All the way back in 1985, a group of tourists discovered one night that the most beautiful full moon to be seen in all of Bali was to be found in Koh Phangan. This was the birth of the now infamous full moon party. Tourists and party-goers from all over the world fly down to this party central island, looking for an escape from their daily routines and dull city lives. The shores of Bali’s islands are lined with budget, rustic style accommodation. However, if you’re looking for a luxury resort, Koh Phangan still has quite a few to boast, such as the Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas and numerous others
The party usually takes place either just before, on the night of or right after the full moon of each month. Despite starting as a thanksgiving for a small bunch of around 20-30 travellers, the full moon party in Koh Phangan now draws in approximately 5,000-30,000 travellers every month.
The party starts around sunset when the moon begins to emerge over the powdery sandy beaches and goes on until the sun rises the following day. As the skies darken, tables are kept along the beach with thousands of lamps lit across. As the party advances into the night, DJs take turns to give the crowd the kind of music they want, ranging from reggae, dance, R&B / Hip Hop, drum and bass to house, trance, psychedelic and electronic music. Firework displays take place throughout the night, whilst jugglers and fire-eaters are around for extra entertainment.
Amidst all this ongoing party aura, when you feel like you need to perhaps slow down and chill a little, several vendors in the area provide for snacks and simple meals to munch on. Grab a drink and a bite and maybe lounge around or even go for a quick dip before you head back into the party, loaded with more energy!
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.