Thailand’s moon parties are renowned worldwide for their party atmosphere, and huge energy and for drawing travellers in. You’re here because you’ve heard about them so I’m assuming you now want to know which moon party to attend?
The Half Moon Party and the Full Moon Party, both held on the pristine beaches of Thailand, offer exciting but quite different experiences. The parties are also at different times of the month so it depends when you’re in Thailand and in this area as it might not land conveniently for you. Here’s a summary of each event.
Full Moon Party
Where is the full moon party? Haad Rin Beach, Koh Phangan, Thailand.
When is the full moon party? The full moon party takes place once a month following the moon calendar but dates are adjusted around Buddhist holidays so do not always coincide with the night of the actual full moon.
How much is the full moon party? Expect to pay around 100 THB per person. It used to be free but this goes towards the clean up, security and so on.
This legendary event was created sometime in the 80s to put a small thank you party on for local travellers on the Thai island. Thousands of travellers from all corners of the globe now gather on the beach to celebrate the night of the full moon.
The beach transforms into a giant dance floor with a mix of music genres, ranging from trance and techno to reggae and hip-hop, played by popular international DJs. The party starts at dusk and continues until sunrise so you had better bring your energy.
Half Moon Party
Where is the half moon party? Two locations on Haad Rin Beach, Koh Phangan, Thailand. Day is one held at Harmony Beach Club and day two is held in the magical forest.
When is the half moon party? Twice a month and again following the moon calendar around the time of the half moon.
How much is the half moon party? Expect to pay around 600-700 THB per person as it’s run by a private company so has more structure.
Known officially as Half Moon Festival, this is known as a spin-off event, which was started by a DJ who wanted to hold another event out in the forest. It is held twice a month, typically around the half-moon phase of the month.
The party is now organised by a private company and is split into two days. Again Revellers enjoy electronic dance music, colourful neon lights, and fire performances that create an electrifying atmosphere. The jungle setting of the half moon festival gives a different, more intimate feel to the event.
So… Half Moon vs. Full Moon Party in Thailand – Which is better for your needs? Who will be the winner? We compare the two iconic events across five crucial categories.
- Atmosphere
- Size
- Safety
- Location
- Entertainment.
1. Atmosphere
The half moon party is set amidst lush jungles and is illuminated by colourful lights, which adds a bit of enchantment and charm. Since it is privately organised attendees are treated to a surreal experience, dancing under the moonlit sky amid towering palm trees.
In contrast, the Full Moon Party has that iconic reputation. It is set on an open beach so it is therefore much larger, holds more people, has lots of space for fire dancers, multiple large music zones, and an endless stretch of beach booming with different music. The full moon party’s larger size contributes to a more intense and energetic vibe, there’s just something about dancing on a beach, surrounded by friends when the sun is coming up over the horizon that’s hard to beat, which makes it a winner in this category.
Winner: Full Moon Party
2. Size
Both parties draw crowds from around the globe, but the Full Moon Party takes the lead in terms of sheer size but also reputation. Haad Rin Beach on Koh Phangan transforms into a sea of buzzing people during the Full Moon Party, with 5,000 to 30,000 people attending. This vast gathering of partygoers creates that sense of festivity. I did lose my friends in this event and struggled to find them again, which demonstrates its size so set a meeting point.
The half moon party, while vibrant, caters to a smaller audience in comparison but it is an audience that is willing to pay more for a more intimate, organised setting in the jungle. Which doesn’t feel nearly as big.
Winner: Full Moon Party
3. Safety
Both events claim to prioritise safety on Koh Phangan, employing extensive security measures, including police presence and medical facilities. And in general, both are usually safe despite the fact that everyone is drinking large buckets of alcohol rather than the usual small glasses. However, the smaller size of the half moon party definitely contributes to a more controlled environment.
The full moon party’s colossal attendance, although amazing, can pose challenges in terms of crowd management and security. There will be drunks, there will be some clowning around, though the fire jump ropes aren’t quite as dangerous as they look.
I did have a Thai woman try to dance with me and she quickly, but unsuccessfully tried to steal my wallet so watch out for that. Overall, the half moon party offers a slightly safer experience.
Winner: Half Moon Party
4. Location
The location plays a big role in enhancing the overall experience of these moon parties. The secluded location of the half moon party among Koh Phangan’s jungles provides a mystical vibe, allowing attendees to escape the world and fully get into the festivities. You also get a bit more privacy and get to chat more to the partygoers without the chaos and open-air urination.
The full moon party, situated directly on the beach, offers a wide open feel, it’s a picturesque setting with the moon reflecting on the ocean waves but it’s not quite as enchanting and most have been to a beach party or two in their lives. Both locations are great, but the half moon party’s unique jungle setting and private company, well-organised setup provides a refreshing change from the typical, less organised, open beach party scene.
Winner: Half Moon Party
5. Entertainment
Entertainment is obviously the lifeblood of any party, and both the half moon party and the full moon party deliver on this front. Huge International DJs come to deliver a great mix of music genres, catering to diverse tastes.
The half moon party does bring in some great acts due to the higher fees, however, the full Moon Party, owing to its larger size, reputation and resources, attracts more diverse top-tier DJs and performers. That also comes with more fire shows, jugglers, independent entertainers and neon body painting, which all brings up the entertainment levels, making the full moon party the winner in this category.
Winner: Full Moon Party
What is the best full moon party of the half moon party?
While they have plenty of similarities I would recommend the full moon party if you only get one chance to go to Koh Phangan. If you did the half moon you would always wonder what the full moon party was like. While it’s pretty wild it’s also memorable if you like a good travellers party.
Full moon party is best for
Huge entertainment, large-scale party, beachy vibes. Carefree hedonism and very merry party but is orientated to younger crowds.
My rating: 4 / 5
Half moon party is best for
More intimate jungle atmosphere, more organised facilities, and slightly calmer vibes but still a big enough party.