Best Yee Peng Mass Lantern Releases in Chiang Mai

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 2023, it will be celebrated on November 27th-28th. 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.

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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

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 2023, the lantern release will take place on the 27th 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 2023 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.

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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).

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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! Learn how to choose a nice hotel in Chiang Mai.
• 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.

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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!