Koh Samui to Koh Phangan: Full Moon Party Ferry Guide
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β΄οΈ Best option: Haad Rin Queen β departs Big Buddha Pier, arrives directly at the party beach (no taxi)
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π Last regular ferry: ~5β6pm β plan accordingly
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π Book ahead: Haad Rin Queen sells out around Full Moon week
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π Getting back: Party ends at dawn β first boats back from 08:00
The crossing from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan takes 30β60 minutes depending on operator and pier. The critical choice isn't which ferry β it's which pier you arrive at on Koh Phangan. Only one ferry lands you directly at the party beach.
Which Pier Should You Leave From?
It depends on where you're staying on Samui:
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Staying near Chaweng, Lamai, or south Samui? β Taxi or songthaew to Big Buddha Pier (Bangrak) β Haad Rin Queen β arrives directly at Haad Rin (party beach) β
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Staying near Bophut, Maenam, or north Samui? β Walk or short taxi to Pralar Pier, Maenam β Lomprayah β arrives at Thong Sala (taxi to Haad Rin: 150β200 THB)
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Missed the regular ferries? β Taxi to Petcherat Marina β Echo Speedboat β arrives at Baan Tai (taxi to Haad Rin: ~150 THB)
Haad Rin Queen β Best Choice for Full Moon Party
The only ferry that goes directly to the party beach. You step off the boat and you're already at Haad Rin. No taxi, no songthaew, no extra cost. Departs from Big Buddha Pier (Bangrak) in north Samui β a 100β150 THB taxi ride from most Samui hotels.
Book online around Full Moon week β it sells out. 90% of the time you can buy at the pier, but don't risk it during peak season.
Haad Rin Queen
Best for Full Moon Party
Book on 12go.asia β
Big Buddha Pier, Bangrak (Koh Samui) β Haad Rin Pier (party beach, no taxi needed)
| Direction | Departure | Arrival | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samui β Phangan | 10:30 | 11:20 | 200 THB |
| Samui β Phangan | 15:00 | 15:50 | 500 THB |
| Samui β Phangan | 17:00 | 17:50 | 200 THB |
| Phangan β Samui | 09:30 | 10:20 | 200 THB |
| Phangan β Samui | 12:30 | 13:20 | 500 THB |
| Phangan β Samui | 16:00 | 16:50 | 200 THB |
Lomprayah β For North Samui Travellers
If you're staying in Maenam, Bophut, or anywhere along the north coast, Lomprayah's Pralar Pier departure saves you a long taxi to Big Buddha. High-speed catamaran, most departures of any operator. Arrives at Thong Sala pier β shared songthaew to Haad Rin costs 150β200 THB.
Lomprayah
Book on 12go.asia β
Nathon Pier or Pralar Pier, Maenam (Koh Samui) β Thong Sala Pier (Koh Phangan) β shared taxi to Haad Rin: 150β200 THB
| Direction | Departure | Price | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samui β Phangan | 08:00 | 350 THB | Nathon Pier |
| Samui β Phangan | 08:00 | 350 THB | Pralar Pier, Maenam |
| Samui β Phangan | 11:00 | 350 THB | Nathon Pier |
| Samui β Phangan | 11:00 | 350 THB | Pralar Pier, Maenam |
| Samui β Phangan | 12:30 | 350 THB | Pralar Pier, Maenam |
| Samui β Phangan | 14:30 | 350 THB | Pralar Pier, Maenam |
| Samui β Phangan | 17:00 | 350 THB | Pralar Pier, Maenam |
Echo Speedboats β If You Miss the Regular Ferries
Regular ferries stop around 5β6pm. Echo Speedboats run later, departing from Petcherat Marina in south Samui and arriving at Baan Tai pier on Koh Phangan (not Haad Rin β short taxi required, ~150 THB).
Echo Speedboats
Book on 12go.asia β
Petcherat Marina (Koh Samui) β Baan Tai Pier (Koh Phangan) β taxi to Haad Rin from Baan Tai: ~150 THB
| Direction | Departure | Arrival | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samui β Phangan | 09:00 | 09:30 | 500 THB |
| Samui β Phangan | 12:00 | 12:30 | 500 THB |
| Samui β Phangan | 16:00 | 16:30 | 500 THB |
| Samui β Phangan | 18:30 | 19:00 | 600 THB |
| Samui β Phangan | 20:30 | 21:00 | 900 THB |
Book in Advance β This Matters More Than You Think
Around Full Moon week, the Haad Rin Queen and Lomprayah regularly sell out. Not overbooked β fully sold out, no tickets left. Every year people miss the ferry they planned on taking and scramble for alternatives.
- Book at least 3β5 days ahead around Full Moon dates
- During peak season (DecemberβApril), book a week or more in advance
- Prices on 12go.asia are the same as at the pier β no markup for booking online
Getting Back: Koh Phangan to Koh Samui After the Party
The Full Moon Party runs until sunrise. Here are your options for the journey back:
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π 06:00 onwards: Echo Speedboat from near Haad Rin (book the night before β fills up fast)
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β΄οΈ 09:30: Haad Rin Queen departs Haad Rin Pier directly to Bangrak, Samui β 200 THB
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π During the party night: Private speedboats from Bangrak piers run throughout the night β Echo 600β900 THB, Full Moon Speedboats 1,000β1,400 THB (VIP strongly recommended to skip the long queues)
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βοΈ Catching a flight? Allow 30 min crossing + 10β15 min taxi to Samui airport. The 09:30 Haad Rin Queen gives you a comfortable buffer for most morning flights.
Morning Return β Echo Speedboats
Book on 12go.asia β
Baan Tai Pier (Koh Phangan) β Petcherat Marina (Koh Samui)
| Direction | Departure | Arrival | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phangan β Samui | 08:00 | 08:30 | 500 THB |
| Phangan β Samui | 10:00 | 10:30 | 500 THB |
| Phangan β Samui | 12:00 | 12:30 | 500 THB |
Staying on Samui? Book the Round Trip Instead
If you're already checked into a hotel on Koh Samui and can't or don't want to change, the round-trip speedboat package is the cleanest option: hotel pickup, speedboat to Haad Rin, return transfer back. No logistics, no waiting for public ferries.
VIP is worth it β standard tickets can mean a very long queue at the end of the party while you're tired and the sun is coming up.
Full Moon Party Round Trip from Koh Samui
Book β
- Hotel pickup on Koh Samui
- Speedboat to Haad Rin (party beach)
- Return transfer back to hotel
- VIP recommended β avoids long queues
Staying on Koh Phangan? Book Near the Beach
The Full Moon Party is on Haad Rin beach. Stay within walking distance and you skip the taxi entirely. Most accommodation books out fast around Full Moon week β sort it out at the same time as your ferry.
Paradise Bungalows
Chantaramas
More options: Full accommodation guide for Koh Phangan β
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ferry from Koh Samui goes directly to the Full Moon Party beach?
The Haad Rin Queen. It departs from Big Buddha Pier (Bangrak) in north Samui and arrives at Haad Rin Pier β the party beach itself. No taxi, no connection, no extra cost on arrival.
What time should I leave Koh Samui for the Full Moon Party?
The 15:00 or 17:00 Haad Rin Queen departure puts you on Koh Phangan in the mid-to-late afternoon with time to check in, freshen up, and eat before the party starts at midnight. If you want a full day on the island, the 10:30 departure is the earliest option.
When is the last ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan?
Regular scheduled ferries stop around 5β6pm. Echo Speedboats run until 20:30 (600β900 THB) and are a reliable late option β they arrive at Baan Tai pier rather than Haad Rin, so add ~150 THB for a taxi to the beach.
How do I get back from the Full Moon Party to Koh Samui?
The Haad Rin Queen at 09:30 is the simplest option β direct from Haad Rin pier to Bangrak for 200 THB. Echo Speedboats start from 08:00. If you need an earlier return (e.g. early morning flight), book a private speedboat the night before β they're available during the party for 1,000β1,400 THB.
Should I stay on Koh Samui or Koh Phangan?
Stay on Koh Phangan. Regular ferries stop at 5β6pm and after the party ends at dawn there is no regular boat back. If you're already booked on Samui, the round-trip speedboat package avoids the problem entirely β hotel pickup and return included.
Do I need to book the ferry in advance?
Around Full Moon week, yes. The Haad Rin Queen sells out. Booking online on 12go.asia is the same price as the pier counter and takes 2 minutes β there's no reason not to.