Planning on attending the Yi Peng lantern festival? Most people plan their trip around this night for the mass lantern release, and the moment thousands of khom loi drift into the sky at once. But if you fly in, watch the lanterns, and fly out the next morning, you’ve missed almost the entire point of the lantern festival Thailand has built around Yi Peng. The ideal time to arrive is at least two to three days before the main lantern release night, as the festival mood builds for days. This itinerary gives you five proper days in Chiang Mai so you can experience it to the fullest.
Yi Peng Festival Dates and What’s Actually Happening
The Yi Peng Lantern Festival falls on the full moon day of the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar, which usually coincides with the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, so the dates shift by roughly 11 days each year. For 2026, the official Chiang Mai CAD Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival dates are November 24 and 25.
One thing to note is that Yi Peng and Loy Krathong are technically two separate festivals that usually land on the same or overlapping dates. This is also why most people just call the whole thing “the lantern festival” even though it’s really two traditions happening at once. Yi Peng – the sky lantern release – is unique to Chiang Mai, while Loy Krathong, the floating lantern festival, is celebrated nationwide.
Day 1: Arrive, Settle In, and Get Your Bearings in the Old City
Arrive in Chiang Mai, check into your hotel, and spend the afternoon exploring the Old City, where you can visit temples like Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh. Don’t try to do too much today as jet lag plus festival crowds is a rough combination.
Before you land: Sort your connectivity before you touch down. The best eSIM Thailand plan from eSIM Cards activates instantly, so you’ve got maps, ride-hailing apps, and translation tools working the moment you clear arrivals.
In the evening, head to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar for some shopping and to sample local street food. This is also your first proper introduction to the things to do in Thailand that don’t make it onto the festival-specific lists. The night markets here run year-round, but they take on extra energy once decorations start going up around the city in the lead-up to Yi Peng.
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