should this activity be added to your ever growing list of things to do in Bangkok or should you just skip it? Let’s dig in to find out my opinion.

Disclosure: I paid for this experience myself and wasn’t hosted or compensated for this review.

Disclaimer: Some links earn me a small commission – same price for you, slightly less tragic bank balance for me.

STEAL MY TOUR: Book your Traditional Thai Costume Photoshoot with AbsoluteThai with this exact tour.

Our Experience: The Outfits, Getting Ready and Taking Photographs

Choosing a traditional Thai outfit

There was such a variety of outfits to choose from! It can feel a little overwhelming. I genuinely had no idea what colours I wanted to try. You’re spoilt for choice. The Thai costume is called a Chut Thai (ชุดไทย) and it literally translates to thai outfit. Rather than picking out your entire outfit, you pick out the skirt (traditionally known as a Pha Sin). The staff with help find a shawl top (sabai) to match. A friend of mine picked out a rich red base with gold accents, another chose a baby pastel blue. I on the other hand opted for a rich purple/blue base with bronze accent.

There are two things that I love whilst travelling: food and beautiful traditional outfits. I had always seen Thai clothing but I never knew what were the components that make it up. It was quite interesting that for the Sabai, it was two pieces of cloth – one a solid base colour with an accented fabric above. It’s always amazing seeing how quickly you can go from looking like you do every day to feeling like a royal. Especially once they start adding the accessories.

Getting dressed and ready

The skirts/pha sin had different adjustors so you didn’t have to really worry about sizing. Similarly with the shawl/sabai, it’s a long cloth so they would simply wrap it around you like a top and the excess fabric will be part of the shawl. It’s always impressive seeing how quick it takes to get changed. These ladies were so quick, I was ready before I knew it! If there were extra adjustments needed, it would be secured with safety pins.

Once our outfits were on, we had gotten some accessories. I opted for the basic package and got the following: a bracelets, necklace, belt, cross body chain. I genuinely felt so beautiful once everything was on. Next, the staff at Absolute Thai worked on our hair. We had a couple of different options to choose from for the basic package – it was all quick and easy! The staff also had put some accessories in our hair.

The girls and I were ready in 30 mins – from picking out our outfits to being fully dressed. One of our girl friends opted for getting her make up done, which was an extra charge and took about 20 – 30 mins extra.

For the most part, I was really comfortable in the Thai outfit. However, one of our friends felt quite itchy in the chut thai because of the material rubbing against her skin.

Taking photos at Wat Arun

There are a couple of different options to pick for your backdrop. Most people would opt for Wat Arun as it’s located just across from where most of the Thai Clothing rentals are. Another alternative is including Wat Pho if choose to but you’ll need for than the 1 hour timeslot for your photographer if you want to go to both venues.

Let me tell you though, Wat Arun is a beautiful temple – it’s central prang (the central structure) is so colourful and intricately decorated, full of details! It sits along the riverside and on the opposite side of the Grand Palace. It’s easily one of the most recognizable attractions in Bangkok. I loved the idea of taking photos at one of the iconic sites. Personally, it gave it another layering of culture.

I’m incredibly awkward in front of the camera but you need not worry about that. The photographer will take you to all the best locations for these stellar backgrounds and they tend to know the best angles. All you need to do is follow instructions as they direct you. I must say, the grounds were really crowded so you might have to wait around for a bit until the location clears.

The photographer took a mixture of individual shots and group photos in the different locations. The photographer took us for 4 different locations around the temple grounds to photograph at with a couple of poses in each. Honestly, it went by so quickly.

What I thought of the final photos

We opted for the unedited photographs package so we got the images sent to us immediately. She used a SD card reader and connected it to one of our phones. To send the images between us, we used AirDrop. I was happy with the quality of the photographs – they were clear and sharp. I believe in total, we received approximately 600 photos between the 3 of us, including group photos.

You could opt and pay extra to have the photos edited – in some of the packages, I saw it included background removal or retouching. However, not all photographers are created equally. Be sure to ask what’s included in the different packages when you meet your photographers. I would’ve loved to have photo variety in the locations but unfortunately, our time was up really quick!

How much does Thai Clothing Rental cost and what’s included?

What’s included

The cost of a Thai costume photoshoot at Wat Arun depends on the rental package and whether you arrange photography separately. We booked the photographer through Absolute Thai so could easily pay for everything at the same time. Just keep in mind that the prices quoted online tends to be the basic 3 hr package with the basic style options and inclusions. You don’t have to bundle your photographer in the same package if you rather use someone else.

• Costume Rental for 3 hrs
• Hair & Accessories: Basic hairstyles + accessories
• Photographer: Booked through Absolute Thai
• Photographs: ±500 photographs over the session, no edits
• Lockers: Included but a deposit of 200 THB is needed in cash

In total for our experience with Absolute Thai Costume Rentals, I paid 2750 THB for 3 people in September 2026 for the standard package + photographer… this is without the extras, which are listed below.

Additional

• Tips
• Entrance fee for Wat Arun 200 THB (cash only)
• Handbags, Umbrellas, Shoes
• Make up
• Premium Hair Accessories and Clothing Options

For me, I personally paid an additional 50 THB for accessories as well – for a handbag. My other two friends had additional costs as well (for shoes and make up). As a side note, when you’re comparing Absolute Thai with another provider or considering on having a rental and taking your own photographs, compare the total cost of the experience rather than just the starting price.

Prices and packages can change – check the latest listing online before booking and confirm whether your chosen package includes a photographer.

CHECK THE TOUR OUT HERE: Book your Traditional Thai Costume Photoshoot with AbsoluteThai with this tour.

Is a professional photoshoot worth it compared with renting a costume?

You don’t need to pay for a professional photoshoot in order to wear traditional Thai clothing. We saw plenty of people who simply worn the outfits and took their own photos with their smart phones. That works completely fine if you’re travelling with others who don’t mind being the photographer for a while.

Personally, I preferred having a photographer for the experience as it’s someone dedicated to snapping the photos and they simply instruct you to pose. Rather than you trying to figure out the best locations and what poses you should do.

The thing that matters here is what you prefer. If you are looking for casual holiday snaps, it might not be necessary to pay extra for a photographer. However, if you are looking for a fun activity to do with girl friends or your partner, you might prefer to pay the extra for the photographer. For our experience, we did both… after the photoshoot, we went around to snap some photographs, however they weren’t anywhere near as good as the photographers – especially when it came to the posing!

Things to know before your Thai Clothing Rental

Choose Your Time Carefully

Wat Arun is a popular attraction, so the timing of your photoshoot can affect the experience. Whilst the temple grounds are huge, the main prang gets really crowded and it could be a challenge to capture photos with minimal people in the background. You might want to consider this when booking your tour.

Check online online with time slots are available with Absolute Thai and if a photographer is available. Alternatively, you could send them a Whatsapp message to ask generally what’s the best time for taking photos. An earlier session may be worth considering if you want to avoid some of the crowds, although the best option will depend on the day, weather and availability.

Prepare for Bangkok’s Heat and Humidity

Guys. Bangkok can be hot and humid… wearing traditional clothing while moving around the complex might not be the most comfortable. The clothing, jewelery and accessories can get some getting used to if you’re not accustomed to wearing similar clothing. The skirt has a bit of a thicker material so it might feel kinda warm.

We received a bottle of water with your entrance fee at Wat Arun so you keep yourself hydrated. If possible, try avoid squeezing the photoshoot into an overly packed itinerary. If there’s rain in the forecast, give Absolute Thai a message to see if you’re able to reschedule it or alter your plans slightly.

Check the overall Package Before Paying

As always, before booking, confirm what’s in your price – is it what you wanted? Edited vs unedited, how many photographs roughly, how long will your session be… We managed to secure our spots with an deposit. The remainder of the payment and photographer was paid on the day of. For your additional accessories, you’ll pay on the day off – be sure to bring this in cash.

Check how the photographs are delivered

This is one detail I’d confirm before booking. Some photographers provide digital files shortly after the session, while others offer a selection of edited images later. The number of photographs, editing and delivery times can vary considerably.

Before paying, check whether you receive all the photographs taken or a selected collection, how many edited images are included and whether you can purchase additional edits.

What do you wear underneath?

Because of the style and fit of traditional Thai clothing, it’s best to not wear anything underneath. Except for, of course, your undergarments. Generally, you’ll need to have one shoulder exposed so wear a bra that you’ll be able to either remove or take off the strap so you won’t see it in the photos.

Comfort is worth considering too. You will be walking around the temple complex rather than just standing in one spot for the sessions. You want to be able to move around comfortable, walk up and down steps without slipping or falling. I would recommend wearing black flip flops. Alternatively, there’s an option to rent shoes at the rental stores.

Be Respectful at Wat Arun (or any temple)

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. However, Wat Arun isn’t just a backdrop for photographs – it’s an active Buddhist temple and an important religious site. Locals often visit for worshipping and others to admire the architecture. Make sure to dress appropriately, follow any instructions from temple staff and respect areas where photography may be restricted. Temple entry requirements and rules can change, so verify the latest guidance before your visit.

There’ll probably be other visitors trying to get their photographs, especially around the popular spots. Remember to be patient, avoid blocking the walkways for too long. Most importantly, people in the background aren’t extras in your photoshoot (especially those praying). Your photographer should be able to guide you towards suitable places to take pictures, so there’s no need to push into a crowded area just to get a particular shot.

Still got some questions? Read these

Is Absolute Thai Costume Rental worth it?

I think it depends on what you’re hoping to get out of the experience. If you want to dress up in traditional Thai clothing and come away with a collection of photos, booking a full package with Absolute Thai is worth considering. You could organise your outfit rental and photographer separately along the street near Wat Arun but I found it much easier to arrange everything through one vendor.

Absolute Thai had a good variety of outfits. Overall, the whole process was well organised. We were running late thanks to Bangkok traffic but the staff were accommodating. When my slippers broke on the way to the temple, one of them even kindly lent me her own pair! There are other shops offering similar services at comparable prices but the friendly staff definitely made a difference to our experience.

I’d recommend it for couples or groups of friends who enjoy taking photos and want a different kind of souvenir from their trip to Thailand. If you’re more interested in trying on Chut Thai than having professional photographs taken – I’d compare rental only options.

Would I book it again? Yes, although I’d choose my timing more carefully. We went around lunchtime, when Wat Arun was packed, which made it tricky to get photos without other visitors in the background. If possible, I’d opt for an earlier or later session next time.