Loi Krathong and Yi Peng 2026: A Planning Guide From India

Loi Krathong and Yi Peng are expected around 24–25 November 2026, and the best place to experience both together is Chiang Mai. If you are travelling from India, plan five to seven nights, book Chiang Mai hotels and any ticketed lantern event early, and confirm the final dates with the Tourism Authority of Thailand about a month before you fly — both festivals follow the lunar calendar.

This is one of the most photographed weeks in Thailand, and for good reason: rivers fill with candlelit floats, temples glow with paper lanterns and the night sky over the north lights up. It is also one of the easiest festival trips to get wrong if you arrive without a plan. This guide covers what happens, which city suits you, how the lantern events work and how to build the trip from India.

When are Loi Krathong and Yi Peng in 2026?

Loi Krathong is celebrated across Thailand on the full-moon night of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar. In 2026 that full moon falls on 24 November, and most published guides list the main celebrations on 24–25 November, with Chiang Mai's wider festival running for roughly three days around it.

Yi Peng is the northern, Lanna-tradition lantern festival that coincides with Loi Krathong. In Chiang Mai the two blend into one long celebration, which is why the city is the default choice for travellers who want both floating krathongs and lanterns.

What actually happens at Loi Krathong and Yi Peng?

A krathong is a small float, traditionally made from a slice of banana trunk wrapped in banana leaves and decorated with flowers, a candle and incense. People release it on a river, canal or lake as a gesture of gratitude to the water and of letting go of the past year's troubles. Many Indian travellers find the ritual familiar: it sits comfortably beside the diya floated on the Ganga at dusk.

Yi Peng adds the khom loi, a paper lantern lifted by a small flame. You will also see khom fai — decorative lanterns hung across lanes, temple courtyards and the old-city moat in Chiang Mai. Expect parades, temple ceremonies, music, food stalls and very busy streets, particularly around the Tha Phae Gate and Nawarat Bridge areas.

• Evenings are when everything happens. Days are good for temples, markets and rest.
• Crowds peak on the full-moon night. Walking is often faster than any vehicle in the old city.
• Eco-friendly krathongs made from bread or leaves are widely sold; avoid foam floats.

Chiang Mai, Sukhothai or Bangkok: which city should you choose?

Your choice depends on what you picture when you imagine the festival, and how many nights you can take.

For most first-time visitors, Chiang Mai plus two or three nights in Bangkok is the most rewarding combination. Our guide to Thailand beyond Bangkok explains why the north rewards slower travel, and you can browse things to do in Chiang Mai to fill the daytime.

Ticketed lantern events vs public celebrations

The famous images of thousands of lanterns rising at once usually come from organised, ticketed events held outside the city, on the full-moon night or close to it. These events control release times, provide lanterns, seating and food, and handle transfers. They are not cheap, and they sell out.

The public celebration in the old city is free and far more spontaneous: krathong floating at the Ping River, lanterns hung through the lanes, parades and street food. Releasing your own lantern in the city is restricted to permitted times and places, because of fire risk and aircraft approaching Chiang Mai airport.

1. Decide whether the mass release matters to you. If it is the reason you are going, buy tickets as soon as the official dates are announced, from the organiser directly or a reputable agent.
2. Check what the ticket includes: transfers from your hotel, vegetarian food, seating and the time you will return to the city.
3. Keep one evening free for the old city, which many travellers end up enjoying more.

A booking timeline from India

Late November also overlaps with the start of Thailand's high season and with Indian wedding season, so fares and hotels move quickly.

• Now to early October: fix your dates, book flights to Bangkok and, if needed, an onward flight to Chiang Mai. Several Indian metros have direct flights to Bangkok of roughly four hours.
• October: book Chiang Mai hotels inside or near the old city so you can walk to the celebrations. Shortlist lantern events.
• Late October to early November: confirm event tickets once dates are published. Check the entry rules for Indian passport holders on the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi page.
• Within 72 hours of arrival: complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card on the official TDAC portal. Avoid lookalike sites that charge for it.

For a realistic sense of what flights, stays and activities add up to, read how much a Thailand trip from India really costs — and expect festival-week hotel rates in Chiang Mai to sit at the top of any range.

A 6-night Loi Krathong route from India

This route keeps transfers to a minimum and gives you two festival evenings.

1. Night 1 – Bangkok. Arrive, rest, and take an easy evening by the river.
2. Night 2 – Bangkok. Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the morning, a long lunch, and a late afternoon at a riverside market.
3. Night 3 – Chiang Mai. Fly north in the morning. Walk the old city and watch the lanterns going up across the lanes.
4. Night 4 – Chiang Mai (full moon). Lantern event or old-city celebrations; float a krathong on the Ping.
5. Night 5 – Chiang Mai. Doi Suthep in the morning, a cooking class or a slow café afternoon, and the final festival night.
6. Night 6 – Chiang Mai or Bangkok. Rest day or a night back in Bangkok before an early flight home.

Adding a beach afterwards? See Phuket vs Krabi vs Koh Samui — late November is generally a good month for the Andaman coast.

Etiquette and responsible celebrating

Loi Krathong is a religious and cultural festival first and a photo opportunity second. A few habits make a real difference:

• Dress modestly at temples, with shoulders and knees covered, and remove shoes where asked.
• Choose biodegradable krathongs and do not throw anything else into the water.
• Only release lanterns where and when it is allowed, and never near power lines or buildings.
• Keep phones and valuables close in dense crowds, and agree a meeting point with your group.
• Be patient with locals performing the ritual; let families go first at the water's edge.

Questions travellers ask about Loi Krathong

When is Loi Krathong in 2026?

Loi Krathong falls on the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month, which in 2026 is expected around 24–25 November. Yi Peng in Chiang Mai runs alongside it. Confirm the final dates with the Tourism Authority of Thailand about a month before you travel.

Is Chiang Mai or Bangkok better for Loi Krathong?

Chiang Mai, if lanterns and atmosphere are the point; Yi Peng is a northern tradition. Bangkok works for a shorter trip centred on the river, with simpler flights from India.

Can you release a lantern anywhere during Yi Peng?

No. Releases are restricted to permitted zones and times, frequently only at organised events, because of fire risk and flight paths near Chiang Mai airport.

How early should I book a Loi Krathong trip from India?

Two to three months ahead for flights and Chiang Mai hotels, and as soon as the official dates appear for ticketed lantern events, which often sell out weeks in advance.

If you would rather share the festival with a small group of like-minded travellers, look at The Curious Club; if you want a private route with your family or partner, a BagPackerMe planner can build it around the confirmed dates.