Wait, Paul what…?
Paul Moon! The Full Moon parties are a number of parties that take place at the same time once a month on the central beach "Hadrin" in the South Island Copenhagen in Thailand The locals prepare for the full moon parties throughout the month, and over the years they have become a magnet for tens of thousands of tourists to Copenhagen. Because the parties have become the main monthly event on the island, most travelers plan their Thailand travel schedule so that they arrive in Ko Pha Ngan before the full moon dates, at the time of a full moon.
The Full Moon parties are actually a number of spectacular and well-equipped stages, with high-quality sound systems and an appropriate and well-lit setting. Among the stages you will find different styles of music such as a stage with pop music, a stage with trance music and more. During the evening, apart from the main stages, there are several other attractions such as fire juggling (which you can also take part in), hoop shows, a huge fire rope where the locals invite the tourists to jump, water slides from the hotel pool for the party and more. The party is held throughout the night and is attended by between 5,000 and 30,000 people each month, depending on the season of course.
The alcohol flows freely and the famous way to consume it is the famous "bucket" - a bucket with several drinks for all the guys. When you get hungry, you can eat at one of the fried chili corn skewer stands along the beach, coconuts and banana loti - the most prominent dessert on the streets of Thailand.
When are there full moon parties?
The full moon parties are held every year, for many years now, once a month during a full moon. The dates are usually published in advance for the entire year, although they are subject to slight changes due to Buddhist holidays that may occur on those days (2023 list below). If you have come to Thailand for a short visit and you do not fall on a full moon night, you can take solace in parties with a similar concept: "Half Moon" (Half Moon) which are also held around the middle of the month, however, unlike the Full Moon, the party is not held on the beach but on the mountain on the island of Kopenhagen. There is also the "Blue Moon" party which is mainly suitable for fans of trance parties, and it also does not take place on the beach and cannot be reached independently but only with shuttle services. For these 2 parties it is required to purchase an entrance ticket which includes entrance to the party and transportation. There is no need to purchase an entrance ticket for the Full Moon party because the party is free of charge.
Accommodation and orientation for full moon parties
In fact, until the day of the party itself, no special feature is felt on the island. Those who arrive a few days before the party can enjoy the loot The attractions of Copenhagen, restaurants, smaller beach parties and pubs. When you get to the beach on the evening of the party, there is a sentence that many repeat, and you probably won't be able to avoid it either: "Where did all these people come from?". A river of people who are not sure where they have been until now washes the streets between the many restaurants and street stalls that offer local fast food and snacks, on its way to the beach. Note that the Full Moon takes place in any weather, even if there are wild monsoon rains during the afternoon.
Had Rin beach It is not a very big beach and a trip to the party area takes about 5 minutes on a motorbike. That evening, if you go out of the hotel to the more main area, you will find transportation services to the party in open vans. There are two main options for staying in Copenhagen for the Full Moon: rent a hotel room in the Had Rin Beach area (or right on the beach) and thus be very close to all the parties (and of course the Full Moon itself), and wander on foot from the hotel to the beach and between the stages along the way. The second option is to enjoy the peace and stay in a hotel a little far from the main beach, in another part of Copenhagen. From there you can reach the party beach by ceremonial boats that provide shuttle services back and forth.
Those who don't stay until the morning at the party and a mizza in the middle of the night can be comforted by a pampering and relaxing foot massage after all the trips and dancing. If a feeling of hunger has developed, most restaurants are already closed at night, but Schnitzel Mama is open and ready to satisfy your hunger at any hour until morning.
Recommended hotels in Copenhagen for the Full Moon parties
- Had Rin
- Had Rin
- Had Rin
For all the recommended hotels in Copenhagen, click here >>
What do you wear to full moon parties?
In all the main islands in Thailand you will find shirts and tank tops in very colorful neon colors which are considered the "traditional" outfit for the Full Moon party. It is very common to see shirts with the 7ELEVEN convenience store brand logo which has already become a sign of the East and Thailand in particular. The women usually wear a bikini with a comfortable dress and the men a swimsuit with a colorful tank top. Your accessories for Full Moon is the body makeup that stands out - phosphorescent colors in spectacular shapes that will be happy to paint on you in different positions on the beach itself.
Not to be missed at Full Moon
What sets the Full Moon parties apart from just another beach party is mainly the mix of the whole evening, in terms of people, music and atmosphere. Already at the beginning of the evening you will discover a lot of tourists from all over the world painting their bodies with spectacular body colors, some of them decorating themselves with their country's flags. Upon entering the area of the island's narrow streets that lead to the beach, you begin to feel a large and happy movement of people flowing to the body make-up stands, where it is very easy to notice the Hollywood walls filled with various examples of body make-up illustrations that also glow in ultraviolet light.
When everyone is decorated and walking between the stages and the performances, the experience is one of unity among all the tourists - everyone came here from different parts of the world to dance and be happy and for one night at least it seems that everyone is friends and everyone loves. The pleasure is felt in the air at every moment. You can't miss the huge fire inscriptions of the WELCOME TO THAILAND that over the years have become a real booty ritual (no less than trying to take the perfect picture every time the fire inscription is lit...)
Along the beach and between stages you will notice different performances, impromptu corners for sleeping together on the beach, performances and of course more and more diverse people from all over the world. Those who stay until the late hours will be able to notice that at the end of the party the revelers still stay in the area and gather in groups on the beach equipped with musical instruments and enjoy a relaxed and shared chill in front of the sunrise.
it's important to remember!
We must not forget that this is a gathering of a lot of people in the place, so it is advisable not to arrive with valuable things on you, and in general it is recommended to avoid arriving with a bag and take the minimum required (a little money and a photo of the passport seems to be enough to us) to avoid the unpleasantness of losing or stealing valuable equipment. If you still arrived with a bag, do yourself a favor and don't leave it unattended for even one second. In addition, some of the stages are located close to the main hotels and sometimes small parties are also set up in the pool. Therefore, if you decide to join one of them and take a dip in the pool (recommended), do not leave your belongings unattended.
Another thing that is recommended to avoid is the consumption of substances you do not know from people you do not know. Everyone is solely responsible for their body and what they put into it, however in crowded places of this type it is very advisable not to risk consuming different substances from people you have just met, for the simple reason that you do not know them nor their intentions.
The full moon parties are fun and happy and host tens of thousands of people every month. Take care of yourself, enjoy as much as you can and return home (or hotel) safely.
Here is the list of Full Moon Party dates for 2023 (dates are subject to change, usually without notice, due to Buddhist holidays):
- 6 in January
- 5 in February
- March 7
- 6 in April
- 5 May
- 3 in June
- 3 in July
- 30 in August
- September 29th
- October 28
- 27 in November
- 26 in December
