Wanderworld

I’ve always found beautiful lights magical. Those who know me well enough know that I go gaga over anything that delightgfully lights up the sky – fireworks, fireflies, dancing lights, etc.

And yes, I would go to great lengths just to get to places where I can enjoy such spectacle, like our HK Disneyland trip which included the amazing fireworks show over the Disney castle, my Singapore birthday getaway which included a visit to Gardens by the Bay, our firefly watching adventure in Donsol and more.

But perhaps the most magical experience I’ve had so far is the enchanting Yee Peng lantern festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which was the second leg of our Indochina trip.

Your Own Tangled Moment

Any girl (young and old) who’s watched Disney’s “Tangled” probably loved the scene with the lanterns flying around as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider were singing “I See the Light.” That enchanting scene comes to life in Chiang Mai’s annual Yee Peng Lanna festival.

The lantern festival offers an exceptional sight of thousands of floating lanterns in the sky, creating thrilling scenery before your eyes. The sky lanterns charmingly fly toward the full moon, literally brightening up the night.

However, it’s not right to reduce Chiang Mai’s annual festival to just a “Tangled” moment. Attending the festival is more than just enjoying the mesmerizing display of lights; it’s actually an opportunity to soak up Thailand’s culture and faith and celebrate them with the people.

What is Yee Peng/Yi Peng?

Yee Peng, also referred to as Yi Peng, is an annual festival celebrated along with Loy Kratong (or Loi Kratong) in different parts of Thailand. The festival is usually held in November, during the “full moon of the twelfth month in the Thai Lunar Calendar.”

During both festivals, various Thailand cities glimmer with different kinds of lanterns hung in houses and establishments as well as the glowing loi kratong (lotus-shaped receptacles) floating on the rivers. Interestingly, before the lanterns and loi kratong are released, you get to make a wish.

when we got to the hotel after the event, there was a loi kratong waiting for us at our doorstep 🙂

releasing the loi kratong on Mae Ping river, at the back of our hotel

How to Attend Yee Peng Festival in Chiang Mai

Yee Peng festival is celebrated all over Thailand, but the main lantern release takes place in Maejo University in Chiang Mai. In the previous years, there were two lantern releases in Maejo, one for the locals which is free, and one for tourists, which requires tickets, the cheapest price of which is US$100.

Tourists used to join the free event for obvious reasons, but since 2015, it was announced that there would only be one lantern release moving forward. There will no longer be a mass release of lanterns in the free event, and those who wish to enjoy the spectacle are required to buy tickets for the paid event, which is designed for tourists.

For this year, the Yi Peng 2016 lantern festival is scheduled on November 14.

Where to Buy Tickets

As far as I know, there are only two ways for you to buy Yi Peng festival tickets in advance without having to fly to Thailand: through the official website for the event and from one of the Chiang Mai hotels which sells tickets online, from which we bought ours for the 2015 festival.

On the other hand, for Yee Peng 2016, the Chiang Mai hotel sold tickets early this year, in March, and it’s highly possible that everything is already sold out. Unlike last year, 2016 tickets were sold with a tour package, which includes transportation to the event.

The hotel confirms the purchase via email, and they deliver the tickets to your hotel in Chiang Mai. If you’re interested to know which Chiang Mai hotel I’m talking about, pls. send me a message. 🙂

Alternatively, you can search on Google for Yee Peng packages in Chiang Mai. Some travel agencies offer tour packages which include tickets for the lantern festival.

Our Experience + Yi Peng Tips

The lantern festival was not on my travel bucket list, unlike most Yi Peng attendees. It was mostly my friend Dee’s, but I decided to tag along because as I mentioned, I’m a sucker for magical lights. 😀

Though that’s the case, our Yee Peng adventure is one of my most memorable trips, not only because of the extraordinary experience and sights, but because of the major hurdles we had to go through just to attend the famous festival. 😀

Tip #1: Know the festival schedule for the year and book tickets early!

This is the most important thing you have to remember. The exact date of the lantern release isn’t usually announced until the festival’s only a couple of days away, which is why most people fail to buy tickets. It seems like that trend is changing though, because for 2016, the festival schedule was announced as early as March, and tickets were also pre-sold.

Last year, I felt the urge to look up Yi Peng tickets in early September even if our original plan was to buy tickets around two weeks before the actual event. It was then that I discovered that most of the tickets have been sold, which sent me and Dee into a panic. Fortunately though, I was able to score two of the remaining tickets online. 😀

If you’re planning to attend Yee Peng Festival International 2017, I suggest you check schedules for the event as early as January next year so you can book tickets in advance.

Tip #2: Plan your trip to Chiang Mai accordingly

Before our Indochina trip began, our original flight to Chiang Mai was moved to the next-day schedule, which somehow disrupted the itinerary for our entire journey. We had to cancel flights, which was a pain with Thai Lion Air because they don’t reply immediately.

We also had to book a new one, but as we arrived at the airport to take the new flight, we were informed that it had been cancelled and that the new schedule was early morning the next day. Talk about real headache.

As it turned out, evening flights to Chiang Mai were cancelled because of the Yi Peng festival. Apparently, late afternoon to evening flights to and from Chiang Mai are not allowed anymore during the entire duration of the festival for safety reasons, as a lot of sky lanterns are released during the time.

Make sure then that you arrive in Chiang Mai at least a day before the festival so you can sort out your preparations for the event.

Tip #3: Stay near Maejo University, and book with a hotel with English-speaking staff

Maejo University, where the lantern release is held, is still far off from the city center of Chiang Mai, where most hotels are. We chose a hotel near the university so we won’t have to go through the heavy traffic on the festival itself.

However, the first hotel we booked was not responsive in emails, and we had to inform them about the delivery of the Yi Peng tickets to the hotel. Because we couldn’t get in touch with them, we decided to change hotels and booked with Tianna Garden Village instead.

Tianna Garden is a beautiful sanctuary tucked away in the town, with wonderful views of the Doi Suthep Mountain and the Mae Ping River as its “backyard.” The catch though is the owner is the only one among the staff who knows English, and though he replies in emails, he usually does after a day or more.

More importantly, public vehicles are rare in the area, and it was difficult to hire taxis during the festival. Good thing the owner was very helpful; he gave Dee and me a ride to Maejo along with another hotel guest and even picked us up after the event.

Tip #4: Figure out how to go to the event site beforehand

Dee and I were dropped off in front of Maejo, and we made our way into the premises with no problems. However, there were no signs inside where the lantern release would actually be held, so we just followed people (and vehicles!) who we felt were attending the event too.

It turns out that the event site itself is still a long walk from the front of the university, and it’s actually tucked away in the farthest end of the road. Fortunately, while walking, still halfway to the site, Dee and I came across a sort of tricycle, which offered to take us to the festival. It was not the best ride, but hey, Dee and I had fun while on it and got to the festival in time. It also only cost 20 baht 😀

at the festival grounds in Maejo University

Tip #5: Patience is a virtue

The excitement builds up once you’re inside the festival grounds, but you have to be patient because it takes hours before the actual ceremony begins. You get to enjoy Thai dishes (included in the package) first and take pictures in a separate area, and then you can head to your assigned seats at the site of the ceremony afterward.

Tip #6: Join the meditations

Before the actual lantern release, you’re required to participate in the local rituals and meditations. I admit, the never-ending chants which I didn’t understand almost lulled me to sleep, but I found the meditations part interesting.

They actually teach you the art of meditation, and as your mind drifts off and you relax, you forget that you’re actually in a jam-packed event.

Tip #7: Take in the breathtaking sight and the entire experience

Once the meditations are done and they’ve taught you how to light the huge lanterns, the torches will be lit.

Once the go signal to light the lanterns is given, everything seems to be a blur –

People lighting the lanterns and releasing them…

People posing and taking pictures…

One man in front proposing to his girlfriend (yes, it happened during our trip! :P)…

And one girl teary-eyed while looking at the lanterns flying away into the night (yes, that’s ME, hahaha).

Amid the chaos and the hysterical enthusiasm which seems to bounce off from one tourist to another, take in the amazing view and wallow in it.

Soak everything up, revel in the magic and seize the experience — before you realize that it’s over and you’re left aching for more. (hugot?! hahaha)

While being able to capture photos of the lanterns kissing the full moon and taking over the night sky is undoubtedly an immense bragging right, indulging in the experience, right in that moment, is far more important and a more valuable souvenir to take home. ❤

Travel Date: November 2015

**Next Post: Chiang Mai and Bangkok Temples