Koh Phangan
Home of the Full Moon Party — Haad Rin beach, buckets, fire ropes, thirty thousand painted revellers under the moon.
- Best forNightlife · Groups of friends · Solo travellers
- In September26°C · 22 rainy days
- Ideal stay4-7 nights
- Approx. flying time~16h 55m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyTHBThai baht
- LanguageThai
- Local time18:126h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType A / B / C / OBring an adapter
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+66
Why go
Better known for one beach party than for anything else, which is a shame, because the island is large, hilly and green, with waterfalls inland and a whole quiet northern coast. Haad Rin in the southeast is party headquarters and behaves accordingly. Elsewhere, Thong Nai Pan and the western bays are given over to yoga, sunset bars and long slow days. The two versions barely meet.
Ferries take about half an hour from Koh Samui, so the island is easy to reach and easy to combine with Ko Tao. Prices and availability swing wildly around the full moon, so either book weeks ahead or deliberately avoid it. December to April is driest, while October and November bring the heaviest rain. For the parties without the chaos, stay away from Haad Rin and travel in.
- Ideal stay
- 4-7 nights
- The vibe
- Loud, languid, two islands in one
From our guides
Chaotic and unforgettable, once. The connoisseur's move is the rest of the island's calendar: jungle parties, half-moon gatherings and the sunset scene around Haad Yao. Book accommodation far ahead of full moon, and guard your flip-flops with your life.
Featured in Ten beach party destinations that go from sunset to sunrise
Things to do
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Haad Rin and the full moon
The party fills the beach monthly with sound systems along the sand and tens of thousands of people. Loud, messy and exactly what it advertises.
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Half moon and jungle parties
Smaller events run through the month in clearings inland, with better sound systems and a considerably less frantic crowd.
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Thong Nai Pan
Twin bays on the northeast coast, reached by a formerly notorious road, with smarter resorts and calm swimming.
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Haad Yao and the west coast
Sunset-facing beaches with reef offshore, easy snorkelling from the sand and a run of bars set up for watching the light go.
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Than Sadet waterfall
A river of pools and boulders in the national park, with royal inscriptions carved into the rocks and swimming above the falls.
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Bottle Beach
A remote northern bay reached by longtail or a hot coastal walk, with limited accommodation and no road in.
Getting there
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Fly to
Na Thon (USM)
Nearest airport to Koh Phangan, about 21km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Koh Phangan
From Ko Samui (USM) it is a short taxi to the pier and about half an hour by ferry to Thong Sala. Ferries also run direct from Surat Thani on the mainland.
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On the ground
Getting around
Songthaew pick-ups meet the boats and run to Haad Rin and the main beaches; scooters are the usual way to explore, though some hill roads are genuinely steep. Longtail boats reach the northern bays.
Public transport: Songthaews cover the main routes and multiply around full moon, but they thin out late at night.
Flights
Los Angeles Koh Phangan, Thailand
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Roughly 16h 55m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
Search flightsNot sure when? Compare fares across a whole month.
Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 25°C in January to 27°C in May. Driest in January and March; wettest in October, with rain on about 28 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
September26° · rain 22 daysWarm and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Beach bungalows, mid-range resorts, wellness and yoga retreats around Sri Thanu, and cheap guesthouses in Thong Sala. A few luxury properties, but no large chains.
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Best base overall
Haad Yao
A long, calm west-coast beach with sunsets, a good spread of mid-range resorts and enough restaurants without any of Haad Rin's chaos. Taxis to the party beaches are pricey after dark.
Find stays in Haad Yao -
Best for nightlife
Haad Rin
The Full Moon beach itself, where the bars, the buckets and the crowd all are. Outside party week it can feel oddly hungover and empty, and rooms are basic for the price.
Find stays in Haad Rin -
Best value
Thong Sala
The pier town has the cheapest rooms, the night market, the banks and the ferries. There is no swimming beach, so you are travelling to the coast every day.
Find stays in Thong Sala -
Best with children
Chaloklum and Haad Salad
Northern bays with shallow water, a fishing village atmosphere and quieter resorts. Roads over the hills are steep, and a car or a taxi is safer than a scooter with children.
Find stays in Chaloklum and Haad Salad
Worth knowing before you book: Rooms across the whole island are booked out and heavily marked up for Full Moon week, often with three or four night minimums. Check the lunar calendar before you commit.
Search everything else in Koh Phangan by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Book ahead
- Rooms around the full moon go months in advance and often carry minimum stays. Check the date before planning anything else.
- Safety
- Drink spiking, theft and injuries from fire ropes and broken glass are all real at Haad Rin. Wear shoes, watch your drink and use the safe.
- Getting there
- Ferries run from Koh Samui, Ko Tao and Surat Thani on the mainland, several times daily and more often around party dates.
- Driving
- Some routes across the island are steep and badly surfaced, and scooter accidents are the commonest way to end a trip early. Take a taxi over the hills.
- Cash
- Take only what you need to the beach and expect cash-only bars. Machines near Haad Rin empty out on party nights.
Similar places
Cancún & Tulum
MexicoAlso for nightlife and groups of friends · 30°C in September (26°C here)
Boracay
PhilippinesAlso for nightlife and groups of friends · 29°C in September (26°C here) · cheaper to stay
Canggu & Uluwatu
Bali, IndonesiaAlso for nightlife and groups of friends · 28°C in September (26°C here) · cheaper to stay
Nearby destinations
Ko Tao
Thailand · 45km away →
Ko Nang Yuan
Thailand · 48km away →
Railay Beach
Krabi, Thailand · 232km away →
Koh Yao Noi
Thailand · 237km away →
Koh Lanta
Thailand · 264km away →
The Andaman Coast: Phuket
Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta, Thailand · 272km away →Elsewhere in Thailand
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Koh Phangan?
Daytime highs run from about 25°C in January to 27°C in May. Driest in January and March; wettest in October, with rain on about 28 days.
How long should I spend in Koh Phangan?
Our suggestion: 4-7 nights.
How do I get to Koh Phangan?
From Ko Samui (USM) it is a short taxi to the pier and about half an hour by ferry to Thong Sala. Ferries also run direct from Surat Thani on the mainland.
Do I need a car in Koh Phangan?
No. Songthaews cover the main routes and multiply around full moon, but they thin out late at night.
What currency and language are used in Koh Phangan?
Currency: Thai baht (THB). Language: Thai. Plugs: type A and B and C and O.
Who is Koh Phangan best for?
Best for nightlife, groups of friends and solo travellers. In a phrase: loud, languid, two islands in one.