If Thailand is a pretty girl, then the Lantern Festival is her most beautiful time of the year. It would be a truly great experience to combine your Thailand tour with the experiences of Thailand's most spectacular festival.
With this 14-day suggested itinerary, you will start from the heart of Thailand, experience the most authentic festival ceremonies in Sukhothai, enjoy the romantic sky lantern release in Chiang Mai, discover the hidden beauties of Chiang Rai, and relax on the beaches of Phuket at the end.
It is an ideal choice for first-timers, culture fans, and aesthetics fans. Our personal travel advisor will be at your service if you would like to make any change to the itinerary.
*The price is based on a private tour for 2 people. The cost for a customized private SE Asia tour from US$280/person/day
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Chiang Mai Tour
Ms Sirin is so much fun to be around, very knowledgeable about Thai history and takes amazing pictures of your experiences that she shares with you. More
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Amazing service - Thailand trip
We had a lovely experience with the service received from all the team of Asia Highlights (travel specialist/coordinator, guides, drivers). In particular, the representative that organized our trip, Jimmy, was amazing. He was able to prepare our trip in a very short notice and customize it to satisfy all our requests. He was knowledgeable and always replied very fast. We were very pleased with his service and we highly recommend the agency. More
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Tour Highlights
Here are the awesome attractions, the most must-do activities selected by Asia Highlights (AH Hand-Picked), and exclusive cultural experiences offered by Asia Highlights (Only With AH) included in this tour:
Experience the most authentic Thai celebrations with locals in the city where Loy Krathong originated.
Find the relics of splendid medieval kingdoms in the north of Thailand.
Enjoy a premium ticket of the festival. Make a wish together with your loved one and let the sky lantern bring it to God.
Connect with the rich cultural heritage of Northern Thailand by dressing up in Thai attire.
Appreciate the exquisite temple with an amazing decoration of lanterns.
Explore the vibrant local floating markets near Bangkok.
Indulge in the stunning colors of temples in the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom.
Take a kayak to explore a limestone cave on the sea, which has tide-limited access.
Learn how to make your own krathong (floating lantern) and release it the way locals do.
Suggested Route for a Thailand Lantern Festival Tour
Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary below is just a sample for a private tour. Your preferences design the real journey. We're ready to create a wonderful Thailand Lantern Festival tour for you.
Welcome to the Land of Smiles. Meet your guide at the airport and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in Bangkok. You'll have free time to explore by yourself for the rest of the day.
- Get a quintessential impression of Thailand when listening to the monks chanting in Wat Pho, which is one of the oldest temples of Bangkok.
- Take a Tuk Tuk ride to the Grand Palace to experience the glorious history of Thailand.
- Continue with a long-tail-boat ride along the ancient canals of Thonburi to get glimpses of the local lifestyle.
- Stop at iconic Wat Arun, which was once the grand royal temple of King Rama.
- Cross the Chao Phraya River and we'll drive you to Chinatown for a look at Old Bangkok.
- Get up early, head out to Mahachai Market, the largest seafood market in Thailand.
- Take a local 3-wheeled bicycle trip to Bangkok's first train station, where you'll board a train to Maeklong Railway Market. Experience the market from a unique perspective: onboard the train! Avoid the crowds and witness the daily routine of locals as the train travels slowly through the market.
- Next, head to another market highlight — Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Hop on a long-tail boat and cruise through the canals, surrounded by fruit plantations, seasonal produce, flowers, and the homes of local residents.
- After these amazing experiences, your guide will take you back to Bangkok.
- Fly to Sukhothai, where the famous Thai Loy Krathong ('Floating Lantern') Festival originated. Upon your arrival, your private guide and driver will take you directly to your hotel..
- In the evening, head to the Loy Krathong Festival venue to experience festival celebrations with local people: see the different exhibitions, walk around open souvenir and food stalls, watch traditional Thai shows...
- Take a bike ride to explore the medieval ruins of the Kingdom (1238–1438). The solemn and exquisite Buddhas offer a feeling of timeless peace. Don't miss the only Buddha with open eyes in Sukhothai.
- Try your hand at crafting a krathong (floating lantern) during our specially arranged lantern-making experience. Once it is dark, head to the Yom River to release your lantern and make a wish as it floats away
- Enjoy the Loy Krathong Festival in the evening. The show incorporates Thai history, folk dancing, lasers, and fireworks and is performed from 7:30 PM in Sukhothai Historical Park.
- Drive to Chiang Mai in the morning. Stop in Lamphun to visit Wat Phra That Hariphunchai. Appreciate the beautifual decoration of the lanterns in the temple.
- Enjoy some free time after arriving in your hotel in Chiang Mai.
Wat Phra That Hariphunchai- Before heading to the Yi Peng Festival venue, you'll have a chance to dress in traditional Thai attire and get a makeover from our skilled makeup artists.
- In the late afternoon, you will be taken to the Yi Peng Festival Celebration and Sky Lantern Release venue and enjoy Premium access and benefits. Taste some traditional food, enjoy colorful performances, and release a sky lantern to make a wish at the most romantic moment.
- We'll drive you for about 1½ hours to Elephant Jungle Santuary — a paradise for homeless elephants.
- Take a half-day Memorable Caring Experience there. You'll learn a lot about elephants and interact with them — you can feed them, walk with them, hug them, bathe them, and play mud with them.
- You will get back to the hotel around 2 pm. Enjoy your free time to explore the old town of Chiang Mai.
- Witness the "White Temple", Wat Rong Khun. It showcases unconventional and contemporary art within a Buddhist temple setting.
- Then visit Baandam Museum, which is commonly referred to as the Black House and is a popular destination. It serves more as a museum than a temple, although it does contain some shrines.
- Admire Wat Rong Suea Ten, known as the Blue Temple at the end. Despite being relatively unknown to tourists, it is considered one of the most picturesque sites in Chiang Rai.
- In late afternoon, return to Chiang Mai.
Fly from Chiang Rai to Phuket via Bangkok. Enjoy free time to settle in for the rest of the day.
- Enjoy a relaxing morning. Start our guided Krabi adventure at noon.
- Discover the hidden sea caves and lagoons of picturesque Phang Nga Bay. Hop on a canoe and your experienced guide will paddle you though dramatic lagoons and mysterious limestone caves.
- Learn how to create a traditional loy krathong using eco-friendly materials provided by our guide.
- When the reflection of shining stars dots the boundless crystal-clear sea, float your self-made krathong, and immerse yourself in the peaceful scenery and romantic moment.
Enjoy 2 free days in Phuket. Island-hopping tours and adventures in the rainforest are optional. You could just relax on the dreamy beaches.
Say goodbye to Phuket. Have a private transfer to the airport and catch your flights back home or to your next destination.
Hand-Picked Hotels
We have selected hotels with different styles and for different budgets. Let us know your preferences and we will help you find the right one.
Our Service Includes:
- Private transfers and English-speaking tour guide
- All guided sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- Hotel accommodation mentioned in the itinerary
- Flight mentioned in the itinerary
- Breakfasts at hotels and other meals mentioned in the itinerary
- Governmental taxes
Tour code: ah-40
Inquire now! Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
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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.
