Every November, something happens on Thailand’s rivers and canals that’s hard to describe without sounding dramatic: thousands of small floating baskets (decorated with banana leaves, flowers, and candles) drift across the water while, in Chiang Mai, paper lanterns rise into the night sky by the thousands. The Loy Krathong Festival is one of Southeast Asia’s most visually spectacular events, and it draws travelers from across the world who want to see it with their own eyes.
This guide covers everything worth knowing before you plan a trip around it: the history, the best locations, what to actually do when you’re there, and a few things guidebooks tend to gloss over.
What Is the Loy Krathong Festival?
“Loy” means to float, and “krathong” refers to the small decorated vessel placed on the water. The festival is celebrated on the full moon of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in November. Participants set their krathong on a river, canal, or lake, traditionally as a way to pay respects to the water goddess Phra Mae Khongkha and to symbolically release bad luck, grudges, and past troubles.
Loy Krathong – Festival of Lanterns and Light
Loy Krathong has roots in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and the exact origins are still debated among Thai historians. One popular account traces it to a court woman named Nang Nopphamat, who created an elaborate lotus-shaped krathong for King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai in the 13th century. Whether that story is historically accurate or not, Sukhothai does lay a strong claim to being the birthplace of the modern festival and it remains one of the best places to see it.
The krathong itself has evolved over time. Traditionally made from banana tree trunks and decorated with banana leaves, flowers, incense, and a candle, they now come in various forms. Many cities and temples sell ready-made ones; others encourage visitors to make their own, which takes about 20 minutes and is more satisfying than it sounds.
When Is Loy Krathong 2026?
The festival date changes annually with the lunar calendar:
- Date: November 25th, 2026
The main evening celebration happens on the full moon night itself, but festivities in major cities typically run for two to three days around it. Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng festival often extends for a full week.
Where to Celebrate Loy Krathong in Thailand?
1. Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng / Loy Krathong combination is the most internationally recognized Thailand lantern festival. The main event runs for three to five days, with the city’s old town filling up with street food stalls, parades, and competitions. The Ping River is where most locals float their krathongs.
Lanna dancers performing a candlelit ceremony during the Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai.
The large-scale mass lantern releases, the kind you see in photographs, are organized by temples and private event organizers, typically at venues outside the city center. These ticketed events attract large crowds and have strict timings. If attending one is a priority, book well in advance; they sell out weeks before the festival.
Walking through Chiang Mai’s old city during Yi Peng is an experience in itself. The streets are lit with paper lanterns, the moat glows with floating lights, and there’s a relaxed, communal atmosphere that the bigger releases don’t always have.
2. Sukhothai
Thailand’s former capital may be the most culturally resonant place to celebrate Loy Krathong. The festival here takes place around the Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the ruins of ancient temples and palaces are illuminated at night against the reflections on the park’s lotus ponds and lakes.
Sky lanterns and fireworks light up the night sky over Sukhothai for the Loy Krathong festival.
Compared to Chiang Mai, Sukhothai’s celebration is quieter and more traditional. There are no sky lanterns, no massive crowds. What you get instead is a genuinely old-world atmosphere: folk dances, traditional music, and krathong floated on water surrounded by 700-year-old ruins. For travelers who want something less festival-commercial, Sukhothai is the better choice.
>>> Refer to Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns – UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
3. Bangkok
Bangkok’s Loy Krathong celebrations spread across the city’s canals and the Chao Phraya River. The most popular gathering points include:
Asiatique the Riverfront, where the combination of riverside setting and night market makes for a good evening.
Lumpini Park and Benjakitti Park, where city residents bring krathongs to float on the park lakes.
Magical Loy Krathong Festival in Bangkok
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, which sits directly on the Chao Phraya and looks particularly striking at night during the festival.
Bangkok’s version feels more like a city holiday than a cultural pilgrimage. It’s lively, crowded, and easier to access on a wider Thailand itinerary, but it doesn’t have the visual drama of Chiang Mai or the historical atmosphere of Sukhothai.
What to Expect and How to Prepare
Crowds and logistics
Loy Krathong is one of the busiest travel periods in Thailand, particularly in Chiang Mai. Hotels book up months in advance. If you’re planning to be in Chiang Mai for Yi Peng, accommodation should be the first thing you book seriously, not an exaggeration. The same applies to any ticketed lantern release events.
Traffic in city centers gets heavy on the main night. Many travelers stay walking distance from their preferred celebration spot and leave cars or rideshares out of the equation entirely.
Making and floating your krathong
Most hotels, guesthouses, and riverside vendors sell ready-made krathongs. Prices range from 20 to 200 baht ($0.62–6.23) depending on size and decoration. Some temples and community centers offer krathong-making workshops in the days before the festival, which is worth doing if you have the time. The process involves folding banana leaves into the base, adding flowers, incense sticks, and a candle, and sometimes a small coin.
Floating lotus-shaped krathongs.
Before floating your krathong, it’s customary to:
- Light the incense and candle
- Make a wish or set an intention
- Gently place (not throw) the krathong on the water
Some people also cut their fingernails or hair and place the clippings in the krathong as a symbolic release of the past year’s troubles.
Beyond the krathong itself, the festival is much more than a quiet waterside ritual. Alongside the traditional lantern floating, Bangkok’s celebrations also include fireworks displays and boat processions along the Chao Phraya, making the capital’s version of the festival livelier than many first-time visitors expect. If you’re in Bangkok specifically for Loy Krathong, the Chao Phraya River, park lakes, and waterways across the city all become gathering points where locals float their krathongs and wish for good things ahead.
It’s also worth noting that the festival carries a romantic dimension many travelers don’t anticipate. Beyond its spiritual roots, Loy Krathong is considered a meaningful occasion for couples, floating a krathong together is seen as a wish for lasting happiness in love, which is why you’ll notice a notably higher proportion of couples at the riverbanks compared to other Thai festivals. For anyone planning a honeymoon in Thailand, the timing is worth factoring in.
Environmental considerations
Older krathongs made from bread or natural materials are fully biodegradable. Many Thai cities have moved toward requiring eco-friendly krathongs and deploy boats to collect them after the festival. If you have the choice, opt for a natural material krathong over styrofoam.
What to wear
Thais often wear traditional dress for Loy Krathong: women in “chut thai” (traditional Thai costume) and men in matching formal attire. Tourists aren’t expected to dress traditionally, but some visitors rent or buy Thai outfits for the occasion, especially in Chiang Mai. It’s a nice touch and you’ll find plenty of rental shops around the old city.
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng: What’s the Difference?
A lot of travelers arrive in Thailand having seen photographs of glowing lanterns filling a night sky and assume that’s Loy Krathong. It’s an easy mix-up, and the distinction genuinely matters when deciding where to go and what to expect.
Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai
Loy Krathong is the nationwide festival. Yi Peng is a separate Northern Thai tradition celebrated in Chiang Mai that happens to fall at the same time. The two overlap in Chiang Mai, which is why that city’s celebration is unlike anywhere else in the country, but outside of the North, you won’t see sky lanterns at all. Bangkok, Sukhothai, and most other cities focus entirely on the water.
>>> Read our guide to Yi Peng Festival to clearly see the difference between these 2 important festivals of Thailand. Or pay attention to our table below:
| Criteria | Loy Krathong | Yi Peng |
| Origin | Central Thailand (Sukhothai) | Northern Thailand (Lanna Kingdom) |
| Main ritual | Floating decorated baskets on water | Releasing paper sky lanterns (khom loi) into the air |
| Where celebrated | Nationwide across Thailand | Primarily Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand |
| Festival element | Water | Sky |
| Krathong / lantern material | Banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense | Thin paper stretched over a bamboo or wire frame |
| 2026 date | November 25th | November 24-25th |
| Religious roots | Buddhist and Hindu: offering to the water goddess Phra Mae Khongkha | Buddhist: releasing lanterns symbolizes letting go of misfortune and making merit |
| Best location | Sukhothai, Bangkok, any riverside city | Chiang Mai (old city, Ping River, outer venues) |
| Ticketed events | Generally free, public riverbank celebrations | Mass lantern releases at temples and private venues require tickets |
| Crowd level | Moderate to high depending on city | Very high in Chiang Mai, one of Thailand’s busiest festival periods |
| Photography | Reflections of candlelit krathongs on water | Thousands of glowing lanterns rising against a dark sky |
| Can tourists participate? | Yes | Yes |
If you want to float a krathong, you can do that anywhere in Thailand. If you want to release a sky lantern, you need to be in Chiang Mai. Most travelers who make the trip to Northern Thailand during this period get to do both, which is exactly why Chiang Mai’s version of the festival has become the most photographed in the country.
>>> Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more information!
Building Loy Krathong Into Your Thailand Trip
Loy Krathong falls during one of Thailand’s best travel months. November sits after the main monsoon season in most of the country, with clear skies, lower humidity, and temperatures that are manageable even in Bangkok. It’s also shoulder season pricing in some areas before the December peak rush.
A natural itinerary pairs Bangkok with Chiang Mai, giving you both the Chao Phraya river celebrations and the full Yi Peng experience up north. Travelers with more time sometimes add Sukhothai as a day trip or overnight stop between the two cities.
If you’re already planning to visit Northern Thailand or explore a classic Thai route, timing your trip around this festival adds something genuinely memorable to the itinerary. Our Thailand tours include private itineraries that can be built around the festival dates, both classic tours and luxury holiday packages that factor in early hotel bookings when demand is high.
Those interested in combining Thailand with neighboring countries can also look at Vietnam and Thailand combined tours, which pair well with a November travel window.
Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors
A few things that don’t always make it into the standard travel guides:
- Go early: the main floating happens around sunset. Arriving at the riverbank an hour before dark gives you space to find a good spot, buy a krathong, and take photos before the crowds peak.
- Keep your valuables secure: Large festival crowds attract pickpockets. A money belt or a bag worn in front is worth the small inconvenience.
- Don’t look up too long: During sky lantern releases in Chiang Mai, occasional lanterns come down faster than expected. It’s rare, but worth being aware of.
- Avoid full-price rides: Ride-hailing apps like Grab work well in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, but surge pricing kicks in hard on festival nights. Either book your return in advance or budget for the increase.
- Skip the sparklers in crowds: Street vendors sell sparklers and small fireworks near festival areas. They’re fun but add real risk in dense crowds, many experienced travelers skip them entirely.
Conclusion for Planning Your Trip Around Loy Krathong
If you’re thinking about organizing a trip around this festival, the key decisions are destination (Chiang Mai for the sky lanterns, Sukhothai for the historical atmosphere, Bangkok for convenience), accommodation booked months ahead, and whether you want a ticketed lantern event or prefer the free street-level experience.
IDC Travel specializes in private, tailor-made Thailand travel itineraries that can be built around specific festivals and dates. Whether you’re after a family holiday timed for Loy Krathong or a honeymoon package that includes the Yi Peng experience in Chiang Mai, our team can handle the logistics, including the accommodation bookings that matter most when traveling during peak festival periods. So what are you waiting for? Contact us now!
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Is it safe to float lanterns or krathongs anywhere?
Stick to designated spots like riversides or temples approved for the event. In big cities like Bangkok, sky lanterns might be banned for safety reasons, so check local rules. But floating a krathong is safe everywhere water flows gently.
I’m a little confused, is Yi Peng the same as Loy Krathong or else?
Not exactly, though they happen at the same time! Loy Krathong is celebrated nationwide, where people float flower-decorated baskets (krathongs) on rivers. Yi Peng, on the other hand, is a northern tradition where thousands of lanterns are released into the sky. Chiang Mai is the only place where you can truly experience both together: one lighting up the sky, the other sparkling on the water.
Where’s the best place to celebrate: Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, or Bangkok?
It really depends on your travel vibe. Chiang Mai is vibrant, photogenic, and full of floating lanterns — perfect for first-timers or photographers. Sukhothai is more spiritual and traditional, with candlelit ruins that feel straight out of a dream. Bangkok is modern and convenient — easy transport, fancy dinner cruises, and plenty of hotel options. If you can only choose one, I highly recommend Chiang Mai, it’s very nice.