Full Moon Party Thailand 2026
2026-08-28
The Full Moon Party Thailand on Koh Phangan is one of the most famous and vibrant beach parties in the world, attracting thousands of revelers each month. Held on the night of the full moon on Haad Rin Beach, this legendary event is renowned for its energetic atmosphere, eclectic music, and stunning location.
The first Full Moon Party is said to have been improvised at a Paradise Bungalows on the beach in 1983 as a token of thanks to about 20–30 travelers, though the accuracy of this is disputed, as is the date of the original event. The parties gained fame through word of mouth, and the event now draws a crowd of about 5,000–30,000 every full moon.
Located Near Koh Samui Island. Learn more about Koh Samui here.
What to expect:
Fire rope jumping
Neon body paint
Thai bucket drinks
Rocking music
For Accommodations:
Agoda
Getting There:
12Go for Transportation
Fly into Koh Samui (USM) or Surat Thani (URT), both conveniently linked to Bangkok. Upon arrival, secure a transfer to Koh Phangan at the airport counter. Opt for the Haadrin Queen Ferry for a direct route to Full Moon Party at Haadrin Pier or explore various ferry options like Lomrayah, Seatran, and Raja Ferry.

The Full Moon Party stands out among global celebrations as a uniquely organic, self-sustaining event. Unlike corporate music festivals with top-down organization, this monthly beach gathering has no head organization. The event is shaped by individuals and business entities on Haad Rin.
The beach transforms through a collective effort as local businesses set up bars and stages, artists paint signs and create decorations, bars curate different music in their preferred style, and food vendors prepare to feed hungry revelers. What you experience is the result of hundreds of individual contributors rather than a centralized planning committee.

Loy Krathong Festival 2026
2026-11-24 - 2026-11-25 | Thailand, Thailand
Loy Krathong is a Thai festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and in nearby countries with significant South Western Thai cultures (Laos, Shan, Mon, Tanintharyi, Kelantan, Kedah, and Xishuangbanna). The name could be translated as “to float ritual vessel or lamp,” and comes from the tradition of making Krathong or buoyant, decorated baskets, which are then floated on a river. Many Thais use the Krathong to thank the Goddess of Water and River, Goddess Khongkha or to worship the Holy Buddha’s hair pagoda in heaven in Buddhist beliefs. This festival traces its origin back to India.
Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, so the exact date of the festival changes every year. In the Western calendar this usually falls in the month of November. In Chiang Mai, the festival lasts three days.
Yi Peng is taking place at the same time, with it’s epic lantern festivals.
Chiang Mai Tips:

No need to buy tickets or pay. From Tha Phae Gate square along Tha Phae Road, down to the Ping River are all free festivities.
Parade along Tha Phae Road is free.
Can purchase Lanterns from vendors along the way.
Can purchase Krathong’s and release in the river across the bridge.
The old city hotels fill up, so book as soon as possible.

Yi Peng Festival 2026
2026-11-24 - 2026-11-25 | Thailand, Thailand
Loy Krathong coincides with the Lanna (northern Thai) festival known as Yi Peng. Yi means ‘two’ and peng means a ‘full moon day’. Yi Peng refers to the full moon day in the second month according to the Lanna lunar calendar (the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar). The festival is meant as a time to make merit.
Swarms of sky lanterns (Thai: โคมลอย; RTGS: khom loi), literally: ‘floating lanterns’, are launched into the air. Khom loi are made from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, stretched over a bamboo or wire frame, to which a candle or fuel cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air is trapped inside the lantern and creates enough lift for the khom loi to float into the sky.
