FAQ

GENERAL

When is the festival?

From Feb 7th to 16th, 2025. (Everyone must leave the venue on the 17th morning.)

What time/day can I arrive?

You can arrive anytime after 13:00 on February 7th or the subsequent days.  (Please do not arrive on the 6th.)

When is the festival over and until when can I camp/stay there?

The last night of music is on the 16th (Sunday). Please prepare to leave the festival site on the 17th morning. Please DO NOT plan to stay overnight on the 17th (This caused a lot of trouble last year). There will be Songtaews (small vehicles) available for hire that you can share to go to Chiang Mai and possibly Pai.  See the ACCESS page for details including the bus timetable. 

How do I get tickets and how much are they?

Tickets are sold at the door by cash only.  There is no advance sale.  

A Day Pass (1-day ticket) is 300B.

A Full Pass (10-day ticket) is 2,000B.

Free entry for children aged 15 or below.

Dogs are welcome if they are trained to behave. Please be responsible for your dog(s).


See the TICKETS page for more info. 

Can I get a refund?

We will not, under any circumstances, give refunds for tickets that are already purchased. This includes when the event or particular artist’s show is cancelled or partially cancelled due to Force Majeure (i.e, natural disaster, pandemic, emergency situation or any other reasons).  More information on tickets, please refer to the TICKETS page. 

What’s the weather like?

February is the dry season in northern Thailand and it rarely rains. But weather worldwide has become unpredictable: we had a thunderstorm, heavy rain, and flash floods in 2023 😱.

It is quite hot during the day and cold at night (Mountain weather). The temperature difference between the day and night is the greatest in this season. So, make sure to prepare some warm clothes, mats, blankets and other measures for the cold.

Are there vegan food at the festival? 

Yes. But there are no vegan-only vendors so please communicate with the staff before placing your order. 

TRAVEL

How to get to the festival?

Click HERE for a Google Map. The venue name in Thai is ค่ายลูกเสืออำเภอเชียงดาว


There is a public bus every 30 min to 1 hour from Chiang Mai (in northern Thailand) to Chiang Dao. (74 km, about 1.5 to 2 hours bus ride). Take a songthaew (a small motor vehicle) from the Chiang Dao bus stop (about 10 minutes ride).  You can also rent a car or bike in Chiang Mai and drive there. 


See the ACCESS page for more information.


Do you have a ride-share board?

Sorry, we do not have it.  Please use existing Facebook groups to find people to share rides with.

Visit Chiang Mai” FB Group and "Our Pai Family" FB Group may be a good place to post or search for a rideshare from/to Chiang Mai and Pai respectively. 

 
There will be ride-sharing opportunities with Songtawes (small vehicles) when you leave the festival site on the 17th morning.

How can I get to the festival site once I arrive at Chiang Dao bus stop?

The festival site, Yang Pu Toh Campsite (ค่ายลูกเสืออำเภอเชียงดาว) is about 6 km from the bus stop. (Map) Find a songthaew driver and negotiate the price. There should be many of them near the bus stop. You may share a songthaew with other festivalgoers. It takes about 10 min. See the ACCESS tab for more info.

Do you have the timetable for the public bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Dao?

Yes, we do. The bus runs every 30 min to 1 hour between 6:00 am and 17:30 and it costs 90 THB. See the ACCESS page for the timetable and other transportation info.

Can I rent a car in Chang Mai and drive to the festival?

Yes. See the ACCESS page for the map and directions.

How can I find accommodation around the festival area for a family?

Shambhala is a unique 10-day camp-in festival where you can experience nature, simple living and community-building 24/10 😄. There are always families with young children camping. You can rent tents and sleeping bags from a vendor (see below for info). We do not have a list of recommended guesthouses. 

If I stay in a cottage/guest house near the venue, is there a means of transportation to the festival?

You can take a songthaew. Please ask your cottage/guesthouse staff for the arrangement.

STUFF

Do you rent or sell tents, sleeping bags, blankets, and straw mats? 

The festival organizer does NOT rent tents or blankets. 

A private vendor rents and sells them at the festival site (near the entrance). They close early. 

You can also buy tents and other items in Chiang Dao town centre (about 3-4 km away). 

Cheap tents and mats can be found in Chiang Mai city, too. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for more info. 


If you buy a tent and don't need it after the festival you are welcome to donate it to the festival.  Please bring it to the entrance when you leave. 

What should I bring?

(Unless you are staying out in guesthouses,) Shambhala is a camping festival, so, bring whatever you normally bring for camping such as…


IMPORTANT:

We lost the last location and had to move because some of the festival attendees were caught possessing illegal hard drugs. Because of this, we had to agree to the police for their daily routine check for drugs at our festival site. Please respect our festival and do NOT bring, possess, carry, buy or sell drugs. Otherwise, you will become the cause of ending Shambhala! If we see anyone having, taking, selling or buying drugs, he/she must pack and leave the festival immediately!!

Is there a safe place to store valuables?

Sorry, we cannot take responsibility for your valuables. Bring them at your own risk.

Is there anywhere to charge a device at the festival and is there a WiFi signal?

We do have a phone charging station which everyone can use near the HePoPa Kitchen, but it is always very crowded, and we do not take any responsibility for lost or stolen items. We do not have a WiFi signal.at we do not have sorry!

Is there a LOST & FOUND department? 

Yes. Go to the information desk near He Po Pa Kitchen. 

Can I sell food or drinks at the festival?

Only the sellers with local THAI staff or staff with WORKING VISAS are permitted to set up shops at the festival.  See the VENDORS page on this website for more info.

Can I sell items other than food and drink at the festival?

Pop-up shops are welcome! See the VENDORS page for more info.  

NOTE:
There may be random police checks during the festival. If you don't have Thai staff to sell your goods or if you don’t have a working visa,  we do not recommend setting up a shop on the main grounds.  You may say something like, "I'm just hanging out near the shop" or "I'm just watching the shop for my “Thai friend” if the police come by and "mistakenly think" you are selling goods without a work visa.  

OTHERS

 I want to be a part-time volunteer and understand that I need to buy my entrance ticket.

If you are interested in being a part-time volunteer, talk to us at the INFORMATION DESK (near the 'Kitchen') when you arrive at the festival site. Please read the VOLUNTEERS page for the details.  

Can I get a free entry to the festival if I volunteer or run a workshop?

No free entry to workshop leaders and part-time volunteers. 

See the WORKSHOP and VOLUNTEERS & STAFF pages for information on how to become a volunteer and lead workshops. 

Can I volunteer to take photos/make videos?

We don’t hire or delegate anyone for photo/video-taking because we like to let them happen organically. To all photographers and videographers, you may take photos/videos if you are so inspired and share them after if you like.

 
Instagram: @shamhhala_fes_official
Facebook: Shambhala In Your Heart
Tag us #shambhalainyourheart

 I am a fire dancer/fire performer. Can I perform?

This year, FIRE JAM will not be organized by the Festival Committee.  You are free to do your fire performance by yourself as long as the place you do it is far from the stages and the campsite and it is done safely. Gather your tribe and create your own FIRE JAM! Please make sure to refrain from making loud noise (i.e., drumming, other music, speaker, etc.) after 11 pm. 

BYO FUEL
The festival will NOT organize these fire jams or provide the fuel for you, so bring your fuel

(If you are purchasing kerosene, make sure that you buy 'whale', not shark)


FUEL CONTAINERS
Fire performers! Please be responsible for used fuel containers and take them with you after your performance or practice. Do not leave them behind unattended at the performance (or practice) site. 

I am a dancer/fire performer and I want to perform at this festival. Can I get a free entry ticket?

We do not offer free entrance for dancers/fire performers, etc. but you are welcome to ask your audience for donations.

I am a musician. Can I perform on stage at this festival?

Application for musicians has been closed on the 21st of December 2024. If you have missed it, please apply for the 2025 Festival which application will open around mid-late October 2025.

There is the Festival Opening Drum Circle on the 7th (Friday) between 5:30 and 6:30 pm.  Everyone regardless of age and music experience is welcome to join.  See the DRUMMERS WANTED page for the details. 


There is an Open Mic on the 14th (Friday) afternoon (12:20 to 4:00 pm).  If you want to play or sing, put your name down at the Information Desk 1-2 days in advance.

It's a wonderful view. What is the name of the mountain? 

It is called Doi Luang Chiang Dao. Here is the Thai Tourism Authority's page. The mountain (Doi = mountain, Luan = big) is one of the most visited birdwatching sites in Thailand. In 2021, UNESCO declared Doi Luang Chiang Dao to be a biosphere reserve, counted as the fifth site in Thailand (from Wikipedia).  

Local villagers and hill tribe people set up their stalls. Support Thai-owned businesses and the local community.  ❤️

Where can I find cheap tents and mats in Chiang Mai?

See the map and click the numbers below for locations.

1   2   3   4   5   


If you buy a tent and don't need it after the festival,  you are welcome to donate it to the festival.  Please bring it to the entrance when you leave.