Event· Koh Samui· Thailand
Loy Krathong on Samui
9° 31.4′ N · 100° 3.6′ E · approximate
Thailand's festival of lights on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, when people float candle-lit krathong baskets of banana leaf on the sea, rivers and ponds to make a wish; on Samui the beaches and lakes glow on the night.
Practical
Wikipedia gives the 2026 date as 24 November 2026; it falls each year on the November full moon (12th Thai lunar month). Krathong carry a candle and incense; choose banana-trunk or bread krathong, since Styrofoam ones are increasingly banned. Sky lanterns are a hazard to aircraft, and Samui airport's approach passes over Bangrak Bay (Island Spirit guide), so do not launch lanterns from the anchorage and keep watch for lantern and firework debris on deck. No source consulted names Samui's main venues, so the position is approximate (the Chaweng Beach marker): ask locally about temple fairs and beach events. Wikipedia's Ko Samui article also records Loy Khro, a Samui custom in Baan Tai of launching bamboo boats on young coconuts into the sea. Loy Krathong falls just inside Ang Thong's usual 1 November-15 December closure and the NE monsoon surge season, so plan to spend it on the Samui side.
Best for
A candle-lit full-moon night ashore in late November
Season
November full moon (24 November 2026)