Full Moon Party

Introduction

One of the biggest events affecting this part of Thailand is the famous Full Moon Party on our larger neighboring island of Koh Phangan.

The Full Moon Party has been running once a month for many years, gradually growing in popularity and reputation.  It’s held in the south of the island on Haad Rin beach. 

Each month, thousands of people from all over the world descend on Haad Rin to party till the sun comes up.

Nowadays, it’s a pretty commercial event, but still certainly something special. Many beach front bars join in so there’s a massive range of music, lots of drinks, fireshows, fluorescent paint and general craziness! If that’s the kind of thing you enjoy, the Koh Phangan Full Moon Party is well worth a visit.

Advice for surviving the Koh Phangan Full Moon Party

If you do decide to check out the Full Moon Party, just exercise a bit of common sense. Obviously there’s going to be a lot of messed up people, and if you plan on joining them, leave all your valuables somewhere safe – just carry enough money for that evening. There’s no reason to carry your passport – just take a copy, and leave all your bank cards somewhere safe. By the end of the night, there’s probably going to be some broken glass on the beach so keeping you flip flops on is a wise move. And if you’re in a group, might be a good idea to set a meeting area in case everyone gets split up in the crowds and confusion.

If you want to visit the Full Moon Party during your gap year internship on Koh Tao, there’s a party boat that leaves Koh Tao early evening on the night of the party. You stay up all night then it brings you back the following morning.

And even if you're not going to the Full Moon Party?

One other consideration, is that the Full Moon Party draws so many people that it has some implications for this part of Thailand. For example, around the date of the Full Moon Party there’s a massive demand for accommodation on Koh Phangan and even Koh Tao on the week following the Full Moon Party.  So if you’re traveling on these islands around the date of the party, it would be a good idea to book accommodation in advance.