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Loy Krathong in Phuket falls on the evening of Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 November 2026, and the water is busiest between 20:00 and 22:00. Unlike the sky-lantern pictures from northern Thailand, Phuket celebrates on the water, at beaches and lakes around the island.
Patong Beach is one of the island's biggest Loy Krathong spots, so you can see the night up close every year. This guide helps to pick a spot that suits your kids' ages, buy or make a krathong, and keep the evening easy for everyone, from toddlers to tweens.
Loy Krathong in Phuket 2026 falls on the evenings of Tuesday 24 November, the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month, and spans two nights 24 and 25 November 2026.
| Detail | Loy Krathong in Phuket |
| Date | 24th - 25th November, 2026 |
| Starts | From 18:30 |
| Busiest | 20:00 to 22:00 (Celebrations generally take place after sunset. Event times vary by venue. ) |
| Tickets | None needed |
| Next year | Sunday 14 November 2027 |
Loy Krathong is a Thai festival where people float a small decorated raft, called a krathong, on water to thank the Water Goddess and let go of the past year's bad luck. The name explains itself, "Loy" means to float while "Krathong" is the little raft.
Most of the mass sky-lantern releases you see in travel photos belong to Yi Peng, a northern Thai festival held in Chiang Mai around the same dates. In Phuket, Loy Krathong happens on the water only. Sky lanterns are also restricted near airports, which we cover in the tips for parents below.
Late November sits at the tail end of Phuket's rainy season, so an evening shower might be possible. If rain rolls in, wait indoors at FunLAB, Digital Interactive Hub for kids at Holiday Inn Resort, then head to the water once it clears.
See the best time to visit Phuket with kids for the wider picture.
The best place to celebrate Loy Krathong in Phuket with kids depends on their age. Patong Beach suits older kids who enjoy noise and crowds, while the island's lakes are calmer for toddlers. Here's how the main spots compare from a Patong base.
| Spot | Vibe | Crowds | Best for | From Holiday Inn Resort Patong |
| Patong Beach | Music, food stalls, sea | Very busy | Kids over 8 | ~5 mins walk |
| Karon Lake & Beach | Beach plus lake | Busy | All ages | ~15-20 mins drive |
| Nai Harn Beach | Relaxed, local families | Moderate | Toddlers | ~35-40 mins drive |
| Saphan Hin, Phuket Town | Fun fair, street food | Very busy | Kids 5 to 12 | ~40-45 mins drive |
| Bang Ma Ruan, Thalang | Traditional, heritage | Moderate | Culture lovers | ~40-50 mins drive |
Patong Beach hosts Phuket's biggest and liveliest Loy Krathong celebration, and from the resort you can walk there. Families fill the sand, food stalls line the beach road, and music plays until late.
Check the tide before you go. On an incoming tide, krathongs wash straight back onto the sand, which disappoints small kids fast. Wait for the tide to turn, and you'll have more sand to stand on too.
Our Patong Beach guide covers the area in daylight.
Karon celebrates both on the beach itself and at Karon Lake just behind it. That makes it a good pick when your kids are different ages. Let the little ones float their krathongs on the lake, where still water keeps candles lit and no waves push the krathong back, then cross to the beach with the older ones.
Arrive before sunset if you want a spot right at the lake edge, where kids can reach the water easily.
Nai Harn Lake is where many local families float their krathongs, and the still water makes it the easiest place for a toddler's first try. The pace is slower than at the beaches, so small kids can take their time lighting the candle and watching it drift.
The lake is a drive south of Patong, so make an afternoon of it. Swim at Nai Harn Beach next door, eat an early dinner nearby, and be at the water as the first candles light up.
Saphan Hin hosts Phuket's largest local Loy Krathong gathering, and it feels more like a town fair than a beach party. Kids can see the krathong competition entries up close.
Traffic is the catch. Roads into Phuket Town get heavy in the early evening, so leave Patong well before sunset. Spend the afternoon in Phuket Old Town, then head to the park for the evening, and bring small notes for games and snacks.
Bang Ma Ruan gives Loy Krathong an old-Thailand feel, with traditional costumes and a quieter crowd than Patong. In 2025, the celebration at Bang Ma Ruan Lake ran over three nights, from 20 to 22 November, with a parade, a Noppamas contest, and shopping stalls, according to Phuket E-Magazine.
If 2026 follows the same pattern, go on a night before the full moon to float your krathong without the peak crowds. Kids who dress up in Thai outfits fit right in, and the photos are worth it.
You don't need to prepare anything since stalls sell krathongs near beaches, lakes, and piers from late afternoon.
A simple one costs around THB 40 to 100, and bigger designs cost more. Choose a base made from banana trunk, which breaks down in water, and skip anything made of styrofoam.
You can let your kids make their own krathong. It takes around 20 minutes and is a good activity for the family.
A little planning keeps Loy Krathong night relaxed. You should arrive early, keep the flames with the adults, and leave the sky lanterns at home.
You should skip the sky lanterns. Before the 2025 festival, Suvarnabhumi Airport asked people nearby not to release sky lanterns, fireworks, or balloons, and said anyone wanting to must first get permission from the district chief.
Holiday Inn Resort Phuket is located just across the road from Patong Beach, so on Loy Krathong night you can spend the day at the resort and walk to the celebration after dinner.
Family rooms in the Main Wing make it easy to return to the resort when children are ready to rest. Ask the team about confirmed local event locations and recommended routes before heading out.
Loy Krathong is one of the easiest ways to share a Thai tradition with your kids. Buy or make a krathong, choose a spot that suits their ages, and be at the water between 8pm and 10pm on Tuesday 24 November 2026. From Patong, the celebration is a short walk away, and the hours before it can go to FunLAB, Kids Club, and the Family Pool. Ready to plan the trip? Check family room availability for 24 November and book direct for your Loy Krathong stay.
No, Loy Krathong is not a public holiday in Thailand. Shops, restaurants, attractions, and offices open as usual during the day, and the celebrations happen in the evening. That makes it easy to fit into a normal holiday day in Phuket. You can spend the day at the beach or the resort, then head to the water after sunset.
Plan on floating a krathong instead. Thai airports ask residents not to release sky lanterns, fireworks, or balloons during Loy Krathong, and anyone who wants to needs permission from the district chief, the Bangkok Post reported in 2025. [VERIFY: Phuket-specific sky lantern ban near Phuket International Airport] Phuket's celebration happens on beaches and lakes, so a krathong is all you need.
Plan for rain rather than cancel. Late November is the tail end of Phuket's rainy season, so an evening shower is possible. Wait indoors until it clears, then head to the water. Krathongs float fine on a wet evening, although wind can blow candles out. At the resort, FunLAB and Kids Club keep kids busy while you wait.
