What is the Chak Phra Festival?
The Chak Phra Festival is held in October every year. Surat Thani celebrates the official end of the annual 3-month Buddhist Rains retreat (Phansa) with the Chak Phra Festival (literally the procession of hauling the Buddha image).
The tradition stems from the belief that the Buddha ascended to Heaven during Phansa to preach to his mother. The festival marks the Buddha's return to Earth, and is an occasion for religious merit-making and general celebrations.
Processions and boat races
Local people organize dazzling land and waterborne processions of revered Buddha images (to symbolize the Buddha's return to Earth) and boat races on the Tapi River where long boats, each manned by up to 50 oarsmen, are ebulliently raced.
Religious devotion, spectacle and merriment combine to make Surat Thani's Chak Phra Festival a memorable annual event.
Dates and location
- Date: TBA
- Location: Surat Thani Town
The exact dates follow the lunar calendar and are confirmed closer to the time, so check locally before you fix your travel plans.
How to get to the Chak Phra Festival
The festival takes place in Surat Thani Town, on the mainland coast of southern Thailand. Surat Thani is the main transport hub for the Gulf islands, so it is easy to reach from both the mainland and the islands.
Search your travel dates on our booking page to see the operators, departure times, journey durations and current prices for your chosen route. Availability and schedules vary by season, and services around festival dates fill up quickly.
Popular connections
Travellers commonly arrive from the nearby islands and mainland towns. See our Surat Thani destination page for the full list of routes, piers and stations, along with connections from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Plan your trip
Book early if you plan to attend, as accommodation and transport around Surat Thani are in high demand during the festival period.
Read destination information for Surat Thani to plan your route, compare operators and complete your booking.
