Full Moon Party Dates: Koh Phangan Schedule, Shifts and Tips

Featured image: travelourplanet.com, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

Full Moon Party Dates: How to Find the Next One

Calendar lists copied from older pages go stale fast. Some are even labeled unconfirmed. Treat any date you read as provisional until the organizers publish it. October 2026 gives a useful pattern check, because the party ran on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. Work out the likely window from the lunar calendar, then confirm the exact night close to travel. Re-check again a week before you leave.

Why the Date Doesn't Always Match the Full Moon

The party follows the lunar calendar, but it does not always land on the exact night of the astronomical full moon. Some months shift by a day for Buddhist holy days or for local reasons. Alcohol sale restrictions around those holy days can affect the schedule. Organizers announce the adjusted night, so the official listing beats any lunar chart. If your trip hinges on one night, wait for the confirmed date before paying for non-refundable transport.

How to Pick the Right Date for Your Trip

Start with the season. Read our Best Time to Visit Koh Phangan: Month-by-Month Guide (Rain, Ferries, Full Moon) guide to choose a month. Next, check typical conditions in our Koh Phangan Weather by Month: Rain, Heat & Ferries breakdown. A date in the wet months deserves a look at the rainy season page first. For forecasts close to travel, the Thai Meteorological Department publishes official updates. Then build a three-day plan around the party:

• Day before: arrive on Koh Phangan, settle in and rest.
• Party day: rest in the daytime and head to Haad Rin between 20:00 and 22:00.
• Day after: recover, and keep 1 buffer day before any onward ferry or flight.

Getting There and Getting Home

Arrive at least 1 day before the party, because a same-day boat is the weakest link in the plan. From Koh Samui, ferries, catamarans and speedboats cross to Koh Phangan, and the ride takes about 30 minutes to an hour depending on boat type. Extra sailings usually run on party days. From the pier, a songthaew (shared pickup truck taxi) can take you to Haad Rin, depending on which pier you land at. Coming back is harder. The party winds down after 04:00, so confirm late-night and morning return transport before you go. Check each operator's timetable directly, since last-boat times change.

Where to Stay Around a Party Date

Your base decides how you get home at 04:00. Rates near Haad Rin often rise around party dates, so verify before booking.

Night Timeline and What to Expect

Timings are loose, so treat them as typical ranges. Music is mostly electronic, with fire shows and bucket drinks along the beach. If you want atmosphere without the all-night session, go early and leave before the peak crowds.

• 18:00–21:00: check in, eat and head to Haad Rin.
• 20:00–22:00: most people arrive.
• 23:00–02:00: peak crowds and performances.
• 02:00–06:00: crowds thin, and some bars stay open to sunrise.

What It Costs (and What Varies)

Check current prices on the official site and with each boat operator, since we have no confirmed figures. Budget for entry or beach fees if any, bucket drinks, boat and songthaew fares, a likely accommodation uplift in Haad Rin, and a locker or valuables plan. Drinks and transport vary most.

Mistakes to Avoid

Most problems come from planning, not the party itself.

• Booking a boat or flight the morning after the party.
• Arriving on the day itself instead of the day before.
• Carrying valuables onto the beach and leaving drinks unattended.
• Swimming at night or riding a scooter after drinking.
• Skipping a plan for the return trip after 04:00.

Not Your Date? Half Moon and Other Parties

If the full moon night misses your dates, read about the Half Moon Party Koh Phangan: Tickets, Dates & Tips as a fallback. The Half Moon Festival site lists its own schedule. Black moon and New Year's Eve parties also exist, so check the official listing for those nights.