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.
Suggested Route for a Thailand Lantern Festival Tour
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
|
Top Notch Services
Kaya at Asia Highlights helped make our honeymoon in Thailand the perfect trip. It was truly the best balance between structured and unstructured time abroad. They cater their services to exactly what you're looking for. Also, their responsiveness is uncanny. Kaya at Asia Highlights in particular deserves special mention. She out our trip together for us, put up with us, and was always available for any hiccups during the trip. We plan to use their excellent services again for our next trip to Asia. Highly recommended, and ask for Kaya! More
, Apr 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
|
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.
Appreciate the exquisite temple with an amazing decoration of lanterns.
Learn to cook the fresh and delicious dishes of north Thailand with a local.
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.
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.
- 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- Head for Doi Suthep mountain. Discover the most sacred temple in Northern Thailand — Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
- Continue to Wat Suan Dok, a temple just outside the ancient city walls of Chiang Mai.
- Return to Chiang Mai and take a rickshaw ride through its busy streets and quiet alleys.
- 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 Rescue Park — 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, and bathe them.
- You will get back to the hotel around 2 pm. Enjoy your free time to explore the old town of Chiang Mai.
- Today, you will have the opportunity to learn how to cook some of the most famous Thai dishes at Asia Scenic, one of the top cooking schools in Chiang Mai.
- Start with a local market tour to choose the freshest and best ingredients for your dishes. You will be guided by a chef throughout the process as you prepare your own meal.
- Finally, you will have the chance to evaluate your cooking skills by enjoying the meal you have prepared for a lunch
- Drive to Chiang Rai in the afternoon.
- 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.
- Enjoy your free time in the afternoon to walk around and observe the local people's daily life.
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.
|
Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn (4-star)
|
Lanna Smile Hotel Chiang Mai(4-star)
|
Legendha Sukhothai (4-star)
|
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.
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!
- 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
Get 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.