Your Guide to Songkran Thai New Year in Bangkok & Chiang Mai
We travelled to Thailand to experience the Thai New Year celebration known as Songkran, a festival that involves a lot of water and lasts 3 days.
In partnership with Tourism Authority of Thailand, we had the rare opportunity to document the experience with the use of drone cameras.
Watch the video of our experience and continue reading for more!
Our itinerary takes us from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, to visit temples, observe traditions, eat some really good food, and of course, we’re going to get really wet.
Welcome To Thailand
We tend to throw around the word “oasis” pretty liberally when talking about travel, but Rarinjinda Wellness Spa Resort really is just that - and an incredible feat, when you consider that it’s located right in the city.
Chiang Mai is the capital of Northern Thailand. It’s pretty laid back but never boring. You’ll find hundreds of ancient temples here but the one that's most well known is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. It sits on top a mountain overlooking the city and it has a very impressive giant golden pagoda in its centre.
Songkran is a time for families to get together, and we saw a ton of people gathered here to pay their respects and participate in traditions and rituals, one of which involves cleansing Pagoda and Buddha figures with water. In turn, Thai people themselves are blessed by monks with water.
Flowers are also everywhere. You can definitely feel a certain spirit and energy during Songkran, as the people of Thailand are excited to celebrate a New Year.
Chiang Mai: Monks, Processions & Parades
It’s early morning on Day 1 of Songkran and we’ve arrived to witness something very special.
The monks have lined up to accept offerings of food from Thai Buddhists, with the hope that this will bring them good fortune for the year to come.
In the City Centre, you’ll find a different type of parade: beautiful Thai women riding bicycles with umbrellas - an annual pageant that takes place in Chiang Mai.
Food is fresh, abundant, and affordable for visitors to Thailand and khao soi, a spicy, creamy noodle dish happens to be the speciality of northern Thailand.
Interested in more Thai dishes? Check out our post on the top things to eat in Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown
After a quick lunch, it’s time to hit up Noawarat for the real festivities to begin.
Bangkok: Pool Parties & Youth in the Square
Bangkok is a big city that over 14 million people call home. And despite its large population, the people who live here love it, and embrace even the traffic jams with a smile.
It’s got a very different vibe than Chiang Mai, though Songkran festivities are still under way. You can visit flower markets, floating markets with just about every type of food & merchandise you can imagine, and today, for Day 2 of Songkran, we’re heading to the SO Sofitel, a 5-star luxury hotel for a pool party — my favourite way to get wet.
Of course, W Bangkok is another popular spot for Songkran festivities, thanks to its awesome rooftop pool.
If luxury hotels are where the adults celebrate Songkran, then Siam Square is definitely where you’ll find all the youth. And on the last day of Songkran, it seems that everyone is out — and no one will be spared!
It was a real honour to be here during one of the most exciting — and hottest times of the year. So, if you’re thinking of making a trip to Thailand, you might want to visit during Songkran — just be prepared to get very wet. See you next time… à la prochaine!
Fancy a different side of Bangkok? Check out these date night ideas!
