Loy Krathong, now also known as Thailand's most romantic festival, is celebrated nationwide.
This annual traditional event attracts numerous tourists with its unique culture. If you plan to spend Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai, here's a comprehensive travel guide for you.
Origin
Loy Krathong originated during the Sukhothai Era. It is just the end of the rainy season when rivers are at their fullest.
A clever and artistically talented royal consort named Noppamas creatively folded banana leaves into a lotus-shaped float, decorated it with flower and bird patterns carved from fruits, inserted fresh flowers, and lit incense and candles before releasing it into the water to express gratitude to the Buddha and river spirits.
The king was delighted and decreed that this krathong be used as a model, designating the 15th day of the 12th lunar month in the Thai calendar as Loy Krathong.
What is Loy Krathong
The term "Loy Krathong" translates to "floating krathong"—"Loy" means "to float" and "Krathong" refers to the water lantern.
On this day, people place krathongs on rivers; some add their hair, nails, or coins, letting the krathongs drift away with the current. The ceremony has two main meanings: letting the river carry away unhappiness and bad luck, and paying homage to the river spirit for nourishing all creatures and bestowing blessings.
Additionally, Loy Krathong is regarded as Thailand's valentine's day, where couples release krathongs together to pray for a long-lasting relationship.
When is Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong falls on the 15th day of the 12th lunar month in the Thai calendar (a full-moon night, usually in November of the Gregorian calendar).
Chiang Ma Old City typically enters a festive atmosphere one week before the festival date. The old city is adorned with numerous lanterns and flowers, and temples begin hosting traditional Loy Krathong activities.
Where to Go in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a key city for celebrating Loy Krathong in Thailand.
During the festival, you can participate in traditional activities along the old city's moat and throughout the city. Chiang Mai will also publish a schedule of free Loy Krathong celebrations (including times, content, and venues) in advance, which you can find online.
Top Place to Experience Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai
Usually, the following locations in the ancient city offer abundant activities—plan your itinerary ahead:
- Thaphae Gate Moat & Ping River: Floating krathongs
- Wat Phan Tao (within the ancient city): Temple lighting and prayer ceremonies
- Thaphae Gate to Chiang Mai City Hall: Flower parade
- Chiang Mai City Hall: Krathong design competition, cultural performances, beauty pageant
- Three Kings Monument: Traditional Lanna performances
You can refer to the free activities schedule for the Loy Krathong Festival in 2025. The Chiang Mai government usually announced a new schedule 10 days before the festival begins.
Yeepeng Festival——Sky Lantern Festival
Besides Loy Krathong celebrations, Chiang Mai hosts a mass sky lantern release during this period—thousands of sky lanterns filling the sky create a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
For the most spectacular experience, we recommend the Chiang Mai CAD Mass Sky Lantern Festival, the largest of its kind.
What to Do
Loy Krathong offers many traditional customs and celebrations worth experiencing:
Release Krathongs on River
Krathongs are small boat-shaped lanterns made of banana leaves and flowers, adorned with candles, incense, fresh flowers, and sometimes coins, symbolizing reverence for the river spirit.
On the night of Loy Krathong, people release lit krathongs into rivers to pray for the release of worries and sins. This ceremony also signifies bidding farewell to past misfortunes and welcoming new hopes.
Temple Lighting & Prayer
Loy Krathong is an important day for prayer. Many people visit temples to pay homage, offering fresh flowers, candles, and incense to pray for deceased relatives and seek happiness and health for the future.
Monks sit in front of the Bamboo Buddha, with the forest floor dotted with fragrant candles and colored lanterns, surrounded by pools of water reflecting faint lights. Listening to the monks' recitations, you can pray for family and friends in this ancient ritual.
The lighting at Wat Phan Tao in the ancient city is particularly stunning.
Flower Parade & Traditional Dance Performances
Chiang Mai holds a grand parade during Loy Krathong. Districts across Chiang Mai create their own flower floats, decorated with fresh flowers, to participate.
Participants wear traditional costumes, showcasing the essence of Thai culture. The parade features magnificent flower floats, dance performances, and displays of the unique local Lanna culture.
Usually held on the last day of Loy Krathong, the parade starts near Thaphae Gate. Due to large crowds, vehicles are not allowed—we recommend walking.
Krathong Design Competition
Many areas host "Krathong Design Competitions," where participants showcase elaborately crafted krathongs, judged on their beauty and creativity. These competitions often attract a large audience, adding a competitive and fun element to the festival.
Beauty Pageant
The beauty pageant held during this period is called the "Noppamas Beauty Pageant," an important traditional part of Loy Krathong with a long history and cultural significance. It honors Nang Noppamas, a legendary beauty from the Sukhothai Era—either a queen or a court lady—who is said to be the first person to create and offer a krathong to the river spirit, making her an iconic figure of Loy Krathong.
Tips for Traveling During Loy Krathong
To plan a trip to Chiang Mai during Loy Krathong, tips below should be noticed:
1. Tourists from around the world flock to Chiang Mai during Loy Krathong/Sky Lantern Festival, making hotels near the ancient city hard to find. Book your accommodation in advance. Similarly, train, bus, and flight tickets sell out quickly—do not wait until the last minute; book your transportation early.
2. Do not arbitrarily pick up krathongs that others have released into the water—this is extremely impolite.
3. Loy Krathong has strong religious overtones, so dress modestly. Avoid revealing clothing such as shorts and tank tops.
An increasing number of young people celebrate Loy Krathong as Valentine's Day, hoping to express their love through unique festival activities on this love-filled occasion.