Thailand Full Moon Party 2026: Dates and How to Get to Koh Phangan

The Full Moon Party on Haad Rin beach, Koh Phangan is Thailand’s biggest beach party, drawing tens of thousands of travelers on the night of each full moon. Here are the 2026 dates, exactly how to reach the island from Bangkok and Pattaya, where to stay, the island’s other parties, and how to stay safe.

Full Moon Party 2026 Dates

Dates are set by the Haad Rin Business Association, not strictly by the astronomical full moon, and some shift by a day around Buddhist holidays. The 31 December event is the New Year Countdown. Reconfirm before you book.

When to Go: Weather and Best Months

Koh Phangan sits in the Gulf of Thailand and follows an east-coast weather pattern, so its rainy season is the opposite of Phuket and the Andaman coast. October and November are the wettest, with November the rainiest, and seas can get rough enough to disrupt ferries, so the 27 October and 24 November parties in 2026 can be wet. The driest, most reliable stretch is mid-December to April, with February the sunniest, and July to August still has plenty of good beach days between showers. The party runs rain or shine, but calmer seas make both the crossing and the night easier.

What the Party Is and What It Costs

The party runs all night along Haad Rin (Sunrise Beach) on the island’s southeastern tip. Expect several sound systems, fire shows, a flaming skipping rope, neon body paint and beach bars selling small buckets of mixed spirits. It builds after midnight and goes until sunrise.

Map Haad Rin Beach

Buckets: How to Drink Smart

The drink of the party is the bucket: a small pail of local whisky or vodka mixed with a can of Coke and Thai Red Bull (Krating Daeng), which is far more caffeinated than the Western version. That mix of heavy caffeine and alcohol hits hard, so the local rule is no buckets before midnight, or you risk passing out early. Buckets and beer are much cheaper from a 7-Eleven or a stall back from the beach than from the sand-side vendors, and it is safer to buy a drink you watch being mixed.

Getting to Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan has no airport. Everyone arrives by ferry, from the mainland at Surat Thani (Donsak pier) or from the neighboring island of Koh Samui. The main pier is Thong Sala. The ferry operators are Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery, Raja Ferry and Songserm.

Map Donsak Pier

Getting to Koh Phangan from Bangkok

• Plane + ferry: Bangkok (BKK / DMK) → Koh Samui → ferry. Fastest. Flying to Surat Thani (URT) is cheaper, then a van and ferry to Thong Sala.
• Bus + ferry: Southern Bus Terminal → Surat Thani → ferry. Cheapest. Buy one combined bus and ferry ticket so the boat is guaranteed to connect.
• Train + ferry: Krung Thep Aphiwat station → Surat Thani → bus + ferry. Overnight sleeper (No. 85, 39, 167). It leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat (Gate 4 for long-distance trains), not the old Hua Lamphong.

Map Suvarnabhumi (BKK) · Don Mueang (DMK) · Southern Bus Terminal · Krung Thep Aphiwat station

Getting to Koh Phangan from Pattaya

• U-Tapao flight + ferry: U-Tapao (Pattaya) → Koh Samui → ferry. Most convenient, no backtracking. Bangkok Airways flies U-Tapao to Samui from about 2,300 THB; frequency is seasonal.
• Bus or van + ferry: Pattaya → Thong Sala (through ticket). Budget overnight. Or take a van to Suvarnabhumi and fly onward.
• Via Bangkok: Pattaya → Bangkok → any route above. The widest choice of departure times and prices. Pattaya buses usually arrive at Bangkok’s Ekkamai (Eastern) terminal.

Map U-Tapao (UTP) · Pattaya Bus Terminal · Ekkamai Terminal

From the Pier to Haad Rin

Most ferries dock at Thong Sala, the main pier. From there a shared songthaew to Haad Rin is about 200 THB per person and takes roughly 30 minutes, more on party night. If you are staying in Haad Rin itself, the Haad Rin Queen ferry runs directly from Koh Samui’s Big Buddha Pier to Haad Rin pier (about 50 minutes to 1.5 hours, from 199 THB) and drops you steps from the beach.

Map Thong Sala Pier · Haad Rin Pier · Big Buddha Pier (Samui)

Getting Back to Koh Samui After the Party

Plan your exit before you go, because the regular Koh Samui to Koh Phangan ferries stop around 5 to 6 pm, long before the party ends. If you sleep on Samui, the options are the party-night speedboats that run through the night from Samui’s Big Buddha (Bang Rak) pier (Echo about 600 to 900 THB, Full Moon Speedboats about 1,000 THB standard or 1,400 THB VIP), an early Echo speedboat around 6 am from Haad Rin toward Samui airport if you have a morning flight, or the Haad Rin Queen back to Samui at 09:30 (200 THB) once you have watched the sunrise. If you stay on Koh Phangan, just walk or take a songthaew back.

Where to Stay

Rooms sell out and prices jump around every party, so book 2 to 3 months ahead. If the island is full, many people sleep on Koh Samui, take a late ferry over, and return at dawn. Three zones suit different styles:

• Haad Rin (party central). Walking distance to the beach and maximum energy, but loud until sunrise and priciest on party nights.
• Baan Tai (the middle ground). A calmer base a short ride away, and home to the island’s jungle parties such as Half Moon.
• Thong Nai Pan and the quiet north. Peaceful beaches and boutique resorts for recovery, but you will need a taxi to the party.

Map Haad Rin Beach · Baan Tai · Thong Nai Pan

Other Parties on Koh Phangan

The full moon is only the headline. Koh Phangan runs jungle and beach parties all month, so you can go out on almost any night. Dates move each month, so check locally:

• Half Moon Festival. A large, well-produced jungle festival with multiple stages (techno, trance, house, dub) near Baan Tai, held about a week before and after each full moon. Separate ticket.
• Jungle Experience. A jungle rave usually held a couple of nights before the Full Moon Party.
• Black Moon Party. A bass-heavy new-moon party (techno, psytrance, drum and bass), usually on Baan Tai beach.
• Waterfall Party. A regular party held up at Paradise Waterfall in the island’s interior.

Map Half Moon Festival · Jungle Experience · Baan Tai Beach · Paradise Waterfall

What to Bring and Wear

• Neon or UV clothes you do not mind ruining with paint and sweat.
• UV body paint, sold everywhere in Haad Rin, and glow accessories.
• Sturdy sandals or shoes. The sand is full of broken glass by midnight.
• A waterproof phone pouch and only the cash you need for the night.
• Leave your passport and cards at your room, and carry a photo of your passport instead.

Cash and ATMs

Everything on the night is cash: the 200 THB entry, buckets and taxis. But island ATMs and the ones near Haad Rin run dry or grow long queues on party night, and foreign cards are charged about a 220 THB fee per withdrawal, so draw what you need earlier in the day or over on Samui. The catch is that carrying a lot of cash into a dark, crowded beach is exactly what pickpockets want, so do not carry it all. Leave most in your room or hotel safe, bring only the night’s budget, and split it between a couple of pockets or a zipped pouch.

Safety and Scams

The party is fun, but every year brings serious and avoidable incidents. The main risks:

• Do not swim drunk. Drowning is the single most common cause of serious injury and death at the party. Alcohol plus a dark sea is deadly, so stay out of the water.
• Watch your bucket. Buy from a stall that mixes the drink in front of you, and never accept an already-poured drink from a stranger. Drink spiking happens.
• Skip the fire rope. The flaming skipping rope causes severe burns at every party, especially to people who have been drinking. Watch, do not join.
• Never touch drugs. Undercover police work the beach. Possession can mean years in a Thai prison, and trafficking can carry the death penalty.
• Guard your valuables. Dark, dense, drunk crowds are ideal for pickpockets. Carry only the cash you need and keep your phone in a zipped pocket or waterproof pouch.

FAQ

When is the next Full Moon Party in 2026?

How much is entry to the Full Moon Party?

Does Koh Phangan have an airport?

What is the cheapest way from Bangkok?

Can I go straight from Pattaya without passing Bangkok?

Are there parties other than the full moon?

How do I get back to Koh Samui after the party?

When is the best time, and will it rain?

Dates and prices are current as of July 2026 and can change. Full Moon Party dates are set by the Haad Rin Business Association, so reconfirm before booking. Prices are approximate and rise around party nights and high season.