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🏮 Chiang Mai Yi Peng & Loy Krathong Guide

When Is Yi Peng in Chiang Mai — and Where to See It?

On the full-moon night around November, sky lanterns rise overhead and krathong float down the Ping River. Here's what Yi Peng is, when it happens, where to go — the paid ticketed lantern releases versus the free city-wide celebration — plus how to plan and book, the eco realities, and photography, all on one page.

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Yi Peng Has No Fixed Date —It Moves With the Lunar Calendar

Ever set your heart on the Chiang Mai sky lanterns, booked flights six months out, then arrived to find the festival had just ended — or hadn't started yet? It's the trap people fall into every year, because Yi Peng isn't held on the same date annually — it follows the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, which lands around November but can shift anywhere from late October to early November depending on the year. In Chiang Mai, on that one night you'll see both krathong floating down the Ping River and sky lanterns rising to fill the sky at the same time.

The goal of this guide is to help you time it to the real event — we explain how Yi Peng and Loy Krathong differ, draw a clear line between the paid ticketed lantern releases and the free city-wide celebration, point you to the spots people rate as worth it, walk you through planning and booking, and flag the environmental and lantern-release rules that catch people out.

🏮 Straight up, before anything else: the dates change every year with the lunar calendar, and each event's schedule — especially the paid ticketed releases — can shift. The figures and event names on this page are a planning framework, but before you lock in flights or buy a ticket, always confirm that year's dates and details with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the organisers.
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Set by the Full Moon
The twelfth lunar month, around November — it shifts every year.
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Loy Krathong
Floating krathong on the water, celebrated across Thailand.
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Yi Peng Is the Lanna Side
Releasing sky lanterns — the northern signature of the season.
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Paid vs Free
Ticketed lantern releases (฿฿฿) versus the free city-wide celebration.
What Happens, and When

Chiang Mai Yi PengDay by Day

The main events run over about three nights around the full-moon night of the twelfth lunar month — the real dates shift every year. This is the typical run of activities; use it for the shape of the event, then confirm the actual dates and times for that year with TAT and the city.

WhenTypeMain activityWhereCost
1–2 days before full moonOpeningFreeLantern displays, Tha Phae arches, lantern contests, Lanna performancesTha Phae Gate · old-city moatFree
Full-moon night (main)HighlightFreeFloating krathong on the Ping River, lanterns by the water, city-wide atmospherePing River · Nawarat BridgeFree
Full moon / nearby nightMass lantern releaseTicketedThousands of lanterns released together; includes seating, food, lanternsMae Jo / Sansai (outside town)฿฿–฿฿฿
Following dayGrand paradeFreeBig krathong parade, Nopphamas pageant, street processionTha Phae Road → Tha Phae GateFree
Throughout (evening–late)Walking streetFreeFood and craft markets, lanterns for sale, street musicTha Phae walking street · moatFree (food extra)
📅 How to read the table: if you want the image of thousands of lanterns going up together in one frame, that's the paid ticketed release near Mae Jo — buy a ticket ahead. If you want the free city-wide atmosphere, aim for the full-moon night along the Ping River and around Tha Phae Gate. The real dates and times shift every year, so check that year's announcements before you book flights.
5 Places to See Yi Peng

Where the Lanterns AreMost Worth It

These are the spots people consistently rate as worth it — a mix of the paid ticketed release and the free city-wide ones. Choose by your budget and the atmosphere you're after, and your night falls into place.

Thousands of Yi Peng sky lanterns released together filling the sky in Chiang Mai 🎫 Ticketed1
Mass Lantern Release (ticketed)
Mass Lantern Release · Mae Jo / Sansai

The famous image of thousands of lanterns rising together in a single frame comes from events like these — held at a dedicated venue outside town (around Mae Jo / Sansai), run by several organisers such as CAD Khomloy and Yee Peng Lanna. The ticket bundles seating, food, and lanterns to release, and they sell out months ahead.

📍Location: Around Mae Jo, Sansai district, outside Chiang Mai · ~20–30 min by road
💸Ticket: from a few thousand baht per person upward, depending on organiser and zone (check that year)
🚗Getting there: Organiser shuttle / private Grab or minivan · Chiang Mai has no metro or BTS
💡Tip: Buy only from official organisers and avoid marked-up resellers. Leave early — traffic is heavy this week.
Loy Krathong & Yi Peng across Thailand →
Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai, the hub of the free Yi Peng parades and lantern contests 🆓 Free2
Tha Phae Gate
Tha Phae Gate · Old City

The heart of the free side is here — the plaza in front of Tha Phae Gate is the main stage for parades, lantern contests, the Nopphamas pageant, and Lanna performances, with decorated lantern arches all around the moat. You can wander and shoot photos all night without paying a baht, though it's packed on the main night.

📍Location: Tha Phae Gate, east side of the old-city moat · walkable from the centre
🎉Highlights: Parades, lantern contests, performances, lit arches around the moat
🚶Getting there: Walk from old-city lodging, or a red songthaew (rot daeng, ~฿30–50 pp) · Grab is slow in the traffic
💡Tip: Arrive early evening to claim a good spot before the crush, and keep your bag zipped — it gets shoulder-to-shoulder.
Chiang Mai Old City Guide →
Floating krathong along the Ping River in Chiang Mai on the Yi Peng night 🆓 Free3
The Ping River Banks
Ping River banks · Nawarat Bridge

If you actually want to float a krathong, the Ping River is where it happens. The stretch around Nawarat Bridge and the Iron Bridge draws the biggest crowds for floating krathong and lighting lanterns by the water. Riverside restaurants on both banks let you reserve a table and watch in more comfort. Krathong on the water under lanterns in the sky is Yi Peng at its most genuine.

📍Location: Ping River around Nawarat and the Iron Bridge · east side of town
🪷Highlights: Floating krathong, lanterns by the water, riverside restaurants, fireworks in places
🚶Getting there: ~15-min walk from Tha Phae, or a red songthaew · reserve a riverside table ahead
💡Tip: Choose a natural-material krathong (banana leaf or bread) to cut waste, and watch small children near the bank.
Chiang Mai Travel Guide →
Tha Phae walking street in Chiang Mai during Yi Peng with food stalls and lantern displays 🆓 Free4
Walking Street + Markets
Tha Phae Walking Street · Markets

During Yi Peng the old-city streets turn into a long walking street, lined with northern food, crafts, lanterns and krathong for sale, and street music. You can graze and browse all night — a wallet-friendly way to soak up the atmosphere before or after the main spots.

📍Location: Tha Phae Road and around the old-city moat · streets closed to traffic during the festival
🍢Highlights: Northern food, crafts, lanterns and krathong for sale, street music
🚶Getting there: All on foot · park outside the moat and walk in — it's easier
💡Tip: Carry small cash — most stalls are cash-only — and allow extra time, as the crowd moves slowly.
Chiang Mai Street Food →
An old-city temple in Chiang Mai lit with oil lamps and Lanna lanterns during Yi Peng 🆓 Free5
Old-City Temples
Old City temples · Phan Tao / Phra Singh

The corner people often overlook is the old-city temples. During Yi Peng many light rows of small oil lamps (pang pratip) across their grounds and hang Lanna lanterns — quieter and far more photogenic than the packed spots. Wat Phan Tao, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Chedi Luang come up most often, though which temples take part can change year to year.

📍Location: Temples inside the old-city moat · walkable between them
🕯️Highlights: Rows of oil lamps, Lanna lanterns, a calm atmosphere
🙏Etiquette: Dress modestly, move quietly, keep your voice down, and respect the sacred space
💡Tip: Check which temples are open that year and which night the lamps are lit — timings change.
Chiang Mai Attractions →
Chiang Mai city view at night, a vantage point for lanterns from riverside and rooftop venues 🍽️ Reserve6
Riverside & Rooftop
Riverside & rooftop viewpoints

Want to skip the crush but still see lanterns fill the sky? Reserve a table at a Ping River restaurant or a rooftop bar in town ahead of time, and watch the lanterns rise and the krathong drift from a comfortable seat. Many places run a dedicated Yi Peng set menu and book out fast — a good option if you'd rather take it in slowly.

📍Location: Riverside restaurants on the Ping and rooftops in town · pick one facing the river or open sky
🍽️Highlights: A comfortable seat, clear views of lanterns and krathong, no standing in the crowd
📅Booking: Weeks ahead — riverside tables on the Yi Peng night go first
💡Tip: Ask whether there's a minimum spend or a festival-night set menu so there are no surprises.
Chiang Mai Travel Guide →
Time It to the Real Event

3 Steps toNailing Your Yi Peng Timing

Yi Peng isn't guesswork, but it does mean planning around a lunar date and the type of event you want. Get these three things right and you'll plan far more accurately.

STEP 1
Find That Year's Real Date First

Yi Peng follows the full-moon night of the twelfth lunar month, so it moves every year, around November. Start by confirming the exact date for your year with TAT and Chiang Mai's city authority, then book flights and a hotel. Don't copy last year's dates — they can shift by a week.

STEP 2
Decide Which One You Want

Settle early on whether you want the thousands-of-lanterns-at-once image (the ticketed release near Mae Jo — book ahead, ฿฿–฿฿฿) or the free city-wide atmosphere (Tha Phae plus the Ping River). They're in different places and plan differently. You can do both in one trip if the dates don't clash.

STEP 3
Build in Time and Transport

The festival draws crowds, so traffic is heavy and red songthaews and Grabs get scarce, especially around the moat and the road to Mae Jo. Double your travel time, arrive early, and for the ticketed event use the organiser's shuttle. Chiang Mai has no metro or BTS — everything moves on the roads.

Environment + Etiquette

How to Join Yi PengResponsibly

Lanterns and krathong are beautiful, but they create waste and a fire risk, and releases are controlled by rules on timing and place. Know the basics and you'll enjoy it without causing problems.

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Respect the Airport Rules
Lanterns disrupt flights and force delays or cancellations, so Chiang Mai limits when and where you can release them. Only release during the windows and at the points the authorities allow.
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Mind the Fire Risk
A lantern that comes down still alight can set roofs and dry ground on fire. Release only in open areas away from buildings and power lines, check the wind, and never release if there's a ban in force.
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Choose a Natural Krathong
Use a krathong made of banana leaf, bread, or biodegradable material — avoid foam — to cut the waste left in the Ping River after the festival.
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Carry Your Rubbish Out
Bins fill fast this week. Bring bags, separate your waste, and use designated points — it makes a real difference to the city and the river.
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Respect the Rites and Sites
Yi Peng has roots in belief and ritual. In temples, dress modestly, move quietly, don't climb on or touch ceremonial objects, and ask before photographing people up close.
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Check the Province's Notices Yearly
The rules on releasing lanterns, the timing, and the permitted areas can change each year. Check Chiang Mai province's and TAT's latest announcements before you go, to stay safe and within the law.
Map

Chiang Mai's Yi Peng Spotson One Map

It's easy to see how the free spots cluster in the old city and along the Ping River, while the paid ticketed release sits outside town toward Mae Jo. Plan a single night's route more easily this way.

Prep + Booking

6 Things That Keep Your Yi Peng TripOn Track

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Book 2–4 Months Ahead
The old city and the Ping River sell out fast and hit their highest prices of the year during Yi Peng. Book late and you'll pay more or find nothing. See Chiang Mai hotels.
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Stay Out If You're Late
If the old city is full, stay in Nimman or outside the moat and take a Grab or red songthaew in — cheaper, with more rooms available.
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Choose Free Cancellation
The real festival dates can land 2–3 days off your estimate. Pick refundable rooms so you can adjust once the dates firm up.
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Allow for Traffic
The moat and the Mae Jo road clog up, and red songthaews and Grabs get scarce. Double your travel time and head out early — there's no metro here.
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Get an eSIM Before You Fly
You'll be checking schedules, release points, and Google Maps all night — having data makes it far smoother. Thailand eSIM guide.
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Pack a Layer for the Evening
November is the start of the cool season in the north, and nights turn chilly, especially outside town and by the river. Bring a light layer.
Related Guides

Keep Planning Your Chiang Mai Trip — Festivals, Sights, and Prep

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Loy Krathong & Yi Peng in Thailand

An overview of Loy Krathong and Yi Peng nationwide — where they're held, how they differ, and how to pick the city that fits your style.

Loy Krathong & Yi Peng Guide →
📅

Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai

Seasons, weather, and the key events including Yi Peng — with an honest heads-up about the smoky season (Feb–Apr).

Best Time to Visit →
🏯

Chiang Mai Old City Guide

The moat, Tha Phae Gate, the legendary temples, and how to explore the old city on foot — the base of the free Yi Peng events.

Chiang Mai Old City →
🛕

Full Chiang Mai Travel Guide

Sights, hotels, food, and how to get around — everything about Chiang Mai in one place.

Chiang Mai Guide →
🚗

Getting Around Chiang Mai

Red songthaews, Grab, rented scooters, and walking the old city — vital during the festival when traffic is heavy.

Getting Around Chiang Mai →
ℹ️

Chiang Mai First-Timer Guide

What to know on a first trip — where to stay, getting around, budget, etiquette, and how to sketch out a plan.

First-Timer Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ —Chiang Mai Yi Peng

When are Yi Peng and Loy Krathong held in Chiang Mai?
They fall around November, on the night of the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, so the dates shift every year — some years in late October, some in early November. The city's main events run over the two to three days around the full-moon night. Before you plan, confirm the exact dates for that year with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), because the dates and schedule can change.
What is the difference between Yi Peng and Loy Krathong?
Loy Krathong is the nationwide tradition of floating small decorated rafts (krathong) on the water. Yi Peng is the northern Lanna name for the festival held at the same time, and its signature is releasing khom loi (sky lanterns) into the air. In Chiang Mai both happen together, so on a single night you can float a krathong on the Ping River and watch lanterns fill the sky.
How do the paid ticketed lantern releases differ from the free events?
The paid ticketed mass releases (such as CAD Khomloy and Yee Peng Lanna near Mae Jo / Sansai) release thousands of lanterns together at a dedicated venue, with tickets from a few thousand baht upward that include seating, food, and lanterns. The free celebration is the city-wide one — floating krathong on the Ping River, the parades, and lanterns people light themselves around Tha Phae Gate. There's no ticket, but it's crowded and the lanterns don't go up all at once as a single image.
Where can I see Yi Peng in Chiang Mai for free?
The popular free spots are Tha Phae Gate (parades, lantern contests, performances), the Ping River around Nawarat Bridge and the Iron Bridge (floating krathong and lighting lanterns by the water), the Tha Phae walking street, and the streets around the old-city moat. The atmosphere is lively but extremely crowded, so arrive early in the evening for a good spot and easier walking.
Is releasing sky lanterns illegal, and what about the environmental impact?
Sky-lantern releases are controlled by rules on timing and location, especially near Chiang Mai Airport, because lanterns disrupt flights and force delays or cancellations. You may only release during the windows and at the points the authorities allow. On the environment, lanterns and krathong create waste and a fire risk, so if you take part, choose natural-material lanterns and krathong, release only at designated points, and check the province's latest announcements every year.
How far ahead should I book a hotel for Yi Peng season in Chiang Mai?
Book at least two to four months ahead, especially in the old city and along the Ping River, which sell out fast and hit their highest prices of the year during the festival. If you book late, move out to Nimman or outside the moat and take a Grab or red songthaew in, and choose a free-cancellation room because the actual festival dates can land two to three days off your estimate.
Ready for Yi Peng?

Confirm the Dates
and Book Before It Fills Up

Open the Chiang Mai guide for sights, hotels, and transport, or start searching for a place near the old city and the Ping River early — before Yi Peng prices climb.

📖 Full Chiang Mai Travel Guide 🏨 Search Yi Peng-Season Hotels →
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