Haad Rin Beach
หาดริ้น
Home to the Full Moon Party and two contrasting beaches — one that never sleeps, one that almost always does.
Recommended by us
Rin Nai Beach
The quieter, sheltered side of the headland — calm water and shade, five minutes' walk from the Full Moon Party strip. Come here the morning after.
Bottle Beach
A calm, shallow bay reachable by longtail from Haad Rin or a short hike. Worth the effort for a clear day when the party crowd is absent.
Chaloklum Sunday Walking Street
A genuine local Sunday market in a fishing village on the north coast — grilled seafood, Phu Thai food, and none of the backpacker-bar atmosphere. Taxi songthaew from Haad Rin takes around 40 minutes.
Koh Phangan road trip
A 4.9 from 148 guests — the most efficient way to reach the island's north beaches, viewpoints, and waterfalls in a single day if you're only here for the party and one morning after.
Get to Haad Rin
Fly to Koh Samui then take a ferry, or take the overnight train to Surat Thani and connect by boat. Haad Rin sits at the southern tip of Koh Phangan.
eSIM for Thailand
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Travel insurance
Boats, scooters, and late nights on a remote island — sort cover before you leave the mainland. The motorbike clause is the one most people miss.
Where to stay in Haad Rin Beach
Attractions in Koh Phangan
Tours in Koh Phangan
When to go
Jan–Feb Best conditions for swimming and beach lounging. Peak season brings big Full Moon Party crowds (30,000+ on the night); book accommodation weeks ahead and expect prices to double around the event.
Mar–May Still dry and warm, with fewer visitors between Full Moon dates. Sunrise Beach gets hot by mid-morning; Sunset Beach is calmer and shadier in the afternoons. April's heat is serious.
Jun–Sep Quieter than peak but FMP runs on exactly the same schedule. Sunrise Beach parties persist; Sunset Beach becomes genuinely peaceful. Better rates across guesthouses and bars, calmer sea.
Oct–Dec Northeast monsoon brings rougher water and heavy November rain. FMP still happens regardless of weather — it's an all-weather event. Some beachfront bars close, but the party peninsular stays open.
More to explore around Koh Phangan
About Haad Rin Beach
Last updated June 2026
Haad Rin occupies the southeastern tip of Koh Phangan — a narrow peninsula where two very different beaches sit back-to-back a few hundred metres apart. Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach) on the east is where the Full Moon Party has been staged every month since the late 1980s. Haad Rin Nai (Sunset Beach) on the west is quieter with better daytime swimming, and gets significantly less foot traffic outside of party nights.
The Full Moon Party
The monthly Full Moon Party on Sunrise Beach draws between 10,000 and 30,000 people depending on the season — December and January are the biggest, when the party coincides with the peak tourist months. Bars stretch the full length of the one-kilometre beach, each running its own sound system with sound zones ranging from EDM and house to reggae. Fire shows start around 9pm. The entry fee is 200 baht paid at the beach entrance; you get a neon wristband in return.
The party runs from sunset until sunrise. Peak energy is roughly 10pm to 2am. After that, numbers thin out but the music continues. Little Paradise Resort (8.6 on Agoda) is one of the better-reviewed options within walking distance of the beach.
Outside party nights, Haad Rin is a compact backpacker town: cheap pad thai, dive shops, tattoo parlours, and a relaxed daytime atmosphere that makes the monthly transformation hard to picture. The daytime swimming on Sunset Beach is decent — calmer water than the east side and fewer people.
The Half Moon Festival, held every fortnight in the jungle on the road between Thongsala and Haad Rin, draws a different crowd — more production-focused, with specific music stages rather than the open-beach format. Worth knowing if you’re on the island mid-cycle.
Getting There
Speedboats from Koh Samui’s Big Buddha Pier reach Haad Rin in 30-45 minutes. Multiple operators run the route daily, with frequency doubling around Full Moon week. From Surat Thani, the Lomprayah catamaran calls at Thongsala pier in about 2 hours 45 minutes; from there, songthaews run south to Haad Rin in 30-40 minutes. Haad Rin is the southern tip stop for most Koh Phangan ferry routes.
Insider Tip: Book accommodation months ahead for December and January Full Moon Parties. Prices triple and properties within walking distance of the beach sell out entirely, with many requiring a three-night minimum. If you’re not there for the party, stay on Koh Phangan’s north coast — it’s a different island in every sense.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Haad Rin Beach
How much does the Full Moon Party cost to enter?
Entry to the beach on party night costs 200 baht, paid at the entrance to Haad Rin Beach. You receive a neon wristband — no advance tickets needed. That fee covers beach cleaning and basic infrastructure. Drinks from bars on the sand are additional.
When does the Full Moon Party start and finish?
The party officially kicks off at sunset (around 7pm) and runs until sunrise — roughly 6-7am. Fire shows typically begin around 9pm, and peak energy is between 10pm and 2am. Plan accordingly if you need to catch a morning ferry.
Is Sunset Beach (Haad Rin Nai) actually quiet on Full Moon nights?
It is significantly quieter than Sunrise Beach, but not silent — sound carries across the peninsula and bars operate on both sides. If you want genuine quiet during Full Moon week, stay on the north coast of the island and come down for the evening.
How do I get to Haad Rin from Koh Samui?
Speedboats from Big Buddha Pier on Koh Samui reach Haad Rin in around 30-45 minutes. Multiple operators run the route daily, with frequency increasing around Full Moon dates. From Surat Thani, the Lomprayah catamaran takes about 2 hours 45 minutes to Thongsala pier, from where you take a songthaew south to Haad Rin (30-40 minutes).
What should I know about safety at the Full Moon Party?
Never accept pre-opened drinks. Agree a meeting point with any group at the start of the night. Wear footwear — broken glass on the sand is a consistent problem. Do not swim after dark; currents can be strong. Keep valuables to a minimum and use the hotel safe before heading out.
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