Haad Rin Beach is really two beaches, a few hundred metres apart at the southern tip of Koh Phangan: Sunrise Beach on the east and Sunset Beach on the west. Sunrise Beach is the loud one that hosts the Full Moon Party, and Sunset Beach is the calmer one for swimming.
This guide explains the difference, how to get to Haad Rin from Thong Sala and Koh Samui, where to stay and when to go. It draws on Thai Holiday Guide and its Koh Phangan overview, plus the ferry guides on this site and two GetYourGuide listings we checked on 6 November 2026.
- Beaches
- Two, a few hundred metres apart
- Sunrise Beach
- About 1 km, bars all along
- Calmer swim
- Sunset Beach (west)
- From Thong Sala
- 30 to 40 min by songthaew
- From Koh Samui
- 30 to 45 min by speedboat
- Full Moon Party
- Monthly, ฿200 entry
What is Haad Rin Beach known for?
Haad Rin Beach is known for the monthly Full Moon Party on Sunrise Beach, which Thai Holiday Guide describes as a one-kilometre strip of bars. Sunset Beach on the other side has calmer water, fewer people and better daytime swimming. Between parties, the area is a mix of dive shops, cheap Thai food and backpacker rooms.
Haad Rin Beach: Sunrise Beach and Sunset Beach
The two sides of Haad Rin Beach feel like different places. Thai Holiday Guide describes Haad Rin Nok, or Sunrise Beach, on the east side as a one-kilometre beach with bars along its length. Haad Rin Nai, or Sunset Beach, on the west side has “calmer water” and fewer people, with much less foot traffic outside party nights.
| Sunrise Beach (Haad Rin Nok) | Sunset Beach (Haad Rin Nai) | |
|---|---|---|
| Side of the peninsula | East | West |
| Character | Bars with their own sound systems, dive shops, tattoo parlours | Quieter, calmer, fewer people |
| Swimming | Possible, but busy and noisy | Better for daytime swimming |
| Known for | The Full Moon Party | Sunsets and a slower pace |
Both beaches are within walking distance, and Thai Holiday Guide puts Rin Nai Beach about five minutes on foot from the party strip. Our Rin Nai Beach guide covers the quieter side in more detail, and our Full Moon Party guide covers party night.
Swimming at Haad Rin Beach and Sea Conditions
Swimming at Haad Rin Beach depends on the side and the season. Thai Holiday Guide says the sea is calmer from June to September and rougher from October to December, with heavy rain in November. For a daytime swim, most visitors head to Sunset Beach, which the same page describes as having decent daytime swimming.
Do not swim on party night
Full Moon Party Thailand advises against going into the sea at the party, because alcohol, the dark open water and currents at Haad Rin are a dangerous mix. Our Full Moon Party guide has the safety details.
If the sea is rough on the day, Thai Holiday Guide suggests Bottle Beach as a day trip, reached by longtail boat or a short hike. Our Bottle Beach guide explains both routes. Month-by-month conditions are in our Haad Rin weather guide.
How to Get to Haad Rin Beach
Haad Rin is at the far southern tip of the island, so you travel by road from Thong Sala or by speedboat from Koh Samui. Thai Holiday Guide gives these journey times.
| From | How | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thong Sala pier | Songthaew south | 30 to 40 min | Thai Holiday Guide |
| Thong Sala pier | Motorbike | 40 to 60 min | Thai Holiday Guide, Thong Sala page |
| Big Buddha Pier, Koh Samui | Speedboat | 30 to 45 min | Operators vary by day |
| Surat Thani | Lomprayah catamaran to Thong Sala, then road | About 2 h 45 min to the pier | Add the road leg |
Our Koh Samui to Koh Phangan ferry guide has the full timetable, and our Thong Sala pier to Haad Rin guide covers the last stretch by road. The widget below searches the crossing on 12Go.
Koh Samui: High-Speed Ferry Transfer to/from Ko Pha Ngan
A daytime high-speed ferry transfer between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, with an airport or hotel shuttle as an add-on. It is rated 4.7 out of 5 from 2,087 reviews and priced from $10 per person when we checked on 6 November 2026.
Check on the listing before you book
- Departure time and the pier you leave from
- That you still need a road transfer to Haad Rin from Thong Sala
- The cut-off: it must be booked at least 13 hours ahead
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
Koh Samui: Full Moon Party Transfer by Speedboat
A speedboat transfer built around the Full Moon Party, so it only makes sense on party nights. It is rated 4.0 out of 5 from 76 reviews and priced from $41 per person when we checked on 6 November 2026.
Check on the listing before you book
- Which pier it leaves from and the return time
- Whether hotel pickup applies to your area
- The cut-off: it must be booked at least 1 hour ahead
Powered by GetYourGuide. Price, duration and availability depend on your date.
Where to Stay Near Haad Rin Beach
Rooms near Haad Rin Beach follow the party calendar. Thai Holiday Guide says prices can triple and beachfront rooms sell out for the December and January Full Moon Parties, often with a three-night minimum. Outside those weeks the area is much cheaper, and June to September gives better guesthouse rates.
Cocohut Beach Resort & Spa
4-starFrom about $90 a nightListed at 8.9 by Thai Holiday Guide
A beachfront resort named on Thai Holiday Guide's Haad Rin page. Price is the listing figure on 6 November 2026 and moves with the party calendar.
Little Paradise Haad Rin Koh Phangan Resort
3-starFrom about $31 a nightListed at 8.6 by Thai Holiday Guide
A lower-priced option named on the same page, useful if you only want a bed near the party.
For a calmer base, our guide to where to stay in Koh Phangan compares Haad Rin with Thong Sala, Thong Nai Pan and the west coast, and our Koh Phangan bungalows guide covers cheaper rooms. You can search every hotel for your dates on Agoda.
Things to Do Around Haad Rin Beach
Daytime at Haad Rin is more varied than the party reputation suggests. Thai Holiday Guide lists Sunset Beach swimming, Rin Nai Beach, a longtail trip or hike to Bottle Beach, and dive trips. It also lists an island road trip, an ATV jungle safari and an Ang Thong Marine Park speedboat tour as day options from Haad Rin. Our Ang Thong tour guide and Ang Thong National Marine Park guide cover the park.
- Dive shops line the strip. Thai Holiday Guide mentions PADI Discover Scuba at Sail Rock and a three-day Open Water course.
- Skip the scooter at night. Full Moon Party Thailand advises against driving after dark, and our things to do in Koh Phangan guide covers safer ways to see the rest of the island.
- Walk across the peninsula to Sunset Beach for the sunset, then eat at one of the cheap Thai places in the village.
Haad Rin Beach on Full Moon Party Night
On party night Sunrise Beach fills with tens of thousands of people. Thai Holiday Guide gives attendance as 10,000 to 30,000, with December and January the busiest, and entry as ฿200 in cash with a neon wristband. Fire shows start around 9 pm and the peak is roughly 10 pm to 2 am. If you want to see the beach without the crowd, visit on any other night. Our Koh Phangan nightlife guide covers the other parties.
Best Time to Visit Haad Rin Beach
| Months | What to expect | Per Thai Holiday Guide |
|---|---|---|
| January and February | Best for swimming and lounging | Peak crowds and high prices |
| March to May | Dry and hot | Fewer visitors between full moons |
| June to September | Calmer sea, better rates | Quieter outside party nights |
| October to December | Rougher water, heavy rain in November | The Full Moon Party still happens |
Haad Rin Beach FAQ
Which is better, Sunrise Beach or Sunset Beach at Haad Rin?
Sunrise Beach has the bars and the party, while Sunset Beach has calmer water, fewer people and better daytime swimming, according to Thai Holiday Guide. Most visitors use Sunset Beach to swim.
How far is Haad Rin Beach from Thong Sala pier?
Thai Holiday Guide gives 30 to 40 minutes by songthaew on its Haad Rin page, and 20 to 30 minutes on its Thong Sala page, with 40 to 60 minutes by motorbike.
Can you swim at Haad Rin Beach?
Yes, mainly at Sunset Beach in daytime. The sea is calmer from June to September and rougher from October to December. Do not swim at the Full Moon Party.
How do I get to Haad Rin Beach from Koh Samui?
Take a speedboat from Big Buddha Pier, which Thai Holiday Guide gives as 30 to 45 minutes, or a regular ferry to Thong Sala and a songthaew south.
Is Haad Rin Beach only for partying?
No. Outside the monthly party it has dive shops, cheap Thai food, a calmer Sunset Beach and day trips by boat or road.
Do I need to book a room far ahead at Haad Rin Beach?
For the December and January parties, yes. Thai Holiday Guide says beachfront rooms sell out, prices can triple and a three-night minimum is common.
Heading to Haad Rin Beach?
Check ferry times and the add-on shuttle before you book, and read the recent reviews on the listing.
Photo credits: Haad Rin Sunrise Beach by Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Haad Rin by Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); The Haadrin Queen ferry at the Haad Rin West pier by Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Full Moon Party crowd on Haad Rin beach by Per Meistrup (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons). Tour photos: GetYourGuide.
Disclosure: InsideSamui may earn a commission when you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Hotel links lead to Agoda, ferry links to 12Go Asia and tour links to GetYourGuide. This guide is compiled from published information from operators, parks and travelers, checked on 6 November 2026. We have not run these trips ourselves for this page. Prices, schedules, fees and rules around Koh Phangan change often, so confirm them with the provider before you travel. Tour bookings are handled by GetYourGuide, hotel searches by Agoda and ferry searches by 12Go Asia.