In addition to the water festivities, Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai features floating lanterns (or sky lanterns), large paper lanterns that float up into the sky just as a hot air balloon does. Seeing hundreds or thousands of these launched into the air at once is magical. You will also easily find these lanterns for sale in Chiang Mai, and the vendors or other locals will be happy to show you how to light them and launch them into the air. As with the krathong, you hold the floating lantern as a family and then release it up into the air together.