On the evening of the full moon of the 12th month (November) of the Thai lunar calendar, the city of Chiang Mai celebrates The Thailand Lantern Festivals of Loy Krathong and Yi Peng.  It is an experience that should be on everyone’s Bucket List.  Hopefully the Bucket List Guide to the Thailand Lantern Festival will inspire you to attend this amazing festival of lights.

The Bucket List Guide to the Thailand Lantern Festivals of

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng

When is the Thailand Lantern Festival?

The city of Chiang Mai celebrates both Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals simultaneously over several days during the week of the full moon in November.  Actual dates in November fluctuate each year depending on the cycle of the moon.  The festivities are said to be over the course of a week but essentially the entire festival takes place over three days.  Dates for the next few years are as follows:

• Loy Krathong date in 2022 will be November 9, 2022
• Loy Krathong date in 2023 will be November 28, 2023
• Loy Krathong date in 2024 will be November 16, 2024
• Loy Krathong date in 2025 will be November 6, 2025
• Loy Krathong date in 2026 will be November 25, 2026

Want to see 1000's of Sky Lanterns soar into the atmosphere while more Floating Lanterns glide down a river? Then you need to attend the #ThailandLanternFestival! See why this amazing event NEEDS to be on your Bucket List! #YiPeng Click To Tweet

Enjoying the Celebration

When in Chiang Mai, we recommend you find a list of events for Loy Krathong/Yi Peng as they seem to shuffle around each year.  This will help guide you during the Thailand Lantern Festival so that you each day. That way you can participate in all of the Bucket List Adventure Activities and Experiences! But for the most part, you will fill your days with Food, Bazaars, Parades, Pageants, and of course lights!

Hot Tip: The Historic Center of Chiang Mai is a very safe place to walk around. But as in any place you travel, please use common sense and stay to main areas while exploring. Also, sometimes major festival like the Thailand Lantern Festivals of Yi Peng & Loy Krathong can be a wee bit overwhelming. We would love for you to use the Bucket List Guide to the Lantern Festival but another great option to consider is taking a private guided 1 day city tour with Viator. They can help orient you with the best sights and temples to see from the comfort of a local Tuk Tuk! Then afterwards, Viator provides you with the opportunity to release both of your floating lantern or sky lantern with other locals also celebrating Yi Peng and Loy Krathong! If an organized 1 day intro tour is what you are looking for then click here to check out the Thailand Lantern Festival 1 Day Tour by Viator!

The Lights of the Thailand Lantern Festival

During the 3 days of the festival, the city of Chiang Mai is covered in lights. Interestingly, the city still uses candles to light the majority of the lanterns used in the celebration.  To begin the festival, university students will light candles along the rivers surrounding the old town. The entire Ping River area and bridges around the old city light up with hundreds and hundreds of small candles.

Much of the surrounding old wall in the original city is dilapidated, however the university students use these ruins to set up dedication sites, where visitors can leave a candle as a devotion to someone not able to be there or whatever they wish.

Since they are free, ask some of the students for a candle. But please be respectful of others who may be praying as they leave their devotional.

The Yi Peng Pageants and Loy Krathong Activities

During the 3 days of celebration there are many activities to enjoy.  They have Handmade Krathong Contests, Yi Peng Kids contests, Boat Races, and small Hot Air Balloon Contests. The majority of these events can be seen near the Office of Chiang Mai Municipality.

The Thapae Gate, and entrance to the old city, is also a hot spot for many activities.  Here you can witness the Miss Yi Peng Pageants.  Though not unlike typical beauty pageants, what is interesting is the traditional costumes, head pieces, and dance routines.

The Lantern Festival Parade

The Loy Krathong parade is a beautiful spectacle for all ages.  Starting around sunset, many groups line up in traditional costumes with bands of flutes and drums blasting away fun and entertaining music.  You will see gorgeous floats are made to look like Krathongs floating on the Ping river. It was amazing to see the unbelievable details and thousands of lights on each float.

The parade starts at the Thapae Gate and rolls through a street route to the Office of Chiang Mai Municipality.

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Guide to Loy Krathong Floating Lantern Festival Launch

On one of the days there will be an official start of Loy Krathong.  Throughout the day there will be plenty of activities going on.  However, an official launch starts at Nawarat bridge & Office of Chiang Mai Municipality at about sunset along the Ping River.

You can easily find people selling Krathongs or “decorative floats” around the city through the day for around $5 USD.  Each one is made uniquely of a banana tree base and covered with banana leaves, decorations, incense sticks, and a candle.  Once you find one that you like, make your way down along the banks of the Ping River.  Be careful as it can be slippery on the mud and rocks along the Ping.

When at the river, light the candle, take a moment to reflect.  The modern history of Loy Krathong is  that the lights that are floated down the rivers are meant to symbolize the drifting away of bad luck and misfortune.  However, for many Thai people it is also an opportunity to honor the goddess of water.  So please remember to be respectful of the many others that will line the banks of the river with you.

Guide to the Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival Releases

You have a couple of options when dealing with the Yi Peng Sky Lantern Release.  First, you can participate in the tourist only lantern release held at Mae Jo University in Chiang Mai that requires you to book tickets from $100 USD per person. It is by far the biggest release around with often 500+ people participating.

Another option is to participate in the melee of people releasing from around the Nawarat bridge.  You can find vendors selling the paper hot air balloons around the city for about $5-$10 USD.  They are essentially paper cylinders held together with light metal wiring.  At the bottom there will be a metal ring of cotton that is soaked in kerosene.  At 9pm you are allowed to open up and then light your sky lanterns.  It tends to take about two people to manage the balloon.  When you feel that your balloon is filled with enough hot air, let it go. You are supposed to make a wish for the new year while asking for forgiveness for the faults of the last year.

Warnings: It is illegal to fly lanterns before the city has stopped air traffic for the night.  Also, please note that these balloons are highly flammable! Therefore it is recommended to be far away from tree lines, electrical areas, or other flammable sources.

The Unbelievable Food The Lantern Festival

Thai food is arguably some of the best food in the world and Chiang Mai is no exception!  Whether its during the festival or not you will always find a great assortment of street food available for cheap.

What is unique is that these Thai chefs bring out their own little tables and set them up next to their booths so that you can join them for dinner.  Just walk up to the booth, tell them what you want, sit down, and wait to be fed!

Around the main entrance to the city (during the festival) you will find countless booths selling skewers of meat, dumplings, mixed stir fry noodles and yes even sushi.  You will also find a a small assortment of desserts like ice cream, sweet sticky rice, fried bananas, and small sweet cakes

If at all possible we highly recommend you find and try Traditional Khao Soi. When you order it, you will get egg noodle spicy curry broth mixed with chicken. Then, add crunchy pickled veggies, sliced shallots and a lime for an amazing meal.  One of the interesting things is to watch them make and cut the rice noodles from scratch.

HOT TIP: During Loy Krathong or the Sky Lantern Festival of Yi Peng there is a ton of amazing street food. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a unique bucket list experience taking a cooking class! There are a ton of fun and unique classes all around Chiang Mai that you can join. So whether you want to learn how to make normal Thai favorites, from pad Thai to tom yum soup, or try some of the regional specialties, such as the khao soi soup, you will be in food heaven. For a great list of some 20+ cooking classes in Chiang Mai CLICK HERE! But don’t wait because during the festival they will book fast!

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

There are plenty of places to stay in Chiang Mai during the Lantern Festival that will fit any traveler’s style and budget. Whether looking for an active hostel, a family owned guest house, or a quiet luxury hotel, you won’t be disappointed in your options.

• Budget: SOHOstel is located in the old city of Chiang Mai and is convenient Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center. With nearly 45 rooms, SOHOStel offers many choices and amenities for any budget traveler!
• Mid-Priced: If you are looking for convenience to the festivities along with a good price than check out Baan Klang Vieng. Also located in Old City, this small boutique guest house with it’s 16 rooms offers a more personal feel along with a plethora of amenities.
• Luxury: If you are looking pamper yourself, then look no further than 137 Pillars House. This luxury hotel is located in Heart of Chiang Mai, making it easy for you to walk to all the festival events. However, if you need a break from the crowds, 137 Pillars House has a beautiful pool, Spa Services, and 2 magnificent restaurants.

Book Your Stay for the Thailand Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai Today

Other Things to do in The City of Chiang Mai

In 2014, TripAdvisor listed Chiang Mai as number 24 of 25 Best Destinations in the World.  Though founded in1296, this “New City” was developed due to its location near the Ping river and many trade routes.

The old city is beautiful and easy to navigate.  With the many temples and museums there is plenty there to keep someone occupied.  Plus, a neat tidbit you will witness is that the original city was built within a wall surrounded by a small river or moat.

The Temples (the Wats) of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has over 300 Buddhist temples (“wat” in Thai).  Each are open to the public and nearly all are free to enter and explore.  You will find most of the temples within the original walled city and each offer their own unique personalities worth exploring.  Here is a guide to some that we recommend that you check out during the Thailand Lantern Festival:

• Wat Muen Toom: Wat Muen Toom was built by the soldier “Toom” around 2012 B.C., or 1478 C.E.  We learned that before being enthroned, every king of Lanna Kingdom would white & visit Wat Muen Toom. They would then have a three day-retreat in order to practice meditation and participate in the Long Live Ceremony.
• Wat Pan Tao: Wat Pan Tao is one of the only wooden wats built from teakwood in Chiang Mai.  Its name, meaning “temple of a thousand kilns,” probably derives its name from the ovens used to cast Buddha images for another temple.  During the festivals they hold a beautiful night time celebration of light.
• Wat Chiang Man: Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai.  The temple houses two important and venerated Buddha figures, one in marble and another in crystal.
• Wat Bupbharan: Wat Bupbharan is home to the largest Teak Buddha in the world
• Wat Chedi Luang: Wat Chedi Luang houses the biggest and most famous pagoda in Chiang Mai.
• Wat SriSupan: Built in 1502, Wat SriSupan is Chiang Mai’s silver temple.  The attention that was given to the detail within the silver work is amazing.
• Wat Phra Doi Suthep: Wat Phra Doi Suthep which is about 40 minutes outside of town up in the mountains overlooking the city. Famous for its 344 + steps leading to the temple, you will walk guarded by two dragons that line the stairs all the way up.

(Click on the Pictures Below to see the Wats) 

Other Tours Available in Chiang Mai or Nearby

Celebrate the Festival of Lights at the Thailand Lantern Festival

As you can see with this guide, The Thailand Lantern Festival needs to be on everyone’s Bucket List.  Whether you just want the chance to witness thousands of beautiful lanterns in the sky and floating lanterns down the Ping River or you want to participate because you need to find a way to start off the new year with a clean slate, it is definitely worth it.