Last updated 11 October 2026. We will keep this guide current as festival dates and airport figures come in.
The first week of October gave us an early read on the season ahead. While China was on its Golden Week holiday, Chiang Mai International Airport handled an average of 24,317 passengers a day, 11.34% more than usual and roughly 170,000 people across the week. Chinese arrivals averaged 1,744 a day, about 37% above the September average. For a city whose hotels spent August at 50% occupancy, that is a welcome start.
There is more on the way. New flights from Busan begin on 11 November, Yi Peng fills the city from 23 to 25 November, and Thai families get four long weekends between now and the end of February. We have pulled the dates, the figures and the practical details into one guide for our members and for anyone running a business in Chiang Mai this season.
In short, Chiang Mai’s 2026 to 2027 high season runs from late October to the end of February. The airport expects about 9.97 million passengers this year, and China, South Korea and Taiwan are its biggest international markets. Yi Peng takes place on 23 to 25 November, and sky lanterns are allowed only on the evenings of 24 and 25 November.
When is Chiang Mai’s high season in 2026 and 2027?
Chiang Mai’s 2026 to 2027 high season runs from late October to the end of February. The busiest dates are Yi Peng from 23 to 25 November, the New Year long weekend from 31 December to 3 January and Lunar New Year on 6 February 2027. Four Thai long weekends, new Korean flights from 11 November and Chiang Mai Design Week in December add further peaks for local businesses.
This is the calendar we are working from. It is worth pinning somewhere your team will see it.
| Date | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 19 October | RTC line 24 city bus returns with free trial rides | A low-cost airport and city link for guests |
| 23 to 25 October | Long weekend for Chulalongkorn Day | First domestic travel peak of the season |
| Late October | Winter flight schedule begins | Restored and added international routes |
| 11 November | Air Busan launches Busan to Chiang Mai | New Korean capacity, four flights a week |
| 23 to 25 November | Yi Peng and Loy Krathong | The season’s busiest nights, lanterns on 24 and 25 November |
| 5 to 7 December | Long weekend for Father’s Day | Domestic demand peak |
| Early to mid December | Chiang Mai Design Week, 2026 dates to be confirmed | Creative and craft visitors across the Old City |
| 22 December | Air Busan moves to six flights a week | Korean winter peak begins |
| 31 December to 3 January | New Year long weekend | Domestic and international peak |
| 6 February 2027 | Lunar New Year | Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean holiday travel |
| Early February | Chiang Mai Flower Festival, traditionally the first weekend | Family and domestic visitors |
| 20 to 22 February | Long weekend for Makha Bucha | Final domestic peak of the season |
How busy will Chiang Mai be this high season?
Chiang Mai International Airport expects about 9.97 million passengers in 2026, and international passengers rose 14% to about 1.95 million between January and August. During China’s Golden Week from 1 to 7 October, the airport averaged 24,317 passengers and 182 flights a day. Air Busan’s new route adds roughly 19,000 seats between 11 November and 28 February, by CMBN’s estimate.
These are the figures we would want in front of us when planning rosters and rates. The last row is our own estimate, worked out from Air Busan’s published schedule.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average daily passengers, Golden Week 1 to 7 October | 24,317, up 11.34% |
| Average daily flights, Golden Week | 182, up 19.74% |
| Chinese arrivals per day, Golden Week | 1,744, about 37% above September |
| International passengers, January to August 2026 | About 1.95 million, up 14% |
| Expected airport passengers, full year 2026 | About 9.97 million |
| Northern hotel occupancy, August 2026 | 50% |
| New Air Busan seats into Chiang Mai, 11 November to 28 February | About 19,000 (CMBN estimate) |
Which new flights serve Chiang Mai in winter 2026?
Air Busan launches a Busan to Chiang Mai route on 11 November with four flights a week, rising to six a week from 22 December to 28 February. Etihad Airways resumes its Abu Dhabi service for the winter schedule, VietJet and Ruili Airlines opened routes from Ho Chi Minh City and Xishuangbanna in October, and flights from Shanghai and Incheon return or add frequencies from late October.
Most of this year’s growth at the airport has come from international travel. Between January and August it handled 6.53 million passengers and 43,544 flights, roughly level with last year overall, while international passengers rose 14% to about 1.95 million. The winter schedule from late October adds six new, restored or busier routes across five airlines.
Etihad’s return matters more than its size suggests, because it puts Chiang Mai back on a direct line to Abu Dhabi and the Gulf. Shanghai and Incheon flights also return or add frequencies, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand lists two October launches, VietJet from Ho Chi Minh City and Ruili Airlines from Xishuangbanna.
The change we are watching most closely comes from Korea. Air Busan starts flying from Busan on 11 November, four times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a 232-seat Airbus A321neo. From 22 December to 28 February it goes up to six flights a week. The airline says it is aiming at families and golfers, which fits what Chiang Mai already does well.
We did the sums. Four flights a week from 11 November to 21 December comes to 24 arrivals, and six a week until 28 February adds about 59 more. At 232 seats each, that is roughly 19,000 seats from one new route. Hotels need to plan around the timing, because the flights land at 10.55pm and most of those guests will check in close to midnight.
| Route | Airline | What changes this winter |
|---|---|---|
| Busan to Chiang Mai | Air Busan | New from 11 November, four flights a week, six a week from 22 December |
| Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai | Etihad Airways | Resumes for the winter schedule |
| Ho Chi Minh City to Chiang Mai | VietJet | Launched in October |
| Xishuangbanna to Chiang Mai | Ruili Airlines | Launched in October |
| Shanghai and Incheon to Chiang Mai | Various | Routes return or add frequencies |
| Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son and Pai | EZY Airlines | Daily regional flights |
For guests who want to go further north, EZY Airlines runs two daily flights to Mae Hong Son and one to Pai, each under an hour. That is an easy extra night or two to sell.
Where do Chiang Mai’s high-season visitors come from?
China is Chiang Mai’s largest international market, followed by South Korea and Taiwan, and Chinese and South Korean travellers make up more than half of international passengers at the airport. Younger Chinese travellers are staying longer and looking for food, culture and nature. Korean visitors favour golf, family trips and the cool season, and Thai travellers fill four long weekends between October and February.
China is still the biggest market, according to the airport, with South Korea second and Taiwan third. In September, 38,117 Chinese nationals came through Chiang Mai airport, about 1,271 a day, before Golden Week lifted that figure.
Chinese visitors are younger and staying longer
Chiang Mai now has direct flights to eight Chinese cities: Chongqing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Xi’an, Jinghong and Hong Kong. The airport cites Trip.com Group data showing that bookings to Chiang Mai rose during Golden Week compared with last year, with strong interest from people aged 18 to 24.
We see that younger traveller as good news for the city. Nationally, the Tourism Authority of Thailand expected about 250,000 Chinese visitors over the 13-day holiday, 24% more than last year, spending over 11.5 billion baht, with average stays stretching from eight days to 13. Someone staying close to two weeks has time for a day out in Mae Rim and a second dinner at the place they liked, and that kind of trip plays to Chiang Mai’s strengths.
Korean visitors come for golf, families and the cool season
Korea has been a steady winter market for Chiang Mai for years. In the first seven months of 2025, more than 165,000 Korean travellers flew directly to Chiang Mai, up over 20% on the year before, and Chiang Mai took about 12% of all Korean arrivals to Thailand.
Local operators have been working hard for that business. In May, the Association of Northern Tourism Federation Chiang Mai, backed by the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization, took 35 hotels, agencies and community operators to Seoul to meet more than 50 Korean travel partners. They pitched Chiang Mai 365 Days, a year-round campaign built on culture, festivals and food, along with newer routes through Mae On, Mae Rim and Chiang Dao.
The delegation came back with a clear view of its best Korean customers: golfers between October and February, and corporate incentive groups. Air Busan’s new route is aimed squarely at the first of those.
Thai travellers fill the long weekends
It is easy to focus on international arrivals and forget how much of Chiang Mai’s season depends on Thai visitors. This year they get four long weekends: Chulalongkorn Day on 23 October, Father’s Day with its substitute holiday on 7 December, New Year from 31 December, and Makha Bucha with its substitute holiday on 22 February. The domestic airport charge stays at 130 baht under the government’s domestic tourism policy, which helps keep a Bangkok weekend in Chiang Mai affordable.
How are Chiang Mai hotels performing ahead of the high season?
Hotels in Chiang Mai’s Nimman area report rising occupancy, higher average room rates and growing forward bookings for the final quarter of 2026. The north starts from a lower base, with average occupancy of 50% in August against 64% nationally, according to the Thai Hotels Association and Bank of Thailand survey. The association advises hotels to check staffing, supplies and equipment before the peak.
The early signs from Nimman are encouraging. Boutique Corporation, which owns the Novotel and ibis Chiang Mai Nimman Journeyhub hotels, reported rising occupancy and room rates on 1 October, with fourth-quarter bookings building steadily. Its chief executive singled out Chiang Mai as a market where demand has picked up as the season approaches.
The wider picture is more mixed, and we would rather be straight with readers about that. The Thai Hotels Association and Bank of Thailand August survey put average occupancy at 50% in the north, against 73% in the central region and 64% nationally. Hotels across Thailand also reported fourth-quarter bookings below last year, especially from China. Set against that, Chiang Mai’s Golden Week figures look even better.
The same survey found more hotels short of staff in August, which mostly shows up in service quality rather than in the number of guests a hotel can take. The association’s advice is to check staffing, supplies and equipment before the busy months. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s plan for the final quarter puts value ahead of volume, with bigger events and more visitor spending reaching secondary cities and communities.
When is Yi Peng 2026, and what are the lantern rules?
Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng festival runs from 23 to 25 November 2026, alongside Loy Krathong, with the Grand Krathong procession on 25 November. Under the provincial announcement, sky lanterns and fireworks are permitted only on 24 and 25 November from 7pm to 1am, and smoke lanterns only on 24 November from 10am to noon. Lanterns must meet the Thai community product standard.
Yi Peng is the Lanna festival of the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, held in Chiang Mai alongside Loy Krathong. The governor describes it as the highest cultural symbol of the Lanna people, and for many of us in Chiang Mai it is the moment the season properly arrives. Chiang Mai Municipality has confirmed that the festival runs from 23 to 25 November 2026, with the Grand Krathong procession competing for the royal trophy on 25 November.
At a provincial preparation meeting on 7 October, Governor Thossapol Phuean-udom set out the programme. It includes forest-arch gateways around the city, traditional clay lamps, cultural performances, the Yi Peng pageant and Lanna lantern contest, krathong floating, the Tang Tham Luang sermon and the lantern releases themselves.
The lantern rules are what your guests will ask about first, so it pays to know them well.
| What | Permitted days | Permitted hours |
|---|---|---|
| Sky lanterns and fireworks | 24 and 25 November | 7pm to 1am the following morning |
| Smoke lanterns | 24 November only | 10am to noon |
Lanterns have to meet the Thai community product standard, stay up for no more than seven minutes and carry no firecrackers. The province is also running Yi Peng as a green event this year, with an e-donation platform that raises money for forest communities who look after local ecosystems and help prevent wildfires. We like that idea, and it is an easy thing for hotels to mention to guests who want to give something back.
For businesses, 24 and 25 November are the big nights. Guests who know the lantern days and hours before they arrive have a better festival, and they remember who told them.
Design Week and the Flower Festival extend the season
Yi Peng gets most of the attention, but the season keeps going well after it. Chiang Mai Design Week, run each December by the Creative Economy Agency, took place from 6 to 14 December in 2025 across the Old City, Chang Moi, Tha Phae and other venues, with exhibitions, workshops, markets and music built around northern craft. Last year’s theme, crafting wellness from local essence, suited the city well, and we expect the 2026 edition in the same early to mid December window.
The Chiang Mai Flower Festival usually takes the first weekend of February, and Lunar New Year on 6 February 2027 brings Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean holidaymakers the same week. Between them they give businesses a second peak after New Year, before things quieten down at the end of February.
How is Chiang Mai preparing for visitor safety this season?
Chiang Mai has a joint high-season plan linking the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, Nakornping Hospital, the Tourist Police and government agencies. Launched on 24 September 2026, it sets out procedures for helping foreign visitors, access to emergency medical care and hospital referrals, and a single coordination channel between tourism businesses, hospitals and the authorities throughout the season.
This is one of the less visible parts of the season, and one of the more reassuring. On 24 September, Deputy Governor Siwa Thamikanon launched a high-season cooperation plan that links the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, Nakornping Hospital, the Tourist Police and government agencies. It builds on an agreement the association and the hospital signed in February 2026.
The plan sets out how foreign visitors get help, emergency medical care and hospital referrals, with one coordination channel between tourism businesses, hospitals, the Tourist Police and the authorities. Association president Supamit Kitjapipat said the aim is to turn the agreement into working systems that give visitors and operators confidence throughout their stay. If you run a hotel or a tour business, it is worth knowing that this channel exists before you need it.
The national backdrop is solid. Thailand welcomed more than 22 million foreign tourists between January and September 2026, generating over 1 trillion baht. Support for domestic travel comes after the peak, with the government’s Thai Tiew Thai Plus scheme now expected in the low season from around April 2027, when hotels need the extra demand most.
What weather and transport can visitors expect in Chiang Mai?
The Thai Meteorological Department expects rain to ease across upper Thailand from mid October, with daytime highs of 31 to 35°C in the north. For getting around, the RTC line 24 bus loop links Chiang Mai Airport with Nimmanhaemin, Chang Phueak bus terminal, Warorot Market, Tha Phae Gate and Wualai Road every 20 minutes at a flat fare of 50 baht.
After a wet few weeks, the weather is finally turning. The Thai Meteorological Department’s seven-day forecast issued on 11 October expects rain to ease across upper Thailand from 12 to 17 October, with only isolated storms in the north, nights of 20 to 25°C and days of 31 to 35°C. Last year the department declared the start of the cool season on 23 October.
Getting around is about to become easier too. Regional Transit Corporation is bringing back its RTC line 24 bus, a loop that runs both ways between the airport, Nimmanhaemin, Chang Phueak bus terminal, Warorot Market, Tha Phae Gate and Wualai Road. Two buses offer free trial rides from 10 to 19 October, three take over from 25 October, five are planned for Yi Peng, and by December seven vehicles will run from 6am to 10pm with a monthly pass available
Buses come every 20 minutes and cost 50 baht, and passengers can tap a Mastercard credit or debit card to pay. The company plans a waiting area inside the airport terminal from late November. For hotels, that is a cheap and simple airport transfer to suggest to guests who arrive without one booked.
How can Chiang Mai businesses prepare for the high season?
Chiang Mai businesses prepare best by planning staff and stock for 24 and 25 November and the New Year weekend, briefing guests on lantern rules and the RTC airport bus, and packaging products for the main markets. Korean golfers and families, younger Chinese travellers and Thai long-weekend visitors each want different things, and accurate online listings help all of them find local businesses.
The Thai Hotels Association’s advice on staffing, supplies and equipment applies to anyone serving visitors, and 24 and 25 November deserve a plan of their own. Beyond that, this is how we see the opportunity for each part of Chiang Mai’s visitor economy.
| Business type | The opportunity | What to do now |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels and serviced apartments | Late-night Air Busan arrivals, Yi Peng peak nights and four Thai long weekends | Staff the front desk for arrivals near midnight, set Yi Peng minimum stays early and brief guests on lantern days and the RTC airport bus |
| Restaurants, cafes and bars | Longer Chinese stays and younger travellers who seek out local food | Publish menus and opening hours in English and Chinese, and plan extra capacity for 24 and 25 November |
| Tour, golf and activity operators | Korean golfers and families from October to February, and interest in Mae On, Mae Rim and Chiang Dao | Package golf, family and countryside half-days, and promote EZY Airlines add-ons to Pai and Mae Hong Son |
| Wellness, spa and health businesses | A national tourism focus on wellness, and a Design Week theme built on crafting wellness from local essence | Create seasonal wellness packages and partner with hotels on guest offers |
| Crafts, retail and markets | Design Week crowds, Flower Festival visitors and gift buying at Lunar New Year | Time new products and workshops for December, and list opening hours clearly online |
| Transport and event services | The busiest festival nights and a new bus line linking the airport to the Old City | Plan Yi Peng routes and pick-up points with guests in advance, and share the RTC timetable |
The last piece is simply being easy to find. When demand peaks, visitors and partners look for accurate details quickly, and the Golden Pages business directory is built for exactly that. If you want to follow the season alongside other operators, join CMBN. You can also read our look at the Chiang Mai property market and our latest articles.
Frequently asked questions
When is high season in Chiang Mai?
The high season runs from the start of the winter flight schedule in late October through February. Air Busan treats 22 December to 28 February as its winter peak and increases its Busan service to six flights a week for that period.
When is Yi Peng 2026 in Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng festival runs from 23 to 25 November 2026. The Grand Krathong procession takes place on 25 November.
When can visitors release sky lanterns during Yi Peng?
Sky lanterns and fireworks are permitted on 24 and 25 November only, from 7pm to 1am the following morning. Smoke lanterns are permitted on 24 November from 10am to noon. Lanterns must meet the Thai community product standard and carry no firecrackers.
Which new flights serve Chiang Mai this winter?
Air Busan launches a Busan to Chiang Mai route on 11 November. Etihad Airways resumes its Abu Dhabi service, VietJet and Ruili Airlines launched routes from Ho Chi Minh City and Xishuangbanna in October, and routes to Shanghai and Incheon return or add frequencies.
Where do Chiang Mai’s international visitors come from?
China is the largest international market, followed by South Korea and Taiwan. Chinese and South Korean travellers together account for more than half of international passengers at Chiang Mai airport.
Which Thai long weekends fall in the 2026 to 2027 high season?
The long weekends are 23 to 25 October for Chulalongkorn Day, 5 to 7 December for Father’s Day, 31 December to 3 January for New Year, and 20 to 22 February for Makha Bucha.
How can visitors get from Chiang Mai airport to the city?
The RTC line 24 bus links the airport with Nimmanhaemin, Chang Phueak bus terminal, Warorot Market, Tha Phae Gate and Wualai Road every 20 minutes at a flat fare of 50 baht, with tap-to-pay by Mastercard cards.
Chiang Mai goes into this season with new seats, a broader mix of visitors and a clear set of peak dates. The work now is getting ready for those November nights, and the businesses that do it well will feel the benefit right through to the end of February.
