Dance the Night Away at the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan
Published by Kristin Cowles, Editor-in-Chief
Country: Thailand 
The Experience
Set a glow in flickering flames from the fire dancers thousands of farang and Thai alike, gather on Haat Rin Beach in Koh Phangan to dance the night away at the Full Moon Party. Arriving mid afternoon by boat, we escaped the newly enforced entry fee of 100 baht per person. The flow off taxi boats from nearby islands was continuous all afternoon and into the night, all communing for the highly popular Full Moon Party. The drink of choice for the night, buckets! That's right a bucket of booze mixed with minimal mix and red bull. As we would soon bear witness to, the early consumption of these buckets by many of the younger crowd was not the best game plan for a party that bears long into the morning hours.
Settling into a bungalow bar set above the beach on the east end was a nice leisurely way to ease into a long night. Drinks were affordable and the music was very good. I can't recall the name of the place but it quite reminded me of the show Under the Umbrella Tree, set under a huge lush tree canopy, with relaxed floor sprawling seats. This venue also offered a great view for the virgin Full Moon Party goers, the elevation allowed for elongated views of the beach, emphasizing the number people here and paraded the debauchery about to culminate.
Soon the call of the music was to much to bear and we headed into the masses of 20,000 people to find our place and dance the next few hours away. The Full Moon Party houses many beach bars each featuring several types of music for all to enjoy such as hip hop, trance, techno, reggae and much more. As the moon grows brighter small beach side tables scatter the shores, food stands begin to shell out bites, and body painting engulfs the masses. The Full Moon Party although over popularized still holds charm despite what some critics say. It plays host to some lovely laid back beach bums and despite its size, still seems to remain quite peaceful.
Settling into a bungalow bar set above the beach on the east end was a nice leisurely way to ease into a long night. Drinks were affordable and the music was very good. I can't recall the name of the place but it quite reminded me of the show Under the Umbrella Tree, set under a huge lush tree canopy, with relaxed floor sprawling seats. This venue also offered a great view for the virgin Full Moon Party goers, the elevation allowed for elongated views of the beach, emphasizing the number people here and paraded the debauchery about to culminate.
Soon the call of the music was to much to bear and we headed into the masses of 20,000 people to find our place and dance the next few hours away. The Full Moon Party houses many beach bars each featuring several types of music for all to enjoy such as hip hop, trance, techno, reggae and much more. As the moon grows brighter small beach side tables scatter the shores, food stands begin to shell out bites, and body painting engulfs the masses. The Full Moon Party although over popularized still holds charm despite what some critics say. It plays host to some lovely laid back beach bums and despite its size, still seems to remain quite peaceful.
When to Go to Full Moon Party
The Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan occurs nearly every month, for the next party date check out our schedule.
Odds n' Ends
The cost to go to the Full Moon Party is 100 baht, or if you are lucky and can avoid the charge by getting there early then all you have to worry about is your food and alcohol. Transport from nearby islands costs approximately 200 baht for ferry and between 500 baht to 700 baht for speed boats. A good tip is to wait to eat until the beach side vendors come out, as the food is delicious and about half the cost of the restaurants. Be careful where you walk as the night goes on, as some bottle inevitably get broken. There are lock boxes available just off the beach a good bet for those not up for lugging a heavy bag all night as they dance the night away. Lastly there are drugs readily offered while at the Full Moon Party, beware that majority of the peddlers that approach you are undercover police, waiting to pounce. Best to avoid all drug consumption while here, just to be safe.
Want a Guide?
- Thailand Island Hopping - GAPAdventures.com
- Coconut trees, gleaming white beaches and crystal clear waters are just some of the treasures that Southern Thailand has waiting for you. If camping on deserted islands and swimming and snorkeling in clear waters are your style, then this great trip is for you. Depending on the time of year, choose to spend your beach retreat on the east coast or the west coast of the country.
Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
Drop In Club & Spa welcomes you to the enchantment of Rin, in the heart of tranquility of this island paradise, just 300 meters away ... 0 miles away
$2940 THB+
Phangan Bayshore Resort and Spa is directly on Haad Rin Nok, at the heart of the action most suitable for the Full Moon Party and ... 0 miles away
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More Experiences Nearby
- Earning Your Fins in Open Water Diving Certification
- After shaking off the initial surprise of my first plunge into the open water, I started to breath more calmly from my regulator. The transition from feeling heavily weighed down from all the scuba gear to one of pure weightlessness is a unique sensation, I'm sure it's much compared to that of being in space. Soon there after we began our descent into the thriving marine life below. The journey to obtaining our open water diving certification began back on beaches of Koh Samui, where we found a reputable PADI certified dive shop. Located in the idyllic Fisherman´s Village of ...9 miles away.
While You're There - Tours and Trips Nearby
Board a fully equipped 23 metre 3 level Escort boat. A light breakfast is served as we depart Koh Samui. Arrive Angthong National Marine Park ...11.95 miles away via Koh Samui.
$79+
There will also be a demonstration of Thai cooking, and one of the islands biggest resources - rubber tapping. To cool down you can end ...11.95 miles away via Koh Samui.
$56+
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Books and DVDs
- Lonely Planet Thailand's Islands & Beaches (Paperback)
- Island ways, long days, late rays ... relax to the blissful pace of Thailand's south. Feast in paradise, barter for a bungalow, join the party or escape entirely. Lonely Planet's definitive guide gives you detailed regional coverage for the perfect getaway.
- Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips (Hardcover)
- No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.
- Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009: 850 Trends, Destinations, Journeys & Experiences for the Year Ahead
Elsewhere on the Web
- Full Moon Party Guide - FullMoonPartyKohPhangan.com
- The first Full Moon Party either went off in 1987 or 1988, no-one is really sure; and it was someone's birthday. It was such a good party that the same crew met up again at Paradise Bungalows and partied under the next Full Moon
- Full Moon Party - KohSamui.org
- There are about 10,000-20,000 people every month at this Koh Phangan beach party. It is known as the Full Moon Party.
- Full Moon Party Guide - FullMoonParty-Thailand.com
Media References
- Thailand's party isle goes chic - TimesOnline.co.uk (newspaper)
- Ko Pha-Ngan: once a party island for backpacking ravers, now the connoisseur’s choice
- Natural highs on Ko Phangan - TheFirstPost.co.uk (blog)
- To a generation of backpackers, the Thai island of Ko Phangan means one thing: "full moon parties", the infamous drug-fuelled raves held each month at the beach resort of Haad Rin.
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