Songkran — the Thai New Year — is the highest-demand week in the Thai calendar. Held on 13–15 April every year (with city events often spilling a day either side), it turns whole districts into joyful water fights and fills temples with merit-making. For agents it's a guaranteed seller, but also the hardest week to source: hotels go on minimum-stay, transfers surge, and the wrong neighbourhood can mean either too much chaos or none at all. Here's how Explera packages it.
Where to send which client
- Bangkok — Silom and Khao San Road are the epicentres of the water fights; high-energy, best for younger FIT and groups. For families and luxury clients, we base them on the riverside or Sukhumvit and bring them to curated, safer zones.
- Chiang Mai — the old-city moat is the country's most atmospheric Songkran, blending water play with beautiful temple processions. Books out earliest of all.
- Pattaya — runs the longest celebration (the "Wan Lai" extension in mid-to-late April), useful when April dates are tight elsewhere.
- Phuket & islands — a gentler, beach-side version for clients who want sun with a splash of festival.
Lead times — book two seasons ahead
April is peak season and Songkran, so it's the first week to sell out. We recommend contracting accommodation two seasons in advance; Chiang Mai old-city hotels and Bangkok riverside suites are the first to go. Explera holds Songkran-week allocations with honest release dates.
What we build in
- Family-safe Songkran — curated water-play zones, daytime temple visits for the meaningful side (merit-making, Buddha-image bathing), and air-conditioned downtime.
- Waterproofed logistics — transfers timed around road closures, dry-bag briefings, and guides who know which sois to avoid at peak hours.
- Cultural depth — many clients don't realise Songkran is rooted in cleansing and respect for elders; we add the context that turns a water fight into a story.
- 24/7 duty desk — essential during a week when streets, traffic and timings all change hour to hour.
Looking to 2027
Songkran 2027 is again 13–15 April. UNESCO's recognition of Songkran has only increased international demand, so 2027 inventory tightens even earlier — lock allocations the year before.
Send your April dates and client profile to the Explera trade desk and we'll return a costed, net-rate Songkran program — accommodation, transfers, guiding and the experience itself — built for the exact kind of traveller you're selling.
Frequently asked questions
Which city do I put a family in, versus a young FIT group?
Silom and Khao San Road in Bangkok are the epicentres of the water fights and suit younger FIT and groups. Families and luxury clients go on the riverside or Sukhumvit and are brought to curated, safer zones. Chiang Mai's old-city moat is the most atmospheric version and blends water play with temple processions, and Phuket gives a gentler beach-side take.
How far ahead do I need to contract Songkran accommodation?
Two seasons in advance. April is both peak season and Songkran, so it is the first week of the year to sell out, and hotels move onto minimum-stay terms. Chiang Mai old-city hotels and Bangkok riverside suites go first. Explera holds Songkran-week allocations with honest release dates, so ask the trade desk what is still standing before you quote.
What goes wrong operationally during the week, and how do you cover it?
Streets, traffic and timings change hour to hour, so transfers are timed around road closures, clients get dry-bag briefings, and guides know which sois to avoid at peak hours. A duty desk runs around the clock through the week. We also build in daytime temple visits and air-conditioned downtime so a family itinerary is not water from dawn to dusk.
My April 2027 dates are tight. What are my options?
Songkran 2027 is again 13–15 April, with city events often spilling a day either side. Pattaya runs the longest celebration — the Wan Lai extension in mid-to-late April — which is the usual answer when the core dates are gone elsewhere. UNESCO recognition has increased international demand, so lock 2027 allocations the year before.
