Events & Festivals - November

Golden Mount Fair

Date TBC, Wat Saket, Bangkok, central Thailand

Worshippers come from all over the world and merrymaking abounds at this Buddhist monastery where a candlelit procession ascends to the peak on the night of the full moon.

Bangkok International Wine Fair

Date TBC, Siam Paragon, Bangkok, central Thailand

Spicy, fruity, tangy wine flavours from around the world dance on your tongue at this fab fair. Small and boutique wine producers connect with distributors in Thailand and South-East Asia.

Nan Traditional Long Boat Races

Date TBC, Nan Province, north Thailand

The competition has boats of small, medium and large categories with a cheer squad competition, Thai food contest, arts ’n’ crafts fair and OTOP products sale.

Bloomin Bua Tong Festival

1 Nov – 5 Dec, Mae Hong Son, north Thailand

Feel the cool breeze of wintertime while appreciating the natural beauty of the enchanting bua tong, or Mexican sunflower. Camp in a field alongside the beautiful bloom.

Loy Krathong Festival

10 Nov, nationwide

Loy Krathong is a festival occurring on the full moon of the 12th lunar month. Loy means "to float" and a krathong is a small, hand-made boat or raft set adrift on water with a wish.

Phimai Festival

10 – 13 Nov, Nakhon Ratchasima, north-east Thailand

The event will include a light and sound presentation, river dances, traditional long boat races, art presentations, cultural performances and local food competitions.

Trio for Justice

13 Nov, Sankampeang, Chiang Mai, north Thailand

Choose from a half-marathon, 10K run and 5K walk through stunning rural Thai scenery. Proceeds go to Burmese and northern ethnic minority school children.

Yara Bangkok Challenge

13 Nov, Bangkok Fishing Park, central Thailand

Teams of two cycle, run, kayak and swim past paddy fields, lakes, canals, temples and farmland. There are different levels of competition, with categories for men, women, seniors and mixed.

Surin Elephant Roundup

19-20 Nov, Surin Province, north-east Thailand

To commemorate both the importance of the Thai elephant and the local peoples’ close relationship with them, the Surin Roundup has been held annually since 1960.

Phuket International Soccer 7s

26 – 27 Nov, Phuket, central Thailand

The largest tournament of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, the 7s will see four tournaments, comprising 80 teams from 17 countries taking part.

Bangkok Marathon

27 Nov, Bangkok, central Thailand

The historic run is divided into four sections: marathon (42.195 km), wheelchair marathon (42.195 km); mini-marathon (10.5 km); walk and run for good health marathon (5 km).

Laguna Phuket Triathlon

27 Nov, Phuket, south Thailand

Competitors tackle a gruelling 1.8km swim, 55km bike race and 12km run through the tropical landscape. There is also a 6km fun run for a more relaxed challenge.

Outdoor Adventure

From the mountains in the north to the rainforests of the south, a variety of adventures allow visitors to trek, crawl and be carried through Thailand’s jungles. Monkeys and birds inhabit the canopy, while elephants and mahouts part the brush with their tourist cargo.

1) Kanchanaburi

Western Thailand is a scenic landscape of dragon-scaled limestone mountains bejewelled with silvery waterfalls and rushing rivers. Kayak the famous River Kwai, explore the forest aboard an elephant, or soak away your aches in nearby hot springs.

2) Chiang Mai

No other urban centre in Thailand is so close to so many outdoor adventures as Chiang Mai. Mountain-bike down Doi Suthep, bike to hill-tribe villages, visit an elephant sanctuary, or rappel down a thundering waterfall.

3) Chiang Rai

Loads of trekking companies will haul you off to hill-tribe villages but few provide as much economic benefit to these communities as the eco-minded companies in Chiang Rai.

4) Mae Hong Son Province

So far northwest, this province is nearly in Myanmar, and the remoteness is more obvious after the gruelling bus ride through altitude-climbing switchbacks. Treks plunge into the wilderness to visit subsisting hill-tribe villages and white-water trips brave the rapids.

5) Khao Yai National Park

A vast monsoon forest blankets Khao Yai (literally ‘big mountain’) and beyond, catapulting this park into World Heritage status. Nature is all its glory is the primary draw but the show stealers are the day-trip-ping Thais.

6) Kaho Sok National Park

A deep and dark jungle hugs the midsection of southern Thailand. This ancient rainforest is filled with long sweaty hikes, postcard views and riverside camping.

7) Elephant Centres & Mahout Training

Thailand’s beloved pachyderm is no longer an unemployed beast of burden. Centres in Lampang, Pattaya and Chiang Mai teach tourists how to mahouts, and the Elephant Nature Park, outside Chiang Mai, allows domesticated elephants to return to the herd.