Songkran Festival Travel Guide

Wear quick-dry shorts and a synthetic or dri-fit top, and strapped sandals rather than flip-flops. Avoid white cotton, which turns see-through when wet, and heavy denim, which never dries. Keep it modestly covered because Chiang Mai is a temple city, and a bright floral shirt is the traditional festive choice. Keep glasses on a strap or switch to cheap goggles.

The essentials are a waterproof phone pouch, cash and cards sealed in a zip-lock bag, goggles or sunglasses, a mid-size water gun, a microfiber towel, sunscreen and a photocopy of your passport. You can buy the water gun, pouch and goggles from street vendors around the moat, but arriving with the pouch and a dry set of clothes at the hotel saves you hunting on day one.

Keep your phone in a sealed waterproof pouch worn under your shirt or on a cord, and resist taking it out mid-water-fight. Seal cash and cards in a separate zip-lock bag and carry only what you need for the day. Leave your passport, spare cards and valuables in the hotel safe, and carry a photocopy instead. A small zipped pouch under clothing also deters pickpockets in the crowds.

Tha Phae Gate and the eastern side of the Old City moat are the loudest, most intense zones, with parades, foam machines and the biggest water fights. For a calmer, more local pace, head to the Chiang Mai Gate side or the quieter inner lanes, which suit families and older relatives. Nimman Road near Maya mall draws a younger, party-leaning crowd in the evenings.

The national Songkran holiday is 13 to 15 April 2026, Monday to Wednesday, and the dates are fixed every year. Chiang Mai tends to run a little longer, with water play often starting a day or two early and civic and temple events spread across roughly 12 to 16 April. Plan for at least the three official days and a buffer day either side for the processions.

It is safe with common sense. The seven dangerous days is the name the Thai authorities give the road-safety campaign around Songkran, because holiday travel, wet roads and drinking push road accidents to their yearly peak. The single best safety rule is not to ride a scooter during the festival; use Grab or a tuk-tuk. Beyond that, drink water for the heat, wear goggles against moat water, and keep your valuables sealed and minimal in crowds.