Thailand Traditional Thai boat races

Each year towards the end of the rainy season in Thailand, many cities organize traditional long-boat races festivals. Until then, I still never had the opportunity to attend one of them (last year’s Phimai festival that I intended to attend was canceled) but I will try to do it this year.

In this post, I give you the dates of the main longboat festivals in Thailand that will take place between September and the end of November.

Traditional longboat races in Thailand

This is logically when the water level of the rivers is the highest that these long Thai wooden boat races take place. Essentially in September and October but some of these festivals take place in November (Phimai Festival for instance).

It is one of the oldest traditional festivals in Thailand. The longboats, made entirely of wood, can measure up to 30 meters long and end with a long pointed nose typical of the traditional boats very present in Thai history and culture.

Long wooden boats finished with long decorated prows have also been used for centuries for royal processions. You can see these boats at the Royal Barges Museum in Bangkok.

The races are a lot like classical rowing competitions. The boats engage in the races and their the crew of rowers have to travel an average distance of 500 meters and cross the finishing line first to win of course.

Where to see these boat races in Thailand ?

The most popular destinations to watch these long boat race Festival in Thailand are Phichit (near Phitsanulok), it is usually this city that opens up the traditional boat racing season in Thailand, Phitsanulok , Nan, Chumphon, Buriram, Saraburi and Ayutthaya.

Personally, I recommend you to go to Phimai festival because in addition to the boat races, you also will have a nice sound and light show in the Khmer temple of the city every night and other entertainment. And I love this little town which is 3 hours drive from Bangkok.

This year is a bit special. With the cremation of late King Bhumibol on October 26, 2017 at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, some of the festivals have been postponed or even canceled but here are the dates if you want to discover this tradition and live the fervor of the thai boat races.

• Phichit: 2 to 3 September 2017
  On the Nan River in front of Wat Tha Luang Temple
• Phitsanulok: 16 and 17 September 2017
  On the Nan River in front of Wat Phra Si  Rattana Mahathat temple (Wat Yai)
• Phimai Festival 2017 : from 8 to 12 November
  On the Mun River. Boat races take place on the weekend and besides the races there is a  whole festival including a nice sound and light show in the Khmer temple of the city.
• Buriram: normally the 1st weekend of November but no official date yet
• Chumphon : postponed to November. No official date yet
• Nan: in September but canceled this year (info TAT Phrae)
• Ayutthaya: also canceled this year (info TAT Bangkok)

You can find all the dates in the “Events and Festivals in Thailand” section of the site.

I will also put there the dates of the festivals which has no official dates for now as soon as the dates will be announced. And of course I publish it on my Twitter account.