flygirl

Hello

I will be lucky enough to see Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai. In order to attend the lantern festival, any tips? is this an event with a gate/tickets needed, or do you just wander in and out as you please, or how does that work?

Thank you!

rhkkmk

no, it's all outdoors

Kathie

It's a religious celebration, no gate, no tickets. It's lovely no matter where you are in Thailand. We try to be in Bangkok for it.

Smeagol

LK is FABULOUS in CM, I think even better than Bangkok. Lucky you

flygirl

Thank you everyone.

LancasterLad

I don't think you've really got the answer that you're after.
The TA Chiang Mai forum is your best place.

Smeagol

FG, I think Kathie has answered perfectly succinctly, you will see floats and lovely lantern lighting along the Ping River in CM. they also have great food stalls at night and usually some Thai singing and Dancing. You won't be able to miss it if you walk around the old town.... See, you didn't need to go over to T A for that.

flygirl

Thank you!

I just learned that the lantern festival is different. And this is what it says on TA:

"Yee Ping Lanna (aka Mae Jo "tourist" event) is a made for tourists recreation of the Lanna Khatina Ceremony, which unfortunately was poorly named leading to confusion (it is NOT Yee Ping). Admission to this event is by ticket only, with only a limited number of spaces available and a $100 plus price tag. It follows the format of the religious ceremony culminating with the mass balloon launch, though not as many as the original."

Hmmm so I may need to get tickets in order to see this? I guess I need to find out when the Lanna Khatina ceremony will be although as I've seen photos on Instagram I may have my answer there.

flygirl

ps. Smeagol, thank you. I will be wandering a lot in those days for certain.

Is there a specific day that would be the best, to your knowledge? I am there all three nights as luck would have it. And on the 6th itself I was invited to dinner by local friends of friends, but it would be down the river and out of town. On the 6th, if I join them, I will not be at the festivities at all. But just on that one night.

flygirl

OK, I have sorted it out now in reading more of TA. It follows what Smeagol said, too.

The festival last week was not actually Yi Ping. It was outside of town and wasn't part of the official festivities. There will be a tourist remake on Nov 8 but I won't be there that evening, so regardless, that answers that question.

There will be plenty of floaty boats and lanterns all over the place for me to see as I wander around.

I guess my last question then will be:

I am there all three nights. <b>Is November 6 such a stellar night, unlike the two others, that I should STAY IN TOWN to see it, or, should I join friends of friends to have dinner outside of town on the river?</b> I was told the chosen restaurant is fantastic, one of the best around (word of mouth you understand, I haven't been there).

Thank you!

LancasterLad

I'd go for Nong Khai.
Much smaller, less crowded, less touristy, friendlier and more intimate.
And it's on the mighty Meekong.

internetwiz

I was in Chiang Mai last year for Loi Krathong. I'm not sure you can make reservations for dinner that night, as I tried. We preferred walking around near Old Town, rather than being by the river. Everything is extremely crowded, but by the river it was even worse. We were able to eat at Aroon Thai, right near Thapae Gate, which had some delicious things, but it's a borderline dive.

Have fun, whatever you decide.

flygirl

Hi

My friends-of-friends are going to be dining out of town that night. If I join them I would be leaving CM probably by late afternoon in order to get out of town.

They already have their rez, and I would join them. Or not.

sartoric

I'm in Chiang Mai now, today local news reported that 50 flights from CM airport have been cancelled on 6 November due to lantern hazard to aircraft.

sartoric

Sorry, my previous post has no relevance to your OP. It does matter to anyone expecting to fly...

lauren_s_kahn

I am also in Chiang Mai right now and will be here through the end of December. I have a good friend here and I am visiting her but renting a studio in Hillside 3.

You can read my blog for details on my trip:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...-thailand.html

Today I went shopping for material for some shorts and tops and a silk dress. Tomorrow to the tailor! In the evening we will watch the lantern release. My girlfriend has arranged all.

lauren_s_kahn

Went to the Loy Krathong parade last night. We went down to the Thae Phae gate and ate at a pizza place which gave us decent seats. We did not stay for the entire parade as the floats were all similar after awhile--young men and women (especially women) in gorgeous Thai traditional costumes, flots with dragons, etc. We watched for about 1 1/2 hours. My friend was definitely glad to leave as she lives here and has seen it before. We then wandered down to the river and watched people setting off the hot air balloon lanterns. Some were getting stuck in trees (which is one of the reasons why the government makes a big fuss about where you are allowed to launch the lanterns) which is a fire hazard. Lots were being sent skyward by foreigners.

The big so-called foreigner launch is tonight. No, I am not paying. My friend and I are going to some overlook to watch it. You only have to pay if you go to the temple. You will see plenty of the lanterns wherever you are.

lauren_s_kahn

We had a great time at the foreigner launch. There was a large gang so a songthaew was chartered and we brought a picnic. I'll put all the photos up on my blog after I get back to the US in January.