- For guests staying on Koh Samui, the night speedboat usually wins: hotel pickup, a 20-30 minute ride from Bangrak pier and return boats every hour from 0:00 to 6:00.
- Regular ferries stop in the early evening and there are no regular ferries back at night, so the ferry only works if you sleep on Koh Phangan.
- The speedboat transfer costs ฿1290 round trip or ฿890 one way per person, paid in cash at the pier, with no prepayment.
- Rooms near Haad Rin are often booked out around the party and minimum stays are common, which is the hidden cost of the ferry plan.
- The ferry plan suits people who want several days on Koh Phangan anyway; for one night out, it adds packing, check-ins and a hungover trip back.
For most people staying on Koh Samui, the night speedboat makes more sense than the ferry: it collects you at your hotel, crosses to Haad Rin in 20-30 minutes and brings you back on any hourly boat until 6:00, so you sleep in your own bed. The ferry or speedboat Full Moon Party question only tips towards the ferry when you want a few days on Koh Phangan anyway and already have a room near Haad Rin.
It is half past three in the morning, the bass from the beach is still going behind you and your feet are full of sand. One group of friends is walking to the pier to catch the next boat to Samui. Another group is trying to remember which guesthouse up the hill has their backpacks and whether the key is in the right pocket.
Both nights can be great. This article is about which one fits your trip, not which one sounds more adventurous.
Ferry or speedboat for the Full Moon Party: what is the real difference?
The real difference is not the boat, it is where you sleep. Regular ferries from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan stop in the early evening, and there are no regular ferries back at night. So the ferry is not a way to "go to the party", it is a way to move to Koh Phangan for at least one night.
The night speedboat transfer is built around the party itself. It leaves from Bangrak pier (Big Buddha area) on Koh Samui, lands at Haad Rin pier a few minutes walk from the beach, and runs back every hour from 0:00 to 6:00.
That gives you two very different days. The ferry day is a travel day with a party at the end. The speedboat day is a normal Samui day with a party in the middle of the night.
How does the afternoon ferry plan work?
You check out of your Samui hotel, take a daytime ferry across, get to your room near Haad Rin and go to the party from there. The next day you sleep late, check out and take a ferry back, or stay on for more days on the island.
The crossing itself is pleasant. A big ferry on a calm afternoon is a nice way to see the islands, and you have the whole evening to eat, shower and paint your face before the beach fills up.
The weak points come before and after the boat:
- The room. Accommodation near Haad Rin is often booked out around the party, and minimum stays of several nights are common. A last-minute room can be far from the beach or not available at all.
- The road. Many ferries do not arrive in Haad Rin itself, so you add a ride across Koh Phangan with your luggage. Check where your ferry lands before you buy the ticket.
- Two hotels. If you already paid for your Samui hotel, you either pay for both or pack up and move twice in two days.
- The morning after. Getting back to Samui means packing, checking out and catching a daytime boat while your head still remembers the buckets.
Ferry prices and timetables change by season and by company, so check them close to your date rather than trusting an old blog post.
How does the night speedboat transfer work?
A minivan picks you up at your hotel or villa anywhere on Koh Samui, drives you to Bangrak pier, and a speedboat takes you to Haad Rin pier in 20-30 minutes. Return boats leave Haad Rin pier every hour from 0:00 to 6:00, and you do not choose the time in advance.
Pickup slots run from 11:30 - 12:00 Noon to 10:00 - 10:30 PM, so you pick the time that suits your evening. An early slot gives you the sunset bars and a calmer beach. A late slot lets you have dinner on Samui and arrive when the party is already in full swing.
At the pier you pay in cash in Thai baht, get your ticket badge and wait in the seating area for your boat. When you are done with the party, you walk back to Haad Rin pier, show the badge and take the next boat. On the Samui side you are put on the transfer list and a minivan takes you back to your hotel.
The details of the ride, the crowd at the pier and what the sea can be like at night are covered in how the return boats at Haad Rin pier work, worth reading before your first time.
Cost, flexibility, sleep and luggage: how do they compare?
The speedboat wins on flexibility, sleep and luggage; the ferry only wins if you were going to stay on Koh Phangan anyway. The night transfer is ฿1290 round trip or ฿890 one way per person, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. The ferry ticket itself is usually cheaper, but it is never the only cost of that plan.
| Afternoon ferry and a night on Koh Phangan | Night speedboat from Koh Samui | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost elements | Ferry both ways, transport from the ferry pier to Haad Rin and back, a room near Haad Rin (often with a minimum stay), maybe a second night on Samui you already paid for | Round trip ฿1290 or one way ฿890 per person (New Year party ฿1490 / ฿1190), hotel pickup and drop-off included |
| Party entrance | 200 THB cash at the beach | 200 THB cash at the beach |
| Flexibility | Leave the beach when you like, but you are tied to your room and to daytime ferries | Choose a pickup slot from noon to 10:30 PM, come back on any hourly boat from 0:00 to 6:00 |
| Sleep | Short walk to bed, but Haad Rin stays loud until morning | Your own quiet hotel room on Samui, after a ride back |
| Luggage | Full bags travel with you twice: across the sea and across Koh Phangan | Nothing to carry: phone, cash and a small waterproof bag |
| Payment | Depends on the ferry and the guesthouse | Free booking online, cash at the pier, no prepayment |
| The morning after | Pack, check out, catch a day ferry back | Sleep until lunch, then the pool |
The cost line is the one people underestimate. A cheap ferry ticket looks good next to a transfer price, but add a Haad Rin room on a party night and the gap usually closes quickly.
The luggage line matters more than it seems. Carrying a suitcase along a dark road or onto a crowded boat is no fun, and leaving it in a cheap room on the busiest night of the month is a risk some people would rather not take.
Who should take the ferry and stay overnight?
Take the ferry if Koh Phangan is part of your trip, not just a party venue. If you planned three or four nights on the island, the ferry is simply how you get there, and the party becomes one night of a longer stay.
It also makes sense for travellers who want to be on the beach until well after sunrise and walk home without watching the time. The trade-off is the room: book it early, because places near Haad Rin fill up and minimum stays are common around the party.
Who should skip the ferry plan:
- People who already paid for a hotel or villa on Koh Samui.
- Families or couples where only some of the group goes to the party.
- Anyone with a flight from Samui the next day or the day after.
- First-timers who are not sure they will last past midnight.
If you are still deciding where to base yourself, the comparison in stay on Koh Samui or Koh Phangan for the party goes through the hotel side in more detail.
Who should take the night speedboat?
Take the speedboat if you are staying on Koh Samui and want the party without moving hotels. That covers most visitors: couples, groups of friends, people on a short holiday and anyone who likes the idea of a quiet bed after a loud night.
The biggest advantage is freedom on the night. You do not choose your return time in advance: any boat between 0:00 and 6:00 works with your ticket badge. If the music is not your thing, you leave early. If your friends find the right bar, you stay until the sky turns grey.
The honest downsides: you spend some time in a minivan, the sea at night can be choppy, and waiting at the pier at 4 am with a crowd of tired people is not the highlight of anyone's night. Most guests still prefer it to carrying a backpack around Haad Rin.
One more reason: there is no prepayment. If plans change, nothing needs refunding, you just let the team know through the contact form so the driver does not wait for you.
What does a good party-day plan look like?
Keep the day simple: a slow afternoon on Samui, a proper dinner, then a pickup slot that matches how long you want to stay. The next party is on Tuesday, 24 November 2026; see the full list of Full Moon Party dates for 2026 and 2027 before you plan the rest of your trip.
- Book the transfer online for free and choose your pickup time.
- Pack light: cash for the boat and the 200 THB entrance, phone, a small waterproof bag and closed shoes. The what to wear and bring list covers the rest.
- Agree with your group on one meeting point and one boat time, in case phones die.
- Pay in cash at Bangrak pier, get your ticket badge and keep it somewhere you cannot lose it.
- Walk back to Haad Rin pier when you are ready and take the next boat.
If the speedboat plan fits your trip, the transfer from Koh Samui takes care of the pickup, the boat both ways and the drive home.
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 transferFor the New Year party on 31 December the round trip is ฿1490 and the last pickup is 8:00 - 8:30 PM, so plan that evening earlier than usual. Everything else, including the hourly boats back, works the same way.
Questions and answers
Is the ferry cheaper than the speedboat to the Full Moon Party?
The ferry ticket on its own usually costs less, but the ferry plan also needs a room on Koh Phangan, since there are no regular ferries back at night. Rooms near Haad Rin are in high demand around the party and minimum stays are common. The night transfer is ฿1290 round trip or ฿890 one way per person, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.
Do I have to pay for the speedboat transfer in advance?
No. Booking online is free and you pay in cash, in Thai baht, at the pier on the day of the party. At the pier you get your ticket badge and wait for your boat in the seating area.
What time is the last speedboat back to Koh Samui?
Return boats leave Haad Rin pier every hour from 0:00 to 6:00. You do not need to pick the time in advance: come to the pier with your ticket badge and board the next boat. On Samui a minivan takes you back to your hotel.
How far is the party from Haad Rin pier?
The speedboat lands at Haad Rin pier, a few minutes walk from the party beach. That short walk is a real advantage over a ferry that lands elsewhere on the island. On the way back you simply walk to the same pier.
Is the night speedboat safe?
Every passenger gets a life jacket, and the speedboats have two or three engines and take 25 to 65 passengers, with bigger boats in the high season. The ride takes 20-30 minutes depending on the sea. Sit down, keep the life jacket on and do not drink more on board.
What happens to the speedboat in bad weather?
The crossing time depends on the sea, and a rough night makes the ride bumpier and wetter. Pack your phone in a waterproof bag and wear clothes you do not mind getting splashed. Since there is no prepayment, you are not out of pocket if you decide not to go.
Can I go to the party with a pickup from Lamai or Maenam?
Yes, pickups cover all areas of Koh Samui, including Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Maenam, Bangrak, Choeng Mon and Nathon. Choose a pickup time in the booking form and the driver collects you from your hotel or villa lobby.
Transfer facts checked on 13 November 2026. Prices and party dates can change: the booking form always shows the current ones.
