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Khao Lak’s calendar is built around Thailand’s Buddhist holidays, the Thai New Year, and the December peak season, rather than big international festivals. Dates for Buddhist events shift each year because they follow the lunar calendar, so confirm before you book. Here are the main Khao Lak events, with what happens and where. Start with our Khao Lak travel guide for an overview, and if you’re timing a trip around one, see our best time to visit Khao Lak guide for the best months.
Khao Lak Events: Songkran Water Festival
Songkran, the Thai New Year, runs April 13 to 15 every year. It’s the country’s biggest water fight, and in Khao Lak the main action is along the Bang Niang strip and the beachfront roads, where locals and tourists throw water with buckets and water guns. Expect to get soaked the moment you step outside. Resorts run their own Songkran buffets, and it doubles as a chance to cool off in the April heat, when highs hit 33°C (91°F); our Khao Lak weather by month guide has the full April forecast.
Khao Lak Events: Loi Krathong
Loi Krathong falls on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, usually in November. Locals float small krathong baskets made of banana leaves, flowers, and candles on the water to give thanks and let go of bad luck. In Khao Lak the best spots are the lagoon at Bang Niang and the beachfront, where hotels often hold their own releases. The exact date changes yearly, so check a lunar calendar before booking flights.
Khao Lak Events: Christmas and New Year
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are the two biggest nights of Khao Lak’s peak season. Beachfront resorts such as those along Bang Niang and Khuk Khak put on gala dinners with fireworks, and tables book out by early December. Prices for hotels hit their annual peak from December 20 to January 5, so if you’re staying over New Year, book rooms by September and flights 3 to 4 months out; our where to stay in Khao Lak guide lists where to book.
Khao Lak Events: Tsunami Remembrance Day
Every December 26, Khao Lak holds a remembrance for the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, which killed roughly 4,000 people in the area. The ceremony centres on Police Boat 813, the patrol boat washed a kilometre inland at Bang Niang, and includes Buddhist rites and a candlelit vigil in the evening. It’s a sombre, respectful event, and visitors are welcome to attend quietly.
Khao Lak Events: Buddhist Holidays
Three lunar Buddhist holidays shape the year. Makha Bucha (usually February) and Visakha Bucha (usually May) are temple days when locals make merit, and Asahna Bucha (usually July) marks the start of Buddhist Lent. Alcohol sales are banned nationwide on these days, so bars and some restaurants close or serve food only. Dates move each year, so check before you go, especially for our things to do in Khao Lak activities that may run reduced hours.
Khao Lak Events: Weekly Markets and Live Music
Bang Niang’s night market runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 4 pm to 10 pm, with street food, clothes, and local crafts. Several beach bars along Bang Niang and Nang Thong host live acoustic music most nights in high season, and a handful run fire shows on the sand after dark. Most resort areas are covered in our Khao Lak beach areas guide, and our Khao Lak travel tips and FAQ guide has transport details for getting between them at night.
