The Full Moon Party is an all-night beach party on Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach) on Koh Phangan, held around each full moon and attended by many thousands of people. It is moved by a day when the full moon falls on a Buddhist holy day, Thailand's drug laws are enforced there with police on the beach, and the main risks are drink spiking, assault, injuries and the road home.
The party began in the 1980s as a small gathering of travelers and has grown into one of the best-known events in Southeast Asia. On a typical night the beach of almost a kilometer fills with sound systems, bars selling drinks in plastic buckets, fire shows and people dancing until after sunrise. The Bangkok Post put attendance at about 20,000 for a party in May 2023.
It can be a great night. It is also a place where people get hurt, robbed and arrested every month. This guide explains how the dates work, what to expect, and how to keep the night from going wrong. For the rest of the island, see our Koh Phangan guide.
Full Moon Party basics
- Where
- Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach), Haad Rin, south-east Koh Phangan; not Haad Rin Nai (Sunset Beach)
- When
- On or near the night of each full moon; moved when it clashes with a Buddhist holy day
- Who sets the date
- Business owners at Haad Rin (tambon Ban Tai)
- Entry fee
- A small fee collected by the local business association (100 baht in a 2014 report; check the current amount)
- Police
- Police, Tourist Police and immigration officers on the beach from about 20:00, with drug checks
- Emergency
- 1669 ambulance, 191 police, 1155 Tourist Police
How the date is set, and why it moves
The party follows the lunar calendar, so the date changes every month. The basic rule is simple: the party is held on the night of the full moon. The exception is the important part. Several major Buddhist holy days, such as Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha and Asanha Bucha, fall on full-moon days, and alcohol sales are banned nationwide on those days. When the two coincide, the business owners at Haad Rin agree to move the party, usually to the following night.
The Bangkok Post reported exactly that in February 2025: the party was moved from Wednesday 12 February to Thursday 13 February to avoid Makha Bucha Day. The district chief banned alcohol sales on the island for the holy day itself, and police warned that sellers faced up to six months in prison, a 10,000-baht fine, or both. The same year's parties were moved for Visakha Bucha in May, Asanha Bucha and Khao Phansa in July, and Ok Phansa (the end of Buddhist Lent) in October.
We do not print party dates, and you should not trust a date from one website alone. The organizers set each date, and moves are announced locally. Check the Buddhist holy days on the Bank of Thailand's official holiday list, then confirm the party date with your accommodation on Koh Phangan before you book boats around it.
For planning ahead: the Bank of Thailand lists Makha Bucha on Sunday 21 February 2027, Visakha Bucha on Thursday 20 May 2027 and Asanha Bucha on Sunday 18 July 2027 (with Khao Phansa the next day). Expect the parties in those months to move off the holy day. Our guide to Buddhist holy days explains what else closes, and the guide to alcohol sales hours covers the normal 11:00 to midnight rule.
What the night is actually like
Crowds build after dark and peak after midnight. Each bar along the beach runs its own sound system, so the music changes every few meters. Drinks are sold in buckets that mix a small bottle of spirits with soft drinks and ice; they are stronger than they look. Fire shows, fire-skipping ropes and neon body paint are part of the scene. By sunrise many people are still dancing, and the beach the next morning is a mess of plastic and glass.
The local business association collects a small entry fee to fund beach and road cleaning and the paramedics and security on duty. A 2014 Bangkok Post report gave it as 100 baht, collected at the piers or at checkpoints on the roads to Haad Rin. We could not confirm the current amount, so carry some small notes.
Prices for rooms and boats rise sharply around party nights, and Haad Rin itself becomes very loud for several days. Many visitors stay in Thong Sala, Ban Tai or elsewhere and come in by taxi. Our guide to Koh Phangan's quieter beaches helps you choose a base away from the noise.
Drugs and the law
This is the section that matters most. Thailand has strict laws on drug use, possession and trafficking. The UK Foreign Office warns that possessing small quantities can lead to heavy fines or imprisonment, that possessing Class A drugs can lead to the death penalty, and that conditions in Thai prisons are harsh. It also notes that some British nationals have suffered severe psychiatric problems after drug use in Thailand.
At the Full Moon Party, police, Tourist Police and immigration officers deploy on the beach, and the Tourist Police Bureau has described its security measures as aimed at preventing illicit drugs at the venue. Being a tourist gives you no protection. The Foreign Office also notes new rules from 28 August 2026 that allow foreigners to be deported without a criminal conviction if the authorities consider their conduct contrary to public order.
Cannabis is a separate trap. It is not on the narcotics list, but since June 2025 cannabis flower may only be sold with a Thai prescription, and smoking it in public can be treated as a nuisance offence. A joint offered on the beach is not legal just because a shop on the island sells cannabis. Our guide to cannabis laws in Thailand has the details.
Do not buy anything from anyone at the party, and do not carry anything for anyone. Pills and powders sold on the beach are of unknown content, buying them is a crime, and a police check can end your trip in a cell. If a friend becomes unwell after taking something, call 1669 and tell the medics the truth.
Safety: spiking, assault and the sea
The UK Foreign Office says violent sexual assaults and unprovoked attacks in tourist areas "are most common during full moon parties or similar events, and near bars late at night". It also warns about drink spiking, with male and female victims, and about deaths from methanol in alcoholic drinks, which cannot be detected by taste or smell.
- Go with friends, agree a meeting point, and leave together.
- Buy drinks sealed or watch them being made, and never leave a drink unattended.
- Avoid cheap homemade spirits. Get urgent medical help for blurred vision, confusion or severe vomiting after drinking.
- Bring only the cash you need and a phone in a zipped pocket. Leave your passport in your room, with a copy on your phone.
- Wear closed shoes. The sand hides broken glass.
- Stay away from the fire ropes and fire-jumping games; burns are common.
Do not swim drunk or at night. Currents, darkness and alcohol are a dangerous mix, and the Gulf islands see box jellyfish from July to October. Our article on dangerous animals in Thailand covers what lives in the sea, and the guide to jellyfish first aid explains why vinegar, not fresh water, is used on stings. For broader advice on drinking, see is drinking alcohol in Thailand safe.
Getting to Haad Rin, and getting home
Most people arrive on Koh Phangan at Thong Sala pier and take a shared pickup truck (songthaew) or taxi to Haad Rin. Boats from Koh Samui and Koh Tao fill up around party dates, so book ahead; our guides to getting to Koh Samui and getting to Koh Tao cover the connections, and the Gulf island-hopping route shows how to fit a party into a trip.
Getting home is where many injuries happen. The road between Ban Tai and Haad Rin is steep, and on party nights it is full of scooters ridden in the dark by people who have been drinking, often on their first day on a bike. Do not ride a scooter to or from the party. Agree the fare for a taxi or songthaew before you get in, and keep enough cash for the ride back. Our guide to scooter safety in Thailand explains why a crash without a licence can also void your insurance.
If something goes wrong
For a medical emergency, call 1669. For police, call 191, or the Tourist Police on 1155. Report theft to the police and get a written report, which your insurer will need. If you are assaulted, go to a hospital and ask for a medical report; your embassy can help you find support. Keep our list of emergency numbers in Thailand on your phone.
Serious injuries on Koh Phangan are usually transferred to Koh Samui or the mainland by boat, which takes time and money. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is essential, and our guide to travel insurance for Thailand explains what to check.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Full Moon Party always on the night of the full moon?
No. It is usually on the full-moon night, but when that night is a major Buddhist holy day such as Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha or Asanha Bucha, alcohol sales are banned and the business owners at Haad Rin move the party, normally to the next night.
How much does it cost to enter the Full Moon Party?
The Haad Rin business association charges a small entry fee that funds cleaning, paramedics and security. It was 100 baht in a 2014 Bangkok Post report. We could not confirm the current amount, so bring small notes and expect to pay at a pier or a road checkpoint.
Is the Full Moon Party safe?
It can be enjoyed safely, but the risks are real. The UK Foreign Office says sexual assaults are most common at full moon parties, drink spiking happens, and methanol poisoning has killed people in Thailand. Stay with friends, watch your drinks, avoid drugs and do not ride a scooter home.
What happens if you are caught with drugs at the Full Moon Party?
You face Thai law like anyone else. The Foreign Office warns that even small quantities can mean heavy fines or prison, Class A drugs can carry the death penalty, and prison conditions are harsh. Police and immigration officers are deployed on the beach on party nights.
Where should I stay for the Full Moon Party?
Haad Rin is closest but loud and expensive around the party. Many people stay in Thong Sala or Ban Tai and take a taxi, or stay on a quieter part of the island and come in for one night. Book well ahead, because rooms and boats fill up.
Sources
- Bangkok Post – Full moon party postponed, now on Thursday (February 2025) (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Post – Full Moon Party draws 20,000 tourists to Koh Phangan (May 2023) (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Post – On Koh Phangan, the party continues (2014) (checked October 2026)
- UK Foreign Office – Thailand: safety and security (checked October 2026)
- Bank of Thailand – Financial institutions' holidays (checked October 2026)
- The Nation – Tourists warned of box jellyfish at Surat Thani's popular islands (2019) (checked October 2026)