Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan (calendar 2022)
Full Moon Party
De Full Moon Party on the Thai Island Koh Phangan is world famous. During the full moon, many thousands of mainly young tourists dance and party on the beach from sunset to sunrise Haad Rin.
Koh Phangan (pronounced KOH pa-ngJan) or Koh Phan Ngan is an island (surface area of about 191 km²) off the eastern coast of the Gulf Thailand, halfway between the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao. On Koh Phangan you will find a lot of coconut palms, you can dive and snorkel very well. The island also houses several temples and a national park.
The origin of the Full Moon Party
The Full Moon Party originated in 1985. Backpackers thought that the full moon could be admired beautifully from the beach of Koh Phangan. This turned into a spontaneous and fun party on the beach. What was once intended as an intimate party has now become the most famous beach party in the world, attended by young people from all over the world.
The ultimate party experience
DJs from home and abroad treat the masses to many music styles such as Techno, House, R&B, Reggae, Rock and Pop so that there is something for everyone. And as usual in Thailand, there are no rules when it comes to sound volume, so a bizarre orgy of sound ensues that pours the meter-high speakers over the audience. As the night progresses, the beach turns into a frenzied dancing crowd begging themselves lavishly with booze.
On the beach you can buy 'buckets', buckets of all sizes that are filled with ice and spirits. A colorful procession of partygoers, sometimes painted in fluorescent paint, go completely crazy. Fire eaters, jugglers and other beach performers complete the party. There are also fireworks. The Full Moon Party is therefore seen by many as the “ultimate party experience” (Lonely Planet).
Speedboat from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan
Most visitors to the Full Moon Party depart for Koh Phangan from Koh Samui. With the normal ferries it takes you more than an hour. The boats depart four times a day from Bophut and Big Buddha Beach.
With speedboats that sail up and down all night you can be on Koh Phangan in half an hour. You can reserve a place at any excursion booking office. You then pay about 500 Baht including the minibus that picks you up and brings you back to your accommodation.
Our tip: take a speedboat. On the return journey, the waiting times at the normal ferries are enormous. You will then be waiting for a few hours before you can take the ferry back.
Vasit Buasamui / Shutterstock.com
Overnight on Koh Phangan
There are a number of options if you want to spend the night on Ko Phangan:
- sleeping on the beach;
- an accommodation near Had Rin beach;
- an accommodation on a different part of the island.
Keep in mind that during the Full Moon Party the island is overrun by thousands of extra tourists. The chance that you will find an available accommodation on the same day of the Full Moon Party is small. You have the best chance if you arrive a few days earlier. Also, almost all resorts require a minimum stay of 3 to 4 nights during the week of the Full Moon Party.
Security, theft and being careful with drugs
It is wise to have and keep shoes, slippers or whatever on your feet. As the night progresses you will also find more and more glass shards in the sand. Burning butts are also not good under the soles of your feet.
Although the atmosphere is relaxed and fights and aggression hardly ever occur, theft is a point of attention. Drunk male tourists in particular are subtly robbed of their money. The Thai ladies deliberately seek out drunk tourists and soon become very touchy and your money is gone. Therefore, do not leave your drunk friend(s) alone on the beach.
You are regularly offered pills and other drugs on the beach. DO NOT! The quality is bad or it is fake. In addition, providers of drugs can also be undercover agents and then you are the hare. You can then extend your holiday with a year or so in the Bangkok Hilton. Although the Thai are very tolerant, drug possession carries very heavy penalties!! It does not matter whether it concerns 1 pill or hundreds of pills. The same goes for soft drugs. In Thailand, no distinction is made between soft and hard drugs. Both are prohibited, possession or use of them is punished very severely.
Even more tips:
- Bring a copy of your passport and keep the original in your safe hotel room.
- Do not bring any valuables to the Full Moon Party.
- Bags are also not a good idea, you lose them or you forget them.
- Don't bring too much money. Make sure you have enough money with you to eat and drink.
- Beware of theft. Common during the Full Moon Party.
- Agree a meeting point with each other in advance if you lose each other.
- Make sure you have the details of your hotel with you so they can be alerted in case of an emergency.
- Wear shoes against broken glass and burning butts.
- Do not bring drugs or buy drugs. It is strictly forbidden and carries extremely severe penalties.
- Do not accept food or drink from strangers.
- Watch out when juggling with fire sticks, one sometimes flies into the audience.
- Take the speedboat it will save you a long wait if you want to go back to Koh Samui at night.
- Drink, dance and party like a beast!
Full Moon Party agenda 2022
The next full moon parties are scheduled on the following dates (subject to change, always check with the local authorities about the exact date):
- Tuesday, June 14, 2022
- Friday, July 15, 2022
- Saturday, August 13, 2022
- Saturday September 10, 2022
- Tuesday, October 11, 2022
- Tuesday, November 8, 2022
- Thursday, December 8, 2022
- Saturday December 31, 2022 – NYE
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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I live on Ko Samui and would like to note that going with the speedboats to Ko Phanghan is not without risk. I remember that one did not return until 2005. All 8 passengers died, presumably due to irresponsible behavior of passengers and helmsman. Five years later, two speedboats crashed into each other with 40 injured. My advice watch out what kind of speedboat you go with (check if the helmsman is a real macho or a calm experienced helmsman) and on the return don't go if there are too many drunk fellow passengers who are overactive
That last tip is not the best I know from experience.
I did, my first fullmoon party, from Samui by speedboat.
On Samui I was taken to the jetty. There I got a wristband. Then we were transferred.
That tape indicated with which organization you crossed over.
So when I wanted to go back, many boats came. Sometimes there was the right one, but it filled up quickly. So you had to wait longer. And I wasn't the only one. There were several people who wanted to go back. Every time a boat arrived, you saw the crowd moving towards it. Most left disappointed.
Going to Ko Pang Nga a few days in advance, and not looking to stay on Hat Rin but somewhere else, has always been the best way for me to celebrate Full Moon.