Songkran Festivities
If you are visiting Phuket and searching for an idyllic Songkran escape to ring in the Thai New Year. Then look no further than the stunning Banana Beach on Koh Hey Island. This tranquil slice of paradise offers an exotic and rejuvenating take on Songkran festivities, combining lively water activities that revelry with the relaxing vibe of a remote island getaway.
Even though Banana Beach is only accessible by boat from Phuket from the most beautiful piers on the island, just arriving at Banana Beach’s sugary shores instantly transports you to a world away from all the bustling traffic of Songkran madness on the mainland. Koh Hey’s jungled interior rises from the blonde beach creating a sense of blissful seclusion. Yet as you stroll along the powder-soft sands, you’ll quickly discover that Banana Beach knows how to throw an incredible Songkran celebration.
As the new year dates for Songkran arrive here in Thailand the bars and restaurants will spruce up their spaces with vibrant Songkran decorations to get ready for the big parties and tons of people coming in to celebrate, drink, and have fun. There will be colorful strings of flags and flower garlands fluttering in the ocean breeze, giving visitors a reason to be excited for the exciting for the festivities.
Sculptures and shrines depicting mythological figures from the Songkran origin give all the places a festive vibe and a look into the history of the Thai New Year. Music from the beach party and pop-up sound systems fills the air with an energizing soundtrack.
At several points along the beach, you will encounter lively Songkran activities and camps hosted by friendly locals and staff eager to initiate you into the water festival traditions. When you arrive you are greeted with water, at one station, visitors will get doused in fragrant powder and flower-infused water as part of a ritual cleansing and blessing for the new year.
Next, when you arrive at another camp location, offerings of food and flowers are made to Buddha images to bring good fortune. Then next of course, there are plenty of adventurous water battle zones where you can let loose with water guns, buckets, and hoses in spirited Songkran splashing. Kids and adults can enjoy the Songkran festivities all while doing other activities that are offered by Banana Beach Koh Hey.
For those who are keen to experience the cultural side of Songkran more deeply, Banana Beach offers immersive traditional performances and exhibitions. Where you can immerse your family in learning the traditions of Thailand and the style of Thai New Year. You can catch enchanting shows of folk dancers donning brilliantly-colored costumes, reenacting tales of the Songkran goddess Phra Samut Thawharan. Cultural performances provide insight into ancient rituals like the Buddha bathing ceremonies and water pouring ritual. It’s a vivid celebration of the festival’s rich heritage. Where everyone can get to know more on what the holiday is about while also having fun.
Of course, Songkran at Banana Beach still maintains a laid-back island vibe that’s all about lounging, relaxing, and excitement. Visitors can dine on fiery Thai curries, fresh-caught seafood, and tropical fruits at the charming beach bungalow eatery tucked under swaying palm trees. As you watch the Hornbill birds flock around along with other local animals that are on the beautiful beach. As for drinks, you will find everything from plastic bucket cocktails to frosty Chang beers to quench your thirst during water fight breaks.
As the afternoon sun dips towards the horizon and behind the Thai mountains, the Songkran fever on Banana Beach reaches its zenith as neon-hued water guns and ice coolers of liquid ammunition emerge for one final raucous battle royale. As the beach becomes a vibrant, splashing free-for-all with no regard for keeping dry, you will enjoy plenty of fun from the busy city life. Laughing children and adults alike charge through the chaos until the sun’s final rays disappear into the Andaman Sea.
Right darkness falls, and Banana Beach’s party spirit continues unabated with lively outdoor celebrations, right before you embark on your journey back to the Chalong pier, you will embody some fun dancing on the sand, fire shows, and a palpable electric energy in the air. As you sip your last cocktail around a beach bonfire, salty air kissing your sunburnt cheeks, you will feel as if you have entered a dreamlike state far removed from the stresses of modern life.
Songkran on Banana Beach is a kaleidoscope of vibrant experiences, from raging water fights and lively dance performances to quiet moments of ritual and celebration of Thai culture’s richness. Yet it is one of the greatest and most remote, untamed settings of jungled cliffs and sun-kissed sands that whisks you away to a bohemian style for this magical New Year’s festival.
