The Full Moon Party, Koh Phangan

Each month, as the moon waxes to Full the island of Koh Phangan becomes a Mecca of thousands of Party Pilgrims all over South East Asia. They flock in from around the world to revel in one night of pure sand stomping , arm raising, hip pumping action.

The Full Moon Party happens on a small bay on the south east of Koh Phangan island, just a short ferry ride from all the major ports on Koh Samuii. In the days leading up to the Full Moon, Haad Rin bay; which for the rest of the month lays virtually dormant and deserted, becomes a colourful canvas of neon paints and sun-cream as the backpacking youth of today gather for this age old event. If you were to ask about the origins of the Full Moon Party you would discover there are many legends as to who, how and why the Full Moon Party began. Some say it began as a Birthday party which was so good people wanted to repeat it again the next month, others say that a group of travelers came together to celebrate the beauty of the Full Moon over Haad Rin bay and this became a monthly event slowly building popularity. These stories seem to change as often as the tides depending on who it is you are talking to. However what we do know is that what once begun back in the mid 80's as a small party on a deserted beach in Southern Thailand with about 20-30 attendants has now grown to attract up to 30,000 people each month, all on a mission to party as long and as hard as they can.

The beach front consists of various bars and clubs each with their own sound system set out under the stars. As you work your way along the sea front from bar to bar you can expect to experience a range of music from Cheesy Club Tunes to Psy-Trance, Jungle and Break Beat depending on which sound system you visit and who happens to be DJing that month. The Full Moon Party attracts a range of Local and International DJ's all with a shared passion to blast the socks off anyone within a 5 mile radius. It not only the music which makes the Full Moon Party as popular as it is. As the sun sets over the island and the event becomes a fully emersive experiance. The UV lights are switched on, huge fire sculptures can be found spread across the sea front accompanied by fire dancers (and for the braver souls, Fire Limbo). You can also find UV body painters and cocktails and shakes galore all designed to keep you dancing until the sun rises back up again, over the idilic ocean horizon.

If you happen to be wanting a quiet break from the kids in a tropical island paradise this is defiantly not the time of month to visit Koh Phangan however If your looking for a place to let your hair down, get a tan and drink vodka out of buckets then this is the place to be. Around Had RIn there is a range of accommodation available from Dorm beds to pool side resorts depending on your budget. Haad Rin also has a selection of places to eat providing both Thai and Western foods. Be aware though; accommodation around Haad Rin doubles in price at this time of the month and places fill up quick so be sure to either arrive a few days early or book in advance otherwise you may find yourselves traipsing your bags around hotel to guesthouse looking for room in the inn. On the other hand you could always pack light, take the ferry over from Samuii on the eve of the part, dance all night and take the ferry back to Samui the next day for a good nights sleep.

One thing to be aware of with the Full Moon Party is that despite the name it doesn't always fall exactly on the Full Moon. Full Moon in Thailand is also a traditional time for Buddha Festivals and occasionally the Full Moon Party might fall a day or so before or after to accommodate for these more traditional festivities. It's good to keep your ear to the ground once in Thailand to find out the exact date of the party that month.

For those Party lovers who find themselves arriving in between Full Moon cycles don't fret either, there's pretty much a party every week on Koh Phangan, all smaller than the full moon but each catered to a different vibe and phase of the moon, Black Moon (Siva Moon), Half moon, Jungle Experience, and the Waterfall Parties are just some of the larger ones you can find. You never have to go far to find a place to dance.

As for those of you who are looking for a quiet beach side retreat don't fret, there is an escape from the party. The North of the Island provides some beautiful beach views and sea front bungalows and the Eastern coast of the island consists of many beautiful and more secluded bays where the pumping bass does not reach. Also you'll find that like so many phenomenon's in the world the Full Moon Party scene disperses quickly after the moon begins to wane and its only a few days before the island quietens back down again. It can almost seem as if it never happened... until next month.

Full Moon Party Dates for 2011 / 2012

Full Moon Party Dates 2011
Sunday 17, July 2011
Sunday 14, August 2011
Monday 12, September 2011
Wednesday 12, October 2011
Thursday 10, November 2011
Saturday 10, December 2011
Sunday 25, December 2011
Saturday 31, December 2011

Xmas 2011 Party Date:
Friday 25, December 2011:
Christmas Party

New Year 2012 Party Date
Thursday 31 December 2011:
New Year Party
Saturday 01 January 2012:
New Year's Day After Party

Full Moon Party Dates 2012
Sunday 08, January 2012
Wednesday 08, February 2012
Wednesday 07, March 2012
Friday 06, April 2012
Sunday 06, May 2012
Monday 04, June 2012
Tuesday 03, July 2012
Saturday 04, August 2012
Saturday 01, September 2012
Sunday 30, September 2012
Monday 29, October 2012
Wednesday 28, November 2012
Tuesday 25, December 2012
Friday 28, December 2012
Monday 31, December 2012
Xmas 2012 Party DateSaturday 25, December 2012:Christmas Party