New Years Eve in Koh Phi Phi

The most famous New Year's party in Thailand is of course the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan. But if you don't want to indulge in the craziness, there's another option, the Koh Phi Phi New Year's party. Koh Phi Phi is small, and was one of the worst-hit areas during the 2004 tsunami, but has since been completely rebuilt. Book a hotel well in advance, because the island is popular. We spent New Year's Eve there in 2011-12, and enjoyed the magnificent fireworks spectacle and the balloon festival, where you buy one and write your wishes for the coming year.