What is Songkran or the Water Festival?

Songkran is Thailand’s traditional New Year celebration where water is used in a symbolic way to wash away sorrows and ill-will from the previous year. Over the decades, it has turned into more of a giant, nationwide water festival with festivities happening all over Thailand. Chiang Mai is the most popular city to celebrate it in!

The holiday is linked to the astrological zodiac calendar and is celebrated when the sun moves from Pisces to Aries, when a new astrological year begins. Traditionally, Songkran lasts for four days.

The First Day of Songkran

The first day of Songkran is called Wan Sungkharn Long and is known as the cleaning day. Locals will be seen cleaning their homes, schools and public spaces ridding them of the ‘dirt’ from the previous year, readying them for a new year.

Family members will also return home to their villages and home cities to spend this holiday with family. Roads will be incredibly busy prior to this and it’s best to not travel during this time on the highways unless you have to.

The Second Day of Songkran

Day two is called Wan Nao where families prepare food and offerings to give to the monks and temples the following day.

The Third Day of Songkran

New Year’s Day, or Wan Payawan in Thai happens on the third day. This special day begins early in the morning when visits are made to local temples give merit (food and clothing) to the monks. Locals will bathe Buddha statues with jasmine-scented water, and other rituals believed to bring good luck for the new year.

This is also the first day of water play! Downtown Chiang Mai will go mad with revelers both local and tourists alike getting into the spirit of the water festival.

The Last Day

The fourth and final day of Songkran is called Wan Parg Bpee. This is the day respect is paid to ancestors and elders. Using water poured in a small silver bowl, younger people will dip their fingers into the silver bowl and sprinkle water onto an elder. Sometimes water is gently poured over the hands or shoulders of an elder. It is from this tradition, that the water play arose and why Thailand now celebrates with a great big water fight!

The full schedule for Songkran in Chiang Mai 2024* [2025 schedule hasn’t been released yet]

This is a special year as UNESCO designated Songkran a heritage festival. It’s one of the reasons there are events for more than the traditional 4 days.

(NOTE: The events, dates, locations, and times may change)

 When is Songkran in Chiang Mai?

Songkran takes place during the hottest time of the year. The official dates for Songkran Festival 2024 are April 13th-15th, however the actual water play or water fighting is scheduled to take place April 12th to 16th around the city (please refer to the final page of the schedule above).

The first and second days are generally pretty quiet as most people are focused on cleaning and preparing merits. The best dates to go downtown will be the 14th and 15th. The action ramps up over these days with the old city going nuts.

What can you expect at Songkran Water Festival in Chiang Mai?

You can expect to get wet! Very, very, wet. It’s the largest water fight in the world and it lasts for days. It’s honestly one of the most fun festivals in the world – a close tie with Holi in India.

The streets will be flooded with people with the same goal – to have fun and get soaked in any way possible. You’ll be relieved to get splashed as it will be so hot out you could cook an egg on the pavement.

People will have water guns, cups, water hoses, and huge buckets filled with water. One of the iconic experiences is to go around the moat in the back of a pick up truck which is filled with large barrels of water and people with buckets splashing everyone they see.

Watch out though! Some people think it’s funny to fill these large barrels with ice water. It’s quite a shock when it hits you.

Kids Being Kids!

Kids get to be kids and do things they’re not normally allowed to do – dance in the street, shoot water at strangers, splash everyone in the family, go swimming in the moat (just joking… seriously don’t do that. Lots of people do, but it’s incredibly unclean).

Adults get to become kids again too! When’s the last time you shot a water gun or had a huge water fight?! You’ll have a blast, literally 🙂

How Long Does The Water Play Last?

The water play usually begins around 11 am and goes until the sun goes down. The unwritten rule is that the water splashing stops at dusk, although some people, mostly unknowing tourists try to keep the water fight going. After a day being soaked, you’ll want a break! No worries, because during Songkran in Chiang Mai, you just wake up and do it all over again!

Dancing, Music and a Parade

There will also be lots of dancing in the streets and parties that last well into the night. The music will be loud so bring ear plugs if you are a sensitive sleeper! This is Thai New Year after all and people go all out.

People will get dressed up in their traditional flower Songkran shirts or just get dressed up in dress up clothes for fun!

Why are people smearing white powder on people’s faces?

Sometimes, although this is becoming rare to see in touristy areas, you will see or experience white powder being rubbed on people’s faces, possibly your own. Not to worry, din sor pong, is a natural mixture of water and natural talc made from limestone.

It’s a tradition to gently rub some on others’ faces almost like a blessing or gesture of good luck. The Bangkok Post wrote an informative piece about din sor pong if you’d like to know more!

Why Are Strangers Washing My Car?

This is more likely to happen outside the city in a smaller village or on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. People may step out in front of your car to make you stop. Then a bunch of people will take din sor pong and wipe your car with it and spray water on your car, all while smiling and dancing as you sit in the car wondering what on earth is happening?!

No need to be perplexed. They are blessing your vehicle to keep you safe during the coming year. Some Thai people believe all cars have a spirit and that to cleanse the car of last year’s bad energy will prevent future car accidents.

Is Songkran Safe For Kids?

It’s probably the most fun they’ll have all year! Is it completely safe? Well, yes and no. You’ll need to keep a watchful eye on children as the streets will be packed with people downtown.

Things to be wary of are the kids (and you) getting water in your mouths. The greatest occurrence of stomach issues happens right after Songkran. You don’t want moat water in your mouths! Yucky!

Small children might catch cold easily if they are soaked all day. It’s a good idea to take a break from the water play and warm up and dry off somewhere in between water battles. It’s probably not a great idea to bring a baby or infant out to Songkran, for many reasons – dampness, loudness, lack of facilities to change them…

Probably the best age to take a small or young child out to celebrate Songkran may be around 5 years old. It all depends on the maturity level and stamina of your child(ren). Some young kids might not last that long out there with all the hustle and bustle. It can be intimidating for a small child.

We recommend finding a quieter splash play area away from the moat, or even getting out of Chiang Mai altogether with young kids and heading up to Pai, or down to Lamphun.

However, keep in mind that road fatalities during Songkran are one of the reasons Thailand has the second highest road death rate in the world! Be careful out there. Best travel times are after the first day, and a couple days following the end of the holiday.

For older children and teenagers, they could most definitely handle the water shenanigans of Songkran downtown Chiang Mai.

Best Places to go Celebrate Songkran in Chiang Mai – With or Without Kids

In The Old City

Most of the action happens in the old city (the moat area) and along the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road 106. In other areas the action is much quieter but if you venture out, you can expect to get splashed at some point.

Just Outside The City

Any of the waterfalls and local National Parks will be rammed with festival goers swimming and splashing around. Ob Khan National Park and Sticky Waterfall are very popular destinations for Songkran, as will be the Grand Canyon Water Park and its neighbour the Grand Canyon.

At a Pool Party

This probably makes the most sense! You can control how much wetness you want to endure! And it’s going to be bloody hot, so why not be right next to a nice cool body of water?! Just make sure to keep a close eye on the kiddos.

Party events can be found by searching Facebook.

Are You Going to Get Wet Every Time You Leave the hotel or House?

Depends where you are staying. In general, if you are downtown Chiang Mai, or head out along road 106, then it’s going to be a challenge not to get wet!

This year I believe you will struggle to stay dry as this is the largest and most advertised Songkran in history.

How to Avoid Getting Wet During Songkran Water Festival in Chiang Mai

Stay inside! No really, there’s not much you can do. I’ve seen people hold their iPhone’s out for all to see and even 1,00o baht bills as if to say, don’t get my expensive and valuable things wet! It doesn’t work. 

Places to go to Avoid Getting Soaked!

Songkran is not for everyone. Some people would rather hole up for the week and do everything to avoid going outside. If this is you and if you are staying or living downtown, avoid anywhere near the roads around the moat. Or maybe you enjoyed the water fun and you’ve had enough for the day.

On your way back ‘home’, pick up what you need as going out again may be a hassle and you’ll have to wait until evening to be sure the water play has stopped.

Other places to go are the malls. Take the family to a movie or an indoor playground. There are other indoor activities in Chiang Mai to choose from as well. Most of the establishments that are open during Songkran (many close as people want to celebrate) offer a safe haven. Check out these family friendly restaurants where you can remain dry, but keep in mind on the way there, you may get splashed.

If you need to go out, don’t take a tuk tuk, songtaew, bicycle, or motorbike, especially if you look like a tourist. You will be a main target! Take a Grab, taxi or car to avoid getting wet.

Getting in and out of Chiang Mai During Songkran

Thailand has a huge influx of tourists during this time, around 500,000 last year, which makes travel during this time of year difficult, and notoriously dangerous. The highest rate of road accidents happens during this one week period.

Booking hotels, flights, buses and trains well in advance is a must. I’ve known people who have left Chiang Mai during Songkran and thought they could just book their return flight, bus, or train a couple days before they were due back here for work. This is usually possible. Not during Songkran! Every single space was booked and they had to wait three days for a spot.

Things to Prepare for Songkran water Festival

• waterproof bag for your things
• waterproof holder for your phone
• sunglasses
• water guns
• towels
• extra clothing
• hats
• ear plugs
• a fun attitude 🙂