Haad Rin Beach is known as Thailand’s party capital, a coastal stretch in Koh Pha Ngan that lets its hair down every month at its infamous full moon parties.
Attendance at a full moon party is considered a rite of passage for young travelers passing through Thailand. You’ll wear day-glo clothes and dance to the throbbing techno beats blasted by local DJs until well past dawn. Various bars set up along the beach to ply their wares, and almost everyone overindulges. Prepare for crowds; during peak season it’s not uncommon to see tens of thousands of revelers on the beach.
When you get so many intoxicated party goers together there are a few basic safety precautions you should follow. Remember to wear shoes, ideally covered ones, as the sand becomes very littered as the event wears on. Also keep only the bare essentials, including the cash you’ll need and your hotel room key, on your person. Your passport, credit card, and plane tickets home will be much safer in your room.
And while this is a party, remember to steer well clear of illegal drugs. Thailand’s drugs penalties are some of the harshest in the world, and possession can be punishable by a lengthy jail sentence. It’s simply not worth the risk.
With a full moon party scheduled every 28 days, to coincide with the moon’s natural cycle, it’s easy to fit one in to your Thai vacation. Haad Rin Beach is at the southern tip of Koh Pha Ngan, a budget travel spot just north of the popular resort area of Koh Samui.
The popularity of the monthly event makes it easy to find transport. Overnight trains and buses run from most major Thai cities to Surat Thani, and then it’s just a matter of catching a connecting ferry to the beach. If you’ve got a bit more cash to spare you could fly to Koh Samui from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Phuket, and then take a boat out to Koh Pha Ngan.
Revelers at Thailand's Full Moon Party
