August hosts a rare occurrence, two full moons in one month. In Thailand that can only mean two Full Moon Parties, with the second on August 31. Now a group of local businesses have banded together to spread awareness that full moon festivities have grown from a single one-night party to a week of events at venues all over the island of Koh Pha Ngan.

 

A growing number of local hotel and hostel owners, restaurant and food stall owners, event organisers and shopkeepers have been pushing for the concept of a Full Moon Week to go viral. They hope to alert backpackers and young travellers who have heard of the legendary party but are unaware of the famous pre-parties and post-parties that take place on the vibrant island.

 

In fact, all accommodations in Haad Rin, where the party takes place, used to have a five-night minimum stay around the Full Moon Party dates. They found customers enjoyed the experience more and got better value for their money when they stayed longer and tried a variety of events. But with increased competition and the drop in tourism from Covid-19, minimum night stays were largely eliminated.

 

Koh Pha Ngan has perhaps the most diverse nightlife of any location in Thailand. Instead of a nightly club district like Bangla Road in Phuket, Pattaya Walking Street or Soi Mango in Koh Samui, there are venues, jungles, and beaches all over the island that host weekly or monthly events.

 

Some are aimed at the spiritual new age side of the island, featuring drum circles or ecstatic dance or meditation events. Others bring some of the top DJs in Thailand and from around the world for massive outdoor raves and smaller weekly socials.

 

But during the Full Moon week, as many as 20,000 people flock to the island for the world-famous party that’s been going for decades. So many of the regular weekly or monthly parties reach a fevered apex during the nights leading up to the most famous party as well as in the days following when afterparties can start as early as 6am the day after Full Moon Party.

 

Many people come for one night, arriving in the evening and catching an early ferry out the next morning. But this group of local businesses and organisers say that tourists often regret not knowing how much they are missing out on until it’s too late.

 

One local hostel in the centre of Haad Rin has been hosting pre-parties for five days straight each month. The owner of WET! a Pool Party Hostel by Wild & Wandering explains that people coming for one night aren’t getting the full picture.

 

By Neill Fronde

Caption: Locals are raising awareness that Full Moon Party has a week of activities, like Jungle Experience, pictured here. (via Full Moon Party)

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/events/pha-ngan-businesses-raise-awareness-of-full-moon-partys-weeklong-events

 

-- The Thaiger 2023-08-28

 

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9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

They hope to alert backpackers and young travellers who have heard of the legendary party but are unaware of the famous pre-parties and post-parties that take place on the vibrant island.

So no change then...