Yee Peng is often at the top of the list of festivals to see for travelers in Thailand. Witnessing thousands of flying lanterns suspended in the sky during Yee Peng in Chiang Mai is a magical and enchanting experience that feels straight out of a Disney film.
To help you plan your travels, this guide aims to explain everywhere in Chiang Mai you can go to see a mass lantern release.
What is Yi Peng?
Yi Peng (sometimes spelled Yee Peng) is Thailand's Sky Lantern Festival which takes place on the night of the full moon in November every year. In 2024, it will be celebrated on November 15th-16th. Yi Peng is not celebrated all over Thailand, but only in the northern regions of the country where the people of the Lanna ethnic group live and especially in Chiang Mai.
Yi Peng is commonly confused with another festival that occurs on the same day called Loy Krathong. Both of these celebrations are lantern festivals. The main difference is that during Loy Krathong, people release floating lanterns called krathongs as opposed to Yi Peng's flying lanterns called khom loi. Loy Krathong is celebrated all over Thailand whereas Yi Peng is regional.
Chiang Mai is the only place in Thailand where travelers can experience both Yi Peng and Loy Krathong on the same night. Many mass lantern release events offer guests both khom loi and krathong lanterns during the ceremony. Click to see How to Best Experience Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
My husband and I are planning a 3 week…
Alisa was a great listener to all the things we wanted to incorporate into our trip. We discussed everything throughly, and when I had questions, she had answers the next day. I really appreciate her responsiveness and detail with me. I feel like we are in the best hands with Alisa and Asia Highlights. More
, Mar 2024
|
Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
|
Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
|
Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
|
Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
|
Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
|
Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
|
What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
|
Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
|
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
|
Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
|
Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
|
Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
|
Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
|
Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
|
Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
|
We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
|
Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
|
Top Places that Offer Yi Peng Mass Lantern Releases
Mass lantern releases are often located outside of the main city and release thousands of flying lanterns at once making for a majestic atmosphere and incredible photos.
Mass Lantern Release Comparison Overview
Event | 1. Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival | 2. Yi Peng International (Mae Jo University) | 3. Yee Peng Doi Saket | 4. Northern Study Center | 5. Wat Doi Ti & Kruba Srivijaya Monument |
Organization | Chiang Mai CAD | Lanna Dhutanka | LCMT Tour | Northern Study Center | Doi Saket |
2024 Date | Nov 15 & Nov 16 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Cost (USD) | $122-$170 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Lanterns | 2 Khom loi 1 Krathong |
1 Khom loi | 1 Khom Loi for a Standard, 2 for VIP | 2 Khom loi 1 Krathong |
1 Khom loi |
Major Advantages | This is the largest release likely to make the best photos. Includes an all you can eat dinner, cultural performances, and cultural activities. | This is the original "mass" lantern release and has been running since 2013. Held by a Buddhist organization as a non-profit fundraiser for the local hill tribes. | Good prices and offers a nice location outside of the city. Lanterns are made by locals as a way to bring money and work to villagers. | Good prices and offers plenty of lanterns with each ticket. Second biggest release after the CAD Chiang Mai release. | Takes place at a temple and is hosted by a local Buddhist organization. Good prices. |
Major Disadvantages | Slightly more expensive than the other event tickets, besides those for the Maejo University Release. | The most expensive event that mainly caters to foreigners. Tickets don't go on sale until around 2 months before the event. | The second day of celebrations was canceled in 2019 so there are doubts about their ability to get approval from the government for the event in 2023. | Not too much information online so it's difficult to know exactly what happens during the event and how good it is. No private transfer to the event allowed. | Only offers one lantern per ticket and can hold around 750 guests, the smallest release of the bunch. |
1. Chiang Mai CAD
Chiang Mai CAD (Culture Art and Design) is a government-sponsored organization that puts on an incredible mass lantern release event every year. In 2024, the lantern release will take place on the 2th and 28th of November. Each ticket includes 2 khom loi sky lanterns, an all-you-can-eat buffet, a krathong floating lantern, a Buddhist release ritual, and local Thai Lanna performances.
The Chiang Mai CAD Lantern Release gets early approval from the government to operate each year meaning that you can already buy tickets for the 2024 celebration! Some of the other lantern releases only begin selling tickets a few months prior to the event.
Price:
Tickets start at $122 per person and range up to $180 per person for Premium tickets with shuttle transfer to and from the event. The main difference between the Standard, VIP, and Premium tickets is where your seat is located and which dining area you have access to.
The CAD Chiang Mai release stage is a circle with seats located all around the stage so there are really no "bad" seats.
2. Yi Peng International near Mae Jo University
Yi Peng International is the event held near Mae Jo University by Lanna Dhutanka which is a Buddhist organization that promotes the practice of meditation. The lantern release here is a fundraiser with the profits going towards the welfare of the local hill tribe communities.
Tickets to this mass release come with one lantern. As this event is hosted by a Buddhist organization it has more of a religious focus. Yi Peng international offers 3000 seats and includes the Buddhist release ritual and group meditation.
Tickets for the Yi Peng International lantern release usually go on sale around 2 months before the event and sell out within two weeks. If you are planning on attending this event, it's important to check the website regularly.
Price:
$290 for a standard ticket with a shuttle transfer and $350 for a VIP ticket with a shuttle transfer. The main difference between the levels of tickets is how close you will be to the stage.
3. Yee Peng Doi Saket
The main advantage of the Yee Peng Doi Saket celebration is that it is located at the Doi Saket Hot Springs which is a beautiful area around 20 kilometers outside of Chiang Mai surrounded by mountains, rice fields, and a river.
One ticket to this event gets you a meal from the all-you-can-eat buffet and 1 sky lantern for standard ticket holders and 2 for VIP ticket holders. The event can hold 2500 people and will likely take place over two nights.
Price:
Around $110 to $140 depending on Standard or VIP tickets. The main difference between the two tickets is the number of lanterns you receive and how close you are to the stage.
4. Chiang Mai Sky's Lanterns Northern Study Center
There isn't too much information online about the mass lantern release at the Nothern Study Center.
Tickets also include access to a set Thai dinner, traditional dance shows, and performances. Everyone who attends this event must first meet at the Mercure Hotel where the organization will pick you up in buses and transport you to the event location. No private transfers are allowed.
Price:
$125 for a Standard ticket and $185 for a VIP ticket. Transfer from the Mercure Hotel to the Northern Study Center costs around 300 baht ($9.50).
5. Wat Doi & Kruba Srivijaya Monument
This mass lantern release is held at the Wat Doi and Kruba Srivijaya Monument around 35 kilometers from downtown Chiang Mai. This is by far the smallest release event with only 750 seats available. Each ticket comes with 1 sky lantern and a set Thai dinner.
There isn't much information online about this lantern release either, but it does take place at a popular Buddhist temple so you can expect the vibe to be more religious. The celebrations include a ritual and exploring a local market.
Price:
Standard tickets go for around $93 and VIP tickets for $125.
Free Yi Peng Celebrations
Please note that khom loi sky lanterns are forbidden to release in urban areas for safety reasons. You can experience other celebration events and try to release krathong floating lanterns in the rivers.
1. Nawarat Bridge
Nawarat Bridge is where most of the Chiang Mai locals go to release their krathong floating lanterns on the nearby Ping River. (khom loi sky lanterns are forbidden to release.)
Here you can catch great photos of the floating lanterns and release them yourself. You'll also find plenty of street vendors selling lanterns for around 30-50 baht each ($1 to $1.50). Make sure to try and buy lanterns made from biodegradable and eco-friendly materials.
2. The Iron Bridge
The second-best free spot to release your krathong floating lanterns during Yi Peng in Chiang Mai is the Iron Bridge. This bridge also crosses the Ping River so you will have a chance to see the beautiful floating Krathongs, but is less crowded than the Nawarat Bridge.
3. Tha Phae Gate
The Tha Phae Gate is full of festivities during the week surrounding the Yi Peng celebrations. Here you'll find food vendors, firecrackers, fireworks, and crowds of foreigners and locals who've all come out to celebrate.
The Tha Phae Gate is also where the Yi Peng opening ceremony takes place as well as many of the festival parades. You can release lanterns here from 7 pm to 1 am on the two nights of the festival. The only difficult part about celebrating here is getting there as it's the most congested part of the city during Yi Peng.
4. Three Kings Monument
The Three Kings Monument is a great place to go for a more traditional Yi Peng ceremony as the release of Sky Lanterns is a recent addition to the festival. At the Three Kings Monument, travelers can watch a candle-lighting ceremony and a Buddhist worship ritual.
You can also head here on the first day of celebrations to watch the hundreds of dancers all performing Lanna Traditional Dance in beautiful costumes.
5. Wat Phan Tao
Wat Phan Tao is a Buddhist temple where travelers can go to take in a truly enchanting and beautiful ceremony. Here you can watch as orange-clad monks surrounded by a meandering stream light candles and slowly release khom loi into the sky while chanting and offering blessings.
Tips for Attending Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai
- Book hotels early if you wish to experience the event! Yi Peng is the busiest time of year to visit Chiang Mai. The small city receives many tourists traveling to enjoy the lantern festival hotel rooms sell out rapidly!
- Prepared for the streets to be crowded. Chiang Mai doubles in population during the week leading up to Yi Peng. You should be prepared for the streets to be crowded with other travelers, cars, and tuk-tuks.
- You can only release lanterns at certain places and between 7 pm and 1 am on that day.
- If you are an avid photographer you should stay in Chiang Mai for at least three days and try to attend a mass lantern release for the iconic photos and a local release for a more laid-back and cultural experience.
- Remember to be respectful because this is a Buddhist holiday. When attending any holiday events or lantern releases it is important to wear clothes that cover the shoulders and knees.
- Don't miss Yi Peng Lantern Festival food. During the festival, the Lanna-style Thai cuisine can be seen everywhere in Chiang Mai. Here are some Lanna dishes you should not miss: khao soi gai, the spicy Northern Thai curry noodle soup, and gaeng hang lay moo, a Northern Thai pork curry of Burmese origin to the fiery nam priks (relishes) and herbaceous and sour sausages.
Experience Thailand with Asia Highlights
Asia Highlights welcomes the chance to help you design your perfect trip to Thailand. Whether that includes experiencing Loy Krathong, Yi Peng, another festival, or just some time relaxing on the beach. Check out some of our example itineraries below for inspiration!
Why Asia Highlights (10,000+ reviews & 98.8% 5-star rating)
- Save Your Time:
- Less research, more enjoyment!
- Real-time 1V1 expert planning
- Maximize Your Flexibility:
- Personal local guide and ride
- Explore at your own pace
- Celebrate Your Journeys:
- Specially-crafted family adventures
- Celebrate milestones with style!
- 2024 Chiang Mai CAD Yi Peng Lantern Festival Tickets (with Transfer & Dinner)
- A 2-Day Romantic Thailand Lantern Festival Tour
- 8-Day A Unique Loy Krathong & Yi Peng Festival Tour 2024
- 10-Day Best of Thailand Tour
- 10-Day Thailand Lantern Festival Tour 2024
- 12-Day Best of Thailand and Cambodia Tour
- 12-Day Thailand Wonders Tour
- 12-Day Essential Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour
- 13-Day Essence of Thailand Tour
- 14-Day Cultural Thailand Tour with the Lantern Festival 2023/2024
- 14-Day Classic Vietnam and Thailand Tour
- 15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour
- How to Plan Your First Trip to Thailand — 7 Easy Steps
- How to Visit Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam 2024: 10, 14 and 21-Day Itinerary Ideas
- How to Plan a Trip to Thailand and Cambodia (2024/2025)
- How to Plan a Thailand and Vietnam Trip (2024/2025): 10 Days, 2, 3 Weeks Itineraries
- How to Plan a Trip to Singapore and Thailand 2024/2025
- Best & Worst Time to Visit Thailand 2024, Rainy Season (Not when you think!)
- Best & Worst Times to Visit Thailand and Vietnam 2024, Best Month
- How Long to Spend in Thailand: Itinerary for 10 Days, 2, 3 Weeks
- 2 Weeks Thailand Itinerary 2024: Top 4 Itineraries with Maps
- 2 Weeks in Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam: 3 Perfect Itineraries for 14 Days
- 2 Weeks in Thailand and Cambodia: 3 Perfect Itineraries (Insider Tips)
- How to Plan a 3-Week Thailand and Cambodia Itinerary (2024/2025)
- Thailand Weather in January 2025: Which Island/Best Places to Visit
- Thailand Weather in February 2024/2025: Which Island/Best Places to Visit
- Thailand Weather in March 2024/2025: Temperature, Places to Visit, Travel Tips
- Thailand Weather in April 2024: Temperatures, Places to Visit, Songkran Festival
- Thailand Weather in May 2024: Too Hot & Rainy? Best Places to Go and Travel Tips
- What's the Weather Like in Thailand in June?
- Thailand Weather in July 2024: Tips for a Family Vacation
- Thailand Weather in August 2024: Temperature and Best Places to Go
- Thailand Weather in September 2024: Temperature, Best Places to Visit
- Thailand Weather in October 2024: Still Rain? Where to Visit?
- Thailand Weather in November 2024: Places to Go, Costs, and Crowds
- Thailand Weather in December 2024: Places to Go, Costs, and Crowds
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
Our guide lele is a wealth of information, Lele is very professional and very attentive to our needs. Lele is amazing. Lele got everything spot on. It probably helps that Guilin is a brilliant place to visit so Lele has great material to work with but that doesn't take anything away from how much Lele helped make it a great trip.
moreOur guide for Beijing was super knowledgeable and experienced and able to help us to achieve as much as we wanted within the time given. We had a fun time guided by him as he is also super humorous and you can see how he interacts with the vendors and people whom he comes by. Thank you for a very enjoyable time in Beijing and accommodating to all our needs!
moreOur China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city.
moreShe was very flexible and added extra time when we needed it and we felt extremely well taken care of. She also chose the best restaurants for us,
moreOur tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great.
moreHe picked up our pre-booked boat/other excursions tickets so we were able to avoid all the long lines and chaos. He is knowledgeable of the places we visited, courteous, fun to travel with and well-versed in Chinese classics.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreOur day trip to Hangzhou was phenomenal. Derek, our guide, was impeccable. By far the best guide we have had so far. He is extremely knowledgeable about the country’s history and geography and was always excited to share his insights.
moreXian es encantadora, el hotel Eastern house boutique muy buena elección por parte de la agencia, los desayunos muy completos para complacer todo tipo de gusto, lo recomiendo 100%, el itinerario fue muy acertado fueron 2 días en la ciudad xian, compartimos con la guía Susana, la atención, la amabilidad y sobre todo su profesionalismo fue lo que marcó la diferencia, sus detalles, estaba siempre en el lugar y momento correcto para hacer de xian un lugar inolvidable.
moreGet Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.