New Year’s Day: although Thais traditionally celebrate the Buddhist New Year (Songkran) in April, they still take the opportunity to party with the rest of the world on New Year’s Eve.

Macha Bucha: this important Buddhist holiday, which falls on the full moon, is the annual gathering of the leading Buddhist minds in Thailand. It’s a national holiday when Buddhist Thais go to their local temple to make merit.

Lanta Lanta Festival: this three-day event celebrates the island’s cultural heritage with a number of fun events in Old Town Lanta.

Songkran: Thailand’s traditional New Year is a week-long water festival where everyone sprinkles or splashes water on each other in an act of friendship, well-wishes for the New Year and general good-natured fun.

Coronation Day: this national holiday commemorates the day that the current king of Thailand assumed the throne with lots of tributes and love directed to the king.

Loi Ruea Chao Le Festival: this rare and interesting event happens twice a year, when Sea Gypsies from Koh Lanta and neighbouring islands come together to dance their traditional rong ngeng dance and set their fishing boats adrift in the hope of good fortune for the coming year.

Khao Phansa Day: also known as Buddhist Lent, this is the day when the monks retreat into their temples for a three-month hiatus during the rainy season.

HM Queen’s Birthday: this is a special day for Thais as they celebrate the birthday of their beloved queen with tributes, parades and special events.

Chulalongkorn Day: Thais remember one of their most important kings, King Chulalongkorn, on this national holiday by relaxing with their families.

Krabi Berk Fah Andaman: this regional festival celebrates the start of the annual tourist high season in the Krabi area with water sport competitions, cultural performances and lots of fun.

Loy Kratong: though not as popular in southern Thailand, this wonderful festival involves floating lanterns along the waterways and sending them sailing away into the night sky. Fireworks and lots of partying also accompany this popular event.

HM King’s Birthday: much of Thai culture revolves around the monarchy, which is universally revered in Thailand, and this day celebrates the birthday of the world’s longest reigning monarch.