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Thailand is renowned for its vibrant festivals, captivating visitors with a tapestry of culture, tradition, and celebration. Beyond the famous Songkran water festival and Loy Krathong’s enchanting lanterns, Thailand boasts a calendar brimming with year-round festivities, each offering a unique and unforgettable experience. Let’s have a look at these magical festivals and events those might enhance the experience of your next incentive trips to Thailand.
Loy Krathong — The Water Lantern Festival (November)
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Witness the enchantment of Loy Krathong as Thailand pays tribute to the Water Goddess for her year-long abundance. Participants of all ages release candlelit floats into the water, symbolically letting go of their troubles. This festival, set against the backdrop of a full moon, offers a mesmerising experience.
Incentive Idea
Organise a Loy Krathong competition for your group, challenging them to craft and release their own krathongs (lanterns). It’s a meaningful team-building activity that also immerses them in this beautiful tradition. Watch this video to see the example of how you can design activities for your trip during Loy Krathong.
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Awakening Bangkok (November-December)
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Be part of Awakening Bangkok, the city’s largest light and digital arts festival. Explore installations and sculptures that breathe life into forgotten structures and historic buildings. This event transforms Bangkok’s old quarter into a vibrant playground of art and creativity.
Incentive Idea
Arrange a private art tour for your group during the festival. Local artists can guide participants through the captivating displays, offering insights into the city’s evolving art scene.
Wonderfruit (December)
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Every year since 2014, just 30 minutes away from Pattaya MICE city, immerse your incentive travellers in a holistic experience at Wonderfruit. This annual gathering combines art, culture, music, and nature. Enjoy renowned chef-hosted banquets, enlightening scratch talks, and activities promoting self-improvement and environmental awareness.
Incentive Idea
Curate a unique Wonderfruit itinerary for your group, including art workshops, meditation sessions, and gourmet dinners prepared by renowned chefs. It’s a transformative journey into creativity and well-being.
Chiang Mai Blooms (February)
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Explore Chiang Mai’s explosion of floral appreciation during this annual festival. Delight in colourful displays of flowers throughout the city and countryside. Special exhibitions, events, and pop-up flower gardens provide a blooming good time.
Incentive Idea
Organize a floral-themed treasure hunt through Chiang Mai’s botanical gardens and parks. Participants can bond while discovering the city’s vibrant floral heritage.
Thailand Art Biennale (March-April)
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Dive into the world of contemporary art at the Thailand Art Biennale in Chiang Rai. Explore innovative installations and exhibits that celebrate a “borderless” world, offering a glimpse into a brighter future through art. The event starts from November 2023 and lasts until April 2024.
Incentive Idea
Engage your group with an art-themed team-building challenge. Participants can create their own artworks inspired by the biennale’s themes.
Songkran (April)
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Celebrate Thailand’s New Year with the Songkran water festival, the world’s largest water fight. While it’s known for its watery fun, Songkran also holds deep cultural significance, making it a unique blend of tradition and excitement.
Incentive Idea
Organise a friendly Songkran water fight for your group, complete with traditional rituals like pouring scented water on Buddha statues. Dress up in Thai traditional or folk outfits. It’s an immersive cultural experience they’ll never forget.
Laguna Phuket Marathon (June)
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Combine sport and tropical beauty at the Laguna Phuket Marathon. This renowned event offers various race distances amid Phuket’s lush landscapes, beautiful beaches, and cultural landmarks.
Incentive Idea
Create a wellness-focused itinerary around the marathon, including yoga sessions, spa treatments, and post-race celebrations by the beach. It’s a holistic approach to incentive travel.
Candle Festivals (July)
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Experience the Candle Festival, a cherished tradition marking key moments in the Buddhist calendar where people make candles for monks to use during the rainy season. Witness grand parades featuring intricate candle sculptures adorned with characters from Buddhist mythology. You will find candle festivals across Thailand, notably cities in the Northeastern region such as Ubon Ratchathani and Korat.
Incentive Idea
Team building rally visiting temples across the city where communities will be preparing their candle floats to join the parade. Enjoy candle making workshops and help the people put candle on the float. Your group can immerse themselves in the mesmerising candlelit processions.
Long-boat Racing Festival (August-September)
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Feel the adrenaline at Thailand’s famous long-boat races. These events celebrate culture, merit-making, and conservation of the major rivers across Thailand. Nonthaburi, Phrae, and Khon Kaen are among the key destinations for the exhilarating boat races.
Incentive Idea
Sponsor your own team to participate in a long-boat race or host a riverside gala dinner with traditional music and dance performances.
Kin Jay "Vegan" Festival (October)
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