Phi Ta Khon

When: June - July; exact dates move each year and are chosen by local spirit mediums.

Where: Dan Sai, Loei, Thailand - town centre, main temples and nearby roads host the parades and ceremonies.

Cost: Free to watch; temple offerings and private events usually welcome donations.

Don’t miss: The daytime and nocturnal mask parades when painted giants roam the streets, visiting temples and improvising playful antics.

Dan Sai’s Phi Ta Khon, often called the ‘ghost festival’, is a locally organised celebration blending Buddhist merit-making with older animist traditions; villagers and spirit mediums determine its timing and tone each year. It is one of the most visible expressions of rural cultural life in Loei province, Thailand.

Participants craft and wear oversized, hand-painted masks and flamboyant costumes, then parade through town to drums and traditional music, stopping at temples for merit rituals and atches of performative mischief. Expect a lively, informal atmosphere: processions, street performances, food stalls and temple ceremonies all coexist across the streets and temple grounds of Dan Sai.

Phi Ta Khon occurs in June or occasionally July; the precise dates are movable and set annually by local spirit mediums rather than a fixed calendar, so announcements often come only weeks beforehand. The festival typically unfolds over several days, with the busiest moments being the daytime and night-time parades and the temple-focused merit-making ceremonies that anchor the event.

The nearest international airports serving the region are Udon Thani and Khon Kaen, while domestic flights operate into Loei Airport from Bangkok; from those hubs you travel by bus, minivan or private car to reach Dan Sai. Arrive at least a day early to confirm dates and secure accommodation, and book guesthouses well in advance during festival season.

• Confirm exact dates with your hotel or the local tourism office in Dan Sai before travelling - the festival date is decided locally each year.
• Respect temple spaces and ongoing merit-making: remove hats, speak quietly and follow any instructions from monks or organisers.
• Be ready for crowds and playful participants who may tug at or pose with visitors; keep valuables secure and give space to performers.
• June - July is the rainy season in northeastern Thailand - bring lightweight rain gear, insect repellent and sun protection.
• Wear comfortable, closed shoes for uneven streets and long standing; costumes and mask parades can be boisterous and unpredictable.
• Cash is useful - small guesthouses, food stalls and donations at temples often do not accept cards.