Loy Krathong Koh Samui 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November. Where to float a krathong, what it costs (20-100 THB) and the rain to expect.
Overview
Loy Krathong on Koh Samui in 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November, the night of the twelfth-month full moon. Krathongs, small floating offerings with a candle, go onto the water after dark to let go of the past year’s bad luck. Samui has no river, so people float them on the sea at Chaweng, Bophut, Maenam and Choeng Mon, on temple ponds such as Wat Plai Laem’s, and off the old pier in Nathon.
This page is for anyone building a November trip around the festival: the date, where to go for a big crowd or a quiet one, what a krathong costs, how to pick one that will not leave plastic on the seabed, why there is no sky lantern release, and what the weather does. For the rest of the island’s calendar see the events calendar.
Key takeaways
- Loy Krathong falls on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month: Tuesday 24 November 2026
- Samui has no river, so krathongs go out on the sea, a lake or a temple pond; Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village and Nathon are the liveliest and most traditional spots
- Sky lanterns belong to Yi Peng in the north. Samui does not hold a mass release, and lantern releases near airports are restricted
- A simple banana-leaf krathong costs roughly 20-100 THB (~0.50-3 USD); skip glued styrofoam or plastic-pinned versions
- The festival sits inside Samui’s wettest month, so keep a rain plan for the afternoon and expect the evening to be drier
When Is Loy Krathong on Koh Samui in 2026?
Loy Krathong 2026 falls on the evening of Tuesday 24 November, the full moon of the twelfth month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar (Wikipedia: Loi Krathong). Most 2026 festival guides, including local Samui ones, give 24 November. If your plans depend on one evening, check which night your hotel or temple is running its event.
The rule fixes the festival to the moon, so it moves every year but lands in November almost every time (very occasionally early December). Loy Krathong 2025 was on 5 November; 2027 depends on next year’s lunar calendar and is not confirmed yet.
The build-up is consistent: shops start selling ready-made krathongs about a week ahead, temples and beach venues plan an evening program, and some resorts, such as Santiburi in Maenam, run their own krathong evening for guests who would rather skip the open beach. Loy Krathong is not a Buddhist alcohol-ban day (see the ban dates).
Where to Float a Krathong on Koh Samui
The best place depends on whether you want a crowd, a festival atmosphere or quiet water. Koh Samui has no river, so every option is the sea, a lake or a temple pond.
- Chaweng beach (biggest crowd): the island’s largest public gathering, with stalls selling krathongs on the sand and hundreds going into the shallows together after dark. See Chaweng for the area.
- Chaweng Lake (calmer): just behind the strip, with a walking path and lakeside cafes; a quieter floating scene for people skipping the beach.
- Bophut and Fisherman’s Village (liveliest with food): the night market and food stalls make it the easiest place to combine krathongs with dinner; see Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village.
- Maenam (long, quiet, shallow): one local guide lists it as strong on local participation, with calm shallow water; see Maenam.
- Choeng Mon (sheltered): the sheltered bay has almost no swell in November per the same guide; see Choeng Mon.
- Nathon (most traditional): Samui’s ferry town and old capital hosts a smaller, more local celebration around the harbour, old pier and town temples.
- Temple ponds (calm and quiet): Wat Plai Laem’s lake is the most-photographed option, and Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha) and smaller village temples also hold their own versions. The usual temple dress code applies after dark.
Details such as stall locations, stages and fireworks change every year and are announced late, so ask your hotel a few days ahead. A villa manager can usually arrange krathongs in advance.
What Happens on Loy Krathong Night
People float krathongs after dark, so plan to arrive by early evening for the best light and calmer water. Many guides put the main floating from about 19:00-20:00, with wind and crowds building as the night goes on. Temples hold merit-making in the morning and chanting in the evening.
Evenings start with food stalls and vendors setting up by late afternoon, selling krathongs alongside grilled seafood and Thai desserts. As it gets dark, families and couples wade a few steps into the shallows, light the candle and incense, make a wish and push the krathong off. Larger venues on Chaweng add music, stalls and sometimes fireworks, like the island’s New Year’s Eve countdown on a smaller scale. Quieter spots like Chaweng Lake or a temple pond skip the entertainment: the appeal there is dozens of small candlelit krathongs drifting across still water.
What a Krathong Is and What It Means
A krathong is a small floating offering, traditionally built on a slice of banana tree trunk or a spider lily stem, decorated with folded banana leaves, flowers, incense sticks and a candle. Setting it on the water releases the past year’s bad luck and shows gratitude to the water itself. Some people tuck in a coin, a strand of hair or a fingernail clipping as a symbol of what they are letting go of, then make a wish as the candle drifts off. The candle and incense honour Buddha and, on a river, the water spirits. On an island with no river, Samui keeps the ritual and moves it to the sea, a lake or a temple pond.
Modern krathongs vary widely in material. Traditional banana-leaf-and-trunk versions break down within days. Bread krathongs, sometimes shaped like animals, are sold as an eco-friendly option because fish eat them. Styrofoam versions, once common, are now banned or discouraged in most Thai provinces because they do not break down and wash back up as litter.
What a Krathong Costs and How to Choose a Biodegradable One
A simple, ready-made krathong from a beachside stall on Samui typically costs ~20-100 THB (~0.50-3 USD), with a banana leaf base, flowers, incense and a candle already attached (prices as of 2026 listings; stalls set their own). Larger or lotus-shaped versions cost more, especially from vendors on Chaweng beach during the festival.
For the biodegradable choice, stick to a real banana leaf or trunk base with natural decorations, and avoid anything built on a styrofoam or plastic foam disc. Bread-based krathongs are another eco-friendly option. A quick check before buying: press the base, banana trunk feels fibrous and slightly damp, styrofoam feels light, dry and springy. Skip krathongs with metal pins, staples, glitter glue, foil or plastic beads, since those pieces sink or wash up long after the candle has burned out. Use one small candle, because oversized floats are harder to retrieve. The same reef- and beach-conscious thinking is in our responsible travel guide.
Why Koh Samui Has No Sky Lantern Release
Loy Krathong is often confused with Yi Peng, the sky lantern festival most associated with Chiang Mai. The two are separate traditions that fall on the same full moon. Yi Peng is a Lanna (northern Thai) custom in which thousands of paper-and-bamboo lanterns, called khom loi, are released into the night sky. Loy Krathong is the water ritual practised nationwide, Samui included. Chiang Mai’s mass releases have repeatedly forced its airport to cancel or reschedule flights (Wikipedia: Yi Peng records over 150 flights adjusted during the 2025 festival), and Thai aviation authorities restrict sky lantern releases near airports nationwide.
Samui does not run a Yi Peng-style release, and the restriction is one reason: the island’s airport sits close to the built-up Chaweng-Bophut corridor, and open-flame paper lanterns near an active flight path are a real hazard. If a Chiang Mai-style release is the experience you want, that trip belongs on the mainland in November. See the things to do hub for what Samui offers instead.
Is There a Full Moon Party on Koh Samui at Loy Krathong?
No. The Full Moon Party is held at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan, never on Samui, and its November date sits very close to Loy Krathong (our Full Moon Party dates page has the confirmed night). Boats to Phangan get busier in that week, so if you want both, see the Full Moon Party from Samui and book transfers early.
Rain and Crowds: Loy Krathong Inside the Wettest Month
Loy Krathong’s November timing puts it inside Koh Samui’s wettest month of the year, which averages roughly 445 mm of rain across 16 rain days. Most of it falls as short, hard downpours rather than an all-evening washout, and sunshine still averages around 6.0 hours a day, so an evening event has decent odds of staying dry even after an afternoon squall. The real risk is a multi-day tropical depression over the Gulf: rare, but check forecasts in the days before. Our rainy season guide has the detail.
November is the low point of Samui’s annual rate cycle, so a Loy Krathong trip usually costs less than the same dates in December. The festival does not push hotel rates up the way Christmas or New Year does (it is a one-night draw, not a peak-season trigger), but rooms directly on Chaweng beach can still fill near the date, so book a few weeks ahead if a beachfront view matters.
FAQ
When is Loy Krathong 2026 in Koh Samui?
Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full moon of the twelfth lunar month. Check which evening your hotel or temple is running its event. The date moves every year with the Thai lunar calendar, and the 2027 date is not confirmed yet.
Where can I float a krathong on Koh Samui?
Chaweng beach has the biggest public event, with vendors on the sand. Chaweng Lake and the temple pond at Wat Plai Laem are calmer. Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village combines krathongs with a night market, Maenam and Choeng Mon have quiet shallow water, and Nathon’s harbour and old pier host the most traditional local version.
Does Koh Samui have a sky lantern release like Chiang Mai?
No. Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng sky lantern release is a separate northern Thai tradition that shares Loy Krathong’s full moon. Thailand restricts sky lanterns near airports for flight safety, and Samui’s airport sits close to the main tourist corridor, so no mass release happens here.
How much does a krathong cost on Koh Samui?
A simple, ready-made banana-leaf krathong costs about 20-100 THB (~0.50-3 USD) from a beachside stall, with larger or lotus-shaped versions higher, especially on Chaweng beach during the festival itself.
What is the most eco-friendly krathong to buy?
Choose a krathong on a real banana leaf or trunk base, or a bread-based one: both break down or get eaten by fish. Avoid styrofoam or plastic foam discs and decorations with metal pins, staples, foil or plastic beads, which do not biodegrade and are increasingly restricted in Thailand.
What do Thai people do on Loy Krathong?
Families, couples and friends buy or make a krathong, light its candle and incense, make a wish and set it on water after dark, often at temples, lakes, rivers or beaches. Many also make merit at a temple during the day and join local music, food and parades.
Is there a Full Moon Party on Koh Samui at Loy Krathong?
No. The Full Moon Party is on Haad Rin, Koh Phangan, not Samui, and it falls close to Loy Krathong in November. Check the confirmed dates and book boats early.
Is Loy Krathong a good reason to visit Koh Samui in November?
Yes, if you accept the rain risk. Loy Krathong lands inside Samui’s wettest month, averaging around 445 mm over 16 days, but most days still get several hours of sun, hotel rates sit near their annual low, and the festival is a genuine, low-key cultural event rather than a tourist show.
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