Since the year 1983, every month on the full moon night, tens of thousands of revellers appear at the Hat Rin Beach on Koh Phangan Island in Thailand for what is known locally and the world over as a full-moon party. This night party takes place before, on, or after the day of the full moon.
It began as a private affair started by hippies on route to or returning from India with only around 20-30 attendees (rumour has it, at Paradise Bungalows). Word spread all over and that modest number has since grown to around 5000 – 30,000 party-goers who bring the heavens down on and during the moon light festival.
It is an affair that begins at sunset and concludes at the break of dawn. To lovers of contemporary music such as psychedelic trance, R&B, drum and bass, and reggae, the full moon party is an absolute paradise. Travellers to Southeast Asia make certain to visit Koh Phangan for this popular event.
When and How Often?
Ordinarily, the festival takes place monthly on the night of a full moon, either before or on the day. Often the party is held after the full moon day if it overlaps with a significant religious holiday. The music at the party is modern and contemporary like trance and reggae and the celebratory events take place in the many clubs lining the beach. Rare events like the cremation of the formal Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej, can cause the cancellation of the festival for that month.
Where the Event Takes Place: A Little Bit About Hat Rin Beach
On the Gulf of Thailand, lies the Koh Pha-ngn island, on the southern tip of which lies a peninsular beach called Hat Rin. Split in two, with the northern Sunrise Beach (Nai) and the southern Sunset Beach (Nok), the former is the venue of the monthly moon light festival. Hat Rin has a vibrant nightlife on the beachfront.
The oldest beach bars on Hat Rin, Drop-in and Cactus draw in the most people with scary but exciting fire shows and drinks while the ambience is set with R&B and club classics. The choice of music depends on the club, so if you don’t vibe with one, you can always explore another.
The options at Hat Rin include The Vinyl Club and Zoom setting the atmosphere with psytrance (a form of music that has come to be unmistakably associated with the full moon festival), Orchid playing drum and bass, and Boom Boom playing deep house. This endearing atmosphere
All That’s Fun and All That’s Done in Hat Rin
Thrilling Fire Shows at the Sunrise Beach
Cactus and Drop-In also host spectacular fire shows for the amusement of the crowds gathered. These incendiary events involve fire arts of Poi and Staff being performed by experienced professionals under precaution. Poi is a popular dexterity play in Mao culture, here it is performed with fire. Tourists often participate in these shows after taking the mandatory daytime classes. You are strongly advised to not perform while drunk as burn accidents are common and often fatal.
Things to Do During the Day at Hat Rin
Though the festivity is centred around the night party, there are plenty of fun things to do during day time. These include fishing, sunbathing, and sailing for those who prefer slow leisurely activities. If you’re active and athletic you could instead choose to scuba dive or play volleyball on the beach. It works wonderfully as a honeymoon spot and you should consider going on one of these Thailand packages for couples.
Body-painting in Preparation for the Party
In preparation for a night of trance and merriment, people cover themselves from head to toe in U.V paint that glows in the dark. They embody the moon on the moon light festival. Please make sure to wash the paint off the following morning since it is resilient and might stain the sheets in your hotel room, in which case you’ll have to pay a fine.
Eating and Drinking
Food stalls and bars are littered all along the beach and you can eat your fill or buy drinks at any of these establishments. Also, tourists should stick to buying drinks from the beachside bars alone and avoid riskier vendors in more suspicious corners of the island. Eat well and stay hydrated at all times.
The more adventurous of your lot might prefer to drink from a bucket instead. Priced at around 250-500 Baht (around 600 to 1200 INR), these buckets have a strong local energy drink, some liquor, soda, and loads of ice.
What to Wear and How to Move About
Wearing light beachwear with proper footwear is a perfect choice. The festival is a massive source of garbage including broken glass and injuries are likely if you are barefoot. Also, you can lose your footwear in the sea of people at the full moon party so please keep wearing them at all times.
Reaching the Island
Koh Phangan is well-connected to ports in the Samui region. Tourists can opt for a commercial boat from any of the three ports in Samui or the other three on Surat Thani, or the one in Chumphon. The fares are economical and there are a number of good boat transport companies to choose from (for example Seatran Discovery and Raja Ferry).
Getting the Tickets to the Full Moon Party
Advanced booking is impossible unless the ticket is a part of a Thailand tour package. A ticket costs around 200 Baht (close to 500 INR) and is available at the main alleys leading to the beach. You receive a wristband as proof which in turn gives you access to all the party areas along the beach.
All said and done, the Full Moon Party isn’t the only reason to go to Thailand. Enjoy sunny and sandy beaches, explore deep forests, uncover hidden caves, and look within at the Buddhist Temples, all with your beloved by your side. In Thailand, modernity is complemented by a rich traditional culture, the length and breadth of which Veena World helps you cover. Thailand also has many enchanting festivals such as the Lantern Festival and the Lopburi Monkey Festival. Take a glimpse into these festivals of Thailand.
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