Loy Krathong is one of the prettiest nights of the Thai year. As it gets dark, families, couples and groups of friends walk down to the water with a krathong, light the candle and incense, make a wish and push it gently out onto the river. By mid-evening the water is covered in small flames. It's a calm festival compared with Songkran, and it doesn't ask much of a visitor beyond turning up. This guide covers what it means, the dates, where to go and a few things worth knowing before you float your own.
What Loy Krathong is
"Loy" means to float, and a "krathong" is the little raft you float. The classic krathong is a slice of banana trunk wrapped in folded banana leaves and decorated with flowers, with a candle and three incense sticks in the middle.
The festival thanks the water for everything it gives through the year, and apologises for the ways people have used and dirtied it. Many Thais also see it as a way of letting go. Some add a coin, a strand of hair or a fingernail clipping to their krathong, and send their bad luck and bad feelings away with it. Tradition ties the festival to Sukhothai, the old Thai capital, which still puts on the grandest celebration.
Loy Krathong isn't a national public holiday, so banks, offices and transport run normally. The action starts at dusk and goes on until late.
Where to celebrate Loy Krathong
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is where most travellers go, because Loy Krathong and Yi Peng happen together. Lanterns hang over the lanes of the Old City and in the temples, there are parades of giant krathongs, and people float theirs on the Ping River from the bridges and riverbanks. In 2026 the city events run from 24 to 26 November. Unlicensed sky lanterns are banned across the city and several surrounding districts, with fines of up to 200,000 baht and up to five years in jail. The famous mass releases happen only at ticketed, licensed sites outside the city. Our Yi Peng guide explains the rules and the tickets.
Chiang Mai airport cut hours around the festival in 2025, affecting 161 flights. We haven't seen any 2026 flight restrictions announced yet, so check with your airline in the weeks before you fly.
Rooms in Chiang Mai sell out early for the festival and prices go up, so book as soon as you know your dates.
Sukhothai
The old capital holds the Loy Krathong, Burning Candles and Playing with Fire festival in Sukhothai Historical Park. In 2026 it runs from 15 to 24 November, with a light and sound show among the lit-up ruins at 7pm each night and an extra show at 8:30pm on the 24th. Show tickets cost 500, 900 or 1,200 baht. It's the most traditional way to see the festival, and Sukhothai sits between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, so it's easy to fit into a trip north.
Bangkok
In Bangkok, people float krathongs on the Chao Phraya River, the canals and the lakes in the city's parks. In 2025 the city opened 33 parks for the night. Riverside piers and temples get very crowded, so a park lake is often the calmer choice. Afterwards the city clears the water: in 2025 it collected 391,027 krathongs, and 82.76% of them were made of natural materials.
The islands
Loy Krathong is celebrated on the islands too, mostly on beaches and in the main towns. In 2026 it falls on the same night as the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. But November is the wettest month on the Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao), so it's not the best time for a beach trip there. See our Full Moon Party guide if you're tempted anyway.
What happens on the night
As dusk falls, stalls selling ready-made krathongs appear on every street near the water, and many temples and community groups run krathong-making sessions in the days before. People walk down to the riverbank or a park lake in groups, and it's normal to see whole families, couples and groups of friends doing the same thing side by side. Along the water, food stalls, music and small fireworks keep going well into the evening.
What to wear and bring
Comfortable shoes you don't mind getting a bit wet or muddy at the water's edge, a layer to cover shoulders and knees if you'll go near a temple, a small amount of cash for a krathong and street food, and a phone light or small torch for finding your way along a dark riverbank. If you plan to make your own krathong, bring a lighter or ask a stall for one.
Loy Krathong and our trips
We run a trip timed for exactly this festival: seven days from Bangkok through Sukhothai's own candlelit Loy Krathong show to three nights in Chiang Mai for Loy Krathong night and Yi Peng.
Our Thailand & Laos Slow Boat trip starts in Chiang Rai and spends three nights in Chiang Mai before flying to Luang Prabang. A departure in the right week can put you in Chiang Mai for Loy Krathong and Yi Peng too. When one is timed for the festival, the trip page says so next to the date.
Our Thailand in 2 Weeks trip ends on the Gulf islands, so it avoids the islands' rainy season in October and November. The trip page lists current dates.
