Full Moon Party: dates, entry and return travel

The Full Moon Party takes place at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan, not on Koh Samui and not across the whole island. Thousands of travellers fill the beach for music, multiple stages and food stalls, and the dancing goes on under the moon until sunrise.^[1] Programme and crowds vary by date. Confirm the event date, a place to sleep and your way back before you buy a transport package.

Where and when the party takes place

The party is held at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan. Dates can change after local or government announcements, including Buddhist holidays, so check the event calendar before you book transport and accommodation and reconfirm close to departure.

The event organisers publish these dates for the next twelve months. Since March 2026, a party that falls on a major Buddhist holy day moves to the following day.^[2]

The party is officially permitted to run until sunrise at 06:00.^[1] Start and finish times differ from stage to stage, so check the programme for your date before you arrange a pickup.

Entry and your total budget

Entry costs 200 THB, sold at the entry gate only. The money supports local cleanup and infrastructure in Haad Rin.^[1] That is the event price, not a ferry fare or an all-inclusive package.

Budget separately for entry, outward and return boats, pier transfers, accommodation, food and drinks. Ask each provider for the current total, whether it is per person and what it includes, and keep some money aside in case your return plan changes.

Arrival and return travel

From Koh Samui or Koh Tao, confirm the boat and both piers. A boat that arrives at Thong Sala still needs a land transfer to Haad Rin, because not every service docks beside the party.^[3] For mainland bus-and-boat packages, check the pickup point and the included transfers.

Operators run special evening, late-night or early-morning services between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan for the party.^[3] The times differ from operator to operator, so plan a same-night return only after you have confirmed the operator, the date, both piers, your seats and the land transfers, and keep an accommodation alternative in case of bad weather or a cancellation. Australian official travel advice recommends avoiding boat travel after dark.^[4] A night on Koh Phangan and a daylight departure make a safer plan than a night crossing. Check boat capacity and safety equipment, wear a life jacket and do not board an overcrowded boat.^[4]

Choose accommodation with the return in mind

Book accommodation after you have confirmed the event date. Compare the full room price, the cancellation policy, the check-in time and the distance to Haad Rin. If you stay elsewhere on the island, confirm the whole outward and return transfer before you choose a cheaper room.

Staying near Haad Rin lets you walk home, but check the exact location and the walking route in daylight. Beach proximity can mean noise at night, so ask the property about your room and dates.

If you take a shared songthaew, agree the price before boarding, whether it is per person or per vehicle, the pickup point and the return. A property shuttle is not automatically included, so ask your accommodation about departure times, the final return and extra charges.

Clothing, drinks and safety

The party is popular, but that does not make it safe by default. Wear closed shoes, stay with companions you trust, agree a meeting point and keep valuables secure. Do not leave food or drinks unattended, do not swim after dark or after drinking, and never drive after drinking. If someone becomes unwell or you suspect drink spiking, stay with them and get urgent medical help.

Fire shows, fire skipping ropes and fire limbo are part of the beach entertainment.^[1] Watch from a distance and skip the games that involve burning ropes or fire limbo: shoes and long trousers do not make contact with fire safe.

Buckets are mixed drinks served in plastic containers. The event organisers warn that bucket drinks from random vendors can contain cheap replacements or even methanol, and advise you to buy sealed drinks when you can and to watch the seller pour your drink.^[5] A higher price or a pour you watched does not prove the contents are safe. Official travel advice warns of drink spiking and methanol poisoning, and methanol cannot be identified by taste or smell.^[6] Prefer originally sealed branded drinks, though packaging is no guarantee either. If someone becomes unusually unwell after drinking, stay with them and get urgent medical help; Thailand's medical emergency number is 1669.^[4]

Wear closed shoes and light clothing that can get dirty. Carry only what you need, keep your phone secure, and keep a cash reserve for the return apart from your spending money. Leave your passport and expensive items behind and bring only enough cash for the night, because theft and pickpocketing are very common.^[5] Agree a meeting point that does not depend on mobile signal.

Drugs are illegal at the Full Moon Party and plain-clothes police work in the area; penalties can include big fines and jail time.^[5] Do not carry substances for others. Take a recognised transfer instead of riding a scooter after drinking, and stay out of the sea during the night party.

Weather, recovery and other events

Choose the event date first, then check weather and sea conditions for your journey. A month does not guarantee a dry night, a smaller crowd or a cheaper room. The Thai Meteorological Department forecast and operator announcements tell you what to expect.

Heavy rain, thunderstorms or rough seas can affect boats and local arrangements. Recheck the event and boat announcements close to departure and keep a flexible accommodation or transport alternative.

Leave time to sleep and recover before you travel on, and do not stay up for the sunrise if you are tired or unwell. Confirm the next departure and the pier transfer for your route instead of assuming a late-afternoon boat.

Halfmoon Festival has its own calendar and venue: a two-day festival at Harmony Beach Club on Koh Phangan.^[7] Check the date before you book; Half Moon and Black Moon events do not follow automatically from the lunar phases. Koh Samui and Koh Tao make easy stops for onward travel.