Full Moon Party Week: What Happens Before and After
Most people plan for one night. The ones who stay longer always say the same thing: the week was better than the party itself.
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🗓️ Arrive 1-2 days early. Pre-parties run from 2-3 days out. Hotels near Haad Rin require a 3-night minimum anyway.
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🎉 Stay 1-2 days after. After-parties run through the morning. The island slows down by day 2.
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🏊 WET Pool Party runs for 5 days around every Full Moon Party.
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🌴 Jungle Experience happens the night before the main event.
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💰 Budget 500-1,500 THB per night for pre and after-party events, on top of accommodation.
The Full Moon Week timeline
Events shift slightly each month depending on the calendar. This is the typical pattern.
3-4 days before: Half Moon Festival
The Half Moon Festival runs twice a month: once about a week before the Full Moon Party, and once about a week after. If the timing lines up with your trip, it is worth going. 3 stages in a forest near Ban Tai: Tribal Stage (techno), G Floor (house), the Cave (R&B). Tickets are 3,500 THB for a 2-day pass or 2,200 THB for a single day, including 2 drinks.
2-3 days before: WET Pool Party starts
WET hostel runs pool parties and events for 5 days around every Full Moon Party. If you stay there, you are already inside the action. If not, the events are open to non-guests for a fee. Good place to meet people before the main event.
Day before: Jungle Experience + OXA Beach
Jungle Experience is the warm-up event most people point to. It runs the night before the Full Moon Party in the jungle at Ban Tai, about 1 km behind the 7/11 signs. Underground house and trance music, fire and circus performances, and a chill-out zone if you need a break. It runs through the night.
OXA Beach runs weekly beach parties from 3pm. The edition before the Full Moon Party draws a bigger crowd. Tickets from 200 THB. Limited capacity, so arrive early or book ahead.
Full Moon Party night
The main event. Haad Rin beach, 9pm to sunrise. Entry is 200 THB at the gates. Read the full guide before you go.
Morning after: after-parties
Several bars on Haad Rin keep going after the main party ends at sunrise. Some run until midday. If you are still standing, this is where the diehards end up.
The beach is cleaned up by the afternoon. By evening, the island is noticeably quieter.
1-2 days after: WET continues, Eden on Saturdays
WET runs its pool parties through the day. If the day after falls on a Saturday, the Eden Garden Party at Haad Yuan beach is a low-key option: free entry, funky beats, good views.
By day 2 after the party, most people have moved on. It is a good time to explore the rest of the island or recover before your next stop.
How long should you stay?
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3 nights minimum: arrive the night before, recover the night after. Most hotels near Haad Rin require this anyway.
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5 nights: gives you the Jungle Experience, the party, an after-party morning, and 2 days to recover or explore.
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7+ nights: adds the Half Moon Festival on one end and time to see the island properly.
3 nights is the practical minimum. Hotels near Haad Rin enforce it. Any less and you spend most of your trip in transit.
5 nights is the sweet spot. You get the warm-up events, the party, the after-party, and time to actually see Koh Phangan.
Other weekly events on the island
Beyond Full Moon week, Koh Phangan has events running year-round:
- Cult Festival (formerly the Waterfall Party): every Friday and Saturday, deep in the Ban Tai jungle. Free before 6pm, 300 THB after.
- Eden Garden Party: every Saturday at Haad Yuan beach. Free.
- OXA Beach: weekly techno parties from 3pm. 200 THB.
- Lost Paradise: bi-weekly at Haad Yao East Beach. 200 THB.
See the full Koh Phangan party guide for all recurring events.
Where to stay
Hotels near Haad Rin sell out weeks before each Full Moon Party. If you want to walk to the beach and to pre-parties without a taxi, book as early as possible.
See accommodation options near Haad Rin