• Home
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • Yoga Journey
  • Work with Flo
  • Get in Touch
  • Disclaimer and Policies
No results
View all results
Yoga, Wine & Travel
  • Home
  • Travel
  • Popular Destinations
    • Hong Kong Travel Guides & Tips
    • Sri Lanka Travel Guides & Tips
    • India Travel Guides & Tips
    • Italy Travel Guides & Tips
    • Laos Travel Guides & Tips
    • Thailand Travel Guides & Tips
    • Turkey Travel Guides & Tips
    • Jordan Travel Guides & Tips
    • All Destinations
  • Yoga
  • Videos
Yoga, Wine & Travel
  • Home
  • Travel
  • Popular Destinations
    • Hong Kong Travel Guides & Tips
    • Sri Lanka Travel Guides & Tips
    • India Travel Guides & Tips
    • Italy Travel Guides & Tips
    • Laos Travel Guides & Tips
    • Thailand Travel Guides & Tips
    • Turkey Travel Guides & Tips
    • Jordan Travel Guides & Tips
    • All Destinations
  • Yoga
  • Videos
No results
View all results
Yoga, Wine & Travel
No results
View all results
Home Travel Responsible & Ethical Travel

10 Things You Need to Know Before You Attend the Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai

This Buddhist festival is one of the most popular festivals in Thailand. Read on for what you need to know and how to partake in the Chiang Mai lantern festival responsibly!

by Flo
December 13, 2018 - Updated on October 29, 2020
in Responsible & Ethical Travel, Travel
2
Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai Thailand

Chances are, you’ve seen a million photos online of the famous Yi Peng (AKA Yee Peng) lantern festival in Thailand, when thousands of paper lanterns illuminate the night sky. Like you, I’ve long dreamed about witnessing the captivating event with my own eyes, and to perhaps even release a lantern for good luck.

As the biggest Yi Peng celebration is held in Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the former Lanna Kingdom, I made plans to fly over to check it out. Long story short, I was surprised by what I saw. Though the sight of the lanterns floating against a backdrop of the full moon is indisputably breathtaking, few travel guides delve into the deep-rooted religious significance of the festival and even fewer talk about the outrageous crowds and irresponsible tourists who release lanterns into power lines, trees and other people.

Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai Thailand crowds

Before you travel to Chiang Mai to check out the Yi Peng Festival next year, please read up on some of these important things to know about the Thai lantern festival first!

Visiting Chiang Mai for the first time? Make sure you read my guides on what to do in Chiang Mai and how to plan a perfect day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park!

1. What is the Yi Peng Festival?

Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai Thailand releasing a lantern

Yi Peng is a festival primarily celebrated in northern Thailand. The Lanna festival has several names including the “Chiang Mai festival of lights”, “Yi Peng”, “Yee Peng”, “Chiang Mai lantern festival” and so on – they all refer to the same thing. The unique feature of Yi Peng is the release of paper lanterns called “khom loi”, which are lifted high into the sky by fire and hot air as it rises. Buddhists believe that the act of releasing the lantern during the full moon frees themselves of bad luck from the past year, and generates good fortune in the coming year.

Chiang Mai, the former capital of the Lanna kingdom, hosts the largest Yi Peng lantern festival in Thailand, and draws tens of thousands of tourists every year.

2. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are 2 different festivals

Krathongs floating down the river during Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai Thailand 1

The two festivals are often confused with one another as they overlap and are celebrated around the same time in November. Loy Krathong is a festival celebrated throughout Thailand on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar. It is characterized by floating baskets made of flowers, leaves, candles and incense that are sent down the river to pay respects to the river goddess and Buddha.

Krathongs floating down the river during Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai Thailand

In Chiang Mai and northern Thailand, Loy Krathong coincides with Yi Peng which falls on the full moon day in the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar (which is the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar) and the celebrations span across three days.

Monks at Wat Chai Mongkhon in Chiang Mai during Yi Peng

Because the dates of the festivals are based on the Thai lunar calendar, the exact dates of the lantern festival in Chiang Mai and Loy Krathong shift every year. They typically fall around November every year but the exact dates are only announced approximately two months ahead of time (though the forecast dates tend to be fairly accurate). In 2019, the Chiang Mai Yi Peng festival was held from November 9th to 12th. So, when is Yi Peng in 2020? Yi Peng in 2020 will be held in Chiang Mai from October 31st to November 1st, with a slew of events over the 2-day period. Check the full schedule here. 

3. Book hotels early

Wat Phantao in Chiang Mai during Yi Peng Thailand

Yi Peng in Chiang Mai is quite possibly the busiest time of year to visit. The small city receives hundreds of thousands of tourists traveling to partake in and observe the lantern festival, and for this reason hotel rooms are in short supply. If you are visiting Chiang Mai for the Yi Peng lantern festival, book early! You can book ahead on Booking.com where many hotels offer a free cancellation policy, and if for some reason you can’t make it to Chiang Mai you can cancel your booking at no extra cost. Just make sure you check when the cancellation deadline is!

If you are traveling to Chiang Mai for the lantern festival, your best bet is to stay in the Old Town area so that you can walk to and from the festivities as traffic is horrendous. Here are some of my favorite places to stay in Chiang Mai:

  • See You Soon Chiang Mai
  • See You Soon Chiang Mai
  • See You Soon Chiang Mai
  • See You Soon Chiang Mai

See You Soon Hotel and Cafe in the heart of Old Town is an amazing hotel with a handful of spacious and newly renovated rooms and stunning & tasteful decor. The rooms sit atop a wonderful cafe (try the mango and sticky rice) with tasty food and drinks, and the wifi connection is very stable and fast throughout the property. Click here to check current rates at See You Soon Chiang Mai.

  • Nawa Sheeva Hotel Chiang Mai Hotel 2_Thailand
  • Nawa Sheeva Hotel Chiang Mai Hotel 2_Thailand

I would also highly recommend Nawa Sheeva, about 2 blocks away from Wat Chedi Luang and the Tha Pae Gate. This small boutique hotel has incredibly friendly staff, clean and spacious rooms as well as a small private pool, though the wi-fi can be a little unstable at times. Click here to check current rates at Nawa Sheeva.

  • BED Chiang Mai Gate Hotel_Thailand
  • BED Chiang Mai Gate Hotel_Thailand

If you are looking for a slightly more modern hotel with a pool in Chiang Mai, then you’ll want to check out BED Hotel Chiang Mai Gate. This boutique property is an adults only hotel in Chiang Mai and offers clean and spacious rooms. Click here to check current room rates at BED Chiang Mai Gate Hotel or click here to find some other highly rated accommodation options in Chiang Mai’s Old Town!

4. The Yi Peng festival is outrageously crowded

Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai Thailand crowds

I was not mentally prepared for exactly how many people had traveled to Chiang May for Yi Peng, and how crowded the main areas were. During my first trip to Chiang Mai a few years ago, I visited during the off-peak season and the town and Doi Inthanon National Park were peaceful and quiet. This time, there were people EVERYWHERE and in some areas the crowds were at a standstill.

Monks at Wat Chai Mongkhon in Chiang Mai during Yi Peng

The main Yi Peng events happen after dark at Thapae Gate or Nawarat Bridge, a 10-minute walk away from the city walls. However, this is where all of the crowds congregate. If you want a quieter and less hectic experience, go where the locals go – Wat Chai Mongkhon is a smaller temple where people release their kroythongs into the river and release lanterns safely with the help of the resident monks.

5. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are meaningful Buddhist festivals

Monks at Wat Chai Mongkhon in Chiang Mai during Yi Peng

The two festivals are spiritual occasions for Thai Buddhists, who make up 90% of the population in the country. The acts of releasing lanterns and krathongs during Loy Krathong and Yi Peng symbolize letting go of the misfortunes and bad luck from the previous year, and are a way for Buddhists to pay respect to Buddha and the river goddess.

As you observe the festivals, it is important to bear this in mind – while the festivals are very beautiful, be mindful that you do not obstruct people from releasing their krathongs and lanterns, dress appropriately if you are visiting a Buddhist temple, and keep your voice down. Please be respectful when you are in Chiang Mai for the lantern festival.

6. The festival generates a lot of trash

Krathongs washing up on river bed in Chiang Mai

Krathongs often have staples or small polystyrene bits (even though they’re not supposed to have them anymore). The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has suggested people use vegetables and plants like bitter gourd, papaya, pumpkin and banana blossom as alternative materials for the vessels. Although these types of krathong are biodegradable, their massive quantities can pollute the river if they remain uncollected. They are therefore often collected as soon as the full moon festival is over (source).

Fallen lanterns in Chiang Mai Thailand

Yi Peng lanterns in Chiang Mai are mostly made of rice paper with a bamboo or wood frame and wire to hold the candle or flammable coil. The vast majority of the lanterns end up on the ground, in trees and in the river after the festivities – what goes up must come down! We spotted fallen lanterns throughout the city during the festival as well as the next day.

Which brings me to my next point – I would urge you to think long and hard about whether or not you want to release a krathong or lantern, and think about your motivations for doing so. Are you Buddhist? Are you doing it for the photo opp? Do you appreciate the religious significance? Could you be content with simply observing the beautiful ceremony and festival?

Interested in reading more about responsible tourism in Southeast Asia? Click here for 10 things you should know before you visit Southeast Asia!

7. It is free to observe

Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai Thailand

There is no cost associated with observing or partaking in the Yi Peng lantern festival in Chiang Mai, unless you are purchasing a krathong or lantern of course. There are a handful of paid ticketed events held outside Chiang Mai town that advertise the opportunity to take part in a mass lantern release. These have no historical significance and are not official government events.

Monks at Wat Phantao in Chiang Mai Thailand during Yi Peng Lantern Festival

If you want to observe the Yi Peng lantern festival in Chiang Mai, head to Nawarat Bridge and all along the Ping River towards the south. However, in my humble opinion the best place to observe the Chiang Mai lantern festival is in Wat Chai Mongkhon where monks help devotees and tourists release lanterns safely, or Wat Phantao in Old Town (however, the monks no longer release lanterns within the Old Town – they light them and hold onto floating lanterns using wire).

8. You can’t release lanterns all willy nilly

Yi Peng rules in Chiang Mai Thailand

Floating lanterns pose a safety threat to planes flying over Chiang Mai’s international airport, and every year flights in and out of Chiang Mai are cancelled or delayed during the peak of the holiday. In fact, hundreds of lanterns land near the airport every year. For this reason, Yi Peng lanterns can only be released after 7 PM and before 1 AM.

Yi Peng rules in Chiang Mai Thailand

Also, you can’t just release lanterns everywhere around town and there is clear signage letting you know where it is prohibited and the associated penalties. This year, lanterns were not allowed to be lit around Thapae Gate or Wat Phantao.

9. It’s important to be careful when you release a lantern

Fallen lanterns in Chiang Mai Thailand

Please, for the love of all that is good, be careful when you release a ball of fire surrounded by flammable material into a crowd of people! I can not count the number of fail lantern launches around Nawarat Bridge, many of which flew into power lines, trees, people, street food stalls, or simply imploded into a fiery mess on the ground.

Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai Thailand lanterns in power lines

If you are releasing a lantern, make sure that there is sufficient hot air to lift the lantern and give it a gentle push upwards rather than sideways.

10. The lanterns and krathongs are hard to photograph

Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai Thailand

Let me tell you this, the flying lanterns and floating krathongs are not easy to capture well on camera! They move quickly, it is dark and there are often people photo-bombing from left, right and center. If you have a DSLR, turn on the continuous shooting mode and if you are using an iPhone, hold the shutter down to take multiple shots. Of the hundreds of photos I took during Yi Peng, I ended up scrapping more than 50% of them.

Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai Thailand

For people with a DSLR camera, forget auto mode and use manual settings with a high ISO (>2000). I used 1/25 shutter speed, 4.0 F Stop and +1 exposure. Play around with the settings and test what works best for you and your camera. For some of my favorite photo editing tools head on over to this article, or check out some of my mobile photography tips here.

Visiting Chiang Mai for the first time? Read on for 10 Things to Do in Chiang Mai That Don’t Involve Riding Elephants or Petting Tigers

Paper lanterns in Chiang Mai during Yee Peng

I hope these tips help you to plan your trip to Chiang Mai to check out the Yi Peng Festival in 2019!

Ready to book your fabulous responsible vacation in Chiang Mai? Click here to check current rates at See You Soon Chiang Mai and make sure you check out their fabulous coffee shop and restaurant, or book a room at Nawa Sheeva, a small Thai boutique hotel with a private pool within Old Town, or check out BED Chiang Mai Gate for an adults-only hotel in Chiang Mai with a pool. Click here to find some other highly rated accommodation options in Chiang Mai’s Old Town!

Looking for more travel tips and recommendations? Check out all of my Thailand travel guides here or head on over here for some ideas on what to see and where to go if you only have 10 days in Thailand!

Pin this for later!

This article contains affiliate links. If you choose to book using these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my website by using these links, I only recommend products or services that I have personally used & hotels I enjoyed visiting.

Paper lantern being released during full moon with text overlay Lanterns in the sky during Yi Peng in Thailand with text overlay Lanterns in the sky during Yi Peng in Thailand with text overlay

Share this article!

  • Share
  • Pin
  • Tweet
  • Email
Tags: AsiaResponsible TravelThailand

Enjoyed reading this article? Subscribe to the mailing list!

* Unsubscribe at any time. Your e-mail address will only ever be used to send the occasional Yoga, Wine & Travel newsletter.

Previous Post

10 Awesome Things to Do if You Only Have 3 Days in Melbourne, Australia

Next Post

5 Things to Do in Hualien on the East Coast of Taiwan

Related Posts

The King Room at The Hari in Hong Kong
Hotel Reviews

8 Tried-and-Tested Luxury and Boutique Hotels in Hong Kong

January 10, 2021 - Updated on February 25, 2021
Tai Long Wan Sai Kung drone photo
Travel

Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung: A Guide to Hong Kong’s Secret Beaches

October 13, 2020 - Updated on January 11, 2021
Drone shot of Hiriketiya Bay in Sri Lanka
Travel

An Insider’s Guide to Hiriketiya in Sri Lanka

August 31, 2020 - Updated on March 1, 2021
Hong Kong taxi and street art
Travel

Where to Go for the Best Street Art in Hong Kong

August 6, 2020 - Updated on September 2, 2020
Next Post
Eternal Spring Shrine in Taroko National Park Hualien Taiwan

5 Things to Do in Hualien on the East Coast of Taiwan

The Algarve in southern Portugal rock formations

10 Days in Portugal: An Incredible Road Trip from the Algarve to Porto

Sun Moon Lake in Central Taiwan_feature

A Perfect Slow Travel Trip: What to Do at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan

Comments 2

  1. Alex says:
    1 year ago

    Hi there! I find your tips so useful, thanks a lot!
    I’m in Chiang Mai to enjoy this the Yi Peng festival, although I’ve been said that’s no longer placed in town due to the air contamination next to the airport, therefore I can only see it in one of the places outside town (and pay the organised trip), and that’s why one cannot see any place in town where they sell the khom loi. Do you have any information on that note that could help me to find out if it’s true or I can still enjoy the festival without paying the vast amount of money they charge for the trip?
    Thanks a lot in advance

    Reply
    • Flo says:
      1 year ago

      Hi Alex,

      I can not imagine that they would ban khom loi next to the Ping River as that is where most of the lanterns are released. However, there ARE specific areas and times when the lanterns can be released – outside of these times/locations it is forbidden. This is the latest information from the government: https://www.tatnews.org/2019/10/tat-highlights-bangkok-and-six-unique-locations-for-loi-krathong-festival-2019/

      They have also cancelled many flights in preparation for the festival (as they do each year), so I don’t see why lanterns will not be allowed to be released: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1789409/chiang-mai-flights-cancelled-rescheduled-for-loy-krathong

      If you are still concerned I would recommend that you ask your hotel directly. I would be very surprised if you have to pay for the organized trip in order to witness the festival, as these organized events are not “official” Yi Peng events.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello!

Hi! My name is Flo. I'm a wanderlusting yogi who won’t say no to a good white sangria. I believe that travel and yoga are important avenues to experience new stories, lifestyles, culture and views - join me on Yoga, Wine & Travel as I share destination & travel guides, tips and hacks as well as stories from my Yoga journey! Read more about me and Yoga, Wine & Travel here.

Latest Articles

The King Room at The Hari in Hong Kong

8 Tried-and-Tested Luxury and Boutique Hotels in Hong Kong

January 10, 2021 - Updated on February 25, 2021
Tai Long Wan Sai Kung drone photo

Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung: A Guide to Hong Kong’s Secret Beaches

October 13, 2020 - Updated on January 11, 2021
Drone shot of Hiriketiya Bay in Sri Lanka

An Insider’s Guide to Hiriketiya in Sri Lanka

August 31, 2020 - Updated on March 1, 2021

Yoga, Wine & Travel

In search of travel and yoga inspiration? Yoga, Wine & Travel is your resource for practical travel tips, detailed destination guides, insightful Yoga advice and honest reviews for independent travelers who love luxury, boutique and beyond-the-ordinary travel experiences. Let me help you spend less time on planning your trip and more time on experiencing the journey!

SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER AND NEVER MISS AN ARTICLE

Explore more

Destination Guides

Everything Yoga

Travel Tips

Hotel Reviews

Travel Videos

About

About Flo

Yoga Journey

Work With Me

Get in Touch

Home

© 2021 Yoga, Wine & Travel. Disclaimer and Website Policies.

Exclusive Member of Mediavine Travel

No results
View all results
  • Home
  • Travel
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel Tips
  • Popular Destinations
    • Hong Kong Travel Guides & Tips
    • Italy Travel Guides & Tips
    • India Travel Guides & Tips
    • Sri Lanka Travel Guides & Tips
    • Laos Travel Guides & Tips
    • Thailand Travel Guides & Tips
    • Turkey Travel Guides & Tips
    • Jordan Travel Guides & Tips
  • Yoga
    • All Yoga Articles
    • Yoga Studios Around the World
  • About
    • About Me
    • Yoga Journey
  • Work with Flo
  • Get in Touch

© 2021 Yoga, Wine & Travel. Disclaimer and Website Policies.