Koh Phangan Full Moon Party: Dates, Costs and Getting There

Featured image: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Full Moon Party at a Glance

Haad Rin Nok, also called Sunrise Beach, is where the party happens. Beach bars line the sand and each runs its own sound system. Music zones therefore follow the bars, and the layout can change from one month to the next. Walk the beach once on arrival before you commit to a spot. Crowds build after dusk and the party runs through the night into early morning. Our Koh Phangan activity guide covers everything else on the island.

• Where: Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach), Haad Rin peninsula, Koh Phangan
• When: monthly, anchored to the full moon, with date shifts possible
• Hours: dusk until early morning
• Confirm everything on the official site, not on third-party listings

How Dates Work and Where to Confirm

Organisers anchor each party to the full moon. Holidays and local rules can move it off the exact lunar night, so never assume the astronomical date. Use the official Full Moon Party site for confirmed dates, then lock in transport. New Year Countdown is a separate big event on the same beach, with its own schedule. Weather and sea state matter too. Our Best Time to Visit Koh Phangan: Month-by-Month Guide page explains the seasons. Rough seas can disrupt ferries, so the Thai Meteorological Department forecast is worth a look before you travel.

How the Night Runs at Haad Rin Nok

Treat the night as three blocks: before, during and after. Pace yourself, because the party lasts until early morning. Sunset is a calm moment to claim your bearings, and our Koh Phangan sunset spots page lists places to watch it. Exact start times and zone positions change, so ask your hotel or the official site on the day.

• Before: eat a proper meal, sleep in the afternoon, and store your passport at your room
• Early evening: walk the beach, pick a meeting point, and charge your phone
• During: stay near the water-side bars, drink water between buckets, and keep your group together
• After: leave before the crowd peaks at the piers and taxi ranks, or wait for daylight

Costs and Entry

No current entry fee, bucket price or bag-storage cost is confirmed in our sources. Check the official Full Moon Party site for the current policy before you go.

Getting to Haad Rin (and Home Again)

Most visitors reach the island by ferry. Our How to Get to Koh Phangan: Routes, Ferries & Costs guide compares every route. Ferry timetables are on the operator sites, including Lomprayah routes and Seatran Discovery. Raja Ferry also publishes schedules at its booking site. Read our Koh Phangan ferry guide for pier details. From Koh Samui, see Koh Samui to Koh Phangan: Ferry Times, Prices & Tips. Travelling from the capital? Use Bangkok to Koh Phangan: Routes, Costs and Travel Time. From Thong Sala, taxis and songthaews head to Haad Rin, so agree a fare before you board. Local options are covered in Getting Around Koh Phangan: Scooters, Taxis, Routes. Late-night rides cost more and are scarce, so plan your exit before you start drinking.

• Option 1: sleep in Haad Rin and walk home
• Option 2: book a return taxi or songthaew in advance, and confirm the pickup point
• Option 3: stay until daylight, then ride back when services resume
• Always share your hotel name and a meeting spot with your group

Where to Stay: Haad Rin vs. Elsewhere

Sleeping in Haad Rin means a short walk home and noise until morning. Rooms near the beach fill early around party dates, so book as soon as the date is confirmed. Staying elsewhere usually costs less but ties you to taxis for the return trip. Browse Koh Phangan Beaches: Best Picks by Coast & Access (2026) for quieter bases. Light sleepers should avoid rooms facing the sand. Add buffer nights on either side of the party for ferry delays and recovery.

Full Moon vs. Half Moon Festival and Other Options

Do not confuse the Full Moon Party with the Halfmoon Festival. Halfmoon is a separate two-day festival, and its own site says it runs every two weeks. That site also says online tickets close at 20:00, with door sales if you miss the cutoff. Confirm all of that on the Halfmoon site itself. For lower-key evenings, read Koh Phangan Nightlife Guide: Where to Go by Vibe and Koh Phangan Beach Clubs: Picks by Vibe, Coast & Cost.

Safety and Mistakes to Avoid

Treat this as editorial guidance and check official Thai advice for alcohol and safety rules. Watch your drink being made and never leave it unattended. Keep valuables at your room and carry only a small amount of cash. Fire shows are common on the beach, so give performers space. Avoid swimming after drinking, and skip night scooter rides if you have been drinking. Buckets are strong, so alternate with water.

• Mistake: booking the ferry out on the morning after the party
• Mistake: wearing flip-flops you cannot dance in or that slip off
• Mistake: leaving your phone uncharged with no meeting point
• Mistake: relying on one scooter for the return trip

Is It Worth It? Who Should Skip

Go if you want a huge, loud beach night with strangers and bar-hopping. Skip it if you dislike crowds, noise or alcohol-heavy evenings. Read Is Koh Phangan Worth Visiting? Honest Verdict by Traveler to weigh the whole island. Prefer calmer days instead? Try free things to do. Plan recovery with a Koh Phangan Massage: Types, Prices & How to Choose the day after. Comparing islands? See Koh Phangan vs Koh Samui: Which Island to Pick?.

How Many Nights Should You Book Around the Party?

Book enough time that the party is not your only night on Koh Phangan. A practical plan is to arrive 2 days before the Full Moon Party. That gives you time to settle in, check the confirmed date, and adjust if ferry conditions are poor.

Keep at least 1 night after the party before an important ferry, flight, or long transfer. The event runs through the night into early morning, and rough seas can disrupt ferry schedules. A recovery day also makes it easier to avoid a rushed late-night departure from Haad Rin.

Haad Rin is the simplest base if you want to walk home. If you stay elsewhere, arrange your return transport before the evening starts. Confirm ferry times again shortly before travel, especially during unsettled weather.