Thailand(Chiang Mai) for Loi Krathong and Yi Peng Festivals?

[Deleted]

DH and I are trying to finalize and book our travel for November and December. 

While I was looking into the possibility of Thailand - Bangkok and Chiang Mai - for November I stumbled upon information and loads of people excited about the Loi Krathong and Yi Peng Festivals. Loi Krathong is on November 17 and the international Yi Peng festival is on the 23rd. Unfortunately I don't think we can make our trip last for both as we're trying to only use 5 of DH's vacation days so that we can use some at Christmas time and use another 5 either in late October or early December. 

Has anyone been to the festivals? Was it unbearably crowded, were they worth seeing? Would you pick one festival over the other? 

Thanks!

[scout8]

I was there for Yi Peng last year. It was AMAZING. If you are going to be there around that time, don't miss it. We didn't have time to do both festivals either so we chose Yi Peng.

Make sure you go to the one on the grounds of Mae Jo University. There is another one geared toward tourists, but you don't want that one. The "real" one is the one at the University.

I didn't find it that crowded, except for when we were leaving the festival. It took a long time to get home that night. It was still worth it. We used a tour guide. They picked us up, took us there, helped us get set up, get our lanterns, etc. If you want our guide's info, send me a PM.

Yi Peng was definitely a travel highlight for me.

[scout8]

Here is a photo from the festival:

[scout8]

One more!

[Deleted]

Thanks scout! I think the tourist version is on the 23rd. Now I need to figure out when the real one is

[Deleted]

scout8 How did you find out the date of Yi Peng for last year? I've been googling all over the place and there is no date listed, but probably 16th or 19th of November. Loi Krathong is definitely the 17th, but I guess they don't announce Yi Peng until closer?

[scout8]

We had a really hard time figuring it out too. Last year, it was the weekend before the tourist one. I am going to PM you our guide's email address. He was able to tell us the right dates. It will be later today when I PM you the email address. I have to get it from DH.

[chicago]

scout8, those photos are amazing! I wish we could have traveled to Chiang Mai then!

[scout8]

Sept 25, 2013 15:38:05 GMT -5 chicago said:

scout8, those photos are amazing! I wish we could have traveled to Chiang Mai then!

Thanks! I will tell DH you said so. He is the photographer. You will have to go back to Chiang Mai for the festival sometime!