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Budget-friendly 4-day itinerary in Koh Phangan

In this blog post, Iโ€™m gonna talk about the perfect budget-friendly 4-day itinerary in Koh Phangan.

Koh Phangan is one of the most popular southern Thailand islands with lots of budget-friendly things to do. But most importantly, it is famous for its monthly Full Moon Parties. Obviously, the island offers way more than parties, but the days before the full moon, and 1 to 2 days after the full moon is when it is the busiest. And partying at the Full Moon Party is totally free!

If youโ€™re going to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party, I recommend arriving at least a day before and staying as close to Haad Rin beach where the party takes place. There are plenty of hostels and hotels around the area, but try booking your stay a month or more in advance as spots fill out pretty early on. 

For a budget option, and if you donโ€™t mind sharing a bedroom with lots of people, I would recommend staying at a hostel. I stayed at Paradise Bungalow in Haad Rin beach and had the best time. It was literally by the beach, had its own restaurant and bar, a nice big pool, and the staff was super friendly. 

Paradise Bungalow

Based on conversations I had with other travelers, and my own experience, I recommend spending 3 to 4 days in Koh Phangan. This will give you enough time to party, rest, and do budget-friendly things around the island.


4-day itinerary in Koh Phangan

Day 1 – Night before the Full Moon Party

๐Ÿ”น No matter how you plan on arriving, you most likely will have to take a ferry to Koh Phangan.

๐Ÿ”น Once at the ferry port, take a taxi or motorbike to Haad Rin beach or where your hotel/hostel is and check-in

๐Ÿ”น Head to Haad Rin beach for dinner and have fun at the pre-party hangout there OR head to OXA Beach Koh Phangan for another cool beach party

ferry to koh phangan

Day 2 – The day of the Full Moon Party

๐Ÿ”น Explore the island and visit other beaches – There are plenty of beaches you can visit in Koh Phangan. I recommend going to the north part of Koh Phangan, where Mae Haad beach and Ko Ma meet by a long stretch of sand. You can spend the day sunbathing or hiking around.

๐Ÿ”น Around sunset, head back to your hotel/hostel to get ready for the night.ย 

๐Ÿ”น Party all night long on Haad Rin beach at the Full Moon Party

full moon party

Day 3 – Rest day

๐Ÿ”น Youโ€™ll probably be pretty tired and/or hungover, so chill today.

๐Ÿ”น Have a lazy morning sleeping in

๐Ÿ”น Get brunch or just lunch at a nearby restaurant

๐Ÿ”น Spend the day sunbathing in Haad Rin beach, whichever beach is closest to you, or at the hotel/hostel pool if it has one

๐Ÿ”น If you still got some energy, you can head back to Haad Rin beach at night for a (way) smaller night beach party

haad rin beach

Day 4 – Leave Koh Phangan OR spend an extra day in Koh Phangan

๐Ÿ”น Most people that came for the Full Moon Party leave this day, if not the day before. So the area of Haad Rin becomes pretty empty by this day. But if you want to explore more of Koh Phangan a few things you can do today are:

  • Explore temples in Koh Phangan
  • Go hiking to a waterfall
  • Visit Namtok Than Sadet National Park

๐Ÿ”น OR Take the ferry to Koh Samui or Surat Thani

leaving koh phangan

Quick tips:

๐Ÿงณ Pack lose and comfy clothes since Thailand has tropical weather (meaning itโ€™s hot and humid)

๐Ÿ‘š Bring long loose pants and shirts that cover your shoulders to enter the temples

๐Ÿ’ธ Take cash out at a local ATM (they donโ€™t take credit/debit cards in many places)

๐Ÿ”Œ Donโ€™t forget to bring an international charger converter for your electronics

๐Ÿ“ฒ Get a SIM card at the airport or at a 7-eleven to always have phone service and not depend on WiFi.


For more ideas on budget-friendly things to do in Thailand, read these blogs:

10 budget-friendly things to do in Phuket

8 budget-friendly things to do in Chiang Mai

12 budget-friendly things to do in Bangkok

Got any questions about this itinerary or need help planning your trip to Koh Phangan, Thailand? Let me know in the comments below!

Heads up: As a way to earn passive income, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you buy something through one of those links, I might get a commission at NO extra cost to you. I appreciate your support! ๐Ÿ’•

full moon party

September 1, 2022

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