Spend Thai New Year in Koh Samui Luxury
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year, celebrated annually from April 13 to 15 as a time for purification, reunions, and renewals. The place to experience it is at this luxury beachfront sanctuary.
Known globally as a massive, nationwide water fight, the festival’s water splashing symbolizes washing away bad luck, sins, and welcoming a fresh start in the hottest month of the year. But we can think of something better: A five-star beachfront resort in Thailand’s famed Koh Samui with curated experiences.
Centara Reserve Samui presents a two-day program shaped around how the Thai New Year is truly meant to be enjoyed; beginning with morning rituals, moving into festive gatherings, and concluding over shared food and live music to set the scene for an unforgettable evening experience. Across April 12 and 13, guests will feel like they are at the centre of the festivities through traditional ceremonies, live performances, expertly curated Thai cuisine, and cocktails concocted from local Thai spirits.
Sunday 12th April: Songkran Beachfront Brunch
Salt Society Beach Bar & Kitchen hosts a Songkran brunch accompanied by a drum parade moving through the resort before live DJ and band performances lead into water celebrations along the shoreline.
The “Vitamin A” brunch option for the brunch includes soft drinks, the “Vitamin B” brunch package includes soft drinks, wine, beer, and cocktails, while “Vitamin SEA” adds sparkling Prosecco. The cocktail selection focuses on Thailand’s craft distillation: cocktails are prepared using Chalong, Dandy, Saneha, and Lanna spirits, and are inspired by Thai ingredients and flavors.
Monday 13th April: Ceremony and Evening Feast
The morning begins with monks leading the Rod Nam Dum Hua blessing ceremony, where guests offer water as a gesture of respect and receive blessings for the year ahead. A traditional procession follows, easing into Songkran water celebrations across the property.
In the evening, Act 5 – The Grill presents a Songkran buffet dinner from 18:30 – 22:30 hrs., featuring Thai live music, dances and a fire show.
The menu highlights celebratory Thai dishes prepared across live stations and buffet counters, including:
- Pad Thai Goong Sod – Wok-fried rice noodles with prawns cooked to order
- Gai Gab Moo Yang – Charcoal-grilled pork neck and marinated chicken
- Hor Mok Pla – Steamed fish custard in banana leaf
- Gaeng Massaman Gai – Slow-stewed chicken Massaman curry
- Nuea Pad Nam Man Hoi – Wok-fried Wagyu beef with oyster sauce
- Yum Thai and Khao Phad Puu – Tossed spicy Thai salads and crab meat fried rice
Traditional desserts complete the meal, including Look Chup – moulded mung bean sweets and Khao Niew Mamuang – fresh mango with sweet sticky rice, prepared live. Dinner includes a welcome drink, with optional beverage packages available. An outdoor cocktail bar continues the celebration into the evening, offering locally inspired drinks and a guest mixologist’s four-cocktail tasting flight, with this special drinks package inspired by Thai spirits and flavors.
Stay Experiences
Guests staying during the period can pair the celebrations with the resort’s signature stays; The Reserve Journey, The Suite Reserve Experience and The Villa Reserve Experience, which remain bookable throughout the special holiday period.
Songkran at Centara Reserve Samui centers on the essentials of the festival: paying respect in the morning, gathering together in the afternoon , and sharing vibrant celebrations in the evening, experienced through Thai cooking, Thai music , and Thai spirits, throughout the entire festival.
Getting There
To get to the Songkran 2026 celebrations at Centara Reserve Samui, you should plan to arrive in Koh Samui by April 12, 2026, when the resort’s specific two-day program begins. The resort is located at the tranquil southern end of Chaweng Beach, approximately 15 minutes from Samui International Airport (USM).
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