Koh Phangan: Ferries, Full Moon Party Rules and Fees

The 08:00 Lomprayah catamaran from Samui reaches Koh Phangan at 08:30 and costs THB 350. The Full Moon Party is held at Haad Rin on full-moon nights. Nobody may sell alcohol outside 11:00 to 24:00. Than Sadet-Ko Phangan National Park charges a foreign adult THB 100.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

The 08:00 Lomprayah catamaran from Samui reaches Koh Phangan at 08:30 and costs THB 350. Most people come for the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin, held on the night of every full moon. The Tourism Authority of Thailand calls the island most well known for it.

Koh Phangan lies off the east coast of Surat Thani province in the Gulf of Thailand, about 100 km offshore and about 15 km north of Koh Samui.

Getting to Koh Phangan

Boats run from Koh Samui, from Donsak on the mainland and from Koh Tao. The table lists the main crossings with time and adult fare.

Raja Ferry trips from Donsak to Phangan leave at 05:00, 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00. A fifth trip leaves at 18:00 and arrives at 20:30.

The Raja Ferry from Samui (Lipa Noi pier) to Phangan (Thong Sala pier) takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. A motorbike costs THB 415 on the Raja Ferry from Donsak to Phangan. A car, jeep or pickup costs THB 970.

From Bangkok, the bus from Khao San Road to Donsak pier takes about 10 hours. Read the Bangkok to Koh Samui guide and the Surat Thani to Koh Samui ferry guide for the mainland leg. All operators and times are in the Samui, Phangan and Tao ferries guide.

Haad Rin and the Full Moon Party

The Full Moon Party is a beach celebration at Haad Rin, held on the night of every full moon. The crowd numbers in the tens of thousands.

A Surat Thani provincial page dated March 2021 called joining the party free of charge. On 1 June 2026 the Tourist Police commander went to Koh Phangan to oversee safety at the party.

Rin Nok Beach and Tong Nai Pan Yai Beach are among the island’s named attractions. Dates, the alcohol rules and the boat plan for the night are on the Full Moon Party page.

Rules that get people fined

Alcohol

Nobody may sell alcohol outside 11:00 to 24:00. Entertainment venues may sell within the opening and closing times their own licence allows.

Nobody may drink alcohol during the banned sale hours at a place that sells it. A person who drinks in breach pays a fine of up to THB 10,000.

Nobody may sell alcohol to a person under 20, or to a person who is drunk.

Nobody may sell alcohol on Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asarnha Bucha, the first day of Buddhist Lent and the last day of Buddhist Lent. Hotels and entertainment venues are exempt from that days notice. Full moons often fall on these holidays, so check the alcohol ban days and the alcohol hours and fines pages.

Drugs

Using a category 1, 2 or 5 narcotic without an exception carries up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to THB 20,000, or both. Possessing one for use carries up to 2 years in prison, a fine of up to THB 40,000, or both. The full list is in Thailand drug laws.

Vapes

E-cigarettes are goods prohibited from import into Thailand. The ban defines an e-cigarette as an electric device that makes vapour like cigarette smoke.

The Tobacco Products Control Act counts producing vapour as smoking. Smoking in a smoke-free zone carries a fine of up to THB 5,000. Selling e-cigarettes illegally carries up to 3 years in prison, a fine of up to THB 600,000, or both. See the vape law page.

National park fee

Than Sadet-Ko Phangan National Park is a group 1 park. Under the 2022 schedule, group 1 parks charge foreign adults THB 100 and foreign children THB 50.

The rates took effect on 7 June 2022. The prices do not include the charge for bringing a vehicle into the park. A child is aged 3 to 14 or no taller than 140 cm. Children under 3, disabled people and monks are exempt.

Compare other parks on the national park fees page.

Season and sea safety

The northeast monsoon runs from about mid-October to mid-February. Under it the east side of the south is rainy, because the monsoon brings moisture from the Gulf of Thailand. Surat Thani is on that east coast.

Heavy rain continues in the south until December, and the eastern south gets more rain than the western south. The start and end of the monsoons can vary from the normal dates in any year. Compare Gulf and Andaman months on the islands by month page.

People have drowned in strong riptides, especially during monsoon season. Jellyfish come close to shore, particularly in the rainy season from May to October, and stings can be fatal. Passenger boats to the islands have sunk or collided, usually from overloading, poor maintenance or rough seas in monsoon season. See jellyfish and rip currents.

A marine and coastal resources order protects the area of Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Sail Rock stands alone in open water between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. Diving details are in the Koh Tao diving guide.

A ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao is a convenient trip for reef and sea life.

Health and emergencies

Ko Pha-ngan Hospital (โรงพยาบาลเกาะพะงัน) is a Ministry of Public Health service unit in Surat Thani province.

For a medical emergency, call 1669. It serves critical emergency patients outside a medical facility.

For a crime that involves a tourist, call the tourist police hotline on 1155. The Royal Thai Police number is 191. Read the tourist police guide and the emergency numbers list.

For the wider picture, start at the Thailand islands guide or the Koh Samui guide.

↑ Contents

Not confirmed: Party dates: confirm the date with your accommodation before booking a boat. Party entry: the only official statement is from 2021, so carry cash. Hospital phone: not confirmed; ask your accommodation for the number.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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