Koh Panghan, Thailand

This trip was one I won’t forget anytime soon. The Full Moon Festival is one of the most popular things to do in Thailand and let me tell you it is absolutely insane to experience! I joined some friends to explore this island, eat some great food, relax on the beach and dance the night away covered in neon paint and clothes.

Koh Phangan is only accessible by boat and is a small island with a lot more to offer than just beach parties. My friend Stephanie actually lived on the island for awhile as an English teacher and she was more than happy to show us what it’s all about. I’ll start off by sharing how I got here. I flew from my home in Bangkok to Koh Samui, stayed the night and then took one of the ferries to Koh Phangan the next morning. The taxis were beyond expensive, but I think it’s because they’re still trying to recover from COVID so I can’t hate on them too much… just be prepared for that! When I finally got there I was greeted by Stephanie and she took me to the best breakfast I’ve ever had in Thailand! It was called Nira's Home Bakery and it was out of this world delicious! I had the French Toast, which was amazing, and fresh orange juice to start off the day along with a plate of actual American bacon! I nearly cried when they brought it out and I savored that moment for awhile. Not only is it a great place to eat but it’s the only bakery on the island and makes all of their bread, cakes, and croissants in house daily! Be sure to check them out if you visit.

Nira's Home Bakery Koh Phangan Thailand

After a delicious breakfast I dropped my bag off at Stephanies house and rented a scooter for a private tour of the island. She showed me the north east end of the island and showed me a super cool place called Koh Graham that was right on the water, absolutely stunning and paradise for anyone wanting the perfect Instagram shot. Keep a lookout for the numerous shops and cafes that line the streets. I stopped by Freeway Bamboo Tattoo and got a super cool original art piece from this local named “Tip”. It was just a couple hundred baht for an original, which I thought was a steal! The island had such a chill hippie kind of vibe and I was there for it for sure.

Lotus street art Freeway Bamboo Tattoo Koh Panghan Thailand

After the tour we ate lunch at the local market called the Phangan Food Court and had some delicious Pad Kra Pao. I turned the back in the scooter and we caught a songthaew to Haad Rin which is home to the famous Full Moon Festival. This trip was divided into two parts; a couple days chilling on the beach at a beachfront resort, and then the full moon party at this super cool hostel just in town. We stayed at the Bayshore Resort and it was fantastic! A little pricy but honestly not bad if you split it with friends. The pool was great, the breakfast is included and was really good too. The nightlife was always a lot of fun, very similar to Phi Phi or Phuket. The closer it got to the Full Moon Party the more people there were, and the night of the party was absolutely insane. Estimated that 10,000 people were there for the party and I believe it.

Justin Rees Koh Panghan Thailand

The Full Moon Party deserves a blog of its own, but let me just say it was a super fun experience. We stayed at a hostel called Seventeen Hostel and it was great! I met some really cool people from all over the world. The entire beach is full of people partying and dancing. There are dozens of DJ’s all playing awesome music. My favorite was definitely Drop In Bar! They had the best music and the crowd was amazing, it’s off the the side of the beach so it wasn’t as busy, but still a lot of fun! Be sure to wear actual shoes to the beach party. You could probably get away with flip flops but by the end of the night there was a lot of trash on the beach and you do not want to cut your foot open on some glass! Fortunately the night of and morning after there is a huge clean up and the beach is back to normal before lunch the next day, feel free to help put the next morning if your hangover isn’t too rough! My biggest suggestion is wear a bum bag! Don’t just use your pockets. I want to assure everyone that Thailand is a super safe country, but you don’t want to loose anything! I had a great time and really enjoyed the music! It’s such an amazing feeling to be so happy with your friends and making new ones all night long! People come from all over the world and we were all dancing well into the night!

Full Moon Party Koh Panghan Thailand

There is a lot of places to drink in Haad Rin. Most people go to the numerous beach bars to listen to music and watch the fire dancers, but there’s a lot of cool places on the street too! New Friends Bar New Friends Bar was definitely our main hangout spot, and the lady that runs it is super cool. One Love Bar is also a super chill place to grab a drink and chill. If you’re looking for the best place to party during the Full Moon my favorite was Drop In Bar! They have the best DJ on the beach and were the least crowded.

Full Moon Party Koh Panghan Thailand

Food is everywhere, and just like Phi Phi it’s catered to westerners. You can find just about everything here but our favorite was definitely Monalisa. Delicious Italian food and huge portions! Definitely worth the money. If you're just looking for a quick bite to eat after partying I’d recommend Mama's Schnitzel just up the road from the beach. Cheap and delicious, full of fellow backpackers from all over!

Mama's Schnitzel Koh Panghan Thailand

If you go to Koh Phangan be sure to check out the island a little before you party it up in Haad Rin. It is beautiful, fun, and guaranteed to give you memories that’ll last a lifetime! I haven’t been to a music festival before but this was probably pretty close and I absolutely loved it! I hope to come back one day and really spend some more time exploring this beautiful paradise. As always, have fun, be safe, and have a drink for me! 🍻

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Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

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