Nobody does Songkran better than Thailand 🇹🇭
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
What better place to celebrate Songkran than in Thailand itself? Thailand's annual Songkran Water Festival is one of the biggest celebrations in the country, where you can expect tons of splashing fun from epic water fights, lively parties, temple visits, street parades and more! It is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that you won't get anywhere else.
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
This April, why not plan a visit to Thailand to participate in this iconic Thai festival? The celebrations differ from city to city, so depending on where you're heading, you can expect either modern festivals or traditional activities, or a fun mix of both! So if you're wondering where you can celebrate Songkran in Thailand, keep reading as we break down the top 6 destinations in the country where you can take part in the exciting festivities this year.
What is Songkran?
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
Songkran is held annually by the locals in celebration of the Thai New Year. Celebrations for the national holiday last for 3 days, from April 13 to 15, and takes place all across Thailand. Water plays a major role in the festival and symbolically, it is meant to wash away the previous year to get ready for the next one. This vibrant event brings locals and tourists together to splash each other with water, pay respects to their elders, and usher in the new year with joy and enthusiasm.
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As Songkran approaches, it's good to start planning ahead for your upcoming Thailand trip! Aside from music festivals and water fights, there's also a ton of other fun activities you can explore while you're in this beautiful destination. We're throwing in Songkran-exclusive travel deals to help with your planning – promo codes with savings of at least RM200, up to 50% off discounts, spa flash deals, and more! Discover them all here.
Top 6 places to celebrate Songkran in Thailand
1. Bangkok
Photo credit: Bradley Prentice
You can expect nothing less than lively, vibrant celebrations in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. Discover the best of both traditional and modern festivities here. Make offerings at the temples here, then join in fun cultural activities such as sand pagoda building competitions, floral float parades, boat races, and more!
However, the main event of the festival in Bangkok would definitely be the water fights. The main streets of the city will be filled with crowds of locals and tourists, all gathered to splash water at each other using water guns, buckets and hoses. You can also look forward to other fun activities such as live performances, beauty pageants and food fairs here.
✨ Songkran highlights in Bangkok
- Water fights on the streets and pool parties in hotels
- Sprinkle water on Buddha images at temples, street parades & shopping centres
- EDM festivals and foam parties
- Release birds and fishes at Buddhist temples
📍 Best locations in Bangkok
- Khao San Road
- Silom Road
- Phra Padaeng
- Siam
2. Chiang Mai
Photo credit: Tim Durgan
Many have claimed that Chiang Mai is possibly the best (and wettest) place to celebrate Songkran in Thailand. In this Northern region, celebrations are in full swing across the whole city and last up to a whole week. The festivities here balance fun and spirituality, so if you want to participate in water fights as well as experience the local culture, there's no better place to be.
The celebrations kick off with a procession around the city, where images of Buddha and other religious artefacts are paraded around, offering you a chance to make merit this Thai New Year. Afterwards, you can expect fun cultural performances and rituals, street food and music, as well as lively water fighting zones. Chiang Mai is known for their water fights, so get ready to be drenched if you're exploring the city!
✨ Songkran highlights in Chiang Mai
- Songkran parade of Buddha statues and images
- Water fight zones around the Old City's ancient moat
- Traditional music and traditional dance performances
📍 Best locations in Chiang Mai
- Tha Pae Gate
- Chiang Mai Gate
- Ping River
- Wat Phra Singh
3. Pattaya
Photo credit: Ryutaro Uozumi
Songkran is a festive occasion best celebrated near bodies of water, so you can expect Pattaya and its beautiful beaches to host various fun celebrations during this time, and by fun, we do mean lots of splashing wet parties! It's a week-long festivity in this seaside city, where you can expect full-blown water fights, foam parties, and sand sculpture competitions.
However, the main celebration in Pattaya is a traditional event known as Wan Lai. It falls on the 19th of April, in which you can expect colourful parades, beauty pageants and cultural shows to take place. Water fights still take place during this time, but on a smaller scale.
✨ Songkran highlights in Pattaya
- Songkran parade during Wan Lai
- Water fight zones near the beach and on city streets
- Live music and street food
📍 Best locations in Pattaya
- Beach Road
- Walking Street
- Central Festival Pattaya Beach
4. Phuket
Photo Credit: Mike Swigunski
Take the celebrations up a notch at the lively Phuket, where Songkran feels like a city-wide party. The water fights begin on the streets of Phuket old town early in the morning, lasting up until nighttime as the celebrations end in a full-scale water war zone across the city, on its famous streets and beaches. Many beach clubs and bars would host parties, with live music and DJs providing entertainment into the night.
Songkran culture and traditions are also prominent here, where many would visit the local temples to make merit and take part in special ceremonies. Afterwards, you can catch lively cultural performances, as well as attend festive street parades and beauty pageants.
✨ Songkran highlights in Phuket
- Beach parties and water fights
- Offer food to monks and release fishes at Buddhist temples
- Miss Songkran beauty pageant
📍 Best locations in Phuket
- Patong Beach
- Bangla Road
- Wat Chalong
- Wat Pho
5. Khon Kaen
Photo credit: Anantachai Saothong
In Northeast Thailand is the city of Khon Kaen, where the Songkran festival lasts for five days, from April 12th to 16th. During this period, exciting events and activities take place throughout the city, including the main parade that takes place on the first day of the festival, featuring traditional dance performances, music, and colourful floats that showcase the local culture and traditions. There are also beauty pageants, talent shows, and other cultural events that take place throughout the festival.
✨ Songkran highlights in Khon Kaen
- Songkran parade on the first day
- Live music and street parties
- Thai food vendors and traditional Thai games at local markets
📍 Best locations in Khon Kaen
- Bueng Kaen Nakhon
- Khon Kaen Walking Street
- Wat Nong Wang
6. Koh Samui
Photo credit: Anthony Delanoix
Known for its beautiful beaches, lively nightlife, and rich cultural heritage, you can expect that Songkran celebrations in Koh Samui offer a blend of traditional culture and fun beach activities. It's also the perfect destination if you're looking for fun beach parties that are a little less intense than the ones in Phuket or Pattaya.
You can find a majority of the water fights taking place on the beaches here. Locals and visitors alike participate in these water fights, out with the mission to drench each other in water, and the beaches will be filled with people dancing, singing, and having fun, making for a truly lively and festive atmosphere.
✨ Songkran highlights in Koh Samui
- Beach and pool parties with DJs and foam
- Family-friendly water fights
- Traditional music and traditional dance performances
📍 Best locations in Koh Samui
- Chaweng Beach
- Lamai Beach
- Fisherman's Village
Ready to join the Songkran celebrations?
Join in the splashing fun of Songkran this year! From epic water fights and lively parties, to temple visits and street parades, this annual event celebrated in Thailand is a one-of-a-kind experience that you won't want to miss out on. We hope you're as excited as we are, because we're throwing in additional promo codes, flash deals and up to 50% discounts off all Thailand activities! Get your water pistols ready and hit the road! 🔫 🚗
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