- The full moon party speedboat leaves from Bangrak pier (Big Buddha area) on Koh Samui and reaches Haad Rin pier in 20-30 minutes, depending on the sea.
- A minivan picks you up from your hotel or villa in any area of Koh Samui, with pickup slots from 11:30 - 12:00 Noon to 10:00 - 10:30 PM.
- Every passenger gets a life jacket, and the boats have two or three engines and take 25 to 65 passengers.
- The transfer costs ฿890 one way or ฿1290 round trip, paid in cash at the pier, with no prepayment.
- Return boats leave Haad Rin pier every hour from 0:00 to 6:00, so you do not choose a return time in advance.
The full moon party speedboat is a 20-30 minute ride from Bangrak pier on Koh Samui to Haad Rin pier on Koh Phangan, with a minivan from your hotel to the pier and life jackets for everyone. It is fast, a bit loud, sometimes splashy, and for most people the start of the night rather than an ordeal.
Picture the moment: the engines idle, twenty or so strangers in neon tops buckle orange vests, someone asks if it gets bumpy, and then the boat swings out of the bay and the lights of Samui slide away behind you. Here is how the whole trip goes, step by step, and what I tell friends before they get on.
How does the full moon party speedboat transfer work, step by step?
It is a simple chain: minivan from your hotel, a short wait at Bangrak pier, the boat across, a short walk from Haad Rin pier to the beach. The minivans and speedboats are run by licensed partner operators; FullMoonParty.net sells the tickets and looks after the guests along the way.
- Pickup. A minivan collects you from your hotel or villa lobby, from any area of Koh Samui.
- Bangrak pier. You pay in cash, get your ticket badge and wait in the seating area.
- Life jackets and boarding. Everyone gets a life jacket before the boat leaves.
- The crossing. 20-30 minutes, depending on the sea.
- Haad Rin pier. You step off a few minutes walk from the party.
The rest of this article goes through each step in the order you will live it.
What happens at hotel pickup?
You choose a pickup slot when you book, and the driver comes to your hotel or villa lobby inside that half hour window. Pickup slots run every hour from 11:30 - 12:00 Noon to 10:00 - 10:30 PM, and on 31 December the last pickup is 8:00 - 8:30 PM.
The minivan usually stops at a few other hotels, so the ride to the pier is often the first time you meet the people you will cross with. It is a good moment to sort out your cash and put your phone somewhere safe, not when the boat is already moving.
Which slot is best? For a first party I like the evening slots: you reach the beach around dark, when the main party starts (about 7 pm), not at a sunburned 3 pm. If you want the afternoon beach bars and a quieter look at Haad Rin before the crowd, take an earlier pickup. Our article on what time the Full Moon Party starts and ends helps you pick.
What is Bangrak pier like before the boat?
Bangrak pier sits in the Big Buddha area in the north-east of Koh Samui, and on party night it is busy but organised. You pay in cash in Thai baht, receive your ticket badge and wait for your boat in the seating area.
The price is ฿890 one way or ฿1290 round trip per person (New Year party ฿1190 / ฿1490), with no prepayment. Keep the ticket badge somewhere you will still have it at 4 am, because you show it to board the boat back. A wristband, a zipped pocket or a phone case with a slot all work; the back pocket of shorts does not.
Use the toilet at the pier before you board. There is no toilet stop on a 20-30 minute crossing, and the queues on the beach later are worse. For more detail on the pier itself, read the Bangrak pier guide.
Life jackets and seats: where should you sit if you get seasick?
Every passenger gets a life jacket, and you wear it, done up, for the whole crossing. If you get seasick, sit towards the back of the boat, low and near the middle, and look at the horizon or the lights of the islands rather than at your phone.
The front of a speedboat rises and drops the most when it meets waves, so the front rows feel every bump. The back moves less and the ride is smoother, although you may get a little engine noise and spray. Here is how I would choose:
| Where you sit | How it feels | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Front rows | Most up and down movement, most bumps | People who enjoy a rougher ride |
| Middle, by the centre | Balanced, less side to side | Most people, nervous first-timers |
| Back, near the engines | Smoothest, but louder and some spray | Anyone prone to seasickness |
| Open sides | Fresh air, more splash | Those who feel better in the wind |
The speedboats have two or three engines and take 25 to 65 passengers; bigger boats go in the high season, when there are more guests. A bigger boat usually rides waves more steadily, but you do not choose the boat, so choose the seat. If motion sickness is a real problem for you, take your usual tablet before the minivan pickup, not at the pier, because most need time to work. Ask a pharmacist if you are not sure what suits you.
How rough is the sea, and what should you hold on to?
The crossing takes 20-30 minutes, and how it feels depends on the sea that night. On a calm evening it is a fast, fairly smooth glide; on a windy one the boat slaps over the waves and you will get a few hard bumps and some spray.
Keep one hand on the rail or the seat handle in front of you, and keep both feet flat on the floor. Stay seated the whole way: standing up on a moving speedboat at night is how people get hurt. If the boat slows suddenly, that is normal: the driver eases off for bigger waves.
A few habits that help:
- Bend your knees a little and let your legs absorb the bumps, rather than sitting stiff.
- Do not drink a lot before the boat. Alcohol and waves together are the classic recipe for being sick over the side.
- Eat something light before pickup. An empty stomach and a heavy meal both make seasickness worse.
- Keep one hand free for the rail, not busy with a phone filming the sea.
Honestly, most people enjoy it. The warm wind, the dark water and the lights of Koh Phangan getting closer are part of the night, and a lot of guests tell me the boat was one of the moments they remember.
How do you keep your phone and money dry on the boat?
Put your phone, cash and ticket badge in a small waterproof pouch or a zip bag before you board, and keep it on your body, not on the seat. Spray comes over the sides on most nights, and a soaked phone on the way there means no photos and no map later.
A cheap waterproof phone pouch on a neck cord is the best few baht you will spend for the night. It also helps on the beach, where drinks get spilled and people end up in the sea. Leave passports, laptops and anything you would hate to lose at your hotel; bring a copy or photo of your ID, enough cash for the entrance and drinks, and one card at most.
What to wear for the boat is simple: shorts or light trousers, shoes that stay on your feet (flip-flops come off easily on a wet deck) and maybe a thin long sleeve for the 5 am crossing back. The full list is on our page about what to wear and bring to the Full Moon Party.
What happens when you arrive at Haad Rin pier?
You step off at Haad Rin pier, and the party is a few minutes walk away through Haad Rin village. You will hear the music before you see the beach.
At the entrance to the beach you pay the entrance fee of 200 THB in cash; it is not included in the transfer, and there are no official online entry tickets. Take the life jacket off on the boat and hand it back, never walk off with it.
Before you join the crowd, stop for ten seconds and agree a meeting point with your friends, and look back at the pier so you know the way. Coming back later is easy: return boats leave Haad Rin pier every hour from 0:00 to 6:00, you come whenever you are ready, show your ticket badge and take the next boat. On Koh Samui a minivan takes you back to your hotel. If you want the full picture, read how to get back to Koh Samui after the party.
The easiest way to do all of this from Koh Samui is the round trip Full Moon Party transfer with hotel pickup and drop-off, booked for free and paid in cash at the pier.
Staying on Koh Samui? Hotel pickup, speedboat from Bangrak pier to Haad Rin and boats back every hour from 0:00 to 6:00. One way ฿890, round trip ฿1290, free booking, pay cash at the pier.
Book your transferIs the speedboat worth it, and who should skip it?
For anyone staying on Koh Samui, yes: regular ferries stop in the early evening and there are no regular ferries back at night, so the night speedboat is what makes a Samui based party night possible. It is the right choice for most couples, groups of friends and first-timers.
Who should think twice? If you get badly seasick even on calm water, or you are pregnant or have a back problem, a bumpy speedboat is not fun at night, and staying on Koh Phangan near Haad Rin may suit you better. Book that early, because rooms near the beach are often sold out and minimum stays are common around the party.
A quick plan for the night:
- Check the date on the schedule and book a pickup slot for the evening.
- Pack a waterproof pouch, cash in Thai baht and shoes that stay on.
- At Bangrak pier, pay, take your ticket badge and use the toilet.
- On the boat, sit low and towards the back if you get seasick, hold on and stay seated.
- At Haad Rin, agree a meeting point, then walk back to the pier whenever you are done.
Questions and answers
Do I need to book a specific speedboat time from Koh Samui?
No. You choose a minivan pickup time from your hotel, and the minivan takes you to Bangrak pier for the crossing. Pickup slots run from 11:30 - 12:00 Noon to 10:00 - 10:30 PM, and on 31 December the last pickup is 8:00 - 8:30 PM.
Can I bring a bag on the speedboat?
A small bag or backpack is fine, but keep it light and on your lap or between your feet. You will carry it all night on a crowded beach, so leave anything valuable or bulky at your hotel and use a waterproof pouch for your phone and cash.
What happens if the sea is rough on party night?
The ride takes longer and feels bumpier, which is why the crossing is given as 20-30 minutes depending on the sea. Sit low and towards the back, hold the rail, stay seated and keep your phone packed away. The driver slows down for bigger waves.
Is the Full Moon Party entrance included in the transfer price?
No. The transfer covers the minivan, the speedboat and life jackets. The entrance fee of 200 THB is paid in cash at the beach, and food and drinks are extra.
Can children or older travellers take the night speedboat?
The boat itself is the same for everyone and every passenger gets a life jacket, but think honestly about the night: it is a fast boat in the dark, and the party is a huge, loud adult crowd. People with back problems or bad seasickness may be happier staying on Koh Phangan or doing a calmer evening on Samui.
What if I miss my pickup or my plans change?
There is no prepayment, so there is nothing to refund. Let us know through the contact form so the driver does not wait for you at your hotel, and book again for another date if you like.
Do I have to pay in cash?
Yes. You book online for free and pay in cash in Thai baht at the pier on the day: ฿890 one way or ฿1290 round trip per person. Bring the entrance fee and drinks money in cash too.
Transfer facts checked on 29 October 2026. Prices and party dates can change: the booking form always shows the current ones.
