Every year on the night of Loy Krathong, Wat Tha Khanun in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi, hosts a sight rarely seen elsewhere: tens of thousands of small oil lamps, known as “phang prateep,” arranged into intricate patterns and lettering before being lit all at once as an offering to Buddhism. The event has been recognised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as one of the country’s “Unseen Thailand” experiences.

2026 Event Date

According to the Ministry of Culture’s official cultural calendar, the 10,000-lantern offering at Wat Tha Khanun for Loy Krathong 2026 is scheduled for 24 November 2026, coinciding with this year’s Loy Krathong festival.

About the Tradition

Wat Tha Khanun has an ongoing tradition of offering lit lamps as a Buddhist merit-making practice, held on several significant Buddhist holy days throughout the year: Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalha Bucha, and Loy Krathong. Each occasion typically involves arranging between 15,000 and 18,000 lamps into various patterns before lighting them together, alongside a candlelit circumambulation ceremony (wian tian).

Thanks to the striking, coordinated display of tens of thousands of lights, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has recognised this event as one of Kanchanaburi’s “Unseen Thailand” experiences.

Event Location

Wat Tha Khanun is located at Moo 1, Tha Khanun Subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi, on the Kanchanaburi-Sangkhlaburi road. Beyond the lantern ceremony, the temple grounds also feature the Luang Pu Sai Suspension Bridge, a photo spot recommended by TAT’s Kanchanaburi office.

Contact Information

  • Abbot: Phra Khru Wilat Kanchanatham, Dr.
  • Address: Moo 1, Tha Khanun Subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi 71180
  • Phone: 089-815-2472
  • Official Facebook page: Wat Tha Khanun (watthakhanun)

What to Know Before You Go

  • Check the exact ceremony start time via the temple’s official page closer to the event, as it wasn’t confirmed as of this fact-check.
  • This is a religious ceremony — dress modestly and behave respectfully throughout.
  • Expect large crowds, since the date coincides with Loy Krathong — allow extra time for travel and parking.
  • Thong Pha Phum District is a fair distance from Kanchanaburi town — plan your route in advance if travelling from elsewhere in the province.

Connecting with SERENATA Accommodations

Wat Tha Khanun is in Thong Pha Phum District, a different area from the River Kwai zone (Sai Yok District), where several SERENATA Hotels & Resorts Group properties in Kanchanaburi are located. The distance from the River Kwai zone to Wat Tha Khanun remains substantial, making this better suited to travelers planning a multi-day Kanchanaburi trip covering both the River Kwai area and the Thong Pha Phum area, rather than a single-day side trip from a River Kwai-area hotel.

For travelers who’d like to use the River Kwai zone as the starting point of a longer Kanchanaburi trip before continuing on to the Thong Pha Phum area, SERENATA’s properties in that zone include:

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 Wat Tha Khanun lantern offering? It’s scheduled for 24 November 2026, coinciding with this year’s Loy Krathong festival.

Where is Wat Tha Khanun? At Moo 1, Tha Khanun Subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi, on the Kanchanaburi-Sangkhlaburi road.

What is a “phang prateep” lantern offering? It’s the practice of lighting large numbers of small oil lamps, arranged into patterns or lettering, then lit together as a Buddhist offering — a tradition Wat Tha Khanun holds on several religious holy days throughout the year.

Is Wat Tha Khanun close to SERENATA’s Kanchanaburi properties? SERENATA’s Kanchanaburi properties are in the River Kwai zone, Sai Yok District — a different district from Wat Tha Khanun (Thong Pha Phum). It suits travelers planning a multi-day Kanchanaburi trip better than a single day trip from those hotels.

Explore SERENATA’s accommodations in Kanchanaburi Province for planning a trip covering both the River Kwai zone and the Thong Pha Phum area.