Loy Krathong - best place to go watch?

Where are the %26#39;must see%26#39; places in Chiang Mai during the Loy Krathong festival?

I%26#39;ve been told the monestary near the Maejo University has an amazing display of hundreds of large lanterns. Does anyone have any more details on this, or other places around the city?

Loy Krathong - best place to go watch?

Loy Krathong is best seen at the waterside (why not join in?), as the basic festival is floating a kratong away on the water. Lanterns are a northern addition to te festival which has begun to spread to other areas and is very pretty to watch.

Loy Krathong - best place to go watch?

We%26#39;re considering staying at the Puripunn Baby Grand which is next to the Ping River, would this be a good spot?

Good point re hotel vantage points for the festival.

We are there for the celebrations this yeat and haven%26#39;t booked yet so any suggestions for accommodation would be appreciated.

Anywhere along the river is good. Along the east side is where many of the restaurants and bars are located. They will all be packed. Narawat Bridge is by far the craziest location with many fireworks.

The Puripunn Baby Grand is near to the action but a couple of blocks away.

The monastery in Maejo has an amazing display but because so many people go there it takes a while to get in and then get out of Maejo. Last year they actually had the event a few days before Loy Krathong on a Saturday. Not sure of this year%26#39;s schedule.

Thapae Gate is the other busy area. Lots of bars and drinking.

Hi,

Yes, the Loi Krathong Lantern at Mae Jo is amazing. I don%26#39;t know the exact date for this year yet. The Loi Krathong or Yi Peng Festival will be held around 02 November (02 November is the full moon).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cz5qCugX4s (nice video)

Here you will see the 10 000 lantern released into the sky. Otherwise just type Mae Jo Loi Krathong Festival on You Tube.

Tony

We were in Chiang Mai for Loy Krathong in Nov 2008 - it was really spectacular. Because the festival goes on over several days you can see different things each night. As well as the display at Mae Jo, which kicks things off, there are events all over the city. Lots of colourful lanterns and food stalls just outside the Tae Pae Gate. And keep an eye out for the colourful hot air balloons released during the day. But the liveliest spot as mentioned above is at the Narawat Bridge. You will be able to buy your Krathong from one of the stalls there and float it in the river, and there are lots of people selling the large paper lanterns to release into the air. It is however, pretty crazy with fireworks being let off left, right and centre. Undeniably exciting though and we wouldn%26#39;t have missed it for anything.

In view of the crowds and the noise I%26#39;d think twice about staying near this part of the river - although it seemed quieter a bit downstream. We stayed in the old city which was, in comparison a haven of peace and quiet to come back to.

We were there last year for Loy Krathong and would love to do it again.. it is an amazing festival in a wonderful city!

we stayed in the old city... and walked down to the river.. not far at all and as there is so much going on it is an interesting walk..

I am not sure I would want to stay right on the river just due to the noise ect.. but that is personal choice..

There are plenty of stalls set up to buy Krathongs to light and send down the river.. really be apart of it.. we also brought giant lanterns and let them go off the bridge... but if you are wanting to do this.. they are much cheaper to buy further away from the bridge area.. :)

If you are wanting to eat dinner at any of the riverside restaurants best to book ahead... we didnt and everywhere was fully booked out when we arrived.... enjoy

Chelle

Thanks for the tips all!

Chelle you mention booking restaurants - any recommendations for ones with good views/locations for the all the festivities?

We%26#39;ll be arriving in Chiang Mai Thursday 29th October and departing Wednesday 4th November, so hopefully we%26#39;ll catch the display at Maejo.

In regards to hotels, I%26#39;ve narrowed my selection to: Puripunn, Rachamankha and the De Naga.

1big daddy you mention the Puripunn is a couple of blocks from the action, would the Rachamankha or De Naga be better?

I%26#39;m looking to propose to my girlfriend during this trip and I%26#39;m debating between 4 options, so if you lot don%26#39;t mind I%26#39;d appreciate any ideas/comments :)

1) On the beach/other small island during our stay at the Layana Resort in Koh Lanta

2) Hot air balloon flight over Chiang Mai

3) During the Loy Krathong festivities (maybe at Maejo?)

4) At the Vertigo restaurant ontop of the Banyan Tree Hotel in Bangkok, the night before we fly back.

Thanks for all the replies so far, it%26#39;s really helping me to make sure I%26#39;ve thought everything through.

Rachamankha and DeNaga are both inside the moat. DeNaga is close to Thapae Gate and Rachamankha is near the far side of town. It is not far to walk from Thapae Gate to the river. You would probably have to taxi it from the Rachamankha. All in all it is probably safe to say that any hotel or boutique hotel you stay at in town will be nice and you can get down to the river but might have to walk a few blocks to get out.

On the river it is crazy till about 3 or 4 in the morning, sometimes later.

Another nice video about the 10 000 Large Lanterns released at Mae Jo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIWOk7SMQ0w

I hope to find out the date for you.

Tony

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