Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan: 2026-2027 dates and 200 baht entry

Once a month, Haad Rin Nok beach turns into an open-air club. The next Full Moon Party will take place on September 26, 2026, and entry costs 200 baht (as of 09/2026). People come here for neon body paint, fire shows, and sunrise over the Gulf of Thailand.

Planning a night like this is tricky. Dates shift because of Buddhist holidays, hotels in Haad Rin require minimum stays, and the return ferry only leaves in the morning. If you sort out these details in advance, the trip won't turn into a night on the pier.

Below you'll find dates through the end of 2027, ferry prices, accommodation options, and the honest catches of the party. You'll learn how much the night costs, how to get there from Koh Samui or Bangkok, and where to look for a place to stay a week before the full moon.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

History of the party: from bungalows to festival

💡 In short:

• Next party: September 26, 2026, then October 27, November 24, and December 24.
• Entry: 200 baht, tickets are sold only at the entrance to Haad Rin Nok beach.
• Dates and entry price: 09/2026, verified on the official calendar.

© https://www.flickr.com/photos/zhaffsky/ · CC BY-SAPhoto: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zhaffsky/, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

There is no exact birth date for the Full Moon Party. The first small parties are dated to the early 1980s, sometimes to the early 1990s. The most plausible version places the starting point in the mid-1980s.

Back then, Koh Phangan had almost no hotels. Only the Paradise Bungalows complex was operating, and it is considered the birthplace of the party. The island could only be reached by water, so there were always few guests here.

One day, a group of travelers landed on Haad Rin beach in search of freedom, love, and adventure. On the night of the full moon, they threw a small party together with the locals. The group enjoyed it so much that the gatherings became monthly and always took place on the full moon.

Word spread fast. By the late 1980s, backpackers were drawn to the island's southern cape, and the flow never stopped. At first, people simply sang along to guitar, cooked food over a fire, and shared stories.

In the 1990s, electronic music and rave culture arrived on the island. The number of guests grew from a few hundred to thousands, and the dancing continued until dawn.

By the 2000s, the party had gained the status of one of the largest music festivals in Southeast Asia. Dozens of bars sprang up along the beach, each setting up its own sound system to outshout the neighbor in volume and bass.

The party's calling card is the painted bodies and faces of the guests. Neon paints, T-shirts, and headbands are bought in advance at shops in central Haad Rin, and by evening you can no longer tell a tourist from a local performer.

Traces of the party travel all over Asia. Fluorescent bracelets, beads, and neon signs later show up in hostels in Vietnam and on the islands of Indonesia.

Full Moon Party dates 2026-2027

The party takes place once a month, on the night of the full moon. If the full moon coincides with a Buddhist holiday when alcohol sales are banned, the date is moved to the next day. It's worth checking the calendar right before buying non-refundable tickets.

The next Full Moon Party will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The October night is moved to October 27 because of the end of Buddhist Lent, the November one falls on November 24, and December offers two dates: December 24 and New Year's Eve, December 31.

© Manfred Werner ( User:Tsui · CC BY-SAPhoto: Manfred Werner ( User:Tsui, CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), Wikimedia Commons

Dates were verified on 09/12/2026 against two calendars: fullmoonthailand.com and fullmoonparty.guide. A night without a note coincides with the full moon, and a shift happens because of Buddhist holidays when alcohol sales are banned.

Haad Rin beach: where the party takes place

The party occupies Haad Rin Nok beach on the eastern side of the peninsula. To the west lies Haad Rin Nai, also called Sunset Beach: this is where you'll find sunsets and calm water in the mornings.

The peninsula is narrow, so you can walk from one shore to the other in a few minutes. Both beaches are connected by the village's lanes.

© Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy · CC BYPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Haad Rin Nok beach stretches for almost a kilometer from Paradise Bungalows in the south to the So good Haad Rin complex in the north. The wide bay curves in an arc, with green hills rising on both sides.

The beach is considered one of the most beautiful on Koh Phangan, and today it is known far beyond the island. The crescent shape of the bay gathers sunlight on the white sand, along which stand accommodation, bars, and restaurants.

The bottom slopes down gently, so you can swim at both high tide and low tide. During the day people play volleyball on the sand, in the morning runners move along the water's edge, and by lunchtime yoga groups appear.

The southern part of the beach is the epicenter of the party. Nightclubs, beach bars, and large resorts stand here. The northern end is noticeably calmer: small bungalows and restaurants that bring cushions, mats, and chairs out onto the sand in the evening.

In the evening, performers come out onto the sand with fire shows. Most often these are teenagers from the village or from neighboring beaches: they rehearse tricks and earn money performing for tourists.

Night here ends at dawn. While guests dance, the full moon hangs directly over the beach, and by morning the sun rises over the sea, and many stay to see both sights.

Outside the full moon, people also dance to electronic music on the beach, but the crowd is noticeably smaller. If you come here on an ordinary Tuesday, you won't believe that in a couple of weeks the sand will be covered by a crowd of tens of thousands.

From the south the beach runs into rocks and dense vegetation, and from the north it transitions into a quiet village with bungalows. Between these two ends lies all of Haad Rin's nightlife.

Tickets and entry: 200 baht for the night

There is no separate ticket for the Full Moon Party. Entry is paid on site, at Haad Rin Nok beach, and it costs 200 baht (as of 09/2026, fullmoonparty.guide). There is no advance online sale, so you can't overpay scalpers.

If you arrive at the Haad Rin pier after 5:00 PM, you will be charged an additional 40 baht port fee. The pier is a five-minute walk from the beach, so you can walk to the entrance.

The party starts after sunset and ends by sunrise. Entry is one for the whole night: you can go down to the sea, eat in the village, and come back with the same wristband.

Haad Rin village: what the town has

The party is what put this village on the map. Until the 1980s there were only unpaved sand roads here, and some of the lanes are still dirt today.

Over the years, hundreds of guesthouses, bungalows and hotels in every price range have appeared in central Haad Rin. Nearby you will find restaurants, bars, travel agencies, scooter rentals, tattoo shops, ATMs and stores selling party merchandise.

The hottest item is neon paint. People use it to paint faces and bodies, and the same shops sell T-shirts, shorts and bright headwear. On the night before the full moon, the shops stay open late into the night.

The town's second beach, Haad Rin Nai, is quieter. There are fewer bars here, but cheap bungalows and family restaurants remain, where dinner costs less than cocktails at the main party.

The village lives entirely off tourism, but the budget segment has not disappeared. Even with a modest amount of money, you will find a place to stay and eat here.

How to get to Ko Pha Ngan

First you need to get to Ko Pha Ngan, and from there to Haad Rin. Only neighboring Ko Samui has its own airport, so almost everyone travels by ferry.

Ready-made tours with transfers are sold as early as Bangkok: the group is taken by bus to the pier and put on a ferry. You can put together the same route yourself, and it is usually cheaper. You can check prices for ready-made Full Moon Party tours in advance, but the deciding factor is the ferry schedule.

The island's main port is Thong Sala. From there, songthaews, pickup trucks with benches in the back, run to Haad Rin, and the trip takes about half an hour.

Do not take a taxi right at the pier: prices there are higher. Walk a couple hundred meters to the village's main street, and the same ride will cost the equivalent of a few euros.

If you are staying in another part of the island, the price depends on the distance. Almost every accommodation arranges a transfer to the beach, and in the evening taxis with "Full Moon Party" signs circulate around the island.

A scooter is not a good option for getting to the party. Drunk driving is strictly punished in Thailand, and on that night the roads into Haad Rin are blocked by crowds of guests, with nowhere to park nearby.

Tip: if you are not staying in Haad Rin, take a songthaew. Other party guests are almost always riding in the back, so the introductions start before you even arrive.

Ferries and buses to the island

Ferries connect Ko Pha Ngan with Ko Samui, Ko Tao and the mainland. Combined tickets include a bus and ferry from Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and other cities, so you can reach the island from anywhere in Thailand.

Ferries to Ko Pha Ngan:

Prices are one way. As of 09/2026, schedule and prices on 12go.

Bus and ferry on one ticket:

Prices for combined tickets. As of 09/2026, you can compare departures on 12go.

© Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy · CC BYPhoto: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Travel time is measured pier to pier and does not include transfers. In high season, allow extra time: before the full moon, ferries and buses fill up, and it is better to buy your ticket several days in advance.

From Ko Samui without an overnight stay

You can also get to the party from neighboring Ko Samui without booking accommodation on Ko Pha Ngan. Ferries between the islands run every hour, and with an inclusive ticket you simply board the first morning departure back.

Speedboats pick guests up right from the party and take them to Ko Samui before dawn. This option costs noticeably more than the ferry, so it suits those who are willing to pay for convenience and do not want to spend the night on the island.

Keep in mind: the last speedboats leave with the crowd, and seats run out quickly. Book your return trip in advance, otherwise you will have to wait on the beach until morning.

Where to stay: Haad Rin hotels

Book accommodation in advance, because the island fills up around the full moon. Many Haad Rin hotels require a minimum stay of four to seven nights, and for major dates rooms sell out months ahead.

The most convenient option is to stay in Haad Rin itself. You can walk to the beach, and at night you can walk back to your room without hunting for transport.

At the northern end of the beach there are small bungalows from which you can step right out into the party. Sleeping, however, will not be possible: the music plays until morning, so bring earplugs.

The village center has more cheap places, and to the west lies the quiet Haad Rin Nai with hotels and pools in various price ranges. It is about a ten-minute walk to the party center from here.

One of the good options on the quiet northern stretch is Palita Lodge: bungalows, a pool and a level stretch of beach a few hundred meters from the main stage. Check prices at Palita Lodge on Trip.com in advance, because this section gets booked first.

Where to stay: the rest of the island

If everything in Haad Rin is booked, look at the island's other beaches. From the northern and northwestern shores, such as Haad Salad, Mae Haad or Bottle Beach, the trip to the party takes about 45 minutes.

© kallerna · CC BY-SAPhoto: kallerna, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

It takes about the same time from Thong Nai Pan Beach and Than Sadet Beach in the northeast. From Thong Sala allow 25 minutes, from Ban Tai about 20, from Ban Kai about 10.

There is also accommodation along the main road from Thong Sala to Haad Rin, and some guests stay on the approach to the village. From there you can walk to the beach in half an hour or drive in five minutes.

Staying farther from Haad Rin makes sense if you want quiet after the party. In exchange, you pay for transport every time and have to find a vehicle at night, when the streets are blocked off.

Food and drinks in Haad Rin

The village and its surroundings have dozens of small restaurants and street food stalls. Thai food sits alongside international options, and the deeper you go into Haad Rin, the lower the prices.

Price here does not reflect the quality of the food. Often it is the small, unremarkable places that cook better than the beachfront restaurants with sea views.

Bars are everywhere, and the biggest ones sit right by the beach and operate not only during the full moon. Even on the approach to the southern headland you will see posters advertising music and parties.

In practice this means: have dinner in the village, and buy drinks on the beach where the music is playing. Alcohol in buckets costs less than cocktails, but it is stronger than it seems, so split a bucket between two people.

The other side of the party

A big party comes at a cost, and it's not just about money. Loud music and tens of thousands of people change animal behavior on the island.

Animals either disappear from these areas or get used to people and lose their caution. The area around the beach is gradually being built up, leaving less and less habitat.

The ocean gets its share of plastic cups, broken glass, and things people don't usually talk about out loud. Swimming on the night of the party in Haad Rin is not a good idea, no matter how beautiful the full moon looks over the water.

Add wastewater to that: tens of thousands of guests in a single night produce a volume the island's infrastructure struggles to handle, so the seawater near Haad Rin is far from ideal on those days.

The main problem is trash. Tens of thousands of guests leave cups, straws, and bottle shards on the sand, and by morning the scale is obvious at first glance. Most of the waste is plastic in the form of small buckets and straws.

The beach is cleaned up right after the party, but the cleanup is expensive and takes days. Thailand's recycling system lags behind the load: some of the waste is burned, and the smoke goes into the air.

Along with tourists, drug trafficking also came to the island and became a source of income for local groups. Thailand's laws in this area are very strict, and the punishment for possession or sale can be severe.

Violence has happened too. Where there's alcohol, drugs, and big money, conflicts are not uncommon, so stick together and watch out for each other.

Staying safe at the party

A few simple rules will keep your night calm. Leave valuables in your room and take only what you'll definitely need.

Keep your money on you, not in a bag on the sand. Glass on the beach breaks constantly, so footwear is a must: sandals or sneakers will protect you from cuts.

Pace yourself with alcohol, don't drink from other people's cups, and only take sealed bottles. A drink bucket is easy to mix up with someone else's, especially in the crowd at the bar.

Go with a group and agree on a meeting point in case you get separated. In a crowd it happens within minutes, and your phone may not help if the network is overloaded.

At night, it's better to stay out of the sea: there's glass underfoot and a crowd all around. Save your swim for dawn, when the sand has been cleaned and the water has calmed down.

Take photos early in the night and leave your camera in the room if you want to dance without worry. Keep your phone in a closed pocket or a crossbody bag.

Save the local police and ambulance numbers in your phone: reception isn't available everywhere, and it's easy to lose your bearings on the beach.

Half Moon and other parties

Besides the full moon, the island has other reasons to party: Half Moon, Dark Moon, and Silver Moon.

© The Philosophy of Photography · CC BYPhoto: The Philosophy of Photography, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), Flickr

Don't compare them to the original. Half Moon doesn't take place by the sea but in the jungle near Ban Tai, and it draws thousands of people a week before the main party and a week after it.

The other events are far more modest. Once you arrive on the island, you'll quickly figure out from the flyers which Moon Party is coming up and whether it's worth going.

The Half Moon Festival schedule is published at halfmoonfestival.com. Check the date before you travel, because the calendar for these parties changes more often than the full moon one.

Where to go after the party

By morning, Haad Rin empties out within a couple of hours. Where to go next depends on what you managed to see before the party and how many days you have left.

© Ssuri · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ssuri, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Staying on Koh Phangan is the easiest option. The island offers dozens of beaches, waterfalls, snorkeling, surfing, viewpoints, yoga schools, and markets, so you can recover after the night without moving on.

The neighboring islands are Koh Samui and Koh Tao. Koh Samui is bigger, with more hotels and attractions. Koh Tao, known as Turtle Island, serves as a base for diving and snorkeling.

If you're heading north, Koh Tao makes a convenient stop before returning to Bangkok. Some travelers head to the west coast via Surat Thani, and from there Krabi, Phuket, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lipe open up.

Comparing hotels on Koh Samui and Koh Tao ahead of time makes sense: in high season, prices on neighboring islands rise just as fast as in Haad Rin.

Return trips from the island

You leave the island the same way you arrived: by ferry and bus. It's better to buy your return ticket together with your outbound one, otherwise there may be no seats left the morning after the party.

As of 09/2026, return ferries on 12go.

As of 09/2026, bus and ferry tickets.

AIIllustrative image: AI-generated

The morning after the party falls during the busiest rush, so don't plan a flight for the same day. Allow a buffer of several hours and check which pier your departure leaves from.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

When is the next Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan?

The next party will take place on September 26, 2026. The remaining dates through the end of 2027 are listed in the table above (as of 09/2026, fullmoonparty.guide). The date is sometimes shifted by a day if the full moon coincides with a Buddhist holiday, so check the schedule before buying non-refundable tickets.

How much does Full Moon Party entry cost?

Entry costs 200 baht, paid on site at Haad Rin Nok beach. If you arrive at Haad Rin pier after 5:00 PM, an additional 40 baht port fee is added (as of 09/2026, fullmoonparty.guide). Payment is in cash, so bring money in advance.

Can you get to the party from Koh Samui without staying overnight?

Yes. Ferries between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan run every hour, and in the morning you return on the first departure. Speedboats bring you to and from the party directly, but they cost noticeably more than the ferry. This option suits those willing to pay for convenience and who don't want to spend the night in noisy Haad Rin.

Do you need to book a hotel in advance?

Yes, and as early as possible. Around the full moon the island fills up, and Haad Rin hotels often require a minimum stay of four to seven nights. Major dates, like the New Year's party, get booked months ahead, and available rooms in the final days cost more than usual.

Where should you stay if you want to sleep after the party?

Choose the village's second beach, Haad Rin Nai, or villages like Ban Tai and Ban Kai. They're quieter. Haad Rin Nai is about a ten-minute walk from the stage; from Ban Tai and Ban Kai it's a 10-20 minute ride. In Haad Rin itself, music plays until morning, and earplugs only partially solve the problem.

In short: what to book

A night at the Full Moon Party can realistically be planned in one evening. First check the date on the calendar, then decide where you'll sleep, and only then buy your ferry tickets.

If you want to dance until morning and walk back, book accommodation in Haad Rin. If you need quiet after the party, look at Ban Tai, Thong Sala, or the northern beaches. If you're staying on Koh Samui, plan your return ferry for the morning and buy your ticket in advance.

Before your trip, compare hotels on Koh Phangan and check out island tours.

To stay connected on the island, install a Thai eSIM in advance.

You don't need to buy a ticket for the party itself in advance: entry is paid on the beach. Bring sandals, water, and some cash, agree on a meeting point with your friends, and the night will go smoothly.