The Full Moon Party of Koh Phangan is an excellent cocktail of various party elements. Moreover, it offers you a beautiful amalgamation of numerous music genres like EDM, pop, techno etc. With reasonable ice-cold beers and restaurants around, you can have appetizing meals and come back to shake a leg to the music. If you are a party animal, this party is no less than a paradise for you. This Thai Full Moon Party is any extrovert’s heaven.
The party occurs in Koh Phangan, and the island is pretty famous worldwide for its party and beaches. Koh Phangan is in the southeast part of Thailand. Koh Phangan is located nearly 800 km far away from Bangkok. You can take a bus, which takes almost 12 hours to reach Koh Phangan. The party takes place at the shore of the small town called Hat Rin or Haad Rin. The full moon party in Thailand originated from Hat Rin only.
Introduction to Full Moon Party in Thailand
Image Credit: https://www.migratingmiss.com/lessons-from-the-full-moon-party-thailand/
The very first Full Moon Party of Koh Phangan, Thailand took place in the late 1980s, although nobody can tell the exact year because it was a private party organized by some hippie tourists. It was only a bunch of people who found the most beautiful beach spot on a full moon night, on the island of Koh Phangan. They played guitar, sang songs, had a couple of beers and danced the night away. After this, they came back next month to party again, but gradually more people joined in, which turned into a cult. Today, Koh Phangan is extremely popular for this party, and tourists come from all over the globe to attend this party ritual. It started with hardly a number of 15 people, but now there are tons of people attending this festival-like party. The number goes from 10000-30000 or even more.
If you are a music buff, then you can not stop falling in love with this event. The Thai Full Moon Party serves you with a vast range of music genres. Ranging from Upbeat Techno, Groovy House-Music, Trance, Uplifting and Dark Psy-Trance to light English Pop, Hip-Hop, EDM etc. Globally known DJ artists are also invited here every now and then. The party crowd listens to the live sets and have fun in the Land of Smiles.
Light lamps are lit and flown to the sky. You will come across small tables set at the beach where you can put your drinks and food. As the magical moonlight touches the white sand, the party begins. It looks nothing less than a fairytale to see so many glittering beautiful lamps in the dusky sky, making it look all golden, while the sand and water reflect the moon’s silver light. It is a view you can’t afford to miss. While the music already takes you high, the fireworks and fire-performers, jugglers will blow your mind. Body paint and tattoo art are also on the menu if you want to try.
So now you know, it’s no less than a mini Sunburn Festival. Let us get you equipped with all the information that you might need if you are planning to experience this beach-side madness
How to Reach Koh Phangan, Thailand
Image Credit: https://www.worldpackers.com/positions/20948
Koh Phangan is an island in Southeast Thailand, but no matter wherever you are in Thailand, you will find your way to this magical piece of land and sea.
By Air
It’s nearly an hour long flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani Airport. From the airport, take an hour-long bus ride to Donsac or Donsak pier and then a ferry to Koh Phangan.
Flight prices generally hike up during the Thai Full Moon Party, especially New year. So plan and book your tickets prior and save some money.
By Train
You can also choose to take a train from Bangkok to Surat Thani.
Trains of 9 hours leave from Bangkok thrice a day. Just take an overnight train to Surat Thani and then again a bus till Donsak, followed by a ferry ride.
By Bus
The cheapest way to reach Koh Phangan from Bangkok is by bus. Travel agents sell combo offers of Bus and Ferry to Koh Phangan. So we recommend you to take an overnight bus from Bangkok to Surat Thani that comes with the combo of the boat till Koh Phangan.
When to go
As the name suggests, the party takes place at the time of the full moon. Generally, the party happens on the full moon night only. However, the dates sometimes shift a little, taking place a day or two before or after the actual full moon night, so better to check the dates and avoid any disappointment. The events happen every full moon, which means nearly every month. So you can plan your trip according to the moon’s movement and be a part of this lively event. But don’t panic if you can’t make it to the right date. There are half-moon, quarter-moon and no-moon parties as well. So you can enjoy the thrills of a pseudo-moon party with thousands of people around and cute little stalls along with the music at the time of your travel. Here are the tentative dates for the parties coming ahead.
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2021 | January 17, 2022 | January 6, 2023 |
| Dec 19, 2021 | February 17,2022 | February 5, 2023 |
| Dec 25, 2021 (Christmas Party) |
March 17, 2022 | March 7, 2023 |
| Dec 31, 2021 (New Year Eve Party) |
April 16, 2022 | April 7, 2023 |
| May 16, 2022 | May 5, 2023 | |
| June 14, 2022 | June 4, 2023 | |
| July 15, 2022 | July 2, 2023 | |
| August 13, 2022 | August 3, 2023 | |
| September 10, 2022 | September 29, 2023 | |
| October 11, 2022 | October 30, 2023 | |
| November 08, 2022 | November 27, 2023 | |
| December 08, 2022 | December 27, 2023 |
(NOTE: Due to covid situation parties may get cancelled or have special guidelines. The dates are also tentative, please confirm from locals or hotel staff before planning the itinerary.)
Accommodation
Image Credit: https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/starlight-haadrin-resort.html
To attend this exhilarating Thai Full Moon Party, you don’t necessarily have to stay in Haad Rin. There are other accommodation options available on the island. You can’t expect to sleep if you plan to get a room near the party only. But if you want your base to be closest to the party, you can choose accordingly.
Accommodation in Haad Rin
If you want to stay close to the party place and don’t want to miss a single moment of madness, Haad Rin has enough hostels, villas, bungalows and hotels available. Many of them are close to the party beach, but if you opt for an option away from the beach, it will be a bit cheaper. You can simply walk to the party beach.
Many hotels have a minimum stay policy during the full moon party. You might have to book a room for 3-5 days or up to a week in some cases, but it won’t be bad since the island of Koh Phangan has many beautiful beaches and other things to do apart from the full moon party. So you use this time as an after-party chill and relax and explore some other beach on the island.
Accommodations in the rest of the island
If you want to attend the party but don’t want to be a part of it till the sunrise, or you think you should come back to a peaceful place for an after-party, then Koh Phangan has other alternatives for you. Many of them are actually quieter, unlike Haad Rin.
You can find hotels in West Coast Srithanu, which has Srithanu beach close by. Thong Sala also offers you some Villas and Bungalows with a beach at the front. Ban Tai, with beach and beautiful sunsets, and shops and restaurants at a walkable distance.
Safety Tips for the Party
Image Credit: https://homeiswhereyourbagis.com/en/full-moon-party-koh-phangan-dates-information/
Stay Well Hydrated: You might be consuming alcohol, or you might not be, but in both cases, you surely will dance the night away and sweat a load. Keeping your body well hydrated will help you maintain the water level in the body, and you won’t get a bad headache or muscle stiffness the next morning. So don’t forget to gulp coconut water and juices before the party, and keep sipping water during the party.
Pack Light and Safe: Incidents of pickpocketing and theft are common in heavily crowded places. Anyway, some people lose their belongings after they are a couple of drinks down. Thus try to go light and pack only the essentials like some cash, room keys etc. Put your cash in different pockets if possible. It is better not to put all the eggs in one place when there is a risk of them breaking. Place all the other essentials in a sling bag that you can simply hang on your body or tie to your waist.
Wear Sport Shoes: Beach party fun with bare feet seems cliche and fun but let us remind you. It won’t be a regular beachside walk; you will have thousands of people dancing and drinking around you. Expecting some of those beer bottles to break is basic, and it is common to see many get their pretty soles pierced by the sharp glass and other littered objects around. So it is better to ditch that nice pair of flip-flops and wear a nice and comfy pair of shoes. Get your laces tied now and run for the party.
Image Credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/324118504413837681/
Be Cautious with the buckets: Thai buckets are a trendy thing at full moon parties. It is basically a little pail of packaged drinks like Coke, Redbull, different alcohols like whiskey, vodka, etc. Many people drink these before the sun sets, but by midnight they pass out on the beach. So it is advised to start boozing when the party hits the midnight. But, of course, you know your body and don’t want to get sloshed and wake up with a heavy head and an upset stomach. So drink according to your capacity and enjoy the party to the fullest.
Stay out of the ocean: It is not just you who will party. Full moon also makes the waves dance and groove rapidly. It wouldn’t be wise to play in the water when the waves are strong. That too when you are under the impact of alcohol or any other intoxicants and your reflexes are not going to be most attentive. To avoid drowning or any unpleasant experience, keep yourself and your friends away from the sea. Not just this, but not many people rush to the proper restrooms under the moon madness when in need. However, many might choose to release fluids in the sea. Sounds Ewwww! Right! Stay away from the sea. Stay Clean. Stay Safe.
Strictly Say NO to Drugs: There are plenty of drug scenes going on in Koh Phangan, especially during the Full moon Party. Just to let you know, dealing and consuming drugs is illegal and a punishable offence. If caught, one can land in an ugly prison. In fact, undercover police dressed in plain clothes may try to sell you drugs merely to arrest you. Locals might also pass the information to get some rewards. Though many cops don’t really intend to arrest you, but use the situation against you for personal benefit. They target such foreign tourists and expect a huge amount of bribes. So it is wise to not get into such a situation that too in a foreign land.
Say No to the Fire Rope Skipping: It looks stimulating and you might feel keen to go for this activity. But try to stay away and merely be a spectator since many people get minor and severe injuries while participating in Fire rope Skipping. Only take a chance to have this kinda fun if you consider yourself a pro and have some experience with such sports. Some alcohol oriented enthusiasm might give you the rush to try this, but keep the idea of YOLO out of your head, especially if you have consumed alcohol. You only want to go back home with fun and happy memories, not the burns and bruises.
Stay out of the ocean: It is not just you who will party. Full moon also makes the waves dance and groove rapidly. It wouldn’t be wise to play in the water when the waves are strong. That too when you are under the impact of alcohol or any other intoxicants and your reflexes are not going to be most attentive. To avoid drowning or any unpleasant experience, keep yourself and your friends away from the sea. Not just this, but not many people rush to the proper restrooms under the moon madness when in need. However, many might choose to release fluids in the sea. Sounds Ewwww! Right! Stay away from the sea. Stay Clean. Stay Safe.
Do Not Drink and Drive: It is alright to roam around the island on a rented scooter, but prefer to book a taxi when you leave for the party, especially if you will get indulged in any intoxicating substances. Also, after long hours of dancing and partying, you might not want to exhaust yourself by driving a vehicle. Therefore, you will find it better to book a cab to the party and do the same on your way back home.
Image Credit: https://www.phangan.info/event/full-moon-party-19th-april-2019/
The Full Moon Party of Koh Phangan is an extraordinary event, and it’s your chance to experience something really unique and exotic. Still, if you do not take the right care and get involved in too much drinking and irresponsible behaviour, it may leave you with some bad memories. So don’t shy away from partying but do it wisely. We want you to go back with a massive bundle of joy and great anecdotes to tell your friends back home.
Party Hard but Party Smart!
Hi, My name is Aditya Khanna and I am a Freelance website designer with years of experience creating beautiful, user-friendly websites, they can turn your ideas into a reality. From wireframes to prototypes, I’ll work with you to craft a website that’s tailored to your needs.
