The Full Moon Party has become a backpacker travel tradition. When you think of the Full Moon Party, you probably imagine a rowdy, booze, and drug-fueled beach party where travelers from all over the globe gather to chill out and have a good time.
But how do you go to the Full Moon Party, what should you know to prevent being ripped off or wounded, and when the heck is the Full Moon Party?
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What exactly is the Full Moon Party?
According to legend, in the late 1980s, a group of backpackers hosted a birthday party on Ko Phangan on the night of the full moon, and they had such a good time that they began repeating it once a month, and the Full Moon Party was created. Today, the Full Moon Party is more of a festival-style gathering with plenty of drinking, dancing, drugs, and sex.
You may openly purchase smokes (200 Bhat), mushroom shakes (500 Bhat), and MDMA pills depending on the gathering (800 Bhat). The quality of the pills varies tremendously; I’ve had shakes that tripped me up for up to 8 hours and others that did nothing; shop around. The cannabis is nearly always excellent and a shockingly decent deal, while the MDMA is excellent but costly. LSD is occasionally available for roughly 300 Bhat. There are a lot of kiosks on the beach offering refreshments and UV paint.
Fire dancers are performing wherever you look, and people are dancing wildly. The party is very marketed, yet it is a lot of fun. It is held once a month on the night of the full moon; dates may be found on this page. In my view, the Full Moon Party, although fantastic fun, is now just too crowded – 40,000 people is a lot of people – and you would be better off attending one of the other ‘Moon Parties’ that are routinely hosted on Ko Phangan.
There are the half-moon, quarter moon, and black moon parties hosted regularly, so no matter when you show up, you will have a fantastic time. Check out the Eden Garden Party on Koh Phangan for a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s considerably superior to any moon celebration
Where is The Full Moon Party?
The event takes place on Koh Phangan’s Haad Rin Beach. If you’re traveling from Bangkok, the cheapest way to get here is to take an overnight bus to Surat Thani, then a boat to Koh Phangan. Many companies will offer you a ticket that includes both the bus and the boat, with prices starting at roughly 600 Baht. You may also fly to Surat Thani, but that’s not the way for a broke traveler! When you get off the boat in Koh Phangan, a taxi to Haad Rin should cost roughly 100 Baht; be prepared to negotiate.
Getting Koh Phangan
Koh Samui and Koh Tao are the two nearest islands to Kho Pha Ngan, depending on where you’re coming from.
Every day, low-cost boats connect all of the islands.
The beach party itself takes place on Haad Rin beach on Koh Pha Ngan island, which is situated on the eastern edge of Southern Thailand.
From Bangkok, the quickest route to Koh Pha Ngan is to fly to Koh Samui and then take a ferry to the island. There are other low-cost overnight bus and boat alternatives available through Bangkok travel agencies.
As a side note, several travel agencies around Thailand may assist you in booking transportation from wherever you are arriving. You may browse around to compare pricing and find what best matches your trip plans.
Where To Stay in Koh Phangan
If you want to take advantage of Koh Phangan’s famed nightlife, you’ll need to choose a solid base. There is lodging on Koh Phangan for everyone, whether you’re searching for a party hostel to warm up in or simply a peaceful area to sleep after a hard night (try sleeping during the party itself).
It’s important to note that accommodation on the island gets full around the full moon.
Best Hostel in Koh Phangan: Baan Kai Hostel
This is our favorite Koh Phangan hostel. It is strategically positioned in Baan Kai and serves as an ideal starting point for touring the island. This hotel features three distinct types of rooms, each having air conditioning and a balcony. In addition, there is free WiFi, lockers, a TV room, and a kitchen.
Before you begin your backpacking experience, check out our complete list of the best hostels in Koh Phangan!
Best Hotel in Koh Phangan: Pingchan Koh Phangan Beachfront Resort
This is our favorite Koh Phangan hostel. It is strategically positioned in Baan Kai and serves as an ideal starting point for touring the island. This hotel features three distinct types of rooms, each having air conditioning and a balcony. In addition, there is free WiFi, lockers, a TV room, and a kitchen.
Before you begin your backpacking experience, check out our complete list of the best hostels in Koh Phangan!
What to Wear to the Full Moon Party
My gang transformed into the customary, bright Full Moon Party costume, replete with fanny packs. After a few pre-moon beers, we made our way to Haad Rin, where the legendary beach party is held!
Many people wear swimsuits beneath their gear, and the swimsuit is typically the only thing remaining by the end of the night. This is not the place to wear clothing that you don’t want to see destroyed or lost.
When you get at Haad Rin, you may get dressed up and begin the artistic tradition of covering yourself in neon paint. Prepare to shine with mustaches, painted vines, and all kinds of wacky patterns!
There’s no need to bring anything exceptional to the gathering. All of your FMP stuff can be purchased from street sellers for about USD 10-15.
Helpful Tip: Plan on wearing sneakers so you don’t end yourself barefoot on the beach. While no glass is being served, you should still be cautious not to walk on anything that might do you harm.
Do I Need a Ticket to Get In?
In previous years, you could simply walk up and go in—which is possibly still true (I visited in 2011), but I’ve been told that there is now a very low admission price of 100 baht (approximately $3.20).
This money is used to clean up the beach after the event, so I wouldn’t attempt to dodge it.
It’s good to contribute to keeping the region clean!
What to Expect at the Beach Party
The beach will be crowded with people from all over the globe, as well as fire dancers, drink bucket vendors, dancing stages, DJs, and so on.
There are vendor tables all along the beach selling these small plastic buckets (the sort kids generally use to create sandcastles) fashioned into huge drinks with approximately five straws to split!
They cost roughly 350 baht, or around USD 11 apiece. Do not try one of these alone…it is a cocktail that requires collaboration!
There were gigantic jump ropes lighted on fire that five people could leap over at the same moment, twirling fireballs on ropes, and individuals spinning fire poles among the celebrations.
I avoided the exhilarating event after seeing many persons with bandages on their feet, legs, and arms.
The majority of people begin arriving at the beach about 9 p.m., and the crowds peak between midnight and 2 a.m. Yes, it’s late at night…or early in the morning.
Don’t expect to get any sleep since the celebration doesn’t end until between dawn and the following afternoon. Yes, indeed! Some revelers choose to take a snooze on the beach, while others want to dance the night away.
It’s quite a bit. It’s rather lengthy. But it’s entertaining!
If it hadn’t been, the party would not have grown as large as it has. You’ll discover a wide range of music, so whether you like house, rock, or reggae, there’s something for everyone.
People who use illicit drugs are likely to be present in this party setting, as they are in many others.
Keep in mind that narcotics are prohibited in Thailand, and the penalties are severe!
Make Friends
One of the best ways to enjoy the party (and survive the mayhem!) is to do it with friends.
Lindsay and I boarded a boat from Koh Samui to Koh Pha Ngan in the morning to indulge in some pre-Full Moon Party activities.
On the boat, we met several amazing Italian men and made plans to meet up for the party that evening. I’d also made some fantastic new friends from Germany and the United Kingdom while snorkeling in Koh Phi Phi, and they were also on Koh Pha Ngan for the party. So we all gathered in Thang Sala to spend the day on the beach getting ready for the party.
Is the Full Moon Party Just for Backpackers?
Overall, the Full Moon Party is a wild party attended by people from all over the globe.
Despite the stereotype that the audience is largely made up of young travelers, I met individuals of all ages and from all walks of life.
There are, however, a LOT of young, hard-partying Australians and travelers all across Thailand.
Money-Saving Tips
- Cash: Never accept more money than you can afford to lose. For a big night out partying in Thailand, I usually bring 500 – 1000 Baht.
- Go to a different party: Because lodging costs increase during the Full Moon Party, I highly advise visiting at a different time of the month and instead of going to one of the lesser, but still incredibly fun, parties that are on pretty much all the time.
- Stay in a dorm: Even during high season, a dorm room will likely cost less than 300 Baht.
- Arrive on time: If you are determined to attend the Full Moon Party, you must come at least a couple of days in advance to arrange a place to stay. The Coral Beach Bungalows in Haad Rin offer a pool and are reasonably priced.
- Do not book accommodation online: I never book online – if you do, you may be forced to stay for a minimum of 10 days.
- Buy locally: Buy your beer at a 7-Eleven or your cocktails somewhere away from the main gathering. A drink that costs 100 Baht on the beach costs 30 Baht at the 7-11.
How to Stay Safe
- Drugs: There are a lot of drugs circulating about the Thai party scene; if you are caught, you can bribe your way out of problems, but it will most likely cost at least $1000. Be wary of undercover cops who attempt to sell narcotics.
- Fire: Fire is beautiful, but it can also be quite painful. Don’t be one of the individuals that get burned when skipping fire jump ropes or tossing poi around.
- Valuables: Theft is a major issue; keep your camera and passport in your room. Just bring some cash and your clothing.
- Water: Because you’ll be drinking a lot, be sure to drink lots of water as well; it’ll help with the hangover!
- Buckets: Thai buckets (a bucket filled with a cocktail) are quite dangerous; they often include red bull, which has a speed-like component in Thailand; try not to drink too many of them and separate each bucket with lots of water.
- Wear shoes: There will be a lot of shattered glass towards the end of the night, so wear your flip-flops.
- Stay out of the sea: I am an excellent swimmer, and I avoid swimming at beach parties not just because of the danger of drowning, but also because many inebriated revelers will use the sea as a bathroom.
