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The Thai Lantern Festivals are the most romantic celebrations to take place in Thailand for both locals and foreigners alike and include two separate holidays that take place on the same day: Loy Krathong and Yi Peng.
If you want to plan a romantic trip to Thailand during Yi Peng and Loy Krathong, then you've come to the right place. Find out the top couples' Lantern Festival celebration ideas and check out our example itinerary to get started.
Loy Krathong (sometimes spelled Loi Krathong) is often referred to as the Floating Lantern Festival because it involves releasing lit floating rafts onto waterways and lakes across the country. This festival is considered to be the Thai Valentine's Day because it is seen as a time for young couples to spend time together and make wishes for the future.
Yi Peng is the other Thai Lantern Festival and is often called the Sky Lantern Festival because it involves the release of flying lanterns known as khom loi. This festival is only celebrated in Chiang Mai and attracts couples from all over the world who come to experience its romantic and enchanting atmosphere when thousands of warm glowing lanterns float up into the sky.
So now you know why couples love visiting Thailand during the lantern festivals, but how can you plan your trip to make sure that it's perfect? Well, there are a couple of activities you can consider adding to your journey to have the most romantic experience.
We recommend experiencing both Loy Krathong and Yi Peng together during your trip. In 2020, Loy Krathong is scheduled to take place on October 31st and the Yi Peng Mass Lantern Releases in Chiang Mai will happen on both October 31st and November 1st.
The Krathongs released during Loy Krathong are representations of your past self and the negative energy you've collected during the year. Building your own krathongs together before releasing them is a great way to put a more personal touch into the ceremony.
Plus, it’s just fun to make your own! Traditional krathongs are made from a slice of banana tree, banana leaves, and flowers. You'll also place a lit candle and incense stick in the center as an offering to Buddha and the water goddess.
You and your loved one can consider taking a private krathong-making class together to learn more about the meaning behind the holiday and have fun building your krathongs. You can even make one giant one for the two of you.
Once night falls on Loy Krathong, all of Thailand heads to the waterways to start releasing their krathongs. For a more romantic experience, you can arrange for you and your loved one to release your krathongs together in a quiet and more private area.
For couples, we like to plan Loy Krathong lantern releases at secluded restaurants along the Ping River in Chiang Mai. This way, you can really focus on each other and even enjoy a private sunset dinner before participating in the release ceremony.
Releasing a krathong is a way to let go of all the negativity from the past year. It is also a tradition to make a wish for what you want in the coming year when you release it. Thai people believe that you will know whether or not your wish will come true by the success of your krathong release.
If you and your partner's krathongs float away together, it's considered a sign that you will stay together far into the future.
While Loy Krathong is an enchanting and romantic ceremony, nothing can beat the beauty and magic of releasing flying lanterns into the sky. Yi Peng is celebrated on the same day as Loy Krathong in the city of Chiang Mai.
To get the best experience during the holiday, you and your loved one can get tickets for a mass lantern release where thousands of lanterns and wishes are released into the sky at once creating a beautiful warm glow under the full moon. Mass lantern releases are breathtaking and make for incredible photos.
Because of the beauty of the ceremony, some couples use this time to propose to each other and build a lasting memory in one of the most romantic settings on Earth.
Our favorite mass lantern release is the Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival. We prefer to book our travelers seats at this release because of feedback from previous years and because every guest receives 2 sky lanterns and 1 krathong with their ticket. Learn more about getting your tickets for a mass release event.
Although many travelers choose to spend their romantic Loy Krathong holiday in Chiang Mai, Bangkok is also a great destination for the festival. If you want to get away from the crowds and spend some time together while releasing your krathong, we recommend taking a nighttime Chao Praya River Cruise.
Viewing the Loy Krathong celebrations from a boat allows you to take in all the beautiful krathongs bobbing on the river while also avoiding the crowds on the shore. During the cruise, you and your partner can enjoy dinner together while taking in all the lit lanterns around you. Then release your krathongs together onto the Chao Praya River.
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are both Buddhist holidays and most religious ceremonies during these festivals involve lighting candles, releasing lanterns, and meditation. Meditation is a great way for you and your partner to feel closer to one another after or before releasing your lanterns.
Many of the Yi Peng mass lantern releases will include meditation as part of the ritual before the lantern release. Many people believe that meditating together on your wishes and goals for the future can even help them come true!
Now that you know some of the most popular activities for couples to take part in during the Thai Lantern Festivals, let's take a look at what your romantic holiday itinerary might look like.
In order to get the most out of your Thai vacation, we recommend spending at least a week in the country. The celebrations of Loy Krathong and Yi Peng can last for up to a week, but realistically you'll only need around 2 to 3 days to celebrate both.
In 2020, Loy Krathong will be celebrated on October 31st and Yi Peng will be celebrated on October 31st and November 1st. Because Loy Krathong is celebrated all over Thailand but Yi Peng is only celebrated in Chiang Mai we recommend experiencing both in Chiang Mai to reduce your travel time.
Because the Loy Krathong experience in this itinerary is private, you don't have to celebrate it on October 31st but can also celebrate a few days before or after the holiday if it is more convenient. The Yi Peng lantern releases can only take place on October 31st and November 1st.
This itinerary is meant to be an example and can be easily changed to suit your preferences. Learn more about this itinerary or talk to one of our advisors to plan your perfect Thailand Lantern Festival trip.
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!