Every April you will see Thailand become a sea of floral shirts, plastic water guns, buckets and bowls, basically anything that suffices to throw water at someone! Songkran, or the Thai New Year, runs from the 13th to 16th of April and is celebrated over three water-drenched days, Songkran is official Thai New Year and its sense of community and fun typifies the national spirit. Looking to make the most of the action with kids? Grab yourself a floral shirt and here’s what you need to know.
Dress for Drenching
It goes without saying that if you plan to head to a Songkran party, you’re likely in for a soaking. Something to bear in mind when you decide how to dress your little ones. Rain coats, umbrellas, wellies and towels are all a good option if you plan to keep them (relatively) dry, or just head out in rash guards/swim shirts and shorts with a change of clothes. But at the very least, make sure wallets, phones and any other valuables are kept well out of the action – preferably in a plastic bag. For the most part, people will be respectful if you ask them to avoid wetting you, but it’s best to expect you’ll get a little damp (or have scented powder dabbed on your face).
Places to Visit
Explore the top Songkran travel destinations in Chiang Mai for 2024, featuring the vibrant Thai New Year festivities unique to the region. Discover the ultimate Songkran experience in Chiang Mai, complete with water play and traditional celebrations from April 13th to 15th. For more details, visit Where to celebrate Songkran with Kids in Chiang Mai.
Discover the Spiritual Side of Songkran
Away from all the water fights and random street-based soakings, Songkran is also celebrated with a variety of cultural events. And it’s a great chance to give the kids a sense of the festival’s deeper meaning. Visit a local temple to offer alms to monks and help build and decorate sand stupas (a traditional way of merit making),
Songkran Festival 2024 This year, many provinces including Chiang mai are preparing to hold a grand event. This year, it’s as big as any other year at the “Pa We nee New Year Chiang Mai” event from April 1-15, 2024.
For the preliminary schedule of Songkran Festival Chiang Mai 2024 or “Pa Wenee Pi Mai Mueang Chiang Mai” is as follows.
1st April , 2024 – Ceremony for bathing Phra Sapanyu Chao Det Mueang at Wat Chiang Yuen
4th – 9th April 2024– Ceremony for cooking sacred water for the New Year
6th -8th April 2024– Sueb Heet San Hoi event, retracing the steps of the New Year at Wat Chedi Liam
7th – 8th April 2024 Activities for bathing important Buddha statues in Chiang Mai at 11 temples
- Wat Chiang Yuen
- Seven Days
- Wat Lok Moli
- Wat Pa Pao
- Wat Chiang Man
- Yang Kuang Temple
- Wat Inthakhin Sadue Mueang
- Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan
- Lam Chang Temple
- Wat Phan On
- Sri Suphan Temple
10th – 16th April 2024 – Phra Buddha Sihing Water Pouring Ceremony
12th April, 2024– Procession to pay homage to Sajumsari for the New Year of the City at Wihan Lai Kham, Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan.
Tips For Getting Around
If you’re planning to head to a busy Songkran hotspot, Grab or RTC Chiang Mai City Bus are generally the best ways to get around.
The RTC CITY BUS has 4 bus routes in Chiang Mai with 147 bus stops.
By bus, the route covers the area from the north (Muang Chiang Mai) from the stop at the Department of Livestock – Department of Livestock to the south (Muang Chiang Mai) from the stop at The Urbana. 1. The westernmost stop is at the Zoo – Zoo (Muang Chiang Mai) and the most eastern stop is at The Urbana 5 (Muang Chiang Mai).
The RTC CITY BUS schedule (timetables, itineraries, service hours), and departure and arrival times at each stop are updated in the app in real time.
Songkran Tips
- Wear comfortable, quick drying clothing such as rash guard tops, boardshorts and flip flops. Bring a change of clothes for the kids if you plan to be out all day. Also, don’t forget waterproof sunscreen!
- Seal your phone, cash and credit cards in a waterproof bag (readily available for sale at convenience stores).
- Songkran is all about fun, but if your family has had enough, it’s ok to tell revelers to not splash you. The same goes for the application of din sor pong, an aromatic white cooling powder, that’s typically dabbed on the face.
- Learn the Thai customary greeting for happy new year “Sawasdee Pee Mai”
Whatever you do or wherever you celebrate, have a happy, fun and safe Songkran!
