Essential Guide To The Full Moon Party, Thailand

Love it or hate it, the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin (or Hat Rin), Ko Phangan, has become one of the definitive Thai beach experiences. The first Full Moon Parties in the mid-80s were nothing more than a handful of die-hard ravers and a couple of DJs. These days, the arrival of the full moon turns Haad Rin beach into seething mass of bodies, as tens of thousands flock to Thailand for the authentic Full Moon Party experience.

The place to be is Sunrise Beach, on the eastern side of Hat Rin town. As the night approaches, the bars and pubs along the shore start blasting music out towards the sea, and as the crowds grow, party-goers spill out onto the sand. Walking down the beach, you hear every kind of dance music as you pass by huge, competing sound-systems. Since everyone loves dancing barefoot in the sand, lost shoes are one of the biggest complaints at the Full Moon Party. Don’t bring any footwear of which you’re particularly fond. Up on the rocks, away from the crowds, there are some more mellow bars, which are good places to sit down and take a rest. Just head east and follow the lights on the hill – you can see them from down on the beach.

Practical Advice for the Full Moon Party

Accommodation in Haad Rin is more expensive than what you’ll be used to in other parts of Thailand, and hotels tend to hike up their prices the week before the Full Moon Party. If you stay in any of the bungalow complexes on Sunrise Beach, you’ll be sure to have a good time – it’s close to the action, and some of the hotels run legendary warm-up parties as the full moon gets closer. But your money will go further in the hotels on “Sunset Beach”, on the western edge of Hat Rin. It’s important to get an air-conditioned room – you’ll need somewhere cool to sleep after a hard night’s dancing.

Perhaps more than anywhere else in Thailand, Haad Rin has been dramatically transformed by tourism. Be sensitive and respectful to the local residents – remember that in three decades their traditional way of life has disappeared. For Buddhists, the full moon is a religiously significant event, and some local people are offended by the excesses of the western tourists. The Thai word “farang”, meaning “foreigner”, has almost become a derogatory term. But if you stay safe, polite and respectful, the Full Moon Party is a great chance to let your hair down. And if you’re lucky, you might have the chance to prove that you’re more than just another drunk westerner who’s lost their shoes.