Nightlife · Koh Tao
Koh Tao & the Full Moon Party
The honest version, and what Koh Tao does instead (a lot of people prefer it).
Nightlife · Koh Tao
The honest version, and what Koh Tao does instead (a lot of people prefer it).
The famous Full Moon Party happens on Koh Phangan, not Koh Tao. If that is what brought you here, here is the honest version, plus what Koh Tao does instead.
Not the giant Haad Rin one, no. The world-famous Full Moon Party is on neighbouring Koh Phangan, about ninety minutes away by ferry. Koh Tao is the quieter, diving-focused island of the three, so it does not host a monthly mega-party of that scale. What it has instead is nightlife almost every night, rather than one big blowout a month.
Sairee Beach runs beach parties and fire shows most nights of the week, at a friendlier, more social scale than Phangan. On and around the full moon, several Sairee bars throw their own themed nights, so you still get a party under a full moon, without the huge crowd. For a lot of divers it is the best of both worlds: a big night when you want it, an easy morning dive when you do not.
Plenty of travellers base themselves on Koh Tao and hop over to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party itself. High-speed ferries run the route in around ninety minutes, and many people go over for the night and come back the next day. Book around the date early: boats sell out fast on Full Moon week.
Full Moon Party dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each month, with bigger editions around New Year and holidays. For Koh Tao own beach parties and what is on around the full moon here, check our live events agenda.