The Ultimate Guide to Songkran
Where to Celebrate Thailand’s Annual Water Festival on April 13th-15th
Songkran is an annual festival which takes place over 3 days during the traditional Thai New Year, April 13th-15th (in almost all provinces). The official Songkran festival lasts 3 days but, in reality, the whole week is taken over by a mass celebration as the whole country shuts down for a momentous water fight. Wild scenes of exuberance can be seen throughout the Kingdom with music, dancing, drinking and people drenched from head to toe. Water guns, hose pipes, buckets, in fact, anything you can get your hands on can be used to splash people, and one thing is for certain: you will get wet!
As April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand, everyone gets involved with this country-wide water fight and it brings great relief from the soaring temperatures. Songkran started as a Buddhist tradition, using a light sprinkling of water to symbolize purification but, as time went by, people began splashing each other in a more playful manner until recent years, when the entire country becomes one almighty water fight celebrated by millions!
This is the ultimate guide to Songkran, detailing where to go, what to know and where to party in all the main areas of Thailand.
1. Songkran in Bangkok
From pool parties to street celebrations
Categoría: Parejas, Vida nocturna en
When: April 13-15
During Songkran, Bangkok experiences a mass exodus as at least half of its residents travel back to their hometowns for family reunions. In their place are tourists, who fly into Bangkok to enjoy one of the most colorful and festive times of the year. Most banks and smaller shops and restaurants shut down completely, while big shopping malls usually remain open.
Where to party?
Among the biggest party hubs are:
- Khao San Road (the backpacking heartland of Bangkok)
- Silom Road (the entire road closed off to traffic)
Many hotels organize sophisticated ticket-only pool parties, but if you’re in for huge extravaganzas with water cannons, pumping music, and thousands of people, head over to RCA. Más información
Songkran in Bangkok
2. Songkran in Chiang Mai
Water fights at an ancient brick moat
Categoría: Vida nocturna en , Foto
When: April 13-15
Songkran in Chiang Mai is easily the wettest of any of the nationwide celebrations of the Thai Buddhist New Year. Nowhere sees as much water flying as Chiang Mai, which makes it one of the most popular places in the whole of Southeast Asia to visit in mid-April.
Where to party?
Head to Tha Pae Gate in the Old City and enjoy a full 2.5 miles of water fighting along the old moat that once protected the city. Street stalls sell all you might need and large sound systems are set up to entertain you along the route. For a more chilled and local experience, visit the temples within the Old City.
Songkran in Chiang Mai
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3. Songkran in Phuket
The beach party hub
Categoría: Parejas, Vida nocturna en , Foto
When: April 13-15
As Thailand’s most popular beach destination, Phuket sees wild celebrations during Songkran. All three days of the New Year break has developed into an extravaganza of water throwing using buckets and water guns. Even the police in Phuket gets involved, swapping their firearm for a water pistol for a few days.
Where to party?
Patong Beach is home to the craziest scenes during Songkran, unsurprisingly when you consider this is where you will find the most bars and the best nightlife. There’s a parade and an intense water fight along Soi Bangla. To experience how Thai families celebrate together, visit Saphan Hin Park in Phuket City that features live music, community-driven game booths, and local performances.
Songkran in Phuket
4. Songkran in Pattaya
Where you can celebrate longer
Categoría: Vida nocturna en , Foto
When: April 13-19
In Pattaya, Songkran festivities last longer here than anywhere else in Thailand. There are water fights going on during the regular Songkran days (13th-15th April) but Pattaya celebrates into the following week too. Known in Thai as the Wan Lai Festival, the biggest day of revelry is usually on April 19th.
Where to party?
The whole city becomes a party area with many roads and streets cut off to traffic. Roads that do allow vehicles become a slow-moving traffic jam with pick-up trucks turning into mobile parties playing music on full volume. Don’t miss Beach Road where stages are set up for live music and foam machines and the fire department is ready to refill revelers’ soakers.
Songkran in Pattaya
5. Songkran in Koh Samui
Buckets of ice water await
Categoría: Parejas, Familias, Foto
When: April 13-15
Songkran in Samui is not as intense as Pattaya or Phuket, but you’ll find makeshift parties throughout Samui and anyone is welcome to join in the fun. Local children are driven around in the back of pick-up trucks, ready to have skirmishes with you. They use melted ice water which might be a shock to the senses.
Where to party?
If you’re looking for a no-holds-barred party, head to Chaweng Beach as there are parties on the beach and in all of the bars and clubs around Soi Green Mango. For a more traditional side of Samui, head to the west coast, especially around Na Thorn, to join in the local fishermen and their families’ parties.
Songkran in Koh Samui
6. Good to know about Songkran in Thailand
If you find yourself anywhere in Thailand during mid-April, there’s no getting away from being splashed (the only exceptions to this would be monks, newborn babies and the elderly), even if you are dressed in your nicest clothes, so leave your best suit and suede shoes at home. Also, take good care of cameras, passports, and other valuables – keep them in your hotel safe or, if you have to bring them out, waterproof bags are widely available and should be used.
One phrase you will hear all over Thailand during Songkran is “Sawadee Bee Mai” which means ‘Happy New Year’, it’s sure to be greeted with smiles and is the best way to make new friends. Every provincial town will have some form of celebration and often the local exuberance in small towns can be as much fun as in any of the most popular towns and beach resorts listed above. Just remember to take a splashing with the good humor in which it is intended, and if you don’t like being splashed, stay indoors or in the confines of your hotel.
7. 15 tips for enjoying Songkran in Thailand
- It’s all just fun, so don’t get angry.
- You’re going to get soaked. Just accept it.
- If you want to stay dry, stay inside.
- You might get daubed in a gray-white paste made of scented powder and water. It’s harmless but stings if it gets in your eyes.
- Say: “sawadee bee mai”. It means “Happy New Year”
- Sunglasses will protect your eyes from water and the mysterious paste.
- Use a waterproof pouch (cheap and widely available) to protect valuables.
- Don’t wear white – it goes see-through when wet!
- Monks are highly respected in Thailand, so never throw water at them.
- People riding a motorbike could have an accident if suddenly soaked.
- People riding tuk-tuks or songthaews are sitting ducks – lock and load!
- Avoid driving motorbikes during Songkran. Use four-wheeled public transportation or walk.
- Secure your valuables in your room and be mindful of any you do take with you.
- Avoid swallowing the water being sprayed at you – you don’t know where it came from!
- Wet tiled floors will be slippery, so be careful of your footing.
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