Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival
Country: Thailand
When: 13th – 15th November 2016
In Thailand, the Festival of Light fills the water and the sky with brightly shining lanterns. The Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival is a sight to behold as thousands of airborne lanterns drift beautifully into the night sky.
The Festival is a Buddhist religious ceremony and is accompanied by parades, dances and celebrations. The Festival is always held in November but the exact date is released only a few months in advance.
You won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to make a ‘wish for the future’ while launching your own lantern so make sure you allow plenty of flexibility in your itinerary.
Festival Videos
Key highlights
- Thousands of lanterns are released into the night sky.
- There are two ceremonies: the traditional Thai ceremony which is free and the tourist ceremony which is held about a week later and costs approximately $100 US. The traditional ceremony is highly recommended as it has even more participants than the tourist one.
- Loy Krathong, the Water Lantern Festival, coincides with the Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival and is another beautiful and moving experience.
- Exploring Chiang Mai – a fantastic city for travellers.
Where is it
It is best to attend this festival in Chiang Mai – the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdom.
How to get there
Most major airlines fly direct to Chiang Mai airport. A taxi into town should cost about $8-10 AUS dollars. Domestic flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai are about $40 US.
Catching the bus or driving from Bangkok are also options but both will involve a good ten to twelve hours travel time. Taking the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes about fifteen hours but is a good way to see more of the countryside. As an added bonus, the trains are air-conditioned but remember to book early as trains are very popular in Thailand.
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Take an overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai and save yourself one night’s accommodation cost. You will get to Chiang Mai refreshed and ready to see the sights and sounds of this busy city.
Where to stay
Chiang Mai has a variety of accommodation options to suit you and your budget. Guesthouses and Hotels are the most popular forms of accommodation in the area.
You will want to be in the central part of Chiang Mai for easy access to the nightlife, night markets and the main shopping areas. A popular area to stay is Pratu Tha Phae, an area at the eastern end of the old city.
Chiang Mai has many small lanes called Sois which contain very popular backpacker accommodation options and guesthouses. Availability is not normally problematic but booking is always advisable if travelling during the festival season.
Useful information
More information on Yi Peng festival and useful websites:
http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Events-and-Festivals/YiPeng-Lantern-Festival–6447
http://chiangmaibest.com/loy-krathong-yee-peng/
http://www.canvas-of-light.com/2012/11/yi-peng-the-festival-of-lights-in-chiang-mai-thailand/