The No 1 Thailand Party Island

To be fair there are quite a few islands in Thailand that cater well for party animals.. but what’s the best one?

Well, it’s Koh Phangan that takes the top spot and the reason why is that it’s home to the famous (and infamous!) Full Moon Party at Haad Rin.

So what makes it so special? Is it the buckets of Samsong and Red Bull, the fire dancers, the sheer number of bars, the loud music or the luminescent tattoos? In my opinion it’s none of these things but rather the allure of Koh Phangan itself that has led to this party cult.

Give me a minute to explain..

Imagine the Full Moon Party was on Koh Samui instead. Now that wouldn’t work because the island is too big, less charming and not as chilled out by a very long way. The beauty of Koh Phangan is that it lends itself perfectly to the big party as it is by far the best of the islands for kicking back and relaxing after the event.

Speaking from personal experience I’d have to say that the thought of recovering from a Full Moon Party whilst staying on Samui is not something I would relish. But Phangan offers the solitude you’ll seek when your head is banging the next day.

The laid back vibe of this island is second to none and it is this that sets the scene for the party and it just wouldn’t be the same if it was happening elsewhere. That’s why Koh Phangan is THE No1 Thailand party island and why it will always remain so.

That’s not to say that there aren’t other great party islands in Thailand because there are several. Here are the best of the rest..

Koh Phi Phi – some of the most stunning scenery in the Andaman sea lies on and around this island. But it’s not just easy on the eye as there are plenty of banging bars and clubs around the Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalam areas.

Koh Samui – nowhere near as chilled out as Phangan but Samui can be just as noisy at party time with plenty of bars and nightclubs, especially around Chaweng beach.

How about a trip that encompasses all of the above islands? It’s perfectly do-able by investigating Samui for a couple of days and then spending a few days each side of the Full Moon Party on Phangan. Once you’re done you can then catch the boat, bus and boat again to reach Phi Phi where you can do it all over again. Good times!

Useful information:
How to get to Koh Phangan
Best Beaches in Koh Phangan
Interactive Map of Koh Phangan