Imagine: fire shows paint the night sky, music thumps from every bar, and 20,000 party peeps paint the sand with dance moves. Glow sticks, buckets (ahem, for drinks), and neon paint. Dance under the moonlit sky, lose yourself in the rhythm, and maybe even find your full moon soulmate (hey, anything's possible). Just be warned: wild nights, epic sunrises, and memories (or lack thereof) that'll last a lifetime. Koh Phangan's Full Moon Party - it's not just a party, it's an experience. Are you in?
Credits: Prabind Yadav
If you are someone keen on traveling to Thailand and can't stop wondering how the famous Full Moon Parties are like, here's your quick guide to planning this trip.
How to Reach?
Firstly, you need to be in Thailand. But where exactly? Koh Phangan is an island in the Gulf of Thailand. Unlike the popular Phi Phi which is in the southwest of Thailand, it is in the southeast. Koh Phangan is a part of an island group with three major islands - Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Of these, Koh Samui is the largest and also has an airport.
By air: You can fly to Koh Samui, which is connected by air with Bangkok, Pattaya, Krabi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. However, direct flights to Koh Samui are expensive and can cost up to INR 15,000 one-way near the dates of Full Moon Party. Once you are in Koh Samui, you can get a ferry to Koh Phangan that takes about 45 minutes. From Koh Phangan, you can get a taxi to Haad Rin (where the Full Moon Party takes place) in 200 Baht/ 500 INR.
Alternatively, you may fly to Surat Thani which is connected with all major cities of Thailand and a one-way ticket might cost only INR 2000 even at the times of Full Moon Party if you book it a fortnight in advance.
By sea: You can take a bus or train and reach Surat Thani pier from where you can get a cruise/ ferry to Koh Phangan and then take a taxi to Haad Rin. There are online services which provide a package that includes the bus and the ferry for about Rs. 3000. The entire journey takes about 12-14 hours overnight.
By Road: Since Koh Phangan is an island, the last point that you can reach by road is Surat Thani from where you must take a flight or ferry.
Accommodation: Many people choose to stay in Koh Samui that has many luxurious resorts and some very fun hostels. However, Koh Phangan is no less beautiful and you can get a hostel next to Haad Rin beach. But you must book them at least a month in advance to get decent prices and also to avoid no vacancy as the hostels fill up really quick. If you follow this advice, you may book a good hostel next to Haad Rin beach for INR 700-1000 per night. The prices may go up to INR 2000 for a dorm bed in a poor hostel if you decide to book it within a week of the party.
So, plan your Full Moon Party with all these considerations and have a blast in Koh Phangan.
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