Who invented Full Moon Parties in Thailand?

Full Moon Parties in Thailand are held on many locations in Thailand but the most famous party is on the island of Koh Phangan. These lively and energetic beach parties take place on Haad Rin Beach, specifically at the Sunrise Beach and Sunset Beach areas. The Full Moon Party is a monthly event that coincides with the full moon and draws a large crowd of international tourists. The parties typically feature live music, fire shows, neon body paint, and a vibrant atmosphere that lasts throughout the night.

Who invented the Koh Phangan Full Moon Party?

There are many legends about the origins of the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. Nobody knows exactly when the first full moon party took place, although many people claim that they were at the first party.

Sometime in the 1980s, a group of tourists found started enjoying the full moon nights in Koh Phangan. Since the 1970s Koh Phangan has been attracting a colorful crowd of travelers, often backpacking hippies. On their way to or from India, they stumbled upon remote Koh Phangan and discovered Haad Rin, which was a tiny village, difficult to access without paved roads.

Slowly the insider tip became an open secret and started attracting larger and larger crowds. Today, Koh Phangan Full Moon Party is on the bucket list of millions of travelers – once in your life you should experience a full moon party.

And now, there are 20,000-30,000 people at the party each month, depending on the season.

So, 40 years later – Is the full moon still any good? While the party has changed over the years, it certainly deserves a spot on your bucket list.

What makes the Koh Phangan Full Moon Party so special?

The Full Moon Party is a unique event you won’t experience anywhere else.

What makes it so special?

• Full Moon Nights have a special light and atmosphere – Join this magic once a month
• Koh Phangan is one of the most beautiful islands in a country full of beautiful islands. The Haad Rin beach was just made to host such a special party.
• The international atmosphere – when’s the last time you had a party with people from all over the world? Koh Phangan has become a hot spot for digital nomads in recent years, so you can find yourself partying with tourists, travelers and remote workers people from diverse places such as Thailand, United States, India, Australia, Denmark, Germany, China, Norway, Sweden, Israel, Italy, United Kingdom and many more.

The Atmosphere of freedom – The Full Moon parties are known for their atmosphere of freedom. Everyone comes to have fun and enjoy, which makes the atmosphere one of pure joy.
Who goes to the party?

The simple answer is: Everyone.

You’d find at these parties people from diverse groups, posh, hippie, punk, rocker, and really any kind of person you can think of. The atmosphere is joyful and open to everyone. Since the beach is around one kilometer long, even on the most crowded nights with 30.000 visitors, there is enough room to move around.

Drinks and Food

If there’s one thing you don’t need to worry about, it’s going hungry during the Full Moon Party. There are many food stalls everywhere so you can grab a snack.

You can buy drinks on every corner, there are a lot of mobile vendors, stalls, and bars. In general, it is safest if you buy at the main party venues, if you buy the drinks somewhere else, make sure it is on the beach and not in some obscure back alley.

Many come to the Full moon festival to tick off things on their bucket list – and part of this is buying drinks in buckets. These buckets contain a (strong) local energy drink, a small bottle of liquor, soda, and ice. Bucket prices range from 250-500 Baht (7-14 USD).
Party tickets

The party ticket is 200 Baht (around 6 USD), and it is sold in the main alleys that lead to the beach area. As proof of purchase, you get a wristband. The ticket gives you access to all the party locations along the beach.

If your accommodation is right on the beach and you do not plan to leave the party area that night, you might not need a ticket.

Currently, there is no possibility to buy a ticket in advance, unless you book a tour package that includes the ticket.

What to wear

Beware your feet. While you can spend your entire vacation with Flip Flops only or even barefoot, this is not recommended at the Full Moon Party. There is a lot of trash on the beach, and you may not be safe walking barefoot. If you have only Flip Flops, you will likely lose them in the crowd.

Everybody wears UV Paint at the party, Be careful, because the paint may not only stain your clothes, but it is going to leave stains in the hotel, especially on towels and sheets. Make sure you wash all the paint off before you go to bed, otherwise the hotel may charge a fine.

When is the Next Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan?

The date of each month’s full moon determines when a Full Moon Party will happen next on Koh Phangan Island. You can use lunar calendars or websites that track full moons to determine when this will occur next!

Here are the dates of the Full Moon Parties in Thailand for 2023 according to the official website:

Where to stay