Loy Krathong is an annual Thai festival that is celebrated during the evening of the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. In 2025, Loy Krathong will be observed on November 6th.
During this time, people gather around lakes, rivers, and canals to honor the goddess of water and unburden themselves of guilt, bad luck, and negative thoughts.
The highlight of the festival is when festival-goers float candlelit krathongs (decorated baskets) in the water, creating a stunning sea of glittering lights. Hence, the festival is also known as "the Festival of Lights".
There are usually plenteous activities held to celebrate the festival in Bangkok and the rest of provincial Thailand, including:
- Parades
- Fireworks
- Traditional Thai beauty pageants
- Cultural expositions
- Concerts
There is no doubt that you can join in the celebration of Loy Krathong anywhere in Thailand. However, if you are in the north of the country, there is also the chance to take part in another equally captivating festival known as Yi Peng.
Yi Peng Festival 2024 is to be observed on November 15th–16th. The festival is famous for the gorgeous spectacle of thousands of sky lanterns (khom loi) released into the night sky, which attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world every year.
Chiang Mai is the best place to experience both festivals. It is recommended to book a hotel as early as possible as well as tickets for Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival (the only large sky lantern mass release venue in Chiang Mai this year).
If you would like to take part in this unique tradition in an expertly-arranged way, select one of our exclusive lantern festival tours.
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Happy Loy Krathong Day!
"สุขสันต์วันลอยกระทง" /sùk-săn wan loi grà-tong/
Below are some photos of the two festivals' celebrations:
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