Songkran in Pattaya, Phuket and Hua Hin: Guide to Preparing Yourself for the festival

April 12, 2017.
Tags: Songkran, Pattaya, Hua hin


The Songkran Festival is the celebration of the Thai New Year. From April 13th to 15th, the entire country celebrates in a time of wild water fights, parties, paying homage to elders and religious rites. It happens to be the hottest time of the year as well, which makes getting splashed with ice cold water at every corner a relief. If you're planning to travel to Thailand during this time, we've put together a guide on what to do in Pattaya, Hua Hin or Phuket so that you're prepared to make the most of the Thai New Year!

Hua Hin

If you'd rather spend Songkran in a rather quieter atmosphere than the ones in Pattaya or Phuket, Hua Hin is the place to be. The water throwing in the center of town is generally restricted to the 13th of April. However, do expected to be wet on the 14th and 15th in the other areas since the festivities will rarely die down. People from Bangkok flock to Hua Hin every year for a quiet retreat during Songkran, so be prepared for the traffic! The festivities are notably tamer here, with highlights including floral processions, religious ceremonies, beauty contests and more to enjoy.

Pattaya

Pattaya is the undisputed winner of hosting the wildest water fight in Thailand and possibly the world. If you're planning to travel to Pattaya, ensure that you book your accommodation early – the city will be packed with people. Beach Road is the place to be, as this is where most of the water fights will be taking place. Walking Street is a fantastic starting point to see and gets incredibly fun – strolling down the lanes and getting splashed constantly is a guarantee. Soi 6, Soi 7 and Soi Bukkhao will also see plenty of action.

Phuket

Known as the Pearl of the Andaman, Phuket is a fantastic place to celebrate Songkran. The festivities here are boisterous and you can expect it to be packed from April 13th to 15th. Patong Beach is where most of the action will be – head to Bangla Road to experience the craziest water fights in Phuket. From tourists to locals, everyone will converge around the bars and Bangla Road to celebrate. There will be plenty of other attractions around Patong as well during Songkran. There's the Phra Budda Sihing parade, beautiful floral processions, vendors selling handicrafts and of course, indulging at the host of bars in the area. While the water fights won't be as wild as Patong, other areas like Phuket Town, Kata and Karon are worth visiting as well. Phuket's center of hedonism, Bangla Road, is where you will expect to see the most action, so if you're up for an epic water fight, make your way down there!



Precautions

Wherever you decide to celebrate Songkran, there are some common precautions that you should take to ensure your safety. Here are the essentials: 

- Don't drive a motorbike. Revelers will have no qualms about spraying you with water even if you're on a motorbike. The roads are slippery enough as they are so it's safest to just stay on foot.

- Take a Song Taew or pick-up truck instead. These are much safer and while you will certainly be stuck in traffic, it's worth the wait.

- Grab some waterproof wallets. This is a great way to ensure that you don't get your credit cards or cash damaged. 

- Avoid carry anything expensive. First off, it will get soaked. Secondly, it's easy to get your bag snatched when you're stuck in a big crowd, especially in Pattaya.

- Be mindful of who you target. Never spray the monks and refrain from splashing the elderly. 

- Carry your phones and other electrical equipment in a ziplocked bag. 

- Stick close together if you're travelling with children. The crowds will be huge in Pattaya.

 


Time to Get Wet

Find yourself a bowl, bucket, water pistol or water gun to get started on the festivities. The biggest thrill among locals is dousing someone who isn't wet. Don't be that person and get soaked early, otherwise you'll be an easy target. Glasses, sunglasses and sunscreen are essentials and a hat is advisable as well – Songkran is the hottest time of the year in Thailand.  Book your accommodation well in advance because cities like Phuket, Pattaya and Hua Hin are popular destinations. 

Follow our tips above to prepare yourself for the adventures that lie ahead. Whether you're a seasoned veteran of Songkran festival or it's your first time, one thing's for sure – you'll be part of one of the best parties in the world.