Lantern Festival Thailand: The Ultimate Guide to Chiang Mai Lantern Festival
If you have ever seen pictures of the lantern festival Thailand, you are probably as enchanted as we were. Thousands of lanterns floating into the sky, all around you - just like that one scene in Tangled. Okay, admittingly, that's how we found out about this festival in the first place.
The idea of something so magical happening in real life was too good not to check out ourselves! The place to go to in Thailand for the most magical experience is Chiang Mai. The Chiang Mai lantern festival, Yi Peng, is a globally famous festival. And as experiencing the festival only once wasn't enough for us, we went two years in a row (in 2017 and 2018).
We dove deep into the web to find everything about this sensational event and unfortunately, instead of magic, we found a struggle.
There is surprisingly little information on this increasingly popular event and the information that is out there is very vague...
Our mission, aside from experiencing our Disney moment, became to collect the best information and tips for YOU to experience the magic! In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about the lantern festival Thailand, so you're not as lost as we were!
Chiang Mai Lantern Festival: Yi Peng
Yi Peng, or Yee Peng, is the local name of the lantern festival in northern Thailand. Yee means two and Peng means full moon day, which relates to the night of the festival: during the second full moon of the Lanna calendar.
As the festival is held on the second full moon of the Lanna calendar, it's every year on a different date. Usually, this is in November. In 2022 it takes place on November 8-9, though there will also be activities before November 8 and 9. Often the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launches the exact program of the Chiang Mai lantern festival at the beginning of October.
While you're exploring northern Thailand, you can't miss Chiang Rai!
Read about the perfect day trip from Chiang Mai.
To make it a bit more confusing, the second full moon of the Lanna calendar is also the 12th full moon of the Thai lunar calendar, which means Loy Krathong festival is also happening.
Yi Peng is about the sky lanterns, Loy Krathong is about floating baskets with candles on the water (more about Loy Krathong soon). Together, the two make for the big Chiang Mai festival of lanterns!
Yi Peng lantern festival is celebrated at the end of the rainy season; it is a celebration of a new beginning.
Letting a lantern into the sky symbolizes letting go of the bad and to let good new energies in for a brighter future. You let go of misfortunes and illness of the previous year. Definitely make a wish when you release your lantern - it might come true, provided that you behave well in the new year.
NOTE: every year the program of Yi Peng is slightly different, though, there will always be two nights where you can release lanterns!
Loy Krathong Chiang Mai
The two festivals, Yi Peng and Loy Krathong, are celebrated simultaneously during the period of the full moon. Both are light festivals, but Loy Krathong means 'to float a basket' and is celebrated by lanterns on the water. Loy Krathong festival is celebrated throughout all of Thailand and surrounding countries.
As for the krathongs: when you let a krathong in the water, it will take away your sins and bad luck. And when you make a wish, the krathong will carry it into the new year for you. For Thai people, releasing the krathong is also a way of thanking the water Goddess for providing all water.
Getting excited about more lantern festivals? Read our ultimate guide to Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
Where To Go For Chiang Mai Festival of Lanterns?
Let's get organized! As Yi Peng is celebrated solely in northern Thailand (Loy Krathong is celebrated more broadly), that's where you should go.
Chiang Mai festival of lanterns is known to be the largest celebration - as it's the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom (remember it's a Lanna calendar festival?). The lantern festival Chiang Mai is FREE to attend, though every year more and more commercial and touristic mass lantern release events pop up.
Mae Jo University
The most famous (tourist) location to experience the mass sky lantern releases is Mae Jo University, just outside of Chiang Mai (about half an hour from the city center). The massive sky lantern release at Mae Jo University used to be for locals, though now it's for tourists.
Tickets for this event start at 100$. Although this massive sky lantern release is very photogenic, it's not the authentic Yi Peng festival. Of course, it's your own decision if you want to buy a ticket for this tourist event! Another big lantern release event is at the Cowboy Army Riding Club in the Mae Rim District.
FREE Yi Peng Lantern Festival
Those big releases are not the actual, authentic Yi Peng lantern festival. They are privately organized and therefore expensive. Let us tell you: you don't need to spend that much to see hundreds of lanterns floating into the sky.
You can see it in the city as well - for FREE! When we asked the locals what was the best place to go for Yi Peng the answer was always "everywhere". Totally frustrating if you try to find the BEST spot, but we totally get it afterward - the sky lanterns are everywhere. Lucky for you, we will provide more guidance than the locals because we did find some perfect spots!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixWDxy-jU&t=
Lantern Festival Thailand 2022
The official festival takes place for three nights, though last year the festivities were held for five nights. We suspect the duration lasts longer as popularity grows! The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announces a program with the official activities every year, usually one month before the actual event.
On the night before the full moon, there's usually an opening ceremony, during the other two nights after the opening ceremony many lanterns will light up the sky and on the third night, there's also a parade. The nights that you are allowed to let your lantern in the sky will be on November 8 and 9, 2022.
Top Tips
- Go to the opening ceremony of the Yi Peng lantern festival at the Three Kings Monument and Lana Folklife museum on openings night (the night before the full moon). There are dance performances, lanterns everywhere (note: not the sky lanterns) and everyone visits temples and hangs a lantern on the ceiling. The decorations are incredibly pretty and it feels so cozy everywhere. The city-moat is also decorated with a track of candles.
- Visit Wat Phan Tao for a Buddhist Loy Krathong ceremony. It’s beautiful and very magical. The first ceremony takes place the night after the opening ceremony. The ceremony is held on multiple days. We recommend NOT going to the first ceremony on the first night as it gets very crowded. Three hours before the actual ceremony (starts around 8 PM) three rows of tripods are already set up and you won't get a good spot anymore. On the third night, it wasn't crowded at all and it was the best! In 2018, the ceremony was even held four nights in a row.
- If you want to see many lanterns, you should go to the Nawarat Bridge. This is the place where everyone’s allowed - officially - to let up their lantern into the sky, from 7 PM until 1 AM on the two nights after the official opening ceremony. From the bridge, you can also see many krathongs floating down the Ping River. You can also float your krathong on the moats, but please note: you cannot release your sky lantern there!
- On the last night, a parade takes place. Beautifully decorated floats pass by. It starts around the Tha Phae Gate and follows the road towards the Nawarat Bridge. We recommend seeing the parade from further down the route, as it gets very crowded at the gate. Don't miss it!
Want to read more about our Yi Peng magic? Read our travel journal!
Best-Kept Secrets
- Our absolute best find is Wat Buppharam, a temple close to the Nawarat bridge. This is the place where we took these pictures:
And then something very special happened... Read about Maartje's proposal!
This temple is such a magical place to light up your lantern and there are monks walking around to help you!
- Visit the other side of the Ping river, since that’s the place where you will find most locals. The vibes are a lot different than the touristy chaos on the city-side of the river. We definitely liked walking on that side along the river!
- There are more bridges that are wonderful to go to. To get a good view of the lanterns releases for example. Those are located north and south of the Nawarat bridge. The parade on the last night will pass the northern bridge, from which you'll have a great view!
Good to Know
There’s no need to buy your lanterns in advance: you can buy lanterns everywhere on the nights of celebration. They cost around 50 to 150 baht and there are different sizes.
- Be careful! Many lanterns in the sky, means many people on the ground. Please be careful with your lantern and other people. Before you light up your first lantern, look at how others do it. The lantern has to be hot enough before releasing it, otherwise, it will drop down and might cause injuries. The way to do it: before you light the wax, push your fingertips into the wax ring to make little dents. Then, light it up and put in on the ground and hold it there. You will feel when the lantern is ready to go, it'll become hotter and wants to fly out! Watch out for the wind, the lantern easily catches fire.
- On a sustainable sidenote: please don't light up too many lanterns. The environment isn't too happy with all the leftovers that fall down. Yes, after the last festival day there is a cleanup team and most lanterns (93%) are made from biodegradable rice paper bags, but it's still pollution.
- Lastly, don't forget to write a wish or message on the lantern.
- Enjoy the moment!
Let us know if you have any questions and/or additions in the comments below! Feel free to send us a message and don't forget to share our tips with your friends. Enjoy this magical lantern festival in Thailand.
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Crazy beautiful (and the proposal must have been extra magical), but the pollution... many birds get kiIIed aswell. It's a no from me. But you ofcourse said YES to the propisal 🙂
Totally true, that's why we also wanted to point it out and suggest to release lanterns sparsely ✨
oh wow this festival looks fab. the most lanterns i ever saw at one place was in Hoi ann in vietnam - this looks 10x more lit up 🙂
Wow, that sounds amazing too, when was it?
This definitely looks like a Disney moment - your photos are so beautiful, I always struggle with night time photography and you have captured the magic of the lanterns perfectly! What a magical event to witness!
Thanks so much Lauren! Night time photography is a totally different skill indeed, what helps is to set the ISO high and aperture (f) low. We probably do a blog post about this soon!
I’d love to visit the lantern festival, especially coupled with the university and temple, both my favorite places.
Sounds like an amazing plan!
This looks so magically! Congrats on the engagement!
Thank you so much!
It looks really beautiful. I've been to Thailand many times - my mom is from Thailand - but I've never been to the festival. Maybe one day 🙂
That sounds like a good plan, you might even get better suggestions from locals!
Wow, this must have been an amazing experience! I love enchanting places, thanks for sharing this 🙂
Wonderful photos! I’ve never been to this festival but I’d love to go there one day.
It’s a pity to firework didn’t go off, but maybe the lanterns are even nicer.
Thank you so much! And yes, totally true, we didn't enjoy the festival any less!
It looks really amazing! Thailand is on my bucket list for sure, I dream about this lantern festival. Thanks for sharing !
We keep coming back to Thailand! You're very welcome 🙂
It looks like an amazing experience. Never been there, good to know all essential tips. How nice can leave wish or message on the lantern 🙂
You're very welcome, we love the whole letting go and wish-making idea!
I've never been to a lantern festival, but looks like so much fun and all the colors are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
VAlerie
You're very welcome! It's truly incredible to see with your own eyes <3
The photos are so beautiful to look at, I am sure it was have been an overwhelming experience!
Thank you so much! And yes, truly magical!
Wow! This is such a unique festival. I have seen these scenes only in movies yet! Good to know about Wat Buppharam for those perfect shots. I would love to experience this festival too!
You totally should, so happy to help!
Firstly, CONGRATS!!!!! What an amazing experience for a proposal. Love the video, so moving, really makes me want to go. And from a technical aspect, really great shots, always tricky at nighttime to capture but you guys have done such a great job. Love it all.
Oh my gosh, thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot!!
Looks amazing..i have heard about this festival..but thanks for this informative pkst. .very helpful in planning our trip probably next year
Thank would be amazing!! Let us know if you end up going!
Looks like a fabulous festival, and in love with you photos! Are these photos taken handheld or with a tripod? I do wonder though if they recycle the lanterns to make new ones for next year?
Thanks so much! Yes, these photos are taken handheld - otherwise, the lanterns will 'move' in the image! I am not sure about that, good question!
I have seen many beautiful photos about the Lantern Festival but never really got the full details and meaning behind. Thank you for bringing it closer home!
You're so welcome! It's what we struggled with, so here it is 😀
And the proposal wow! Congratulations.
I've seen pictures of this exact festival but I didn't know where they were from. I was so excited to read this and learn about exactly what it is- it's so gorgeous!!
So happy we could tell you all about this magical festival! Any plans on visiting?
I'm glad I stumbled upon this post. An entire article dedicated to this unique event is not easy to find! Thank you for sharing all those details on how to best enjoy the lantern festival.
That's totally why we needed to write this! You're so welcome
Oh I missed it! Next time when I am in Thailand I will definitely try to catch this festival. Photos are awesome!
You totally should!
This festival is literally worth to see once in a life!:))
YES, without a doubt!
I want to try try this sky lantern, and yes I've heard that you need to make a wish while releasing it, so did your wish come true? I hope I can do this soon
Totally, Roxanne said YES to my proposal <3
Very pretty! I was always curious about the environmental effects of of releasing the lanterns up in the sky. Interesting to learn that they are environmentally friendly!
Well we wouldn't say 'friendly' but it isn't the worst, they're definitely trying to make it friendlier!
Thanks for mentioning the environmental part 🙂 It is definitely something to consider - I see a lot of people doing that in Thailand, and not only, outside festival times as well. By the way, love your photos - so colorful and beautiful - have been following you on Insta for a while 🙂
It's so important to mention indeed! And thank you so much, so sweet!
Omg I am dying to go to one lantern Festival like this one. There is another one in US, in the desert in Nevada. This one sounds more authentic tho!!!
It's incredible to experience for sure!
I have always been fascinated by viewing the charming photos of this lantern festival. Is it overcrowded?
Depends where you go! At the bridge & mass event, it's totally crowded, but you can find a bit more peaceful spots too.
The pictures speak so much joy! We've heard of Loy Kratong but never Yi Peng. Definitely worth a check the next time we're in Thailand
We were so confused with the names - people often use them for the same thing!
Congrats on the engagement! I'm currently in Chiang Mai not during the festival of course, but before that I was on Inle Lake in Myanmar and I witnessed a similar festival there. So magical!
That sounds incredible! What was the event called?
Wow, I loved your post and beautiful pics! We experienced a similar festival in Seoul a few years ago and this has brought back wonderful memories
Sounds so wonderful!!
My goodness your photos are so stunning!!! They inspire me to get behind the camera more- also what an experience! Reminds me of Tangles the Disney movie!!
Disney was totally inspired by this event!!
That's a beautiful and colorful tradition! I hope to experience one day! The photos are spectacular.
Thank you!
Loooove everything about this! Such lovely photos, such an amazing guide, and now I need to go watch Tangled again. I will definitely use this post in the future.
Ooh watching Tangled again sounds good!!
The sky must be looking awesome when you would have seen it from naked eyes.
It was totally magical!!
This looks like a beautiful festival. We were in Chiang Mai earlier this year - hopefully we can time our next visit to see this. Love the video as well!
Thanks Alex!
Wat Buttharam looks like the best place for snaps. Great post!
Totally, and thank you!
Your photos are simply breathtaking - what an incredible looking festival - fantastic post!
Thank you so much!
What a beautiful festival.thanks for giving such a great insight into it. I find similarity with Diwali in India and many other festivals where ppl bathe in river with the faith that it washes away their sins
That sounds so incredible! We'd love to experience Diwali in India, maybe next year 😀
This lantern festival is amazing. I have noted it and next time whenever I visit Thailand I will do so during these festivities.
That's amazing!
The festival looks amazing but I don't like the pollution part. Considering everything, you managed to click some amazing pictures! Great job 🙂
That's definitely a downside, but they're trying to do better! And thanks!
What an excellent guide! But I’m a big mushy romantic so I’m off to read all about the proposal!!!
Hahaha let us know what you think about it!
This festival is an explosion of colors and lights. I would really love to visit it with my camera and capture everything!
Yes, it's totally magical!
Love this! Such a magical tradition. You're photos are beautiful, you've really captured the moment.
Thank you so much!
Wow! Such a beautiful post describing this incredible festival. I would love to visit Chiang Mai during the festival next time.
It's from November 21-23 this year!
I have been intrigued by these type of lanterns ever since seeing Disney's Tangled movie 🙂 I would love to see a festival- especially this one!
It's totally magical!
Beautiful post & congrats on the engagement!! Was wondering if you're allowed to bring your own lanterns from home to set off? I know there are plenty of vendors in Chiang May, but I was hoping to bring a special lantern to set off, and wasn't sure if this would be banned somehow. Thanks!!
Thank you!! And no, we don't believe that's an issue!
Yi Peng lantern festival sounds magical. Seeing all of the lanterns fly at once would be such a sight. I was in Chaing Mai, but sadly not for this. Guess I must return soon.
We guess you must!
Chiang May was one of my favorite places in Thailand - so spiritual and cultural. I can imagine that this must be a very special experience. I hope to see it on my next visit, too.
Totally!!
Chiang Mai was my favourite places in Thailand. We weren't there for the lantern festival but I think we will have to go back one day to see it. Your pictures are phenomenal!
It's definitely worth another visit!
THIS IS A GREAT POST. WOULD LIKE TO VISIT THESE BEAUTIFUL PLACES
WHOAH you totally should!
This festival looks fantastic! Would love to visit it one day.
Your photos are awesome by the way. Thanks for sharing your article, it's fantastic!
Thanks so much, means a lot!
Those are some really pretty pictures of this lantern festival. I love seeing all of the different types of lanterns you can get. I wonder if you can buy lanterns that are similar to these online that you can have around your home or in your yard.
Probably! You can find everything online, right?! It would be so interesting to get more permanent lanterns for a backyard or so!
Amazing shots! Just wondering though did y’all have to pay for a ticket or an entrance fee? I am planning to visit in November this year!
Thanks so much! And you're gonna love it. Only the big events are paid, the rest is all free (let us know if anything is different this year!). ENJOY!
Hi!!
We would be on the 11th of November in Chiang Mai but need.to be in Bangkok on the 12th.
It is a good idea to take the night bus that departs chiang mai at 23 pm?? or is too early?
I've seen that the ceremonu starts at 20pm.... when does it finish ( aprox)
Hi Silvia! The ceremony can go on for a while! But you can always decide to leave earlier!
You mention multiple events prior to the actual lantern release. How many days would you suggest being there? This year’s festival begins Nov 8-9 for the two lantern releases (into the sky and on the water). From what I’ve gathered one is on the 8th and the other on the 9th. Is that how it works? I just want to make sure in order to see the Buddhist ceremony, parades, etc we plan enough days in advance as necessary. Please let me know a good itinerary.
Hi Kelly! We're not sure if it will be the same as before the "panini" but if it says 8 and 9, be sure to be there on the 6th or 7th and ask around!
Thank you for sharing this overview! So looking forward to the festival and your tips are super helpful.
This year the lanterns are banned in the city and the ticket for Mae Jo CAD Yi Peng is too expensive. Do you know where we can watch the lanterns for free near Mae Jo?
Thanks for the update! I do not, sorry!
@Angela what did you decide to do? We just arrived in Chiang Mai and heard the news..