Songkran Water Festival

What Songkran is

Songkran is the Thai New Year, celebrated each year from 13 to 15 April. The name comes from a Sanskrit word marking the sun’s passage into Aries, but the festival itself has evolved into something unmistakably Thai: the world’s largest water fight.

The tradition of pouring water originated as a gesture of blessing and cleansing - water was poured gently over the hands of elders and Buddha images to wash away the old year. That gentle ritual has expanded over generations into full-scale street battles with water guns, buckets, and hoses, drawing millions of participants and making it one of the most exhilarating events in Southeast Asia.

Where to celebrate

Chiang Mai is widely considered the best place to experience Songkran. The old city’s moat - a square canal running around the ancient walls - becomes the focal point. Locals and visitors line the moat road for days, and the celebration in Chiang Mai tends to run longer and more enthusiastically than the official three days. We recommend the area around Tha Phae Gate and the moat stretches on the north and east sides of the old city.

Bangkok hosts large celebrations along Silom Road and Khao San Road, with stages, music, and foam parties added to the water fights. Silom draws a particularly festive crowd on 14 April.

Phuket and Pattaya also run multi-day celebrations with their own street parties.

What to expect and practical tips

From around 10am the streets become active water zones. No one is off-limits - pedestrians, tuk-tuks, and songthaews are all fair game. Anyone venturing outside should assume they will be soaked.

Practical preparation:

• Waterproof everything. Your phone, wallet, and passport need to stay dry. A waterproof phone case (available cheaply at 7-Eleven and markets) is essential.
• Wear clothes you can move in and that dry quickly. Avoid white for obvious reasons.
• Protect your camera. Serious cameras are best left at the hotel unless sealed in a waterproof bag.
• Keep valuables minimal. Pockets fill with water. Travel as light as possible.

Water guns are sold everywhere in the lead-up to the festival for 50–250 THB depending on size. Joining a pickup truck with locals who have a water barrel in the back is a classic way to travel between neighbourhoods - they will invite you in.

The cultural side

Beyond the street battles, Songkran has a quieter dimension worth seeking out. Temples hold ceremonies where Buddha images are bathed in scented water and garlands. Families perform rod nam dam hua - the pouring of water over the hands of parents and grandparents as a mark of respect. Many Thais return to their home provinces for this reason, meaning Bangkok actually empties out somewhat during the festival, even as its tourist areas fill up.

If you are in Chiang Mai, the grand procession of the Phra Buddha Sihing - a revered Buddha image paraded through the old city on 13 April - draws large respectful crowds and is worth witnessing before the water fighting begins.

Getting there

Both Bangkok and Chiang Mai are well-connected by air and rail. For Chiang Mai, the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok is comfortable and scenic - see our Bangkok to Chiang Mai guide for the full breakdown. Book transport and accommodation at least six to eight weeks in advance - April is one of the busiest travel periods of the year in Thailand.