How to get to Thailand’s famous Full Moon Parties

Find the ride you need in

Getting to the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan is easier than you think. Travel by plane, ferry or bus and get ready for the night of your life.

Fire dancer at Koh Phangan's Full Moon Party

Thailand is home to over 1,400 islands. One of the most exciting of them all is Koh Phangan, world-renowned for its beach bungalows, white sand beaches, and last but certainly not least: its monthly Full Moon Parties

While traveling to a remote island can seem like an intimidating task, getting to Koh Phangan is actually quite straightforward. We’ve done the legwork for you so you don’t have to. So, pack up all of your neon bathing suits and get ready for the ride of your life.

How to get to the island of Koh Phangan

View of Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan doesn’t have an airport, so you cannot fly into the island. That being said, you have a few transportation options that can get you here, which we will detail for you below:

Flight – Bus – Ferry

Fly into Bangkok. From there, take a bus to Surat Thani or Chumphon, then take a ferry to Koh Phangan. The bus and ferry together will only cost you around $30, and you typically have the option to travel either during the day or through the night. Whatever floats your boat! (See what we did there?)

Bus – Ferry

If you are coming from Phuket, Krabi or anywhere else in this part of Thailand, you can take a bus to Surat Thani. From there, you can take a ferry to Koh Phangan. This route will cost you around $19 for the bus and ferry, but you only have the option to leave in the morning.

Ferry

Getting from Koh Tao to Koh Phangan

If you are coming from Koh Tao, you can take a ferry to Koh Phangan. They leave multiple times a day, get you to the island in 1-2 hours, and can cost as little as $11!

Flight – Ferry

Getting from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan

Fly into Koh Samui and take a ferry to Koh Phangan. This is by far the simplest and quickest option. Get there in under an hour and spend less than $10. Yes please.

Walk – Swim

Feeling adventurous? Do you enjoy being rebellious and going against all logic? Why not give walking from Bangkok to Koh Phangan a shot? It’ll take a whopping 106 total hours if you don’t stop (4.5 days). Seems easy enough! Just head south to Chumphon, hop in the sea, and start swimming straight to the island. It’ll be an experience you’ll never forget, that’s for sure.

You finally made it to Koh Phangan. Now, where exactly is the party?

The Full Moon Party takes place in Haad Rin on Sunrise Beach. Keep your eyes peeled for pre-parties at various bars, hostels and restaurants in the days leading up to the party. Same Same Guesthouse, Restaurant and Bar has some of the most wild warm up parties, and is conveniently located right next to the Full Moon Party itself. 

Koh Phangan may look secluded, but it is easily accessible no matter which route you decide to take to get there, though it is a bit of a trek off the beaten path. They say that it’s not about the destination, it’s all about the journey; but when you’re traversing the Thai mainland and arriving at one of the world’s most sought-after islands for one of the world’s most famous parties, it is clear that the destination will be equally as memorable as the journey.

Posted September 19, 2019
Ashley Katzeff
Lover of napping on the beach. A wealth of random, useless facts and superstitions. Big fan of hummus and potatoes in any form. Former journalism student. Current Content & Brand Manager at Bookaway.