Thai New Year is also known as the world’s biggest water fight. 💦🔫 But is Songkran worth it? Or is it just another social media hyped-up thing that travel influencers post about to stay relevant?
We’ve done Songkran in 2023 in Bangkok and in this post share all about it – including things no one tells you about Songkran.
Let’s just say, it wasn’t all water fights and partying. There was drama – this is when it all stopped being fun. 😬
So, if you are wondering whether Songkran is worth it or not, read on and we’ll tell you.
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Here’s a little bit about our journey, if you are new here! If you know us, feel free to skip this part.
After leaving our old life in Scotland in March 2022 (it rains too much there), we travelled full-time for almost 2 years. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Well, it was. If you think that carrying overpacked backpacks in 45°C heat around streets that aren’t even on Google Maps is fancy. And that’s just 1% of all the fun we had! 😆
During the 2 years we volunteered in Italy and Bulgaria (free travel while learning new skills, anyone?), explored other amazing European countries and backpacked Southeast Asia. Even our secret wedding was more of an expedition than a wedding. 😅
And, of course, we researched and planned everything ourselves, because you gotta keep the budget low, right? If you are like us, you’ve come to the right place, because we want to share all the useful tips and info with you!
Excited? Good. Let’s get into it so you can go on your own adventures too!
What is Songkran?
Okay, if you are looking up things like “is Songkran worth it”, it’s probably safe to assume you know what it is.
But, just in case, Songkran is the Thai New Year celebration.
It happens annually in April and lasts around 3 days.
Along with the various religious ceremonies, the main activity is cleansing with water.
Over the years, this has evolved into the world’s biggest water fight. 💦🔫
As someone who has been to Thailand during Songkran, we can confirm: it’s wild.
Where should I go for Songkran?
Deciding which city to pick for Songkran celebrations makes all the difference and, equally, doesn’t matter at all.
Let us explain.
Why choosing the location for Songkran doesn’t matter
Songkran is a nation-wide celebration.
Since it’s the Thai New Year, it is celebrated by everyone everywhere.
So no matter where you choose to spend it, the main things will be the same:
- It will be fun
- You will end up nonstop soaked in water
- You can see the religious ceremonies and traditions
- You will have an experience you will never forget
So whether you are celebrating up north in Chiang Mai or down south in Phuket, some things will be the same, and it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget.
But.
There are some key differences that you should consider.
Why choosing the location matters
Various places in Thailand have their own unique vibe during Songkran, each celebrating in its own way, with some differences in traditions and atmosphere.
You should choose what suits you and your travels.
There are the infamous backpacker hubs like Patong in Phuket, which might not be the most appropriate for a family with young children.
Or there is Chiang Mai which is famous for being hardcore and making Songkran last longer than anywhere else – if being splashed by water for 5 days straight is not your thing, it might be best to avoid this popular city in the North of Thailand.
We wrote more about how to choose the right location in our Songkran tips and tricks guide – make sure to check it out if you are not sure where you should head for the celebrations.
Basically, the location you choose can define your experience.
It’s like choosing a location for a holiday. Do you choose an area known for parties or one known for cultural experiences?
So make sure you consider the place for celebrating the festival properly when deciding whether Songkran is worth it.
What no one tells you about Songkran – the good
First, let’s start with the positive – what makes Songkran so amazing?
You might never have this much fun in your life again
Songkran is great fun. If you’ve never been in a water fight with a laughing old Thai lady, you haven’t lived.
There is so much joy everywhere as the young and old celebrate the new year.
And they love to see foreigners take part too – provided the travellers know how to stay respectful.
It does feel like you are in a video game
If you have been wondering not just whether Songkran is worth it, but also whether it feels like you are in a video game – yes, yes it does.
Stepping outside your hotel kitted out with a waterproof bag (don’t even think about going out without it!) and your water gun and instantly getting targeted by a small child with a bucket full of cold water (and their mum with a water hose, because the kids need help!) – you do think this can’t be reality.
Since the water fighting happens almost everywhere, it’s as if the whole country turned into one big video game.
It’s kinda surreal, especially if you are in the town a day before and after Songkran (which we would absolutely recommend) and so you can see the difference – how the town changes during the festival.
The key is to remember that it is in fact real life. And to act accordingly (meaning not like an a**hole. We talk more about those in this post and below too).
Once in a lifetime experience
Songkran is definitely a bucket-list experience.
Words (or pics or even videos) don’t do it justice – you have to be there.
And you know what?
We might not know the exact stats, but we’d bet that more people can say they’ve been to the Eiffel Tower than that they have taken part in the world’s largest water fight.
Both are awesome bucket list experiences, but one of them will make for a cooler story (we’ll let you decide which one 😉).
If you need more reasons why Songkran is worth it
The culture
In this post, we are focusing on the main reason foreigners visit Thailand during Songkran – the water fights.
But, the cultural aspect needs to be highlighted too. Make sure you visit temples during Songkran to experience the spiritual side of the celebrations too. Even if you’ve been to them before.
During Songkran, Thai people take part in many different ceremonies, including merit-making (bringing food to monks, releasing animals, bathing Buddha statues etc.) or bringing sand to the temples. Sand is often piled into mounds (stupas) and decorated with flowers and other colourful decorations.
Before going, read a bit about the Songkran traditions and their meaning – it’s fascinating, and it will help you have a more wholesome experience than just whipping out a water gun at everyone around you.
Must-know tips for visiting temples during Songkran
We visited Wat Arun during Songkran because it was the first temple we’d ever been to, and we really liked it that first time. It was a totally different experience to see it during the festival, though.
The best part? We got to witness Thai people celebrating their New Year firsthand!
The temple grounds buzzed with energy—locals paying their respects and embracing the spirit of Songkran. A small market popped up, offering everything from tasty street food to handcrafted souvenirs, while cultural performances brought the place to life with music and dance. It was a beautiful mix of history, spirituality, and festivity, making the whole experience even more unforgettable!
The 4 things you have to keep in mind when visiting temples during Songkran:
- Temples are sacred spaces and so you are not allowed to bring water guns inside their grounds. This is something you might want to consider when planning your day. (Shopping centres, for example, let you take the water guns in, but you have to empty them before entering). If you are worried about getting soaked on the way to the temple, it might be worth getting a taxi (not an open tuk-tuk, as you can still get splashed there).
- Another thing to consider when planning your days is your outfits. If you are wearing tiny shorts and a crop top to take part in water fights, fair enough. But that outfit won’t get you into a temple. Always stay respectful.
- The temples are where all the Songkran ceremonies are held and so they get really busy. We wouldn’t recommend visiting them during Songkran to sightsee. Only visit temples to see the Songkran traditions and the atmosphere during the festival.
- April is the hottest month of the year, which is why water fighting is such a welcomed activity. But, no water fighting in temples, which means you will feel like you are turning into vapour as you walk around the grounds. It’s hot. Like inside-an-oven kind of hot. So make sure you come prepared with water, a hat and lots of (water-resistant) sunscreen.
The transformation
It’s such an amazing way to celebrate the new year – cleansing with water – to wash away the old year and any of its troubles and to welcome the new year, fresh. Doesn’t that sound better than getting drunk on 31st December and starting the year feeling like 💩?
Did you know
The word “Songkran” comes from the Sanskrit language where the word saṃkrānti translates as “astrological passage”. So the whole Songkran is all about transformation and change!
If you are looking for a way to mark a new chapter in your life, perhaps celebrating it at Songkran might be the way to go. Maybe you have just graduated from university. Or quit your job to travel full-time like we did. Or even gotten out of a bad marriage.
Whatever the reason, embracing Songkran’s spirit of renewal and transformation – soaking up the joy, washing away the past, and stepping into a fresh start – might be just the celebration you need!
What no one tells you about Songkran – the bad
Is Songkran all sunshine and roses?
We’d be lying if we said yes.
And we don’t wanna do that – we are all about telling you the truth and sharing the real travel.
So let’s look at the other side of the coin.
The people
Originally, we were going to title this section “the a**holes”, but those are just part of the problem.
As always, masses of people mean problems.
We spent Songkran in Bangkok, and this is what we experienced.
The a**holes
Not everyone you will meet during Songkran will be a decent human being who cares about others.
Sadly.
Songkran is a celebration and that means:
- It attracts all sorts of people – the nice and the a**holes
- People drink (and do other things, especially with weed being decriminalised and the market being pretty much unregulated) = they end up doing stupid 💩
True story
We celebrated Songkran in Bangkok, which has different areas (battle zones, if you will) where things happen. Things like concerts, street parties, water fights etc.
We ventured out to Silom Road on two days of the festival since it’s known as the main hotspot for all the water fighting.
On day 1, we came before lunchtime and had the best time – we were walking up and down the street, just getting blasted left-right-center and enjoying the celebrations with locals and other foreigners.
But then, later in the afternoon, we noticed a shift.
The street got busier.
More crowded.
And the crowd was suddenly full of young men who did not look sober.
They certainly didn’t behave that way.
In our Songkran survival guide, we talk about the banned high-pressure guns and what happened to us.
But that’s just one example.
The whole atmosphere changed – from a joyous celebration to one where accidents could happen at any second.
And so we left.
The scary thing?
There were families with small children heading in the direction of Silom Road as we were leaving!
It’s up to every parent to make decisions about the safety of their children, but we certainly wouldn’t take our kids there.
The crowds
Songkran gets busy in popular places. Like crazy busy.
And this is not the Western world, full of rules and police.
Here it often feels like a free-for-all, with more motorbikes than people thrown into the mix.
Big crowds often lead to issues, especially if not properly managed.
Here is what we experienced.
True story
During Songkran, we were staying not that far from the (in)famous Khao San Road.
So we couldn’t resist – we had to go check it out.
Now, the road gets crazy busy even on a normal Saturday night, but during Songkran, it was next level.
The whole area was awfully crowded – awfully as in all we could think about was the (at the time) recent Astroworld Festival crowd crush and the Seoul Halloween crush.
It looked like things could take such a tragic turn at any moment – especially since by nighttime, many people were clearly intoxicated and not in their right minds.
We decided to skip the actual Khao San Road – it would have taken us hours of being pushed and shoved to get there, even though we were just a few meters away from it!
Even leaving the street we were on took us an hour – getting out of the crowded area was impossible.
And it was unsafe.
Masses of people were also trying to leave – most on their bikes too (yes, many while intoxicated). Did we mention this was right on the main road? (Real-life things like roads, pavements etc. kinda get blurred during Songkran, and you can end up walking in between cars on a road. Do not recommend.)
We were expecting to get hit any second.
It was truly scary, and we were happy when we got out of there.
(Don’t be fooled, this is not a pic from Songkran; this is a normal, peaceful weekday night)
Does this mean Songkran is unsafe?
Not necessarily. But it can be.
We talk about how to stay safe during Songkran in our survival guide – because accidents happen every year.
And it might be a good idea to avoid certain areas which are known for attracting massive crowds, such as Khao San Road.
Must-have for Songkran to stay safe
The one thing we’d say you can’t do Songkran without?
Okay, two things.
One is a water gun. You can read tips on getting one here.
The other is travel insurance.
Because if you read our stories above, you can see that accidents can happen.
Thankfully, they didn’t to us, but we were prepared, just in case.
When we travel, we rely on the best travel insurance providers.
How do we know they are the best?
We researched 23 different travel insurance providers before we found THE ONE. 😅
Funnily enough, we actually found two companies that we are happy with – SafetyWing and True Traveller.
They are both great, both created by travellers for travellers, and both offer amazing value for money, so check them out if you are looking for travel insurance for your trip.
Other considerations for Songkran
Prices
You might be concerned about the cost of accommodation or flights during Songkran.
Does everything go up??
We can’t comment on the price of flights, because when we attended Songkran, we were already in Thailand and Southeast Asia long-term. It was part of our full-time travel adventures.
But flight prices are dynamic.
They go up and down and are known for being higher on many dates – Christmas, school holidays, New Year (Western world one) etc., not just during Songkran.
Accommodation is similar.
But we didn’t have an issue with this.
The place we stayed at was slightly more expensive than at other times, but nothing major – nothing that would discourage us from going or make us question: is Songkran worth it??
Tips on saving money during Songkran
- Start planning early. If you know you want to go, it’s easy – you know the exact dates when Songkran will be happening, so you can start researching and booking early.
- Book accommodation well in advance. Good places that are cheap? They get snapped up early. So don’t wait.
- If you are not 100% sure you’ll be able to go, make sure to filter for accommodation with free cancellation when looking. Better to have it booked and cancelling, than trying to find something last minute.
- Track flights. No one can tell you when is a good time to book a flight. Prices are dynamic, airlines have sales on, and sometimes Mercury is in retrograde, and we are all crying into a pillow. So, set up alerts on Skyscanner. Sign up for newsletters from airlines so you know about any deals and sales as they happen. And then be ready to book.
- Offset the cost elsewhere. There are always ways you can save money if you have to spend more on accommodation or flights. You can, for example, eat only street food, instead of going to restaurants (which in Thailand is the recommended thing to do anyway!). Or you can shop around more and find activities and tours for cheaper (especially if bought once you get there, from local companies rather than Western-world travel agencies or online, prior to going).
Health
We know many people worry about their health when it comes to Songkran.
After all, how can you make sure you are not splashed with dirty water, which will lead to an eye infection or worse?
The truth?
You can’t.
Well, technically, you could limit your Songkran celebrations to a rooftop hotel party and staying inside for the rest of the time.
But that would be such a waste.
You should go out there and enjoy the New Year’s celebrations fully.
While we can’t guarantee you won’t get blasted with canal water, we do have some tips for you.
Tips on surviving Songkran healthy
- Avoid Chiang Mai. If you are concerned about the safety of the water, it might be a good idea to avoid this city. Allegedly, people often use the dirty water from the moat which surrounds the old town for water fighting.
- Keep your mouth closed. This might sound obvious, but in real life, it’s easier said than done (no pun intended). You will be laughing, you will be talking, you will be singing and next thing you know, by the end of the day, you will have drunk quite a lot of the water that will be thrown about. So try to keep your mouth closed in areas with busy water fights.
- Wear goggles. If you want to protect your eyes, you can wear goggles – don’t worry, you won’t be the only one. But there are other considerations here – we wrote about them in our Songkran tips and tricks guide.
- Use earplugs. If you are worried about water getting into your ears, wear earplugs. Just make sure they are silicone and not foam – you don’t want them soaking up the water! 😅
- Shower. Again, an obvious one, but shower more times during the day. If you head out in the morning and get soaked, shower as you come to your accommodation at lunch. And if you head out again and again get soaked? You guessed it – shower again when you are back.
A tip? If you are very concerned about this, make sure to book accommodation near all the action so you can easily pop over to your room and take a shower and get changed. - Speaking of – wear the right clothes. Again, more on this in our Songkran tips and tricks guide, otherwise this post would be super long.
- Wash your clothes. If you are wearing the same outfit throughout the whole celebration (remember, Songkran lasts 3 or more days), make sure to wash your clothes well after every day. If you are in accommodation without a washing machine, you can do this in the shower. Basically, don’t just let them dry overnight without giving them a wash first. This is why it’s important to pick the right clothes to wear.
- This one might be obvious, but cover up any cuts and wounds well. A waterproof plaster won’t do it – it will swim away from you after the first 3 buckets hit you, trust us.
- If you are getting a tattoo in Thailand, get it after Songkran. You should be avoiding water with a new tattoo for at least a month anyway (not talking about shower, of course), let alone Songkran water. Don’t take part with a new tattoo. Songkran is amazing, but it’s not worth potentially damaging your tattoo and risking an infection.
It’s not a 100% guarantee, but if you follow these tips, you can keep yourself as safe (and healthy) as possible.
Btw, if safety while travelling concerns you in general:
- We totally get it.
- We have a whole section on our blog that deals with travel safety. You can find all our safety tips and tricks there, so go have a look.
Tips on surviving Songkran
If you decide that being blasted by water guns for (at least) 3 days is right up your alley, there is something you need to know.
You’ve got to prepare yourself.
Why?
Two reasons:
- The locals will be prepared. All of them. Including old ladies who look about 150 years old. Trust us, they are the ones you have to watch out for.
- Even without preparation, the Thai people grow up with this yearly madness. They know how to handle it. They are natural at it. You, on the other hand, might need a few tips.
To help you out, we have created a whole survival guide, with all our tips and tricks.
Not the ones we’ve shared here – these are tips on what to wear so you don’t offend the locals or what to pack so you (and your possessions) actually survive this madness called Songkran. And lots more.
Make sure you check it out before visiting Thailand during the Thai New Year.
Is Songkran worth it?
We have told you about the good and the bad of Songkran.
Why?
So you can decide for yourself whether it’s worth it for YOU.
No one else should be making that decision.
But, if you want our opinion, we 100% think it’s worth it.
We are all about experiences over material things, though.
So to us, taking part in the world’s biggest water fight while celebrating the new year has more value than say a new iPhone.
You decide what you value most – using the info, stories and tips from our 2 Songkran articles to help you (you can find the second Songkran post here).
So, what have you decided? Will you go to Thailand during Songkran?
If yes, let us know in the comments so we can envy you (in a good way!).
And if you are still unsure and have any questions, give us a shout, and we’ll try and help best we can! You can also reach us on our Instagram.
