Phichit Long Boat Race

Held annually in September on the Nan River in Phichit province, the Royal Cup Long Boat Race provides spectators with plenty of thrills as up to 50 teams, featuring the country’s most talented oarsmen, compete for the prestigious Royal Cup. 

Traditionally crafted from a single log, a long boat has plank seats to hold up to 30 paddlers who may be male and/or female. Village teams can spend months honing their techniques for the big day when they race down the course, cheered by thousands of spectators lining the banks.

The winning boat earns glory for the village that built and propelled it. The boats and races trace a lineage virtually unchanged since the foundation of the Thai kingdom in the 13th century, and are the ultimate reflection of an ages-old love affair between the Thais and their rivers.

The races are divided into four categories: races with 41-55 paddlers; races with 31-40 paddlers; races with fewer than thirty paddlers; and kor song category races.

Preceding the races, decorative boat processions take place on the river in front of Tha Luang Pier. The event is celebrated with various kinds of cultural shows, music performances as well as an OTOP (One tambon, one product) Fair, featuring local products, including pomelo, guava, tamarind, and other organically-grown fruits and vegetables.

For further information call the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Northern Office (Region 4) in Tak on Tel: +66 (0)55 514 341-3.