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Koh Phangan Full Moon Party

When it comes to beach parties, the Full Moon Party upon Koh Phangan is arguably the most notorious in the world. This veritable grandfather of beach parties is still going strong after a decade and a half. Originally the Full Moon Party was a fairly laid-back affair, typified by roaring campfires on a pristine beach, portable music systems and backpackers. These days the Full Moon Party is a full on dance music extravaganza, visited by people from all walks of life, making a pilgrimage to Koh Phangan to sample this incredible event each month.

As the name of the party implies, the event takes place at the time of the full moon every month throughout the year. Because of this the party date tends to move each month, and it is best to check the actual party dates before you plan to visit the island. On Full Moon Party night the entire beach at Haad Rin is turned into a huge open air club, which is often visited by over 20,000 people. Every bar and restaurant which lines the beach contributes to the party, many selling buckets of cheap alcohol, with the larger bars providing individual sound systems, pumping every conceivable form of music out into the night.

The party starts as the sun goes down, and continues through the night until the next morning and sometimes longer. Partygoers who wish to continue with their fun are encouraged to visit the Backdoor Party, this smaller event fires up as the Full Moon Party begins to close down, and carries on throughout the following day.

If you are visiting the Full Moon Party then it is important that you consider your own safety, and protect not only yourself, but also your valuables. Some people will be surprised to hear that there are still partygoers who insisted on carrying their passport, credit cards and a large amount of cash to the party with them. It is not unknown for these people to wake up in the morning, face down on the beach after having enjoyed one too many buckets, only to find that their passport, cards and cash have disappeared. Be sensible when you visit the Full Moon Party, take only the money you need to spend at the party and leave the rest, along with your other valuables in your resort safety deposit box.

If you wish to make sure that you have accommodation which is suitably to be close to the party then you will need to book well in advance. Every resort in Haad Rin fills up entirely during Full Moon Party weekend, so if you wish to stay close to the action and not have to rent accommodation elsewhere on the island, then make sure you book early.

Over the last year the organisers of the Full Moon Party have been attempting to bring a better reputation to this event, this has seen them upgrade the once terrible sound systems, and hiring internationally famed DJ talent to entertain partygoers. All in all, the Full Moon Party is still considered to be one of the major regular dance events in the world.