What is the Full Moon Night Party?
The first Full Moon Party took place in 1985 at Paradise Bungalows in the Ko Pha Ngan Island to thank 30 travellers. Since then it has gained fame, and now around 30,000 tourists gather together at the Ko Pha Ngan Island every full moon night to party. This dance music festival takes place on the beautiful Haad Rin Nok beach. The party carries on an entire night until the sun rises the next day. The party has an entry fee of THB 100. The best time to go to the Full Moon party is from February to April, as it starts getting hotter during May and starts pouring from November. If the Full Moon party coincides with a Buddhist holy day, the party is usually postponed by one day.Dates for the Full Moon Party Thailand 2024
Here is the complete list of upcoming dates for the Full Moon Party in Koh Pha Ngan for 2023:
February 25, 2024
March 24, 2024
April 23, 2024
May 23, 2024
June 21, 2024
July 22, 024
August 19, 2024
September 17, 2024
October 18, 2024
November 15, 2024
December 15, 2024
December 31, 2024
Where Does the Full Moon Party in Thailand Happen?
The Full Moon Party takes place in Haad Rin, Koh Pha Ngan.
How do you reach the full moon party, Koh Phangan?
By Air: The nearest airport to the island is the Koh Samui airport which has frequent flights from Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya. You can take a ferry from Koh Samui to the island.
By Train: You can take a train from Hualamphong station in Bangkok to Surat Thani, where you'll quickly get a ferry to the island.
By Water: . The catamarans also have pick-up facilities from the hotel. Lomprayah offers free land transfers if you pre-book the tickets online on their official website at http://www.lomprayah.com/.
Prices: THB 300 to THB 1350
Where to Stay For the Full Moon Party?
The minimum stay at Ko Pha Ngan lasts 3 to 7 days during the full moon night parties. You cannot stay just for a day, so it is better to stay in Koh Samui, which is a neighboring island, and travel to Ko Pha Ngan on the night of the party. You can even choose to stay at Koh Tao Island and then take a ferry on the day of the party. There are many hostels you can choose to stay at. Koh Tao Central Hostel is an excellent place to stay and is also affordable. It will cost you around THB 342 per person.
The transit from both Koh Tao and Koh Samui to the island is about one and a half hours. A ferry is a premier way to travel to Ko Pha Ngan. Although speedboats might be quicker, they're not safe, especially during rough waters. They're overcrowded and lack safety equipment, so the ferry is a much better option. You must book the ferry tickets (including the return ticket) in advance. A ferry ride will cost you approximately THB 340.
What to Wear to the Full Moon Party?
You cannot be at the Full Moon party unless you're dressed head-to-toe in neon. Dress in brightly coloured clothes. You can buy clothes from numerous shops selling the Full Moon party attire. A Full Moon night party is incomplete without body and face paint. Some artists will paint designs on your body. You can also choose to wear neon bunny ears, green masks or neon flower crown, whatever goes with your vibe!
Drinks at the Full Moon Party
Once the sun sets and the moon emerges, the Haad Rin Nok beach transforms into a neon battlefield. Dozens of bars at the beach feature international and local DJs. This party gets wild, from fire dancers and dance stages to skipping on fire ropes. At the Full Moon party, the drinks come in colorful plastic buckets, which cost around 300 THB. This bucket includes a can of soda, some ice, a Thai version of a Red Bull, a 300 ml bottle of vodka, and a few straws. It is advisable to share this bucket with your friends as the contents of the bucket are not meant to be just for one person. The party is in full swing at 22:00, which is the best time to arrive. There are different genres of music up and down the beach with excitable displays such as the fire limbo.
Things to Keep in Mind
1. Keep Your Distance from the Fire Ropes
You might be tempted to skip on the fire ropes, but it is advisable to stay away from them as it might lead to severe burns and injuries. So leave the fire ropes to the professionals.
2. Do Not Carry Any Valuables with You
It's not uncommon for partygoers to have their valuables stolen. Do not carry any bags as you might lose them or forget them somewhere. Just take your phone and minimum cash for food, drinks, and travel. Ensure you carry change; you must pay around THB 10 to use the restrooms. You might want to hang on tight to any electronics you decide to bring to the party. It is best to carry a photocopy of your passport and leave your original passport and other essential things locked up in the hotel safe. Ensure you ask for a receipt when using the hotel's safe.
3. Keep Away from Drugs
Drugs are illegal in Thailand, and you should stay away from them, no matter what anyone says. Thailand has super strict anti-drug laws. There are undercover police inspectors on the lookout for drug offenders. Do not indulge in this; you will get arrested and have to pay a humongous fine.
4. Wear Shoes Always
Don't walk barefoot or in flip-flops on the beach. There might be shards of glass from broken bottles in the sand. It is very easy to step on broken pieces of glass and plastic.
5. Do Not Swim in the Water
However tempting it might be, do not step in the water as it has sharp rocks and corals, and you might cut yourself. Also, some people choose to empty their bladders into the ocean, so stay away from the water.
6. Prep for the Next Day
Make sure you have your return ferry ticket to whichever island you've chosen to stay at. Have some juice, water, and snacks stacked up in your hotel room before you leave for the party so that the drunk will be thankful for the sober you the next morning.
Lastly, have fun!Sing at the top of your lungs, dance until the sun rises, cover yourself in body paint and bond with all the new travellers you meet!