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So you are planning to Travel to Thailand but not sure when? While it’s great year round. The low season for Thailand is from June until October, and it is a wonderful time to travel around the area. Sure, this is the time when it rains often, but don’t let that hold you back, often the rain is a quick downpour, never a perpetual rain week like you would find in Vancouver. There is so much this area offers that you will be missing out on.

First, it is important to get an idea of the seasons and how they line up around South East Asia. From November until February it is considered to be peak season. This is when the most people will be visiting. It is also the time of year offering the cooler, dry temperatures. Many people come from Europe to get away from the cold temperatures there at the same timeframe.

From March until May is considered the shoulder season. It is going to be hot and very humid. The temperatures are often in the triple digits. If you love the heat, this is the ideal time for you to visit. From June until October is the low season when it will be wet. However, it is only going to rain for a few hours each day. The rest of the day will be very enjoyable and you may find the storms to be interesting to watch. Others take a nap during those times to be well rested for the rest of the day.

Less People

Visiting Thailand during the low season is going to result in far less people around all the time. You can visit the landmarks and enjoy the wide open spaces without flocks of people everywhere you go. You can spend time on the beach and walk around freely rather than seeing all of the sand covered with people and their gear. If you plan to take lots of pictures, doing so with less people around means less chances of your shots being ruined or interrupted.

Save Money

Since this is the off season in Thailand, it is going to cost you far less money to stay. Businesses want to continue to attract tourists. When demand is high, prices go up and when demand is low, they are reduced. You can stretch your money further if you don’t go to Thailand when everyone else does. You can also save money on flights, buses, food, activities, and so much more. You will find they compete with each other to offer the best deals to entice you so make sure you shop around.

Thailand Tour Groups

If you want to be part of a Lost Beaches Travel Thailand tours group, you can do it with a smaller number of people. This provides you with more one on one time with the tour guide. It also helps you bond with each other more. The overall experience is going to be more personal and more memorable. You will also find the villages you come across are more welcoming of small tour groups than larger ones.

Be a Part of the Festivals

Don’t assume the festivals only take part during the peak season. There are plenty of them all year long. You will find the rainy season to be when many of the very important celebrations occur. Many of them are hosted to celebrate the coming of the rain after the heat and dry season. Many of the villages depend on that rain for the rice they grow to complete its cycle.

The Rocket Festival Starts at the beginning of the rainy season. It is held in Laos as well as Northern Thailand. The Buddhist Lent has a time span of three months. In late September, there are boat races. Regardless of the festivities you decide to take part in, you can enjoy great experiences with the locals and create memories you will never forget!

Plan around the Rain

Get out in the early morning and then go inside during the rain. You can spend those few hours exploring indoor landmarks, taking a nap, enjoying a meal, or having a few drinks and listening to music. Once the rain ends, you can go back out there and complete the items on your agenda for the day. If you plan around the rain, you can still take in plenty while in Thailand this time of year.

Being prepared for the rain with as positive attitude is also important. Think about the value it brings for the crops. Think about the lush green landscaping that results from the rain. Make sure you take along a raincoat and have plenty of repellant to keep the mosquitos away. You can carry an umbrella with you or buy one when you arrive.

The Full Moon Party is unlike anything you have ever experienced before, you definitely are never going to forget it. The fire spinning, buckets, dance music, beautiful beach and let’s not forget the 10,000 other travelers on the beach sharing the night with you. The right information is going to help you plan your time there and to have the best experience possible. This information will ultimately help you with planning your time in Thailand and attending the Full Moon Party.

You may have heard a great deal about this party, and that is because it is phenomenal in every sense of the word! What comes to your mind when you hear about it? Wild parties? Drunken people on the beach? People from all over the world in one place having fun until the sun comes up? All of the above are true, but there is so much more to the Full Moon Party that makes it one that is known around the world.

I have been to the event several times, and there are certain things you want to do and others you want to avoid in order to make it a very good experience. For example, you don’t want to get hurt and you don’t want to pay too much money for anything. You wanna stay cool, in form and close to your mates. You want to party responsibly so you can get up the next day and enjoy the sun rather than nursing a hangover in your accommodations.

How it all Started

The Full Moon Party began in 1987 and it has been an annual event ever since! It all started when some british backpackers decided to host a birthday party for a friend. The event took place on a night when there was a full moon. They had a wonderful time and agreed to return the next year to do it again. Soon, they were doing it every single month and more people started joining in on the fun each time.

The first of these parties was nothing more than a few individuals at a house along the beach. Some of the travelers were backpacking Thailand and told stories and others played music on their guitars.  By the 1990s, the rave scene was introduced to the Full Moon Party and there were a variety of drugs that showed up too.

In the 2000s, you could find this party event on the various travel maps. The number of young people deciding to check it out continued to grow and grow. After the movie The Beach came out, people couldn’t get enough of the location where the party is held, known as Koh Phangan. It is amazing how much this event grows each year.

There is no denying the Full Moon Party is a festival with plenty of drinking, drug use, dancing, and even sex. There are numerous bars with their sound systems offering various types of music. Just keep moving down the beach until you find something you like the sound of. You can also buy alcohol from vendors located up and down the beach area.

Some of the shows offered include fire dancers who you will be very impressed by. There are booths selling various trinkets and the popular face paint that glows in the dark. You will see plenty of activities among people as you wonder around the beach. You will see people dancing, talking, fighting, having sex, and even passed out. You may find people looking for their shoes, purses, or their friends.

Don’t think for an instant that the commercial side of the Full Moon Party puts a damper on it in any way. There are very few fights either, even with 40,000 or more people all in one area. The overall atmosphere is very positive and most people are just looking for a good time.

When does it Happen

As you have likely gathered from the name, Full Moon Party occurs every night that there is a full moon. There are other parties too for the half moon and quarter moons so don’t worry. You will always find some type of party event along the beach at Koh Phangan.

Where to Stay

You want to stay at Haad Rin when you come for the Full Moon Party so you can be very close to it. You aren’t going to have to worry about getting too and front your destination. Another great place to stay is Ban Tai Beach. You will have to pay a taxi to take you to and from those accommodations, but it is a short distance. The accommodations are also very low priced. Don’t stay on the North side of the island though as that is going to be too far from the party taking place. You will spend far too much on a boat taxi to get back and forth. Of course if you are going with a travel group , this can be a lot easier, check us out If you are planning to go backpacking through Thailand.

In order to get such accommodations though, you need to show up at least four days before the full moon. As the date approaches, you will end up paying too much and staying much further away. Don’t assume you can just show up the day before and something will fall in place or you are going to be disappointed.

The cost depends on the type of accommodations you select such as a room or a dorm style set up. It also depends on the quality of those accommodations. By showing up early, you can pick something you like and feel comfortable with. You can also make sure it fits into your established budget. Prices will increase the closer you get to the full moon. It will also be double or triple around the holidays such as New Years.

To get very good deals, avoid booking your accommodations online. When you do so online, you will have to pay the most expensive rates. Many of them also have a minimum amount of nights you have to stay and it may be as many as 10! If you show up several days before, you can get a good place to stay for a reasonable price.

How to get to the Fun

Keep in mind, there isn’t an airport here so you must arrive via the ferry. You can do so through Surat Thani or from the island of Koh Samui. You will have to be dropped off at the pier and then take a taxi. Typically, you will find taxis and ferry service consistently around the Full Moon Party time. There are also buses running 24/7 from Bangkok to Koh Phangan and the price will also cover the ferry.

Starting the Party

People will start to come along from Koh Samui and Koh Tao. The locals seem to love the Full Moon Party just as much as the travelers. The party gets started early in the day, with plenty drinking and music to get people in the mood. However, the majority of the crowd won’t show up until later in the evening. The largest number of people will be there between 9 pm and midnight. Around 2 am, you will start to notice the crowd getting smaller.

Budgeting

Having an idea of the costs involved for the Full Moon Party will help you to relax. The good news is food is very affordable. You will find food offered at the beach by vendors to be your least expensive. Beer and cigarettes are also low cost. You can save money if you buy a bucket rather than individual drinks. The cost though will depend on the type of alcohol you decide to drink. You will need to pay to use the bathroom too, but it is low cost.

Surviving the Party Responsibly

Just about any type of drugs you can imagine are found at the Full Moon Party. They are illegal in Thailand so keep that in mind. You don’t want to be arrested and spend time in a jail with terrible conditions. Some of the individuals trying to sell drugs at the event will be undercover police. Even when you try to buy from a legitimate seller, there can be locals who will report it in order to get a cash reward for doing so.

Most of the law enforcement though isn’t going to arrest you or lock you up for using drugs at the Full Moon Party. Instead, they will take a bribe to avoid arresting you and doing the paperwork. How much? At least $1,000 in US dollars. If you do get into such a predicament, do all you can to negotiate the bribe price!

Don’t get into the jump rope events. This involves a rope that has been covered in gasoline. It will be lit on fire for those who wish to jump rope. This is a common activity where people who have had too much to drink tend to get burned. Then they are rushed to a hospital and that is the end of their fun for the event.

While buckets can save you money, they can also result in you consuming far too much alcohol in too little time. Try to save buckets for the later hours so you don’t pass out early that day and miss all of the fun. They do sell non- alcohol in the buckets such as Red Bull but too much of that will make you act like you have been taking hits of speed!

Drink plenty of water throughout the day and evening so you stay well hydrated. This will help you to feel your best all day long. Remember, the temperatures are very warm and there is high humidity in this area. Increase your water intake before you head to the Full Moon Party and drink it during the event. Drink water before bed too so you will be less likely to suffer from a hangover the next day.

Don’t go into the water at night due to the very strong waves. If you have been drinking, it is going to be harder for you to avoid dangerous situations in the water such as drowning. There are also plenty of people using the ocean as their personal toilet during the Full Moon Party so for your own sanitary health, just don’t go in there.

Don’t be tempted to spend the event without any shoes. It may feel great to have your feet in the sand. Yet there will be sharp objects including broken glass from beer bottles out there. People often injure their feet or have to go to the emergency room due to deep cuts. Wear comfortable shoes that are closed toed and offer you some support.

Limit your personal belongings and keep them close to you. It is best to just have the key to your accommodations, your phone, and a bit of money for buying your drinks. Leave jewelry and other items behind so they aren’t going to be lost or stolen.

Personal belongings: Theft is rife during the party. Bring as little as possible. Bring enough money for drinks and your room key. You don’t really need anything else. When you follow all of these tips, you will have an amazing time at the Full Moon Party. It will create stories you can share with your friends and memories to last a lifetime!

Want to know the best time to go Backpacking in Thailand? Imagine soaking you and your friends  with water and flour in a haze of lunacy?! It isn’t something you see out there every day, but part of what you see in Songkran.  The epic Thai waterfight festival that happens every April. This is just one of the many lighthearted events you will find there. It is a place where you can relax, smile, and just enjoy the moment. This type of water fight is an annual tradition, and the winner is he or she who ultimately ends up being the wettest. Any of this make sense yet?

Did we mention this often contains a lot of drinking too? (Don’t shoot the messenger – it’s like any festival – grab a beer and celebrate!) Of course you can’t pass out from drinking too many beers and be the winner so you have to keep that in check too! This event is part of the time when the Thais are celebrating the New Year. The entire foundation of Songkran is to cleanse the mind and body and to go through a rebirth process. The dates used to change on the calendar until the 1800s. That is when the dates of April 13th to April 15th became the fixed times for the very fun celebration.

The 14th is the day when attending temple to cleanse the body and the mind takes place. The water is used as a manner of showing respect to the elderly. It also is used as a symbolistic element of the cleansing process. Celebrations in the ancient times included the youth bathing the priests and the elders in the water. Taking part in this cleansing ritual is often done as part of the traditions relating to Songkran. Only then due they feel justified to take part in the water fight including flour, which is a more modern tradition.

There is plenty of preparing that goes into this particular event. People around the country start stocking up on supplies. This includes super soakers and water balloons. There’s often very strategic (and very friendly) refill stations where they can have access to additional supplies during the event. The three days is full of people, laughter, and partying. This includes the locals and tourists who want to have some fun times and drink beer as they do so.

The biggest and rowdiest areas holding the event are in both Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Travelers that are  backpacking Thailand often come to find this out one way or another. Both celebrations aren’t the same size but they can still be very fun and enjoyable. Beyond Chang Mai and Bangkok, just about every single Thai town in this country is doing something during this three day time span. Don’t overlook the fact that it is very hot in Thailand this time of year and that water can play a major role in a fresh way to cool down. Thais and travelers alike love being able to cool down and enjoy the water during these hot times.
As I write this, I am getting ready to attend this event myself with a Lost Beaches Travel crew. As our travel group is backpacking through Thailand we’ve had an amazing opportunity to check out the sites and sound of Songkran.  I have been to Songkran in the past with friends and spent time around Khao San Road. I have also spent time around Bangkok where they host a three day festival. The streets are closed to vehicles; there are vendors everywhere, and more than 100,000 people taking part in the festivities.

Be ready to loosen up with the fun and games! You will find people of all ages out there spraying water and tossing flour at each other. Show up ready to enjoy the water fight all day and into the late night. The streets will be closed and there will be vendors, music, and dancing. It is an amazing experience that you will never forget! There’s tons of more information on Thailand Backpacking here. Check out some information on Songkran here.