The island of Koh Phangan, whose nightlife is famous worldwide, attracts millions of tourists. Every year, dozens of colorful parties are held here, and tourists come not just to lie on the beach but to attend the best parties. Night parties have long become an integral part of the tourist experience. The best parties are traditionally held on two beaches – Haad Rin Nok and Ban Tai. If you don’t know what to do on Phangan besides beach relaxation, this article is for you.
Good to Know! Announcements and schedules of parties are regularly posted on the island, so it’s not necessary to search for information on the Internet.
To Avoid Troubles During Nightlife
First of all, to enjoy Koh Phangan’s nightlife safely, follow these simple recommendations:
- Keep money, documents, and cards in inner pockets. Leave jewelry and other valuables in the hotel.
- Guests are often offered drugs; do not accept them – there are many police officers at parties, often in plain clothes, who closely monitor order.
- Always take a camera or video camera to capture the bright moments of nightlife, but keep the equipment in your hands all the time.
Related Article: How to Get to Koh Phangan on Your Own?
Full Moon Party
Preparation for the most famous night party on Phangan is in full swing – ferries are crowded, shops are quickly selling out glowing T-shirts, fluorescent paints, and energy drinks. And it’s no wonder, as guests are in for four days of fiery fun. On Haad Rin Nok beach, powerful speakers are set up.
The Full Moon Party on Phangan – the most attended party, has been held since 1985. The first party was dedicated to the birthday of a tourist staying at Paradise Bungalows. Today, more than 30,000 tourists gather for the Full Moon Party.
Nightlife is buzzing in all the bars on the shore and establishments within a few hundred meters from the sea. Each café plays fun music of different genres until morning. Several themed dance floors are organized for vacationers – you can choose from reggae, house, or classic music.
Good to Know! Entrance to the Full Moon Party on Phangan is paid – 200 baht; tourists receive a bracelet that must be kept throughout the party.
A bright and hot feature of the island’s nightlife is the fire show, and a favorite pastime for vacationers is drinking cocktails from a bright bucket. If you plan to visit Haad Rin Nok beach, think about your outfit – people come here in funny wigs, bright masks, and some even paint their faces.
Useful Tips
- The Full Moon Party is held annually on different dates determined by the lunar calendar. There are many thematic websites on the Internet where you can check the upcoming dates of the night party.
- Arrange accommodation in advance, as nightlife enthusiasts book rooms early. Additionally, the closer to the party, the more expensive the hotel room will be. Book accommodation several months before your trip.
- The celebration starts after 10:00 PM and lasts until morning.
- Do not bring children; such a night event is not suitable for them.
- Bags and backpacks only get in the way, restrict movement, and can get lost in the crowd, so it’s better to leave them in the hotel.
- Do not bring much money – just enough for food, drinks, and getting back to the hotel in the morning. Make sure to have small change – the entrance to the toilet costs 10 baht.
- If you are traveling with a group, discuss a meeting place in advance in case someone gets lost.
- To stay on your feet until morning, drink more water and less alcoholic cocktails. Carefully watch what you are offered to eat and drink – alcohol should be opened in your presence.
- Choose comfortable shoes and clothing.
Good to Know! Usually, tourists are not searched at the entrance to the Full Moon Party, so bringing your own alcoholic drinks is easy. This significantly reduces nightlife expenses.
It can be confidently said that Phangan never sleeps, and its nightlife is organized so well that you can travel around the island and enjoy the vibrant movement.
Half Moon Party
This is the second most massive party after the Full Moon Party, held right in the jungle, near Tong Sala – the island’s capital. The Half Moon Party is organized a week after the Full Moon Party.
Good to Know! Entrance to the party is 500 baht. This amount also includes a disc and one drink.
Motorbikes are parked near the entrance to the party, taking guests to the nearest ATM if they run out of money. Alcoholic drinks are sold, but the prices are naturally higher compared to store prices.
Getting to the night party is easy – you need to arrive in Ban Tai and then follow the highway perpendicular to the sea. Follow the signs; it’s impossible to get lost.
Compared to the Full Moon Party, the Half-Moon Festival is decent. There are three dance floors – the main one, an additional one, and a small one set up in a cave. There are toilets, bars, food courts, a well-decorated stage, and light effects.
Good to Know! At the night festival, artists will paint your body with glowing paints.
Practical Information:
- Entrance before 9:30 PM is 1000 baht, and after 9:30 PM – 1400 baht;
- Taxi from Haad Rin Rock costs about 100 baht;
- Around the stage, there are light shows and beautiful fire shows.
Jungle Experience
The party is held twice a month:
- One day before the Full Moon Party;
- Ten days before the Full Moon Party.
The night celebration is organized in the jungle, across the road from the Half Moon Party. The entrance fee is 300 baht (including two drinks), and cocktails cost about 200 baht. A garden is set up right in the jungle, decorated with fluorescent and laser decorations. World-renowned DJs often attend night events.
Good to Know! The party starts at 9:00 PM and ends at 8:00 AM.
Most guests are Russian, as are the bartenders who will make real cocktails for you.
Haad Rin Nok Beach
This beach is one of the most visited; it cannot be called quiet and peaceful. It is the center of the island’s nightlife, with many bars, tattoo parlors, shops, and a variety of music. Life on the beach never stops, and thousands of party enthusiasts from all over the world constantly flock here. Haad Rin Beach is also the brightest beach in Thailand, as all guests wear colorful clothes and paint their bodies with glowing paints.
The beach is located on a peninsula in the southeast of Phangan. Another feature of Haad Rin Rock, besides the vibrant night parties, is that its territory is divided into two parts:
- Haad Rin Nok – sunrise;
- Haad Rin Nai – sunset.
Between the two parts of the beach are hotels, salons, and tourist infrastructure.
Good to Know! Accommodation can be booked on any part of the beach – you can enjoy beautiful sunrises on Haad Rin Beach and picturesque sunsets on Haad Rin Nai. Given the narrow width of the peninsula, it can be easily crossed in just fifteen minutes to experience the exotic and vibrant nightlife of Phangan.
Every bar offers guests colorful, mesmerizing fire shows and various themed shows. The average cocktail price in the establishments is 200 baht, and if you want to buy the famous Phangan bucket and bucket set, you will have to pay about 250-500 baht.
Be careful – the quality of alcohol in Thailand and Phangan, in particular, leaves much to be desired. Alcoholic drinks, regardless of their composition, price, and active nightlife, smell like acetone. If possible, order a cocktail on the beach from a bartender rather than a Thai one.
Near Haad Rin Beach is another noteworthy hotel – Lighthouse. The entrance fee before 11:00 PM is 300 baht, and after 11:00 PM – 500 baht. The average cocktail price is 250 baht. The hotel is located at the southernmost tip of Phangan. There is not as much space for tourists as one would like.
Now you know the most party places on Koh Phangan and understand that the main secret of the Thai island is its nightlife. Phangan invites all active, fun-loving young people to visit the Full Moon Party. When you find yourself on Koh Phangan in Thailand, you will realize what a bright and unforgettable journey awaits you. All events are held according to the lunar calendar. So, Haad Rin Nok is the real night mystery of Phangan, and to uncover it, come to Thailand.
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