Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan is one of the wildest parties on the face of the earth.

Each month, this tropical paradise erupts into a frenzy of music, lights, and electrifying energy as partygoers and backpackers from around the globe come together to celebrate under the shimmering glow of a full moon.

The party starts in the early evening and goes all the way into the next day, with revelers still drinking and dancing as the sun rises at beautiful Haad Rin Beach. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

But how do you get there? Where should you stay? And most importantly, how much does a trip to Full Moon Party cost?

Full Moon Party Dates 2024:

• January 25
• February 25
• March 24
• April 23
• May 23
• June 21
• July 22
• August 19
• September 17
• October 18
• November 15
• December 15

Best Ways to Get to the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan (for every budget)

1. Flight to Koh Samui Airport (plus ferry)

The closest airports to Full Moon Party are Koh Samui Airport and Surat Thani Airport.

On the one hand, flying into Koh Samui Airport is by far the easiest and fastest way to get to Koh Phangan for Full Moon Party. On the other hand, it is the most costly option as tickets directly to Samui airport are much more expensive (4,000 baht or more for round-trip) than other domestic flights in Thailand.

First, you need to book a flight to Koh Samui Airport and once you arrive get a shared or private taxi to the pier. From the pier, you can book a short ferry ride to Koh Phangan. The ferry costs 250-400 baht depending on the ferry type.

Total travel time: 3-4 hours

Total travel costs: 5,000+ baht ($150+)

2. Flight to Surat Thani Airport (plus bus and ferry)

This is the option for those who want to fly but also want to save money. Unlike flights to Koh Samui Airport, flying to Surat Thani Airport is extremely cheap (round-trip flights from 2,000 baht)–half the cost of flying to Samui.

Choosing to fly to Surat Thani, however, sacrifices convenience for affordability. While it is much less expensive, it takes a whole lot more time because you must take a long bus and a ferry ride to reach Koh Phangan. The bus and ferry to Phangan can take up to 6-7 hours depending on how long the wait times are when transferring.

In short, if you travel through Surat Thani Airport to Koh Phangan then you are pretty much sacrificing an entire day for travel. However, you are saving a significant amount of money.

Total travel time: 7-8 hours

Total travel costs: 3,000+ baht ($90+)

3. Overnight Train and Ferry from Bangkok

For those who don’t want to fly, there is an overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chumphon. This is also another budget option perfect for backpackers trying to pinch pennies.

The journey from Bangkok to Chumphon takes nearly 8 hours and sleeper cabins start at 500 baht ($15). Once arriving in Chumphon, travelers must then take a bus and ferry to Koh Phangan, which takes around 4 hours and costs 1,000 baht ($30).

While it is a time-consuming route to Koh Phangan for Full Moon Party, it is an economical option–and it’s not so bad because you can sleep through most of it.

Total travel time: 12+ hours

Total travel costs: 1,500+ baht ($45+)

4. Bus and Ferry from Bangkok

Lastly, if you prefer, you can travel by bus and ferry the entire way to Koh Phangan for Full Moon Party.

In fact, there are bus and ferry packages that take you from Khao San Road all the way to Koh Phangan for 1,350 baht ($38) in 10+ hours of travel time. While it may not be the most comfortable way to travel to Full Moon Party, it is the cheapest.

And if you are already in a hotel or hostel near Khao San Road, then it’s just a short walk to the bus stop.

Total travel time: 10+ hours

Total travel costs: 1,350 baht ($38)

Other Useful Full Moon Party Tips

Getting to Your Hotel or Hostel in Koh Phangan

Once you arrive in Koh Phangan at the Thong Sala Pier, there are two transportation options for going to your hotel or hostel. The first is by getting a motorbike taxi, but this only really works if you are a solo traveler with not much luggage. The other option is to get a shared Song-taew (pick-up truck). Both are quite cheap.

Speedboat Taxi from Samui to Full Moon Party

You can also celebrate Full Moon Party while staying in Koh Samui. Travelers can book speedboat taxis that drop them off the evening of Full Moon Party at Haad Rin Beach and come back to get them when the sun comes up in the morning.

Best Hotels and Hostels for Full Moon Party

Luxury Hotels: If you’re looking to indulge in a bit of luxury during your Full Moon Party escapade, Koh Phangan has no shortage of opulent accommodations to choose from. Treat yourself to a lavish stay at one of these top-rated resorts:

1. Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas (~$356)
2. Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa (~$104)
3. Panviman Resort Koh Phangan (~$140)

Mid-range Hotels: For those seeking comfort without breaking the bank, Koh Phangan offers plenty of mid-range hotels and resorts that won’t disappoint. Check out these popular options:

1. Phangan Cove (~$80)
2. Sunset Beach Club (~$65)
3. Sojourn Villas (~$45)

Budget Hotels: Traveling on a shoestring budget? No problem! Koh Phangan is home to numerous budget-friendly accommodations that offer great value for your money. Here are a few wallet-friendly options to consider:

1. Suncliff Resort (~$27)
2. Phangan Rainbow Bungalows (~$26)
3. Delight Resort (~$25)

Best Hostels: Want to meet fellow travelers and celebrate Full Moon Festival like a backpacker? Koh Phangan has a bunch of awesome party hostels that are both lively and affordable:

1. Bodega Party Hostel (dorms from $10)
2. Phangan Arena Hostel (dorms from $24)
3. Na-Tub Hostel (dorms from $28)

How Much Does it Cost to Attend the Full Moon Party?

The total cost of your Full Moon Party adventure will depend on various factors, including your mode of transportation, accommodation preferences, and spending habits.

As a rough estimate, budget travelers can expect to spend anywhere from $500 to $800 for a week-long trip, while mid-range travelers may budget $800 to $1500. If you’re splurging on luxury accommodations and fancy dinners, be prepared to fork out upwards of $1500+.

Is Full Moon Party Safe?

There are a lot of rumors when it comes to safety issues at Full Moon Party. Rumors about Thai mafia, pickpocketing drunken tourists who pass out on the beach, etc.

But, in general, Full Moon Party–like the rest of Thailand–is relatively safe. Well, as safe as it can possibly be with thousands of wild and drunk people partying right next to each other.

Put simply, it’s important to keep your wits about you while the party rages into the morning. This is especially true for solo travelers and females, who are at higher risk in these types of situations.

And, oh yeah, just be sure to watch out for common tourist scams in Thailand such as overcharging, giving back the incorrect change, or “damaged” scooter rentals.

Experience Full Moon Party in 2024

While, yes, Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan is not the easiest or cheapest place to get to, it is worth it. Put simply, it’s an adventure like no other.

Trust us, it’s a party you will never, ever forget.