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Loy Krathong | Yi Peng Travel Guide: Thailand’s Famous Lantern Festivals
One of the first things to point out is that there are two festivals that take place at once: Yi Peng and Loy Krathong. We are going to share with you everything you need to know about planning your trip to Loy Krathong and how you can participate in this amazing festival for free! (there’s absolutely no need to pay hundreds of dollars for a “ticket” to these events ! Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.) Whether you’re traveling to Chiang Mai this year to partake in the festivities or you’re just now hearing about it and adding it to your travel bucket list, this article will walk you through everything you need to know about Loy Krathong* and Yi Peng.
What are the dates of Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?
Historically these two festivals were set during different times of the year, but today they are typically celebrated at the same time. It is near the end of rainy season (usually late October – late November). The dates of these Buddhist festivals change each year, as they follow the traditional lunar calendar. More specifically, they take place on the evening of the full moon during the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. (This usually falls during the month of November.)There are several events throughout the entire week leading up to the full moon.
The historical origins of Loy Krathong are not entirely clear, but this is one of the most important holidays in Thailand. Loy Krathong is the opportunity to atone for one’s sins during the previous year and make a wish for success in the year to come. People will symbolically place a floating krathong onto the river as they repent and make a wish. If the krathong stays lit until they can no longer see the floating vessel, their wish will come true.
Yi Peng
Yi Peng is the festival of lanterns you are most likely familiar with. In preparation for this festival, people create lanterns and hang them outside of their homes and donate them to temples, which represents resisting the darkness and welcoming a brighter future. On the night of the Yi Peng festival, people make a wish and release their own lanterns, khom loy, into the sky. It is said if your lantern stays lit until you can no longer see it, your wish will come true.
Where are Loy Krathong and Yi Peng celebrated?
Now that you’ve been convinced that Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are one of the festivals around the world worth traveling to, let’s get into how you can plan a trip to see this magnificent event take place. Loy Krathong is a festival that is celebrated in many parts of Southeast Asia. Yi Peng, however, is a Lanna (Northern Thailand) tradition. In the last few years, some touristy places in the Thai islands have started releasing lanterns to draw more visitors, but the real celebration is in the north of Thailand, specifically in Chiang Mai.
Attending Yi Peng and Loy Krathong is Chiang Mai, Thailand
Many people dream of traveling to Thailand and witnessing the simultaneous release of hundreds of flaming wish lanterns into the sky.
The videos and photos many people associate with this festival are from the Lanna Dhutanka temple near the Mae Jo University, which is about 15 km north of Chiang Mai. This Buddhist sect holds an event every year.
Ticket purchase $100-300 USD per person
As you can imagine, this event - the Mae Jo Sky Lantern Release - is now mainly directed at tourists who want to get that iconic photograph for Instagram instead of locals actually participating in this cultural festival. With this event’s popularity, there are other paid events popping up elsewhere around the city (another one is at the Cowboy Army Riding Club), and some tour agencies will make it sound like this is the only way to partake in the festival. This is nonsense. Unless you are a professional photographer who wants to capture the iconic shot, our recommendation is to skip this overpriced tourist event. You will have plenty to do during these festivals and you will even have a chance to get your sky lantern photo amongst locals who are doing the same thing without shelling out hundreds of dollars.You don’t have to arrange anything in advance except accommodation and you just need to know where to go.
The week of Loy Krathong
As you walk through the city, you’ll see lanterns of all shades hung from stores and house and even trees. In the moat around the Old City, large inflatable floats are erected for a competition later in the week. There are traditional dances in the evenings near the Old City Gates.
Events include:
Young Monk Ceremony at Wat Phan Tao
One fantastic experience (and a great photo op!) is at Wat Phan Tao, a beautiful 14th century teak Buddhist temple located in Old City. On the night of the full moon, the garden outside the temple decorated with hundreds of colorful lanterns and is illuminated with thousands of candles. It is a sight to behold. Young monks come out out of the temple and release wish lanterns… well, sorta. They let the lanterns float, but suddenly they stop in midair. No, the monks don’t have super powers. Bummer, I know. They actually suspend the lanterns for the ceremony (and of course the photo opportunity). This event is undoubtedly beautiful. But if you do decide to attend, be sure to get there early. It gets packed. The year we went, I believe the ceremony was supposed to start at 7:00 p.m. We got there at 5:45 pm and it was already filling up fast. Of course in Thai style, the event didn’t start until 8:00 p.m., but we were happy to be near the front.
What to expect:
It is a really neat experience, but not without its discomforts and annoyances. You will be crammed into a small space because of the hordes of people watching. Also, expect tons of photographers with tripods and cameras. Our advice: Stick it out until the monks light all the candles, meditate and “release” the sky lanterns. But once you get a few shots, get out of the sweaty hot mess of a crowd and head to Nawarat Bridge to release your own lantern.
How to release a Sky Lantern in Chiang Mai
One of the best parts of the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals is the releasing of a khom loy, or sky lanterns, within the city. There are specific dates and times to send your lantern of fire into the sky. The best spot to release a sky lantern in Chiang Mai is near the Nawarat Bridge that spans the Ping River. As you get close, you will see vendors selling folded sky lanterns for about 30 THB. Once you’re in a good spot to release, open the lantern fully and hold it at the top and bottom. Have someone else light the circular, doughnut-looking disc soaked in kerosene (you’ll need a lighter for this, which you can purchase from any convenience store). You have about a minute or two for the heat to fill the lantern before it will start to float away. Be sure to have your camera ready for a spectacular picture with the other floating lights in the sky and the full moon in the background.
As you can imagine, there is a risk of fires being started by releasing wish lanterns. Loy Krathong/Yi Peng are celebrated at the end of rainy season in Thailand, so the risk isn’t as high as it would be during other times of the year. Plus, being that people are only allowed to release lanterns on two nights, authorities are able to keep better track of any potential danger.
Aside from the potential of fires, releasing wish lanterns can have some detrimental effects on the environment. Even lanterns that are labeled as “biodegradable” can contain wire pieces that take years to break down. We always try to do our best totravel in a way that is responsible and sustainable.
Release a krathong into the Ping River
You will find more locals releasing krathongs into the river than sky lanterns because this is perhaps one of the most important Thai holidays. You can partake in this celebration as well.
What is a krathong?
“Loy” means float and “krathong” is the actual floating vessel is placed on the water. It is usually made out of a slice of a banana tree trunk and is decorated with intricately folded banana leaves and flowers. Incense and candles are then placed on top.
How to release a Floating Krathong in Chiang Mai
Head down to the Ping River, and just south of both the Nawarat and Iron Bridges there will be vendors selling krathongs. Pick the prettiest one and go to the bank of the river. Just follow the locals! Don’t light your krathong until you are ready to release it. There are some spots on the bank that have docks you can walk onto. Light the incense sticks and candles, make a wish and gently place your krathong into the water and give it a soft push. With any luck, your krathong will float into to the current and get swept away.
Tips before coming to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai basically doubles in size starting the week leading up to Loy Krathog (or at least it seems that way!). Outside of the festival week, its hard enough to cross the street because of all the red trucks and tuk tuks. But during the festival, Chiang Mai swells with people, Thai and foreigners alike enter the city for all the activities. It’s no wonder the hotels get book up quickly. If you’re headed to Chiang Mai during Loy Krathong, make sure to book your hotel well in advance.
One of the first things to point out is that there are two festivals that take place at once: Yi Peng and Loy Krathong. We are going to share with you everything you need to know about planning your trip to Loy Krathong and how you can participate in this amazing festival for free! (there’s absolutely no need to pay hundreds of dollars for a “ticket” to these events ! Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.) Whether you’re traveling to Chiang Mai this year to partake in the festivities or you’re just now hearing about it and adding it to your travel bucket list, this article will walk you through everything you need to know about Loy Krathong* and Yi Peng.
What are the dates of Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?
Historically these two festivals were set during different times of the year, but today they are typically celebrated at the same time. It is near the end of rainy season (usually late October – late November). The dates of these Buddhist festivals change each year, as they follow the traditional lunar calendar. More specifically, they take place on the evening of the full moon during the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. (This usually falls during the month of November.)There are several events throughout the entire week leading up to the full moon.
- 2022: November 08
- 2023: November 27
- Loy Krathong is a celebration of thanks to the gods for the rain and the rice harvest, as well as a chance to repent for the pollution we’ve created in our environment.
- Yi Peng is known for the releasing of wish lanterns into the sky.
The historical origins of Loy Krathong are not entirely clear, but this is one of the most important holidays in Thailand. Loy Krathong is the opportunity to atone for one’s sins during the previous year and make a wish for success in the year to come. People will symbolically place a floating krathong onto the river as they repent and make a wish. If the krathong stays lit until they can no longer see the floating vessel, their wish will come true.
Yi Peng
Yi Peng is the festival of lanterns you are most likely familiar with. In preparation for this festival, people create lanterns and hang them outside of their homes and donate them to temples, which represents resisting the darkness and welcoming a brighter future. On the night of the Yi Peng festival, people make a wish and release their own lanterns, khom loy, into the sky. It is said if your lantern stays lit until you can no longer see it, your wish will come true.
Where are Loy Krathong and Yi Peng celebrated?
Now that you’ve been convinced that Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are one of the festivals around the world worth traveling to, let’s get into how you can plan a trip to see this magnificent event take place. Loy Krathong is a festival that is celebrated in many parts of Southeast Asia. Yi Peng, however, is a Lanna (Northern Thailand) tradition. In the last few years, some touristy places in the Thai islands have started releasing lanterns to draw more visitors, but the real celebration is in the north of Thailand, specifically in Chiang Mai.
Attending Yi Peng and Loy Krathong is Chiang Mai, Thailand
Many people dream of traveling to Thailand and witnessing the simultaneous release of hundreds of flaming wish lanterns into the sky.
The videos and photos many people associate with this festival are from the Lanna Dhutanka temple near the Mae Jo University, which is about 15 km north of Chiang Mai. This Buddhist sect holds an event every year.
Ticket purchase $100-300 USD per person
As you can imagine, this event - the Mae Jo Sky Lantern Release - is now mainly directed at tourists who want to get that iconic photograph for Instagram instead of locals actually participating in this cultural festival. With this event’s popularity, there are other paid events popping up elsewhere around the city (another one is at the Cowboy Army Riding Club), and some tour agencies will make it sound like this is the only way to partake in the festival. This is nonsense. Unless you are a professional photographer who wants to capture the iconic shot, our recommendation is to skip this overpriced tourist event. You will have plenty to do during these festivals and you will even have a chance to get your sky lantern photo amongst locals who are doing the same thing without shelling out hundreds of dollars.You don’t have to arrange anything in advance except accommodation and you just need to know where to go.
The week of Loy Krathong
As you walk through the city, you’ll see lanterns of all shades hung from stores and house and even trees. In the moat around the Old City, large inflatable floats are erected for a competition later in the week. There are traditional dances in the evenings near the Old City Gates.
Events include:
- Mister and Miss Yi Peng contest
- Handmade krathong contest, which are floated down the Ping River
- Ceremony of young monks releasing lanterns at Wat Phan Tao
- This is also the day locals and travelers release sky lanterns
- Locals release krathongs (floating boats) into the river
- Second and last evening to release sky lanterns
- Final processional through the city. (One of the best spots for viewing this parade-like event is near the East Gate (Pha Thae Gate) where the entire procession will pass right by you. Don’t feel like you have to stay and watch the whole thing, because it can go on for hours!)
Young Monk Ceremony at Wat Phan Tao
One fantastic experience (and a great photo op!) is at Wat Phan Tao, a beautiful 14th century teak Buddhist temple located in Old City. On the night of the full moon, the garden outside the temple decorated with hundreds of colorful lanterns and is illuminated with thousands of candles. It is a sight to behold. Young monks come out out of the temple and release wish lanterns… well, sorta. They let the lanterns float, but suddenly they stop in midair. No, the monks don’t have super powers. Bummer, I know. They actually suspend the lanterns for the ceremony (and of course the photo opportunity). This event is undoubtedly beautiful. But if you do decide to attend, be sure to get there early. It gets packed. The year we went, I believe the ceremony was supposed to start at 7:00 p.m. We got there at 5:45 pm and it was already filling up fast. Of course in Thai style, the event didn’t start until 8:00 p.m., but we were happy to be near the front.
What to expect:
It is a really neat experience, but not without its discomforts and annoyances. You will be crammed into a small space because of the hordes of people watching. Also, expect tons of photographers with tripods and cameras. Our advice: Stick it out until the monks light all the candles, meditate and “release” the sky lanterns. But once you get a few shots, get out of the sweaty hot mess of a crowd and head to Nawarat Bridge to release your own lantern.
How to release a Sky Lantern in Chiang Mai
One of the best parts of the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals is the releasing of a khom loy, or sky lanterns, within the city. There are specific dates and times to send your lantern of fire into the sky. The best spot to release a sky lantern in Chiang Mai is near the Nawarat Bridge that spans the Ping River. As you get close, you will see vendors selling folded sky lanterns for about 30 THB. Once you’re in a good spot to release, open the lantern fully and hold it at the top and bottom. Have someone else light the circular, doughnut-looking disc soaked in kerosene (you’ll need a lighter for this, which you can purchase from any convenience store). You have about a minute or two for the heat to fill the lantern before it will start to float away. Be sure to have your camera ready for a spectacular picture with the other floating lights in the sky and the full moon in the background.
- Warning: Do not, under any circumstances, release lanterns outside of this time frame. As this festival attracts more visitors each year, the government has become increasingly strict about when lanterns can be released. In order to ensure that the sky lanterns don’t interfere with air traffic and cause fires, they have introduced fines ranging from 100,000 THB up to jail time.
As you can imagine, there is a risk of fires being started by releasing wish lanterns. Loy Krathong/Yi Peng are celebrated at the end of rainy season in Thailand, so the risk isn’t as high as it would be during other times of the year. Plus, being that people are only allowed to release lanterns on two nights, authorities are able to keep better track of any potential danger.
Aside from the potential of fires, releasing wish lanterns can have some detrimental effects on the environment. Even lanterns that are labeled as “biodegradable” can contain wire pieces that take years to break down. We always try to do our best totravel in a way that is responsible and sustainable.
Release a krathong into the Ping River
You will find more locals releasing krathongs into the river than sky lanterns because this is perhaps one of the most important Thai holidays. You can partake in this celebration as well.
What is a krathong?
“Loy” means float and “krathong” is the actual floating vessel is placed on the water. It is usually made out of a slice of a banana tree trunk and is decorated with intricately folded banana leaves and flowers. Incense and candles are then placed on top.
How to release a Floating Krathong in Chiang Mai
Head down to the Ping River, and just south of both the Nawarat and Iron Bridges there will be vendors selling krathongs. Pick the prettiest one and go to the bank of the river. Just follow the locals! Don’t light your krathong until you are ready to release it. There are some spots on the bank that have docks you can walk onto. Light the incense sticks and candles, make a wish and gently place your krathong into the water and give it a soft push. With any luck, your krathong will float into to the current and get swept away.
Tips before coming to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai basically doubles in size starting the week leading up to Loy Krathog (or at least it seems that way!). Outside of the festival week, its hard enough to cross the street because of all the red trucks and tuk tuks. But during the festival, Chiang Mai swells with people, Thai and foreigners alike enter the city for all the activities. It’s no wonder the hotels get book up quickly. If you’re headed to Chiang Mai during Loy Krathong, make sure to book your hotel well in advance.