This is it. You have stumbled onto one of the greatest secrets of the Thai islands, the Eden Garden Party in Koh Phangan.
This is a party unlike any other, this is what I imagine the full moon parties were like when they first started. The atmosphere is awesome and there is always a really great crowd here. The Eden Garden Party is held every Saturday and Tuesday and is one of the best psychedelic-themed events I have ever been to.
Eden Bar is a great place to chill out with a cheeky smoke and watch the sea below or dance the night away. The entire atmosphere is geared towards people wanting to have an incredible time. The music here is absolutely wonderful; great trance and electronica played by a very skilled bunch of DJs from all over the world.
So without further ado, let’s get into it. Here’s everything you need to know about Koh Phangan’s BEST party:
What is the Eden Garden Party?
The Eden Garden Party is one of the best events you could possibly attend while backpacking Thailand. This Koh Phangan party attracts an amazing crowd; there is none of the fighting or alcohol vomiting that accompanies the Moon Parties.
After heading to the Eden Garden Party, I will never again go to a Full Moon party–that’s just how much better it was!
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A small community of ex-pats and hippies lives on Haad Yuan beach and I believe it is the same crowd that runs the bar, and have turned it into one of the best nightlife events on Koh Phangan. The party starts at about 9 pm – 12 pm the next day.
Eden typically takes place on Saturdays year-round, though the best time to travel to Thailand tends to be December-March, though you can get some pretty sweet weather well after or before that.
I stayed and watched the sun rise over the ocean, it was a magical experience and one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. For the best view, head back along the walkway and up a small hill.
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How to Get to the Eden Garden Party
The Eden Garden Party is located on one of the best islands in Thailand: Koh Phangan. This long time hippie paradise is a traveler’s heaven–and that’s before you add in the Eden Garden Party!
Koh Phangan itself can only be reached by boat from either Surat Thani or Koh Samui (which has an airport.)
Once you’re settled on Crystal Island, there are two ways to get to the Eden Garden Party: by catching another boat from Haad Rin beach to Haad Yuan, or by a slightly difficult jungle hike from Haad Rin. I do NOT recommend the hike after dark.
Locals take travelers there for a minimal fee, though going at night isn’t recommended. I highly recommend crashing at a nearby hostel to make your commute the day of as easy as it can be.
Be careful when heading up to the Eden Bar, the walkway is extremely dangerous and there have been several bad accidents here in recent years. I helped one guy who had fallen right off the walkway onto the rocks below and he was really fucked up.
Be careful, especially when you are drunk. If you’re tripping, do not leave the bar area to go exploring, the rocks surrounding the bar are slippery and home to snakes. I strongly recommend wearing decent sandals or sneakers if you have them rather than flip-flops.
It’s also well worth having a security belt where you can hide your money and goods. A lot of people at The Eden Party end up losing phones and wallets…
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Koh Phangan is relatively small, but you’re about to find out it’s a lot bigger than you think. Haad Yuan is particularly remote, and can only be reached by boat. Which is why I’d recommend getting a hostel or top Thai Airbnb in or around Haad Rin the night before and after the party.
To break it down by neighborhood, here are some fabulous places to stay on Koh Phangan that won’t let you down:
Haad Yuan
Haad Yuan is the home of the Eden Garden party, and is most easily reached by boat. The secluded island is far away from the chaos of Haad Rin–you’ll quickly see why this small Koh Phangan hamlet makes for the perfect atmosphere. Staying on Haad Yuan means you can easily reach the function AND you can leave when you want. Not to mention the fact that Haad Yuan has no cars or bikes, making for a truly idyllic island vibe.
Haad Rin
Located on a small peninsula on southern Koh Phangan is Haad Rin. This lively and vibrant village is best known as the home of the infamous Full Moon Parties and is the best neighbourhood in Koh Phangan to stay in for nightlife.
Baan Tai
The charming and beautiful town of Baan Tai is the best neighbourhood in Koh Phangan to stay in if you’re visiting for the first time. It is centrally located on Koh Phangan’s south coast and offers easy access to nearby activities, attractions and the Full Moon Parties of Haad Rin.
Baan Kai
Just a short drive from Baan Tai is the idyllic town of Baan Kai. This small and cosy community is popular with travellers because it offers inexpensive, but good quality accommodations and it’s just a short drive to the rowdy and rambunctious parties in Haad Rin.
What to Bring to Koh Phangan
Here are some essentials you should add to your Thailand packing list:
Travel Security Belt
This is a regular looking belt with a concealed pocket on the inside – you can hide up to twenty notes inside and wear it through airport scanners without it setting them off.
Microfiber Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Petzl Actik Core Headlamp
A decent head torch could save your life. If you want to explore caves, unlit temples, or simply find your way to the bathroom during a blackout, a headtorch is a must.
‘Monopoly Deal’
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Staying Safe at the Eden Garden Party
While partying at Eden is mostly safe, there are still some things to be aware of. This is a drug fueled rager on one of the most beautiful islands in the world, after all.
Drug use will be varied and plentiful. Always try to buy from someone you know, and do NOT try anything for the first time while on a non-motorable island. There is no medical assistance on Haad Yuan in the event that things head south.
Alcohol will of course be present, though party and psychedelic drugs tend to be the main squeeze of this party. Personally, I think that’s one of my favorite things about it. People often act crazier on alcohol than acid.
Make sure you leave ALL valuables back at your room elsewhere on the island–there won’t be any private space for it at Eden and theft does occur. Wear some good quality shoes (the walkway is bloody dangerous!) and do NOT forget about the best practices when it comes to love and sex on the road. Things can deff get crazy quickly at Eden Garden, but that doesn’t mean you have to forgo all common sense.
Getting Insured BEFORE the Eden Garden Party
For the love of all that is holy, if you’re partying in Koh Phangan then think about getting travel insurance for Thailand.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
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Other Things to Do in Koh Phangan
If you’re looking for other cool things to do around Koh Phangan, you won’t have to look very far… hire a motorbike for the day and get exploring!
- Chase waterfalls!
- Beach hop
- Check out the Amsterdam Sunset Bar
- Eat at the Thong Sala Night Market
- Hike!
What To Pack For a Koh Phangan Party
A proper Koh Phangan party is a sweaty, dusty affair that can go on in excess of 18 hours. It’s not like a night out when you just rock up in your gladrags clutching your hand bags. In fact it can often involve a good bike ride followed by a wee traipse down jungle lanes or over rocks. As such, you do need to pack properly.
Here is what we usually bring to a KP party;
Fanny Pack – Unless you wear a pair of the poly-pocketed rave shorts that you can find, you will need something to carry all of your party gear. Ladies usually have bags but for the guys out there I recommended strapping a bum-bag across your waist or shoulder. These days I swear by the Nomatic 3L packable sling pack.
Mosquito Repellant – Mozzies tend to attack in short but intense bursts around dusk and at dawn. It can really ruin your mojo to get caught out without it.
Hand Wash – The quality of toilets at some establishments is highly questionable so bring alcohol hand wash. Maybe some wet-wipes/baby wipes too and hand tissues too.
Sunglasses – Even if you go out after dark, you may well still be up when the sun rises so remember to pack your shades especially if you have to drive home in the daylight.
Head Torch – You will be surprised at how much of Koh Phangan is not lit. A lot of parties take place down the end of dark lanes so almost bring a head torch and ensure its charged. Black Diamond make great ones.
Final Advice Before Attending the Eden Garden Party
And there you have it young backpacker, all the deets you need to find yourself at the Saturday night event of your dreams. The Eden Garden Party is truly something special, it goes way beyond your typical backpackers and buckets debauchery.
While there’s certainly a time and place for that on the road, I promise you that you’re going to want more than a glorified frat party. And that’s where Eden comes in. It’s more difficult to reach, attracts a way better crowd, and is much trippier than any Full Moon function.
Now go off and enjoy yourself–but be responsible! Stay within your limits, follow the aforementioned safety tips, and please: wear some damn good shoes!
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