Alreet!
Koh Pha-Ngan is a quiet and tranquil island half an hour’s boat ride away from Koh Samui. However, once a month thousands of backpackers descend to experience the biggest party in Thailand! The Full Moon Party is an all-nighter beach party hosted once a month on the beaches of Koh Pha-Ngan. The party’s history isn't well documented, with some people claiming it was invented because the view of the moon was the best from Koh Pha-Ngan, whilst others say it was because the party was held as a thanks to a group of 20-30 travellers in the mid 1980s. Who knows! But one thing that resounds truth is that word-of-mouth really does travel, and it travels globally! The party now houses 10,000 - 30,000 people each month and is held on the somewhat infamous Haad Rin beach. It lasts from dusk till sunrise the next day and is definitely a one for the bucket list.
Most travellers choose to stay on Koh Samui Island instead of Koh Pha-Ngan because it is a bigger island with a lot more to do. However, we chose to stay on Koh Pha-Ngan instead, as we didn't want to miss out on what this small island has to offer, and we think this was a great decision. If you do choose to get a bungalow on Koh Pha-Ngan around the full moon party they normally have a minimum stay of 3 nights, as it stops travellers buying a room for one night and destroying it with spilled drinks and UV paint; be aware, most bungalows have rules on UV paint and give fines for it being on the sheets or towels so be careful! Don't be put off Koh Pha-Ngan because it is small, it is still a lovely island to explore with classic Thai tourism highlights such as; temples, waterfalls, national parks, water sports, Thai boxing and a whole range of beautiful sandy beaches to explore.
Going to the full moon party is completely free, however there is a catch; there is a 100 Bhat fee for a wrist band. Stepping off the boat at Koh Pha-Ngan you are immediately placed in a queue to receive a wrist band and there's no getting around it. But on the brighter side 100 Bhat is roughly £2.52, so it really isn't a massive hole in the travelling budget, and the money goes towards the cost of cleaning up the beach the next day.
Once you've purchased the wrist band you need to get dressed for a party, that's if you aren't already – people who take the boat over from Koh Samui will be ready in advanced.
Normally getting ready for a party for us is applying some make up, doing your hair, putting on a nice new outfit and possibly some ankle-breaking high heels. However, getting ready for a Full Moon Party on the beach in Thailand is very different. The heat is so intense that all the oil in the world won’t fix that static hair problem. Wearing high heels is definitely a no-no on the beach. And in terms of make-up, think less Wetherspoons and more Glastonbury – so ditch the smoky eye makeup and grab some UV paint and a bit of glitter
So off we went to buy a new brightly coloured t-shirt with "Full Moon Party 2019" printed on. We then opted for a face-full of gold glitter and arms covered in UV paint (we left the face wipes on the bedside table so we didn't forget to wash it off before we touched the WHITE sheets) some comfy shoes, a pair of shorts and a quick brush through the now completely static hair, and we were ready to party!
Everybody likes to have a good time and we aren't any different, so we opted for a green sandcastle bucket filled with half vodka and half strawberry Fanta. Buckets with spirits and mixer are sold across Thailand for a cheap price and are a big fan favourite with backpackers. Although these buckets with alcohol and mixer are sold on stalls around the island, we saved a few pennies buy purchasing our own at a nearby 7-11 store. Let's just say even sipping on it slowly didn't stop the inevitable happening. I think in total we lasted a strong 47 minutes at The Full Moon Party before getting completely white girl wasted and having to trot home with a nice big bag of crisps. I know... pathetic! But what can I say, I guess a mixture or travel tiredness and not having a real drink for a while really didn't help us. Those 47 minutes, however short they were, made a big impression on us and we loved every second.
The Full Moon Party is filled with loads of different music, all being played along the beach from different bars; Techno, Trance, Reggae, Drum and Bass and Dance music, is all played at the party turning the beach into a dance floor. There are also jugglers, fire eaters and firework displays up and down the beach for people to enjoy, along with the famous fire jump rope, which is a hit with backpackers who have a daredevil side (or are just drunk and stupid? You decide). Food and drink stalls line the back streets, which lead down to the beach, selling delicious cheap street food and of course cheap buckets of spirit and mixer starting at 200 Bhat. But best of all is the opportunity to meet new people. Opportunities to meet other travellers can lead to life-changing conversations, or it might even change your travels in a different direction. After all, The Full Moon Party was founded on word of mouth, so why not give it a go.
The Full Moon Party isn’t all dancing, glitter, and new friends. This gathering is known to be a hotspot of substance abuse. "Drugs is for mugs" is the saying to the kids in the northeast of England. The Full Moon Party is definitely not the destination for experimentation, as drug consumption and selling are very much illegal across Thailand and the laws are very strict. Trying out the drug cuisine from a local drug dealer at the party is definitely a no-go and will land you a one-way ticket to a Thai prison – don’t be tempted.
Here are some other tricks and tips we picked up for staying safe at the Full Moon Party:
Beware of pick pockets. Be careful with your belongings; only take with you what you intend on spending and always keep it hidden away. Same goes with phones and cameras, be extra careful! Once it's taken, the amount of people in the crowds would mean it's impossible to find the culprit. Don't take a bag because it is easily lost and unnecessary, take a hidden money belt if you have to carry belongings or cash.
Sleeping: if you are getting tired and are tempted to have a nap on the beach - don't. It's very dangerous and could lead to being robbed or assaulted. There is a sleeping station on the beach, which has a small fence around it and people sit and watch the sleepers, to make sure they are ok. However, we would advise getting a bungalow instead if you plan on sleeping at any point because being out in the open simply doesn’t guarantee your safety.
Bungalows: it is advised to get a bungalow outside of Haad Rin and to use the local all-night taxi service to get you back during the party. Bungalows within Haad Rin are more expensive over the party date, and they are loud and noisy from the party outside. It is also documented on a few websites that a lot of travellers have experienced their bungalow being broken into and robbed while they have been at the party. We stayed in a bungalow (Apartment by Sunrise Resort) which was right next to the Haad Rin beach and we didn't hear much noise or experience any robbing, but better to be safe than sorry.
Drinks: much like the drug situation, never take drinks or food from anyone you don't know. Always watch your drinks, it’s harder when you are carrying around a big open bucket of drink to protect it but always be watchful. We experienced this first-hand at the Full Moon Party and had two men trying to slip something in our drink, we had to push them away and leave the bar. This is a joke to some people but actually it is a very serious if they succeed in spiking your drink. Always be careful, look out for yourself and your friends.
Shoes; always wear shoes that will protect your feet. Glasses are thrown on the floor at The Full Moon Party, so make sure you have good soled shoes to protect your feet and not flimsy flip flops.
Passports; don't take your passport out with you, if you need a copy for ID always take a photocopy instead. We normally travel with a few photocopies just in case.
So you might be thinking why is this party any different from any other beach party or festival in the world? Well, the Full Moon Party brings together a real sense of community. I promise this party is the only one where you’re guaranteed to really feel part of a bigger collective of backpackers. We had never seen so many people from around the world in one place, and to hear that the party only exists because of word-of-mouth really gives you a sense of how special it is to be a part of it. I think what people love about the Full Moon is that there is something for everyone Haad Rin, whether it’s a drug-fuelled rave (not advised), drinking and chatting to glittery travellers from across the globe, or just sitting on the beach, watching the fireworks under the moon, and eating crisps with your girlfriend.
We always say when we are travelling that “life is what you make it – so make it a good one”. And we had a great time at Koh Pha-Ngan.
Full Moon Dates 2020 / 2021
-7th May 2020 -5th June 2020 -7th July 2020 -4th August 2020 -2nd September 2020
-3rd October 2020 -31st October 2020 -30th November 2020 -29th December 2020
-28th January 2021 -27th February 2021 -28th March 2021 -26th April 2021 -27th May 2021 -24th June 2021 -26th July 2021 -23rd August 2021 -21st September 2021 -22nd October 2021 -19th November 2021 -19th December 2021
Howay, hoyin' oot time.
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