Thailand’s Full Moon Party conjures up images of fire dancers, body paint, banana pancakes, and tens of thousands of backpackers partying on Haad Rin beach. It’s one of those bucket list experiences that I’m so glad I got to partake in.

A constant question you will get asked when traveling in Thailand is if you have been to or are planning to attend the Full Moon Party. For many, it is a part of the standard tourist trail. A quintessential part of the Thailand backpacker experience.

According to Lonely Planet, the origins of the party are somewhat mysterious and the exact date is unknown. I’ve seen sources stating as early as 1983, and others saying it was the early 1990s. But the inspiration came from Goa’s Anjuna Beach Full Moon parties – which go back to the 1970s. The party was originally put together by travelers, and was much more low key than the giant rager it is today….think 20-30 people playing guitars and drinking together until the sun came up.

But small as it was, word spread about the magical location hosting beach parties for backpackers. The locals cleverly decided to capitalize on their new found fame, commercializing the event, and turning it into the wild part of 30,000 people that it is today.

From what I’ve heard, the locals don’t mind the party – it may be loud and messy, but it put Koh Phangan on the map. Backpackers flocking to the island has become the source of many tourism dollars and has helped stimulate the island’s economy favorably.

And now a days, it’s not just the Full Moon Party. The revelry has extended to offshoot parties like the Half Moon, Black Moon, Jungle parties, and much more! So even if the actual Full Moon party dates don’t work with your schedule, there’s likely another party that you can attend.

There is also a Full Moon Party on New Years Eve that is a blast – I wrote about my personal experience recently (check it out Mushroom Shakes & Debauchery at Thailand’s Full Moon Party). But I wanted to write a follow up guide that focused more on the background and do’s and don’ts for having an epic Full Moon Party experience. Because unlike many parts of Southeast Asia, it’s not a time you want to show up unprepared. But with a little planning, research, and understanding, you’re sure to have an AMAZING, unforgettable experience at Thailand’s Full Moon Party.

Full Moon Party Dates

The Full Moon Party dates are different every year as they follow the moon cycle. But you can check out this site HERE for a full list of dates. Here are the 2020 & 2021 dates (there may be cancellations due to covid19, but this is as it currently stands):

Fri June 5th2020

Tues July 7th2020

Tues Aug 4th2020

Wed Sept 2nd2020

Sat Oct 3rd2020

Sat Oct 31st2020

Mon Nov 30th2020

Tues Dec 29th2020

Thurs Jan 28th2021

Sat Feb 27th2021

Sun Mar 28th2021

Mon April 26th2021

Thurs May 27th2021

Thurs June 24th2021

Mon July 26th2021

Mon Aug 23rd2021

Tues Sept 21st2021

Fri Oct 22nd2021

Fri Nov 19th2021

Sun Dec 19th2021

Getting There

The official Full Moon Parties take place on the island of Koh Phangan, which is in the south-east part of Thailand. And there are a number of different ways to arrive, depending on your budget level and preferences.

Fly + Boat

The easiest way to get there is to fly into Koh Samui Airport (Airport Code: USM) and then take a boat to Koh Phangan (it’s a 30 min boat ride). The airport is small but has daily flights from Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, and Singapore. From Bangkok, roundtrip flights are about $150-300 USD. Transportation to the ferry pier is easy to navigate from the airport (especially around Full Moon party time…lots of people going to the same place!). There are several ferries a day – the last one is at 5:30PM.

Another airport option is Surat Thani (Airport Code: URT) – then you’ll need to catch a bus and boat, adding on a few hours.

Train + Bus + Boat

A bit less expensive, but more comfortable than the bus option is to take the overnight train. You’ll have a bed to sleep in and arrive in Surat Thani in the morning (9 hours later). From there you’ll need to take a bus and boat to Koh Phangan. Make sure to reserve your ticket there and back in advance because these sell out in high season.

Bus + Boat

The cheapest way to get to Koh Phangan is probably an overnight bus that leaves Bangkok’s Khao San Road around 6PM and gets into Surat Thani in the morning. Then take a boat from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan. A combo ticket like this will run you about 700-900 baht.

Where to Stay

Unlike other times of year and other destinations where you can just show up and find a place on spot – DO NOT attempt this during Full Moon Party week. Unless you get there 5+ days before the party, you will likely be sorely disappointed and out of luck. Especially if you are traveling around New Years Eve or another holiday! Everything will be sold out.

Koh Phangan is the 5thbiggest island in Thailand so you have a number of different areas to chose from, although the two most popular areas for Full Mooners are Haad Rin & Bann Tai.

Haad Rin is literally in the thick of the Full Moon Party (the event itself takes place on Haad Rin Beach). It’s super busy and bustling with tourist shops, bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors, and more. If you plan to stay in Haad Rin, be prepared to not get any sleep the night of the Full Moon Party, as music is very loud….even the days leading up to the party itself are pretty rowdy too.

Ban Tai is a 10 minute tuk tuk ride from Haad Rin Beach. It’s a little quieter, although you’ll still find parties around here too.

A few suggestions:

- Jungle Gym & Ecolodge (Had Rin) – 9.3 Rating on Hostelworld (44 Reviews) - Chill resort style hostel in Haad Rin. Common area with terrace overlooking the jungle as well as large pool with restaurant and full cocktail bar. It also has it’s own private sunset beach perfect for relaxing between parties – AND a gym. $16USD for a dorm bed or $34-38USD for a private room.

- Road Trip Phangan (Haad Rin) – 9.0 Rating on Hostelworld with 238 Reviews – 1 min walk from the Haad Rin Beach where the Full Moon Party takes place. The hostel owner, Daniel, is super helpful and offers lots of tips for the island. Clean and nice atmosphere. $8-11USD for a dorm bed, no private rooms.

- Na-Tub Hostel (Ban Tai) – 9.6 Rating on Hostelworld (162 Reviews) – Container hostel with nice pool area & great reviews. Nice social atmosphere for Full Moon party time and very helpful staff. $12-25USD for a dorm bed; $70-93USD for a private room.

- Goodtime Beach Backpackers (Ban Tai) – 8.9 Rating on Hostelworld (1595 Reviews) – Beachfront property with massive swimming pool and sports area with pool table, ping pong, beach volleyball, etc. Restaurant is 24 hours and serves up Asian and western cuisine. Hostel organizes many group activities and parties. Dorms start at $8USD and privates run from $25USD.

- Friendly Resort & Spa (Haad Rin) – Basic beach bungalow style hotel that is only a 5 minute walk from the Full Moon Party. Beach front and also has a pool and restaurant (Asian & Western cuisine). This is a simple hotel but great location (I stayed here ). $20-40/night.

- La Plage Resort & Beach Club (Ban Tai) – Mid level beachfront hotel that is an 11 minute walk from Ban Tai Beach & 1.7 miles from Haad Rin Beach. Guests can enjoy ocean & garden views and couples in particular liked the location. Great reviews and good value for the money. People love the cook! Around $60USD/night.

- The Cabin Beach Resort (Haad Rin on Leela Beach) – 9.4 Rating on Booking.com – Beachfront hotel with industrial loft theme. Definitely a more upscale location – great for couples in particular. Away from crazy Haad Rin but close enough to get to the action in a 5 minute walk. Beautiful pool & lounge area and friendly staff. Property offers free pickup service from Haad Rin Pier. $175USD/night.

You could also look at staying on the northern part of the island, which is accessible via boat taxi or a regular taxi. Just know you will be pretty far from the party. But this could be a good thing!

My personal recommendation would be to NOT stay on Koh Phangan, but instead to stay on one of the other islands nearby like Koh Tao or Koh Samui. You take the ferry over the day of, and then take the first early morning ferry back (you end up staying up all night anyways, so catching a 6am ferry isn’t so bad!). The beach gets so trashed and it’s really really loud….if you stay elsewhere you can retreat once the shenanigans are over.

What to Expect

The Full Moon Party is essentially a massive festival with 30,000 people on the beach. It’s super packed, with lots of drinking, dancing, & drugs.

The music is a mix of techno, electronic and house. With the odd place or two playing Bob Marley. All the bars along the beach will have their own party going on (so you hear of lot of meshed sounds). Some of the bars charge an entrance to enter, or you can just stay on the beach. There’s plenty to do! Lots of vendors selling buckets of alcohol and body painting, as well as food carts.

People usually start heading to the beach around 9pm, but the crowd will peak around 1-2am.

The vast majority of people are in their 20s, but you’ll find people of all ages.

Tips to Survive & Thrive

1. Dress the Part

Girls and guys alike typically go shopping in the tourists shops in Haad Rin before the party. There is a uniform to the Full Moon Party that usually includes neon colors, bikinis, FULL MOON branded t-shirts, fanny packs, flower crowns, squirt guns, goofy props and glasses, etc. And lots and lots of body paint!

I wouldn’t pre-buy anything because part of the fun is the build up and the pre-party festivities. It’s Thailand so everything is dirty cheap. I still have my Full Moon Party shirt and dress.

Plan to get anything you wear filthy – sandy, dirty, sweaty from dancing!

2. Wear Sturdy Shoes

If you’re going to listen to 1 thing I say, I hope it’s to wear sturdy shoes. I know it’s tempting to wear sandals since you’re going to the beach, but RESIST. There is SO much broken glass and trash on the ground, you’re really going to want closed toed shoes – like tennis shoes.

3. Find Your Squad

It’s a good idea to pair up and find your squad ahead of the event. As this will make the party entirely more fun! If you’re traveling solo, it’s a good idea to come into town a few days before so you can get your bearings and meet people.

Hang out at the hostel bar, pool, or common areas and strike up conversations when and where you can. Everyone is looking to make friends – and energy is really positive and welcoming at these events - so it shouldn’t be hard to find a crew to roll with!

4. Be Well Rested

Make sure you get good nights sleep leading up to the Full Moon Party, as the day of you won’t be sleeping much at all! And the last thing you want to do is get sick on vacation from being too run-down.

5. Drink Lots of Water

Similarly, make sure you’re prepping before (and during the event) to stay super hydrated. Between long hours in the hot island sun and drinking all night, this is a quick recipe to get dehydrated.

Being dehydrated can cause lightheadedness, weakness, heart palpitations, nausea/vomiting, muscle cramps, and more. Not fun. Take care of your body!

6. Pregame at 7-11 (or Away from Beach)

The most expensive drinks you’ll find are going to be on or near Haad Rin beach. So consider buying your alcohol from the 7-11 and/or vendors further away from the beach. I know 7-11 seems unclassy, but everyone does it. Buckets on the beach during the party are usually around $11USD.

7. Don’t Bring ANYTHING Valuable

This should be self explanatory but just in case, reminder to not bring anything valuable with you! Your fancy camera – leave it at home….your extra cash – leave it at home. Only take minimal cash and what you absolutely need.

If you’re going to take your phone, I would purchase a waterproof case lanyard that you can wear around your neck to avoid misplacing or it getting stolen.

Also make sure you LOCK UP your valuables in the safe (or leave at reception if you don’t have a safe in your room) – as theft during the Full Moon Parties is rampant.

8. Wear a Fanny Pack

I recommend a fanny pack to carry you cash and any essential items. Something like this water-resistant iridescent fanny pack one would be fun and festive!

9. Know that You Don’t Need a Ticket

Some enterprising locals will set up road blocks to get to the beach and charge you to enter. Pay them if you want to get thru quickly, or just keep walking around to get to the beach without paying. There are many ways to get to the party!

10. Be Cautious with Drugs

Drugs are all over the festival, but just be super careful whatever you choose to do. And never ever take a pill from someone you don’t know (just don’t….you don’t want to get sent to the overpacked island medical clinic).

If you’re interested in trying the famed mushroom shakes, they can be found all over the island. The most famous place is Mellow Mountain – it’s a venue that’s built into the mountain, overlooking Haad Rin beach at the very end. They cost about 500 Baht.

Be aware that there are undercover police officers on the lookout for tourists with drugs….they aren’t likely to actually arrest you, but you will be forced to pay them a bribe to release you (maybe as high as $1000USD).

11. Don’t Swim in the Water (AKA The Toilet)

Please don’t swim in the water during the Full Moon Party….people drown this way. And if that’s not reason enough, it’s also used as the natural toilet. Hundreds of people will be using it at any time, it’s downright disgusting!!

12. Go Easy on the Buckets

Thailand famously serves their drinks in children’s sand buckets – you can a bottle of booze, ice, as well as a mixer of your choice, and then you get to mix it all together yourself. Hopefully you can see how this is a recipe for disaster if you’re not careful!

So go easy on the drinks, especially if you’re a girl traveling solo! You want to always be in control and vigilant of your surroundings.

13. Always Keep an Eye on Your Drink

Similarly, always keep an eye on your bucket. Thailand is a safe place – it’s more petty theft you have to deal with – but you should still always be careful with your drinks (as you should at any big nightlife event).

14. Don’t do the fire jump rope!

OMG please DO NOT DO THE FIRE JUMP ROPE. I can’t tell you how many people I saw get seared by the fire jump rope – it was literally everyone. You can smell burning flesh when you watch the spectacle take place.

Dozens of people will be sent to the medical clinic with serious burns before the night is up. And yet this tradition still goes on….

Even if you’re the best jump roper in the world – the drunk guy who hops in after you might fuck it up for the both of you.

The fire limbo on the other hand….exercise caution but it’s a bit less risky. I did it. Lol.

15. Bring Small Change to Use Toilets

Per my earlier note about people using the ocean as a bathroom, clearly they didn’t read this article and know to bring small change for the restrooms! All the bathrooms around the beach will charge you to use, so just make sure to plan accordingly with change.

16. Buddy System

Ladies, I recommend always having a buddy at these sorts of affairs. Not only will this make the night flow more fun, but you’ll also have backup in case you need it. A lot can happen during a wild and crazy night and you want to make sure someone is looking out for you.

Even if you’re traveling solo, see my earlier note about arriving a little earlier to find your party squad!

17. Beware of Creepy Dudes

Towards the end of the night especially, the party is going to be full of mostly dudes on the prowl. We witnessed this at both Full Moon Parties I went to….it was pretty funny….and desperate….

Hence more reason to follow #16 above :)

18. Don’t Expect to Sleep

The party really peaks around 1-2am so don’t expect to be getting a good night’s sleep. Plus the noise from the festival is going to be VERY loud if you’re staying in Haad Rin. But watching the sunrise after the Full Moon Party is part of the fun! We met some really cool people at 6am after our first party.

19. DO NOT Get a Tattoo That Night!!!

After a couple buckets, the temptation to get a vacation tattoo to commemorate the occasion can be fierce – but please resist. The tattoo parlors will still be there the next day and if you really want one then, after sleeping on it, fine go back and get one. You will see SO many idiots getting tattoos the night of the Full Moon Party. Don’t fall victim to idiocy.

My friend came across a guy with his head down, crying on a beach, the morning after the Full Moon Party. When asked what was wrong, he lifted his head to reveal he had tattooed the Batman mask on his face. If that’s not enough to give you nightmares, I don’t know what is. So yeah, don’t get a bat mask or any tattoo on party night. You’re welcome.

20. Enjoy the Moment

And most of all, remember to let loose and enjoy the moment. Who knows if you’ll ever be back here again. So drink, dance, make new friends, LIVE. This will likely be a moment you remember forever and can tell your kids stories about - so make it count!

Other Activities

There’s actually a ton to do in Koh Phangan besides the Full Moon Party, so don’t be afraid to stay for several days or a week. Here’s a list of recommendations:

Thong Sala Night Market
Herbal Sauna Baan Tai
Mae Haat Beach
Chaloklum Beach
Thai Cooking Class
Snorkeling Trips
Go Diving
Nang Yuan Island Tour
Koh Phangan Waterfalls
Motorbike around Island
Hike Khao Ra Mountain
Trek to Bottle Beach
Ang Thong National Park
Yoga
Get lots of massages
Challenge Phangan (a water obstacle course…SO fun)
Kayaking
Watch the Sunset (Amsterdam Bar & Secret Mountain are fantastic)
Day Trip to Koh Tao

Well I hope this guide to Koh Phangan and the Full Moon Party was helpful! I wish you an incredible, epic time!!!

As always, if you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing!

Thailand's Full Moon Party: Tips to Survive & Thrive!!