The Full Moon Party, happening on Koh Pha-Ngan, is a unique event you will not experience anywhere else. Every month, between 5,000 and 30,000 people meet on the beach to party all night. In this article, you will find everything you need to know about the event with these aspects:
- How to get there
- UV body paint
- What to bring and wear
- Drinks and food
- Fees
- Bonus: What is the Half Moon festival?
How to get there
The party is only happening in Koh Pha-Ngan, a large island in the Gulf of Thailand, and more precisely on Haad Rin Beach.
- Walking: If you are staying in Haad Rin, you might be close and able to walk.
- Scooter: Renting a scooter in Thailand is soooo easy and there are many to choose from in Koh Pha-Ngan. The downfalls are that you can’t drink if you are driving after the party, and finding a parking spot might be hard.
- Taxi: Probably the safest option. There are many group taxis going down from Thong Sala to Haad Rin. During the party, you might want to book in advance to be on the safer side.
UV body paint
Wearing body paint at the full moon party is a must. If you are lucky like I was, your hostel might give it for free. The locals will be selling the paint for crazy prices on the day of the event. You can even get a local artist to paint an insane design on your body. Try to inform yourself if the place you will be staying at offers it. If it doesn’t, it might be cheaper to buy the paint in advance of the trip, so you pay a reasonable price.
UV body paint: https://amzn.to/41eo0n9
What to bring and wear
There will be a lot of people, so for the safety of your belongings, bring only the essentials: your phone, cash, no cards and a copy of your passport. Having a fanny pack is your best option to keep everything close to you at all times. As for what you should wear, be colorful with your outfit and show off your body paint. Just make sure you wear closed shoes since there will be a lot of trash on the beach.
My fanny pack that I love: https://amzn.to/3uN6F91
Drinks and food
You don’t need to worry about food and drinks being available. They are everywhere. There are many food stalls and you can buy drinks on every corner. Of course, Thailand’s famous drinks in buckets are going to be there. They cost between 250 and 500 Baht. The reality is, that the closer you get to the event, the more expensive the drinks are. Don’t be afraid to pre-drink if you are not driving.
Fees
The ticket costs 200 Baht (in 2023-2024) and you can find it in all the main alleys going to the beach. You can’t buy your ticket in advance, but don’t worry since it will never sell out.
What is the Half Moon Festival?
If you won’t be traveling during a Full Moon Party, or maybe you think thousands of people on the same beach will be too crowded for you, definitely read this :
The Half Moon Festival is something fewer people know about but is even more fun in my opinion. It is more expensive and way more controlled. Tickets are starting at 640 Baht online and go up to 23,200 Baht for a crazy VIP bundle. Insane DJs, dancers, fire shows and so much more. There are fewer people, which makes it safer and less compact than the Full Moon party. Body paint, food and drinks are going to be there as well.
