Bangrak Pier, Koh Samui: Where Full Moon Party Boats Leave

Bangrak pier sits on the north-east coast of Koh Samui, right by the Big Buddha temple, and it is the departure point for the speedboats that run to the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. If you are staying anywhere on Koh Samui, this is the last stop before the sea crossing. Knowing what happens there takes the guesswork out of the night.

Picture it: it is just getting dark, the minivan pulls off the main road, and suddenly there is a line of people in neon tank tops and flip flops, bags on their shoulders, all heading the same way. That is Bangrak pier on a party night.

Where exactly is Bangrak pier on Koh Samui?

Bangrak pier is in the Big Buddha area, on the north-east side of Koh Samui, a short way from the golden Big Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai. It is one of the main piers on this side of the island, separate from the car ferry piers further west.

You do not need to find your own way there. Pickup is from your hotel or villa in any area of Koh Samui, and the minivan takes you straight to the pier as part of the transfer.

If you want the wider picture of how this pier fits into the whole journey, our guide on getting to the Full Moon Party from Koh Samui by speedboat covers the route end to end.

What happens when the minivan arrives at the pier?

The minivan drops you at Bangrak pier, and from there you walk into the pier area on foot with your group. This is where the night starts to feel real, people posing for photos, bags checked, flip flops already covered in sand from somewhere.

There is no rush at this stage. Pickup times run from 11:30 in the morning to 10:00-10:30 at night, depending on the slot you booked, so you arrive with time before your boat leaves.

• You get off the minivan and follow the group toward the ticket counter.
• You pay the transfer price in cash, in Thai baht.
• You get your ticket badge for boarding, and for the return boat later.
• You wait in the seating area until your boat is called.

How do you pay, and what does the ticket badge do?

You pay in cash at the pier, on the day, in Thai baht. There is no prepayment online when you book.

A one way transfer is ฿890 and a round trip is ฿1290 (the New Year party is priced separately, at ฿1190 one way and ฿1490 round trip). Once you pay, you get a ticket badge, and that badge is what gets you onto the boat, both going over and coming back if you bought a round trip.

Keep the badge somewhere safe for the whole night. It is small, it is easy to lose in a bag full of buckets and phones, and at Haad Rin pier later it is what gets you on the boat home rather than stuck waiting. There is more on how that return works in our piece on getting back to Koh Samui after the party.

What is the waiting area like?

The waiting area at Bangrak pier is simple, benches or covered seating where groups sit together until their boat is ready. It is not glamorous, but it works, and it is part of the ritual for anyone who has done this before.

On a big party night, this is where you will see the whole mix of the evening already forming: first-timers checking their bags every thirty seconds, groups who clearly did this last month and know the drill, people finishing a drink before the boat.

Boats leave once they are ready and loaded, not on a strict public timetable like a bus. If your group is large, it helps to stay close together here so nobody gets split across two boats by accident. Our article on every way from Koh Samui to the Full Moon Party compared is useful if you are still deciding between this and other ways across.

What happens when you board the speedboat?

Boarding means walking down to the boat with your ticket badge, getting a life jacket, and finding a seat for the crossing. Every passenger gets a life jacket, no exceptions, and the crew sorts people in before the boat pushes off.

The ride itself takes 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the sea that night. It can be smooth, it can bounce a bit if the wind is up, so if you get seasick easily, sit toward the middle of the boat rather than the front.

If you are curious what this crossing actually feels like once the engines open up, that gets its own detailed look in a dedicated piece on the night speedboat ride itself. For now, know that it is short, it is included in your transfer, and it ends at Haad Rin pier, a few minutes walk from the party.

What should you have ready before you leave the pier?

Have your cash, your ID, and anything you cannot afford to get wet sorted before you board, not after. You will need cash for the ฿200 party entrance, paid separately at the beach in Haad Rin, so keep that apart from your transfer money.

1. Passport or a clear photo of it, in case it is asked for anywhere.
2. Cash in Thai baht: transfer price plus the ฿200 entrance, plus spending money.
3. Phone and valuables in a dry bag, sealed plastic bag, or zipped pocket.
4. Flip flops or sandals you do not mind losing in the sand later.
5. A light layer, the sea can be cooler than the beach after dark.

For what to actually wear once you get there, we have a full guide on what to wear and bring to the Full Moon Party. And if you are still weighing up where to base yourself for the night, staying on Koh Samui or Koh Phangan for the party walks through the trade-offs.

Booking the transfer from Koh Samui ahead of time means you already know your pickup slot and price before you reach Bangrak pier, instead of sorting it last minute on the day.

Bangrak pier on the way back

If you booked a round trip, the same badge system works in reverse at Haad Rin pier after the party, where boats run every hour through the night. Once you land back at Bangrak pier on Koh Samui, a minivan takes you to your hotel, same as the trip out.

If you only booked one way, you are on your own for the way back, so it is worth reading how that side works in how to get back to Koh Samui after the party before you decide.

Practical notes for the night

Arrive at your pickup point on time, since the minivan has other guests on the same slot and a schedule to keep. Bring small notes if you can, since paying the exact transfer price and entrance fee in cash is simpler for everyone at a busy pier.

If your plans change after booking, there is nothing to refund since there is no prepayment, just let us know through the contact form so a minivan is not sent to your hotel for nothing.

Transfer facts checked on 23 October 2026. Prices and party dates can change: the booking form always shows the current ones.