Full Moon Party Koh Phangan: dates, tips and how to enjoy the week

The short answer: the Full Moon Party Koh Phangan is famous for is a dusk-to-dawn beach party held on Haad Rin Sunrise Beach, at the island's south-east tip, roughly once a month around the full moon. The next published dates are 27 October, 24 November and 24 December 2026, plus New Year's Eve; entry has been 200 THB. You don't have to stay in Haad Rin to go: from the quiet west coast it is about half an hour by road, and the island is at its most fun across the whole of full moon week.

We love full moon week on Koh Phangan. The island fills with energy, the restaurants are busy and the moon rising over the hills is a sight in itself. Here is how to make the most of it, whether you dance until sunrise or watch from a sunset bar on the other side of the island.

Full Moon Party Koh Phangan: what it is

The Full Moon Party began on Haad Rin in the 1980s as a small gathering of travellers celebrating the full moon, and grew into one of the best-known beach parties in the world. On party nights, thousands of people fill Haad Rin Nok, or Sunrise Beach, a long curve of sand on the east side of the Haad Rin peninsula. Several sound systems line the beach, each bar playing a different style, from house and techno to drum and bass, reggae and pop.

Expect neon body paint, fire shows, drinks served in buckets and a crowd from every corner of the world. It is loud, joyful and unlike anything else in Thailand.

Full Moon Party dates 2026–27

Dates are set locally and can move by a day or two, usually because the full moon falls on a Buddhist holiday when alcohol sales are restricted. Two published schedules we checked agree on the dates below (as of October 2026), but some other sites list a few 2027 dates a day earlier or later. Always confirm on the official schedule before booking flights or ferries.

Dates later in 2027 are usually confirmed closer to the time, so treat them as provisional.

How the night works

• Entry. You pay an entry fee at the way into Haad Rin; it has been 200 THB per person (as of October 2026), and you get a wristband. Keep it on.
• Timing. The beach starts to fill around sunset, gets busy from about 21:00 to 22:00, peaks between midnight and 03:00, and the last dancers see the sunrise.
• Drinks. Buckets, a mix of spirit, mixer and energy drink, are typically 300 to 400 THB. They are strong; one or two is plenty.
• Paint and outfits. Neon body paint is part of the fun and stalls will paint you for a small fee. Wear clothes you won't miss.
• Food. Haad Rin village behind the beach has plenty of street food and restaurants open all night. Eat properly before you start.

Safety tips for a great night

The vast majority of people have a brilliant time. These habits help make sure you do too.

1. Go as a group and agree a meeting point. Pick an easy landmark on the beach and a time to regroup. Phones die and signal gets patchy in the crowd.
2. Wear shoes. By the early hours the sand hides broken glass and bottle caps. Old trainers or sandals with straps are ideal.
3. Watch your drink being made and never leave it unattended.
4. Pace yourself. Drink water between buckets; the night is long and the air is warm.
5. Don't swim at night. The sea, the dark and alcohol are a bad mix.
6. Skip the fire games. Fire-skipping ropes and fire limbo are fun to watch, less fun to try after a few drinks.
7. Avoid drugs. Thailand's drug laws are strict, penalties are severe and police are present on party nights.
8. Carry little. Take a copy of your passport, some cash in a zipped pocket and your phone in a waterproof pouch. Leave everything else at home.
9. Get travel insurance that covers you for scooters and medical care, and save the number of your accommodation or driver.
10. Never ride a scooter to or from the party. The roads to Haad Rin are hilly and dark, and there are other tired riders on them.

Getting to the Full Moon Party from the west coast

Haad Rin is about half an hour by road from Wok Tum, crossing the south of the island via Thong Sala. You have three good options.

• Shared songthaew. The pick-up taxis with bench seats run to Haad Rin on party nights. From Thong Sala, expect around 150 to 200 THB per person; from Srithanu, around 200 THB (as of October 2026). They leave when full, so allow time.
• Private taxi or driver. Around 500 to 800 THB from Thong Sala, negotiated before you set off; there are no meters, and Grab and Bolt did not operate on the island as of October 2026. For a group, this is often the easiest choice. Ask your accommodation to book a trusted driver there and back.
• Arrange your return in advance. Agree a pick-up time and place with your driver before the night starts. At 04:00 the queue for transport out of Haad Rin is long, and prices rise.

Coming from Koh Samui

If you are staying on Samui, the Haad Rin Queen runs from Big Buddha Pier to Haad Rin in about 50 minutes, with extra late-night boats on party nights, and speedboat operators run return trips through the night. Book ahead for party nights. Our guide to getting to Koh Phangan covers all the ferries.

Where to stay for the Full Moon Party

You can stay in Haad Rin and walk home, which suits a party-first trip. But many visitors, especially couples, families and friends who want more from the island than one night, prefer to stay on the quiet west coast and treat the party as an outing.

The west coast is out of earshot of Haad Rin, faces the sunset, and has the island's best spread of restaurants, cafés, beaches and yoga. You go to the party, you come home to calm. Our guide to where to stay on Koh Phangan's quiet side compares every area.

At Mira, our private pool villas in Wok Tum are about half an hour from Haad Rin and 8 minutes from Thong Sala pier. Each has two bedrooms, A/C throughout and its own pool, which is the best place we know to spend the day after. The minimum stay is three nights; for a full moon week, check dates and book direct early, because the island fills up.

Enjoying full moon week from the calm side

Full moon week is not just one night. Some of our favourite ways to spend it:

• Watch the sunset, then the moonrise. On full moon evenings, the moon rises in the east around sunset. Catch the sun going down from a west-coast bar, then look back over the hills. Our best sunset spots and the Friends of Mira page list our favourites, from Amsterdam Bar to Bluerama and Alcove.
• Loy Krathong, 24 November 2026. The full moon of the twelfth lunar month falls on the same night as the November party. Floating krathong offerings are released on the sea and in ponds across the island, and it is one of the loveliest nights of the year.
• Book a long dinner. The west coast is lively but relaxed during full moon week; our west coast restaurant guide has the tables to book.
• Recover properly. A swim at Haad Yao, a Thai massage in Srithanu or a sauna and ice bath; see our wellness guide.

Planning around party dates

For three or four days around each party, the Samui–Phangan ferries fill up, the night boat from the mainland sells out and accommodation prices rise across the island. If you are going, book boats and beds early. If you would rather avoid the crowds on the boats, arrive a day or two before the party or leave a day or two after. Our best time to visit guide has the season-by-season picture.

The Half Moon Festival and the Jungle Experience, held in the jungle near Baan Tai around the full moon, are popular alternatives with a smaller, more contained setting.

Frequently asked questions

When is the next Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan?

As of October 2026, published schedules list 27 October 2026 (moved a day for Ok Phansa), 24 November and 24 December 2026, a New Year's Eve party on 31 December, then 22 January, 22 February and 22 March 2027. Dates can move around Buddhist holidays, so confirm on the official schedule before booking.

How much does the Full Moon Party cost?

Entry has been 200 THB per person, paid at the entrance to Haad Rin, as of October 2026. On top of that, drinks buckets are typically 300 to 400 THB, and a shared songthaew from Thong Sala costs around 150 to 200 THB each way.

What time does the Full Moon Party start and finish?

It warms up from around sunset, gets busy from about 21:00 to 22:00 and goes on until sunrise. The busiest hours are roughly midnight to 03:00.

Is the Full Moon Party safe?

Most people have a great night, but take sensible precautions: stay with friends, watch your drink being made, wear shoes, don't swim at night, carry only what you need and avoid drugs, which carry severe penalties in Thailand. Never ride a scooter to or from the party.

Can I stay on the quiet side of Koh Phangan and still go to the Full Moon Party?

Yes. From the west coast, Haad Rin is about half an hour by road. Book a private driver or take a shared songthaew there and back, and you get the party and a quiet base for the rest of your stay.

Is there a Full Moon Party every month?

Yes, roughly once a month around the full moon, plus a New Year's Eve party on 31 December. When the full moon falls on a Buddhist holiday, when alcohol sales are restricted, the party usually moves by a day.

Photo credits

• Per Meistrup, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
• Per Meistrup · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
• zhaffsky · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
• Fabio Achilli · CC BY 2.0 · source
• Golfer70 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source