Chiang Mai Lantern Festival: Is It Worth It? An Honest Guide

The Chiang Mai Lantern Festival is one of the most photogenic and talked-about events in Thailand.

You’ve probably seen the videos, thousands of glowing lanterns drifting into the sky, crowds cheering beneath a warm, golden glow. It looks nothing short of pure magic. 

But is it really like that? And is it actually worth it?

The short answer is: not really. If you’re travelling to Chiang Mai just to experience the Lantern Festival, we’d honestly say it’s probably not worth the trip on its own.

However, if you’re already planning to explore more of the region, then maybe it’s worth including in your itinerary with some caveats. 

As travel photographers, we were drawn to the Yi Peng Festival with hopes of capturing something beautiful, a spiritual, local celebration. 

But what we experienced was something entirely different. 

When we attend in November 2024, It was chaotic, dangerous in places and at times felt more like a poorly managed street party than a meaningful cultural event. 

Still, parts of it like the Loi Krathong parade were genuinely lovely and worth seeing.

In this guide, we’re sharing our honest take on the lantern festival in Chiang Mai, the highs, the lows and the reality few people talk about. 

You’ll find a breakdown of the two overlapping festivals (Yi Peng and Loi Krathong), a look at the environmental and safety concerns, you’ll know exactly what to expect, better ways to take part if you still want to go and our thoughts on whether it’s really worth your time.

Spoiler: it depends on what you’re hoping for and how much you’re willing to overlook to get “the shot.”

What is the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival?

When we learnt about the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival, it wasn’t through words, it was through perfect Instagram photos.

They were dreamy. Golden lights floating into the night sky, couples holding hands under a glowing canopy, captions full of words like “magical” and “life-changing.” It looked unreal, like something out of a movie. We saved the posts, added it to our bucket list, and assumed it was some ancient, deeply spiritual Thai tradition.

But the truth? We had no idea what the festival actually was, how it started, what it meant, or how much of it was shaped for tourists like us.

The Chiang Mai Lantern Festival is actually a combination of two traditional Thai festivals: Yi Peng (also spelled Yee Peng) and Loi Krathong. 

They’re celebrated side by side each year in Chiang Mai, creating what many visitors know as the “floating lantern festival” or sky lantern festival, even though the reality is a little more layered than that.

The event usually takes place in November, aligning with the full moon of the second month in the Lanna lunar calendar. In 2025, it’s expected to be held on 5–6 November but the exact dates change year to year. 

Although it’s often promoted as a spiritual and serene celebration, especially in travel photos, the modern version, particularly the mass lantern release, has taken on a life of its own.

Yi Peng vs Loi Krathong – What’s the Difference?

So, here’s the thing: when people talk about the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival, they’re usually referring to two festivals happening at the same time, Yi Peng and Loi Krathong. And yes, they both involve lanterns, but they’re actually quite different.

Yi Peng (also spelled Yee Peng) is all about those floating sky lanterns,  the ones you’ve seen lighting up the night sky in dreamy Instagram videos. It’s a northern Thai festival with roots in Lanna culture and it’s celebrated during the full moon of the second month in the Lanna lunar calendar, usually November.

Traditionally, locals would gather at temples, light their lanterns and release them into the sky as a way of letting go of bad luck and making wishes for the year ahead. It was peaceful, spiritual and deeply meaningful and often in very small communities. 

But here’s what most people don’t realise:

 The big mass lantern releases you see now in Chiang Mai? They didn’t start in the city. 

They actually came from small farming communities, where the whole thing was much more low-key and rooted in local life. It was only later that the lantern release became a tourist event, brought into Chiang Mai and built up to attract visitors.

So while it feels like a centuries-old city-wide tradition, the version most travellers see today is actually quite new, and not really how it’s meant to be celebrated.

Then there’s Loi Krathong, which happens at the same time and is celebrated all over Thailand. Instead of sky lanterns, people float little decorated baskets (called krathongs) on rivers, lakes, or ponds.

These are made from banana leaves, flowers and candles and they’re meant to honour the goddess of water, as well as let go of negativity or say sorry for any harm caused to nature.So while people often bundle them together as “the lantern festival,”

Yi Peng is the sky bit, Loi Krathong is the water bit.

Is the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival Free?

Yes, the general celebrations in Chiang Mai’s Old Town are free to attend. You can walk around, soak up the atmosphere, and watch the performances and parade without paying anything.

However, if you want to attend an organised lantern release at a private venue, you’ll need to buy a ticket and those can range anywhere from around £50 to over £150, depending on the package

Our Honest Experience

We’d wanted to go to the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival for years. As travel photographers, it felt like a dream, glowing sky lanterns, reflections on the river, traditional celebrations… all the things you see in those stunning photos online.

We read loads of blog posts beforehand and most of them said the same thing: you don’t need to buy a ticket,  just head into the city and join in. So that’s what we did.

On the night, we made our way towards Tha Phae Gate, which was buzzing with people. There were colourful lights in the shop windows, music playing and a big stage set up with performances and some kind of contest.

The atmosphere felt exciting at first, like a proper celebration. But as we walked past the main gate and headed towards the river, things quickly started to feel a bit… off.

People were releasing lanterns right there on the streets. No designated launch areas, no guidance, just crowds of people lighting lanterns wherever they could. We saw locals selling both sky lanterns and krathongs and loads of tourists trying to figure out how to use them.

It was chaotic.

The problem was that most people didn’t really know what they were doing, lanterns were floating halfway up, then getting caught in trees, crashing into power lines, or falling back down into the crowd. One even skimmed a man’s head right in front of us and that’s when we really started to feel uneasy. 

There were lanterns on fire on the ground and people were pouring water over them to stop them spreading. Two fire engines turned up during the evening honking their horns, it was surreal. 

Honestly, I was on edge the whole night. I kept looking up, worried another flaming lantern was going to land on someone, or on us. It just wasn’t what we’d imagined at all.

That said, not everything was awful.

The streets were lined with food stalls and the energy was high, in that slightly chaotic, festival-ish way.

But the real highlight? Seeing monks lighting candles outside the temples.

We stepped inside one temple, wrote our wishes on a small lantern and a monk lit it for us. We left a donation and hung it up with the others. That moment actually felt more meaningful and special and it was by far the best part of the whole experience.

But outside that calm little corner? It was a completely different story. Fireworks going off in the streets, crackers exploding right next to us and lanterns falling out of the sky. We couldn’t relax and honestly, it left us feeling very conflicted. 

Why had noone ever shown this side of it?

As we walked back through the crowds, we couldn’t help but wonder what damage all those lanterns had done to the trees, the rooftops and especially to the rivers and local wildlife.

That said, this isn’t about judging anyone. At the end of the day, locals were selling the lanterns and everyone was just joining in, swept up in the excitement. . But for us, it just felt a bit off.

What we loved

Despite the chaos, there were a few parts of the festival that we genuinely enjoyed, moments that felt authentic and not like you were about to go up in a ball of flames at any second.

Here are the things that stood out to us the most.👇

Watching Monks Light Candles and lighting our Hanging lanterns

This was hands-down our favourite part of the entire evening.

Tucked away from the busy streets, the temple grounds offered something different.

We watched as monks lit rows of candles in the dark, creating a soft, golden glow that felt peaceful and grounding. We also had the chance to take part in a small ritual ourselves, we wrote a wish on a paper lantern and a monk lit it for us. We left a donation in the box and hung our colourful lantern alongside the others.

It felt special. Simple, but full of intention. And in that moment, away from the noise and the firecrackers, we were reminded why we’d come in the first place.

There were lots of temples along the streets that were doing this so you’ll easily be able to find a little spot and have your own moment of calm.

The Loy Krathong Grand Parade

The parade was honestly incredible and completely exceeded our expectations. Held on the final night of the celebrations, it brought together people from all over the world. 

There were Thai dancers in traditional costume, Chinese dragon performances and even Thai officials walking in the procession. The music was loud, the floats were vibrant, and the whole street was lined with people watching, cheering and clapping as each group passed by.

It went on for hours, but in the best way. The atmosphere was buzzing, and everyone was in such high spirits!

 And what really stood out to us was how meaningful it felt, seeing different cultures coming together like that. We also managed to get some amazing photographs of the performers, which was a huge bonus.

The food stalls

As with most festivals in Thailand, the food scene didn’t disappoint. The streets were lined with food stalls, sizzling with everything from grilled meats and tofu to mango sticky rice (Steffans’ firm favourite!) and bubble tea. There were also some amazing ice cream vendors dotted around and some trinket stalls if you want a souvenir!

Plus all the cafes and restaurants that lined the streets opened up their doors for you to sit and have a drink as you watched the parade and use the loos (much appreciated!)

Pretty lights and lanterns in shop windows

One of the things we really liked was the way shops and cafés decorated their windows with lanterns and lights. It added a really lovely glow to the streets, especially early in the evening before things got too intense.

It’s those little touches that often go unnoticed, but they’re part of what makes Chiang Mai so charming at this time of year and felt a lot like Christmas with all its sparkles and twinkles.

Why We Don’t Recommend It

Even though there were parts of the festival we really enjoyed, we don’t recommend taking part in the lantern release itself.

The lantern release aspect really didn’t sit right with us. Here’s what it was like and why we think it’s worth thinking twice before getting involved.

It’s Technically Illegal in the City Centre (which is where they are released!)

We were surprised to learn that releasing sky lanterns in Chiang Mai’s city centre is actually prohibited due to safety concerns, especially considering the proximity to the airport and residential areas.

However, these rules often go unenforced. We didn’t see any signs or official warnings during our visit and it was only after speaking with locals that we became aware of the restrictions.

How the locals feel (our viral reel)

Not long after the festival, we shared a reel on social media showcasing the reality of the festival, including scenes of lanterns causing fires and dropping from the skies!

Despite my misspelling the festival name in yellow bold letter for all to see, the reel went viral, garnering a huge 6.1 million views.

The response from Thai locals was overwhelming and seriously eye-opening. Many expressed their frustration and sadness about the festival’s impact.

They shared stories of homes and farmland damaged by stray lanterns, pets injured or frightened and a general sense of disruption to their lives. This feedback gave us a new perspective on the festival’s consequences for the local community and reaffirmed our gut feeling that taking part really wasn’t the best thing to do.

It felt dangerous

During our experience, the festival felt chaotic and unsafe. We witnessed lanterns getting caught in trees, crashing into power lines and even one skimming a man’s head!!

Some lanterns caught fire on the ground, prompting people to pour water over them to prevent the flames from spreading.

We saw two fire engines driving through the huge crowds that evening. The anxiety-inducing combination of uncontrolled half-lit lanterns going off in every direction and fireworks created an environment where we were constantly on edge.

It’s bad for the environment

Sky lanterns are often made with materials that are not fully biodegradable, such as metal wires and wax components. Once released, these lanterns can end up littering the countryside, rivers and oceans, posing threats to wildlife and contributing to pollution.

The environmental impact contradicts the festival’s original intent of paying respect to nature and seeking renewal which further confirms that it should never have escalated to this level and these types of numbers.

We’re not perfect and we make mistakes but where we can, we always try and make responsible choices in our lives to not negatively affect the planet and not releasing lanterns is an easy win.

It’s more tourist driven than tradition

The mass lantern release in Chiang Mai is a relatively recent development, introduced primarily to attract tourists. Traditionally, lantern releases were small, community-based events in rural areas. There are so many issues around the huge numbers of lanterns being released that are reported on year in year out by Thai media.

Our viral reel

You can see our reel below, complete with spelling mistakes and the many many comments from Thai people sharing their stories and experiences of the festival.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Steffan & Emma | All Things Photography & Travel (@inwanderment)

Can you still take part responsibly?

If you’re still keen to experience the magic of the lantern festival in Chiang Mai but want to do it in a more respectful and safer way, here are some alternatives to consider:

Attend an Official Event at a Private Venue

For a more controlled and environmentally conscious experience, consider attending an official event like the Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival. These events are held at private venues with proper safety measures and cleanup crews in place.

Tickets typically include transportation, dinner and cultural performances. Prices vary depending on the package, ranging from standard to VIP options.

However, it’s important to note that while these events are more organised, they still involve releasing lanterns into the environment. Despite the controlled setting, the lanterns can drift unpredictably, potentially causing harm to wildlife and contributing to pollution.

It might be safer but it’s not necessarily more environmentally friendly.

Donate at temples and hang a lantern

If you’re looking for a more peaceful and meaningful experience, visit a local temple during the festival. You can participate by writing a wish on a lantern and hanging it up, as we did. This not only respects the traditional practices but also supports the local community through donations.

Watch the loy krathong parade

The Loy Krathong parade was our absolute favourite part of the whole thing! It’s a great way to immerse yourself in Thai traditions without contributing to the environmental concerns associated with sky lanterns.

We found the parade to be one of the most enjoyable parts of the festival, filled with music, dance and beautifully decorated floats. And the atmosphere was buzzing!

Visit small villages for an authentic Experience

For a more authentic and less tourist-driven experience, consider visiting smaller villages outside of Chiang Mai. In these communities, you might witness traditional lantern releases that are more in line with the original customs. However, these events are rare and often not advertised, so it’s best to research and plan ahead if you’re interested in this option.

Getting “the shot” vs doing the right thing

As travel photographers, we totally get the desire to capture that incredible moment.

The glowing lanterns drifting into the night sky, the reflections on the water, the dreamy light. It’s the kind of photo you dream of taking. And for years, that was us. We wanted to experience the magic, tell the story through our images and come home with something beautiful to share. A magical photograph of me smiling whilst I released a lantern into the night sky.

But here’s the thing: there’s a bigger story behind the shot and not enough people are talking about it.

We’ve seen so many stunning photos and videos online, but barely anyone mentions the chaos going on behind the lens. No one talks about the fires, the damage to homes and farmland, the fear from locals, or the environmental toll. And to be honest, that silence feels like part of the problem.

We’re not here to shame anyone, we considered releasing a lantern ourselves. And we got a few lovely photos of the event.

But once we saw it all up close, we knew we couldn’t just ignore what was happening around us and we had to share the reality.

The truth is, we won’t compromise our values for the sake of a photo.

Not if it means supporting something that’s illegal, that causes harm to wildlife, that puts people’s homes at risk, or that contributes to irresponsible travel.

And the frustrating part? Most people genuinely don’t know.

There were no signs, no information and nothing to suggest the scale of the damage until we started asking questions and hearing from local people directly.

That’s exactly why we’re writing this post. Not to lecture or judge, but to open up the conversation and help others see the full picture.

We believe in travel photography with purpose, documenting places honestly, sharing the beauty without glossing over the realities and being part of a more conscious way of exploring the world. Sometimes that means not getting the shot. 

And this? This was one of those times where we felt it was more important to speak up than to stay silent.

Other Thai Festivals worth your time

If you’re drawn to festivals for their colour, culture and photography potential, good news. Thailand is full of celebrations that are just as lively (and in many cases, more meaningful), without the complications that come with the mass lantern release in Chiang Mai.

Here are a few that we genuinely recommend and have on our own bucket list!👇

Songkran (Thai new year) April

Songkran is one of the most well-known festivals in Thailand and honestly, it’s such a fun one to be part of. We’ve taken part twice, once in Bangkok and once in Kanchanaburi and both times were absolutely brilliant.

But if we had to pick? Kanchanaburi was our favourite. It felt more local, less hectic and just full of genuine joy. There were fewer tourists, but loads of friendly locals and we felt completely welcomed by the community.

The festival marks the Thai New Year and is all about washing away bad luck and starting fresh which is symbolised by, well, throwing water at everyone.

Buckets, water pistols, hoses… anything goes. Everyone’s just there to have fun and there’s something really lovely about seeing complete strangers laugh, splash each other and act like kids for a few days.

If you’re after amazing street photography opportunities and a truly unforgettable experience, Songkran delivers. Just don’t forget a waterproof casing for your camera!

Phuket Vegetarian festival (September- October)

If you’re interested in photographing unique cultural rituals, the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket sounds like an intense, fascinating experience. Participants (called “mediums”) undergo physical endurance rituals like walking over hot coals or piercing their cheeks in a spiritual ceremony of purification. 

We haven’t been yet but its firmly in our calendar for 2026!!

Phi Ta Khon – Ghost Festival (June–July)

This festival takes place in Dan Sai, a small town in the north-east of Thailand and it’s perfect if you’re looking for something completely different. 

Locals dress in handmade ghost masks, wear bright costumes and parade through the streets to call on spirits and bring good luck to the community.

It sounds like a fantastic opportunity to experience a festival that’s still genuinely for the locals. Another one that’s one our bucket list for when we return to Thailand!

Other Amazing things to do in chiang mai

If you’re skipping the lantern release but still planning a visit to Chiang Mai, good choice.

This city has so much more to offer, especially for photographers and slow travellers who love culture, nature and getting a bit off the beaten path. Here are a few of our favourite things to do while you’re there and some of our favourite photo spots.

Doi Inthanon National Park

This is hands down one of the best places to get out into nature. Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand and the national park that surrounds it is packed with lush jungle, waterfalls, rice terraces and viewpoints that are perfect for sunrise. It’s a great day trip from the city (or an overnight stay if you fancy exploring longer) and an absolute dream if you love landscape photography.

Visit Chiang Mai’s Temples

You really can’t visit Chiang Mai without exploring at least a few of its stunning temples. Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang are right in the Old Town, and both are beautiful, especially in the soft morning or golden hour light.

For something more dramatic, head up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, perched on a hill overlooking the city. It’s our one regret when visiting Chiang Mai, that we didnt make it to this epic temple but its on our list for when we go back!

Visit a hands-off ethical elephant sanctuary

There are still way too many unethical animal attractions in Thailand, but Chiang Mai is also home to some fantastic sanctuaries doing things the right way.

Look for places that offer no riding, no bathing and allow elephants to live as naturally as possible and focus on education and conservation. Spending a day learning about these amazing animals (and photographing them in a peaceful, non-exploitative setting) is something we really recommend. We spent a whole day at Chang Chill and HIGHLY recommend it!

Hire a car and head north

One of the best things you can do from Chiang Mai is rent a car and go exploring. We know everyone will tell you to go to Pai, but we don’t it…..it’s become really touristy and no longer feels like the hidden gem it once was. So, when you’re planning your North Thailand itinerary, we suggest heading to places like:👇

• Phu Chi Fa – right on the border with Laos, it has jaw-dropping sunrise views over a sea of mist and barely any crowds.

• Mae Salong – a peaceful hilltop village with Chinese tea plantations, winding mountain roads and stunning views. Perfect for slow travel.

• The Floating Pagodas in Lampang – A little out of the main tourist route but it’s so incredibly worth it! Temple pieces on top of a mountain surrounded by the most amazing views!

Final thoughts on the chiang mai lantern festival

The Chiang Mai Lantern Festival is one of those events that looks absolutely magical online, and we can totally see why so many people are drawn to it. We were too. 

As travel photographers, it had been on our list for years. But after experiencing it for ourselves and hearing what local people had to say, we just can’t recommend it in good conscience.

That’s not to say there isn’t beauty or meaning to be found, there is and it wasn’t all bad. 

The temple moments, the parade, the lights across the city… those parts were genuinely lovely.

 But the reality of the mass sky lantern release, the safety issues, the environmental damage and the impact on the local community made it really hard to enjoy.

This post isn’t about guilt or judgement. Most people just don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, we certainly didn’t until we were there. 

But if we want to travel more consciously, then sometimes we have to stop and ask the uncomfortable questions. 

Where does that lantern end up? Who’s cleaning it up? Who’s affected by the fire or the noise or the debris?

There are so many other ways to experience Thailand’s culture through responsible festivals, ethical travel and simply slowing down and spending time in places that still feel real and connected.

So, is the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival worth it?

For us, the honest answer is no.

But the good news is: Thailand has so much more to offer and you don’t need to set the sky on fire to find the magic.