Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan Thailand

The Full Moon Party at Phangan has now become a world famous event, attended by thousands. Not that long ago this was a party held on a remote island beach for travelers who met up whilst roaming the planet , seeking out new experiences.

For some, the Full Moon Party now held each month on the same island has become far too commercial, attended largely by curious holiday makers and gap year students whose intentions may be good, but who cannot compare with those who travelled the world without the aid of a mobile phone and an ATM card.

Those travelers of the 80’s may look at the party now from the safety of their jobs, mortgages and families and wonder what happened to that ‘free for all’ beach party they went to 20 years ago.

Beach party at Koh Phangan, Fullmoon Party

Full Moon Party

Full Moon Party

Well, it is still quite a raucous night on the beach with lots of music, booze and other entertainment in the form of fire eaters and jugglers. As for the facts - It is held on the Full Moon day of each month on Haad Rin Beach.

There’s music for many tastes, perhaps not all. With a continuous stream of MC’s the variation is limited to trance, techno, drum and bass, reggae and general dance music. If jazz, rock or orchestral are you’re thing, then you will be disappointed. Like all music festivals in this era there is far more control from authorities and whilst no one wants to see accidents or bad things happening, there is an opinion that many of these events have lost the original flavor and excitement.

Drinking on the beach.

Full Moon Party

The very thing which made them spontaneous and unpredictable has been taken away. When 5 star hotels start to advertise an event which began with beach hut travelers, with an option of a DVD of the party, then for some, the magic has gone.

However, anyone going to Phangan and the Full Moon Party will undoubtedly remember their night as special. But it maybe not be quite as special as it once was.

Morning after the fullmoon party at the beach

Before the party started.

Next morning after the fullmoon party, people were sleeping on the beach