Full Moon Party - Moonlit Mayhem
The myths are endless, most of them true. For one night every month the southern tip of Koh Phangan
comes alive with revellers partying by the light of the full moon.
Wherever you look there is a feast for your eyes, a sensory overload,
music pounding in your chest, beautiful girls and gorgeous men - a
frenzy of heat and youth from all over the globe. Feel like joining
them?
Phangan’s
legendary party has grown from a small group of friends into the most
famous monthly dance festival on Earth. Between 5,000 and 25,000 people
flock to this tiny island to take part in what has become a right of
passage for today’s backpackers. The main action takes place on Sunrise
Beach, or Haad Rin, where the air vibrates as giant sound systems
compete to ply the loudest, funkiest tunes. As day turns to night, the
mood changes from a lazy holiday beach to a pulsing, vibrant nightscape
of fluorescent psychedelia.
What you’ll be hearing?
Musically, there have been some exciting changes for the full-moon party. The break of the psy-trance grip on the island has created some much-needed diversity. Traditionally this electronic music hailing from the early 1990s beaches of Goa dominated every party, leading Phangan to be labeled the new trance Mecca. Now, progressive house, R&B, electronic, drum ‘n’ bass and hip hop are all on offer, being played by Thai and foreign DJs. The mish mash of music means it is fun to explore the whole beach before settling into your ambience of choice.
Musically, there have been some exciting changes for the full-moon party. The break of the psy-trance grip on the island has created some much-needed diversity. Traditionally this electronic music hailing from the early 1990s beaches of Goa dominated every party, leading Phangan to be labeled the new trance Mecca. Now, progressive house, R&B, electronic, drum ‘n’ bass and hip hop are all on offer, being played by Thai and foreign DJs. The mish mash of music means it is fun to explore the whole beach before settling into your ambience of choice.
Clubs such as Cactus, with its mixture of rock, R&B and
house, play to the more commercial crowds, and Drop In Bar is famous for
its crowd-pleasing classics. For the traditionalists, Tommy’s and Zoom
Bar continue to take dancers on a musical journey with their psy-trance
sets. Vinyl Club progresses from trance to harder techno as the night
goes on, leaving Orchid Bar to get its crowd stomping with ferocious
drum ’n’ bass. And local DJ A welcomes partiers to pay homage to
Paradise Bar with its stone monument immortalizing the location of the
first full moon party more than two decades ago. When
you need a breather, head for The Rock Bar’s fantastic views and great
cocktails. AT the opposite end of the beach, the aptly named Mellow
Mountain, comprising several ambient hangouts, is also a comfy retreat.
Off the beach, two great places for pre-party antics are the Warm Up
Bar, which has a trendy atmosphere and chilled-out tunes, and the
Outback Bar, equipped with pool tables and widescreen TVs. These places
are perfect for those who would rather dip in and out of the action,
and secretly find the beach slightly overwhelming.
The magic of the party is in its diversity finding the bar, restaurant of strip of sand that suits the mood you’re in. One minute you can be packed among the throngs of people dancing like the world will end, the next you’re having a soothing foot massage or relaxing in a hammock sharing travel stories from around the globe.
The magic of the party is in its diversity finding the bar, restaurant of strip of sand that suits the mood you’re in. One minute you can be packed among the throngs of people dancing like the world will end, the next you’re having a soothing foot massage or relaxing in a hammock sharing travel stories from around the globe.
When hunger strikes
Akin to other world festivals, the food on offer at the full moon bash is rich and varied, from air-conditioned sushi to chicken on stick. Restaurants range from the sophisticated Emotion of Sushi to the infamous Chicken Corner, serving succulent chicken breast wrapped in tasty baguettes.
An abundance of stalls sell spring rolls, falafels and pizzas. For fresh cream cakes and pastries, Nira’s Bakery is Haad Rin’s premier stop. The Lazy House serves up generous portions of delicious Thai and Western fare in the town’s coziest restaurant, complete with big screen movies and the most ambient music collection on the island.
The Moonlight Café, just off Sunrise Beach, offers food and a wide selection of beers. It is also a perfect meeting place – important to establish if you don’t want to spend the night searching for lost friends.
Akin to other world festivals, the food on offer at the full moon bash is rich and varied, from air-conditioned sushi to chicken on stick. Restaurants range from the sophisticated Emotion of Sushi to the infamous Chicken Corner, serving succulent chicken breast wrapped in tasty baguettes.
An abundance of stalls sell spring rolls, falafels and pizzas. For fresh cream cakes and pastries, Nira’s Bakery is Haad Rin’s premier stop. The Lazy House serves up generous portions of delicious Thai and Western fare in the town’s coziest restaurant, complete with big screen movies and the most ambient music collection on the island.
The Moonlight Café, just off Sunrise Beach, offers food and a wide selection of beers. It is also a perfect meeting place – important to establish if you don’t want to spend the night searching for lost friends.
When’s the next party?
and
DECEMBER, 25th -> Christmas Party
DECEMBER, 31st -> New Year Party.
Check before turning up, as party dates do change in order to accommodate Buddhist holidays. Petcharat Marine runs a 24-hour speedboat service from Samui to Phangan, with round-trip tickets that you can use all night.
and
DECEMBER, 25th -> Christmas Party
DECEMBER, 31st -> New Year Party.
Check before turning up, as party dates do change in order to accommodate Buddhist holidays. Petcharat Marine runs a 24-hour speedboat service from Samui to Phangan, with round-trip tickets that you can use all night.
Where to stay?
If you want to stay close t the action, Haad Rin now boasts more than 5,000 rooms, just remember to book well in advance. For the classic Haad Rin experience, stay at the Sunrise Resort or other Koh Phangan hotels which suit your need.
For a bit more luxury, head for the Drop In Resort, which has its own spa and massage facilities. Pha Ngan Buri also caters to those looking for something more comfortable, with prices starting at 2,400 baht in the hight season.
Alternatively, just stay on Samui and take one of the hourly speedboats over to the party. Bungalows line Big Buddha Beach, Shambala and Sunset 2 being two of the more popular.
If you want to stay close t the action, Haad Rin now boasts more than 5,000 rooms, just remember to book well in advance. For the classic Haad Rin experience, stay at the Sunrise Resort or other Koh Phangan hotels which suit your need.
For a bit more luxury, head for the Drop In Resort, which has its own spa and massage facilities. Pha Ngan Buri also caters to those looking for something more comfortable, with prices starting at 2,400 baht in the hight season.
Alternatively, just stay on Samui and take one of the hourly speedboats over to the party. Bungalows line Big Buddha Beach, Shambala and Sunset 2 being two of the more popular.
Dark side of the moon?
As with any festival, it’s important to stay alert and keep safe. In the high season, crowds can reach 25,000, so it’s not surprising to find a few shady characters, In no other place on Earth will people so freely share their drinks with strangers. And too many stories are told of young women who’ve found themselves in unpleasant and unintended situations after sharing sips from the infamous “buckets”. Others report waking the following day with unnerving gaps in their memories. It’s unclear whether drinks are spiked or it is simply the explosive combination of Red Bull, Coke and Sangsom whiskey that causes these problems. However, recent US medical studies show the effects of alcohol are masked by energy drinks, causing people to believe they are in control when they are actually far from it.
As with any festival, it’s important to stay alert and keep safe. In the high season, crowds can reach 25,000, so it’s not surprising to find a few shady characters, In no other place on Earth will people so freely share their drinks with strangers. And too many stories are told of young women who’ve found themselves in unpleasant and unintended situations after sharing sips from the infamous “buckets”. Others report waking the following day with unnerving gaps in their memories. It’s unclear whether drinks are spiked or it is simply the explosive combination of Red Bull, Coke and Sangsom whiskey that causes these problems. However, recent US medical studies show the effects of alcohol are masked by energy drinks, causing people to believe they are in control when they are actually far from it.
Think of the full-moon party as potentially the wildest night
of your life so far. Even the most together of people can end up
soaking wet, clothes torn, mobile gone and with their money missing.
It’s a good idea to keep valuables locked away in your resort safe and
to carry only essentials.
The full moon can and should be one of the most magical and hilarious nights you’ll every experience, but don’t confuse freedom with losing control. If you are travelling with friends, stick together and crate a meeting point before diving into the buckets. If you make new full-moon friends, remember they are just that. Remember that drinking seriously impairs your judgment. Also, the penalties for drugs are severe in Thailand, so respect the laws and be wise.
If you do run into trouble, the tourist police are standing by and a lifeguard now patrols Sunrise Beach. Swimming in the sea when inebriated is not a good plan – if you are tempted, just have a look at how many people are too lazy to walk to the toilet.
The full moon can and should be one of the most magical and hilarious nights you’ll every experience, but don’t confuse freedom with losing control. If you are travelling with friends, stick together and crate a meeting point before diving into the buckets. If you make new full-moon friends, remember they are just that. Remember that drinking seriously impairs your judgment. Also, the penalties for drugs are severe in Thailand, so respect the laws and be wise.
If you do run into trouble, the tourist police are standing by and a lifeguard now patrols Sunrise Beach. Swimming in the sea when inebriated is not a good plan – if you are tempted, just have a look at how many people are too lazy to walk to the toilet.
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