Full Moon parties on Koh Pha Ngan

If there’s one experience you should witness as a free-spirited traveller in Thailand it’s the amazing Full Moon parties of Koh Pha Ngan. Nothing beats the sensation of raving away all night under a warm tropical night sky, along with thousands of others on a fantastic sandy beach. The energy is hard to describe and the island has a special atmosphere about it which sets it apart from the rest.
The massive beach party attracts thousands who party from dusk til dawn
For more than a decade now, travellers the world over have been beating a path to Thailand’s famous Koh Pha Ngan Full Moon parties. Each month, during the lunar zenith, thousands flock to the island like pilgrims to experience the massive Full Moon beach parties at Haad Rin.
During one week each month, ravers of all nationalities descend on Koh Pha Ngan, near Koh Samui off Thailand’s east coast, to join in one of the world’s longest running and most attended beach parties in the world. Sometimes as many as 10,000 people crowd onto the island, often arriving more than a week in advance to be part of this uplifting experience.
The original Full Moon parties on Koh Pha Ngan began more than a decade ago when the island was still a well-kept secret and a sleepy hideaway from the bedlam of nearby Samui. Paradise Bungalows, on Haad Rin’s sunrise beach, began throwing small beachfront parties and the rest, as they say, is history. Within a few years the entire mile-long sweeping beach had become one massive party site with bars and bungalows sprouting up all along its length. At today’s full moon parties you can expect to choose from half a dozen massive sound systems along the beach, playing everything from deep trance to drum ‘n bass and trip-hop.
The phenomenon of the Full Moon parties on Koh Pha Ngan has changed the island enormously and although it’s still Thailand’s most bohemian island destination, some people complain that Koh Pha Ngan is not quite the same as it once was. But after the party goers have all left, it reverts to a brilliant tropical paradise for the other three weeks of the month, boasting a lush hilly and unspoilt interior, secluded beaches populated by a few rustic bungalows and a laid back charm.

It all started here more than 15 years ago
Haad Rin, a small peninsula on the south-eastern tip of the island, is the site of the monthly parties and is densely packed with bungalows, bars, internet cafes, shops and other commercial activity. It’s sandwiched between two beaches, but it’s the east facing ‘sunrise’ beach that hosts the actual party and is best for chilling on. Although it’s the most convenient place to be for the party, there are much better value places elsewhere on the island with an equally fun atmosphere, and transport to and from the party on the full moon night, is well provided – with the exception of traffic jams on the roller-coaster road that enters Haad Rin.
The Full Moon parties on Koh Pha Ngan are free and well organised by the locals, attracting top DJs from Bangkok and abroad. The beach is decked out in luminous colours and a whole troupe of performers, fire-eaters, dancers, nutters and drunken or stoned people add to the atmosphere. There is also a strong police presence, and they actively search people randomly and prosecute drug offenders, so the drug culture is limited. Thai officials take a hard line on illegal drugs, including marijuana, and regularly target Koh Pha Ngan.
However, magic mushroom milkshakes are available at some of the bars, though they tend to be poor value and ineffective. Most people simple get ‘off their faces’ on the infamous ‘buckets’; small plastic buckets filled with 500mls of Thai ‘moonshine’ - Sangsom rum, coke and redbull. They can be lethal and leave you with a hangover from hell but it’s all part of the Full Moon experience.
In between Full Moon parties, some places on the island host ‘Half Moon’ or ‘Black Moon’ parties but during the off-season (April to October); these can be pretty low key. At the height of the season (December and January) you should arrive at least three days before, otherwise you can expect to be sleeping on the beaches, as everything will be full. An alternative is to stay on Samui’s Buddha beach or Bophut beach and catch the one hour ferry over just for the party. Unfortunately, overcrowding on these has lead to some tragic accidents in the past, so rather wait for the post-party exodus to finish before you leave.

Phuket Guide Travels

Ko Surin

This National Marine Park, comprising five islands and covering more than 33,000 acres, is located north of the Similans. The islands are best reached from the Khura Buri Pier (125 km. north of Phang-nga town), and takes 4 hours. Again the main attractions are scuba-diving and snorkelling, as the coral formations are spectacular. However, the two largest islands, Ko Surin Nuea and Ko Surin Tai (North and South islands, respectively) have good potential for exploring on land, with several hiking trails and, on Ko Surin Tai, a Sea Gypsy village.

Phi Phi Islands

This island group is one of the loveliest to be found anywhere, and makes a fine day-trip destination out of Phuket. The beauty of the two Phi Phi Islands has made them world famous. But fame and easy access has its price: hundreds of visitors land on Phi Phi's shores every day, crowding this tiny island oasis. The upside of this is that the bulk of these visitors come at 10 a.m. and leave by 3 p.m. Staying the evening at one of the island's many bungalows is recommended, if you want to enjoy the tranquillity of the island in the early morning and evening.

Snorkelling around the archipelago's coral reefs or climbing to one of the many karst limestone lookouts is an unforgettable experience. Sheer cliffs stained with earth colours soar from calm, clear seas. Phi Phi Don, the larger island, has idyllic tropical beaches lining its southern and eastern shores. Phi Phi Le, to the south, is host to scores of daytrippers snorkelling and visiting the Viking Cave during the day, but offers no accommodation.

James Bond Island

This famous landmark first found its way onto the international map through its starring role in the James Bond movie "The Man With the Golden Gun". And this is where they seem to take all of the tourists - all at one time. The entire area surrounding this island with its signature rocky pinnacle is indeed spectacular, but most of the tours bus visitors up the main highway for an hour on the same well-worn itinerary. An integral part of that tour is lunch at Koh Pannyi.

Ko Kaeo

This is an offshore isle about 3 km. from Hat Rawai and can be reached in 30 minutes by boat. There are sandy beaches and a captivating underwater scenery, as well as a replica of the Holy Footprint on the island.

Ko Si Re

The small island separated from the mainland only by the Tha Chin Canal, is located 4 km. northeast of the town. There is a sea gypsy village considered the largest in Phuket.

Phuket Hotel and Resort

Located approximately 862 kilometers south of Bangkok is Phuket, Thailand's largest island, which is often dubbed as the pearl of the Andaman, or the pearl of the south. Its natural resources- rocky peninsular, limestone cliffs, white powdery beaches, tranquil broad bays and tropical in-land forests contribute to making it the South's wealthiest, busiest, most visited and most popular island and province.
Nestled in the tropical zone off the west coast of the southern part of Thailand in the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean, the province covers an area of approximately 543 square kilometers (excluding small islets). It is estimated that Phuket Province covers an area of approximately 590 square kilometers if its 39 other small islands are included. The islands total length, from north to south, is estimated at 48.7 kilometers and approximately 21.3 kilometers wide.

Phuket Thailand tourist information

Phuket Thailand tourist information Phuket is booming. The weather has cooled to absolute perfection, the monsoon rains are a distant memory, and high season festivities are in full swing all over the island. Now is the perfect time to beat back the winter blues before they arrive – and there’s no better preventive medicine than sand between your toes, the sun overhead, and a cold drink in hand. Grab the family, pack bathing suits and not much else, and head for paradise. Doctor’s orders.
Spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets and warm blue sea awaits at Asia’s most popular beach destination. The island of fun provides an unbeatable combination of perfect silky soft beaches, superb hospitality and great value accommodation!
Whether it's world class diving in the Andaman Sea, golf at championship courses or exciting eco-adventures in tropical forest, Phuket is a place to extend your horizons. Take an exhilarating speedboat trip to surrounding islands, or a serene cruise around mystical Phang Nga Bay. Or simply enjoy Phuket’s vibrant nightlife in Patong Beach. Total enjoyment! Not convinced yet? See our 10 Must See and Do list.