September – October 2026

Aaron's
Bux
Party.

Two continents. Four routes. One send-off to remember. Thailand or Defected Malta (or both?) — cast your vote, send your feedback, drop your budget below.

See the options Cast your vote What's Defected Malta?
Options on the table
04
Thailand · Euro A · B · C
Crew target
6+
Per-leg headcount flexible
Cheapest option
$2.6k
Thailand · Lean tier
RSVP deadline
30 May
So we can lock villas + flights
Chapter III · The Story

Degenerates
assemble.

The Buxovers III · Maltese Mayhem.

Lads — Azalas is finally getting married. We've done this a few times already, you know the drill. His last chance to bury what's left of his single life. Bigger. Further. DEFECTED.

Starring
The groomAaron "Azalas"
Best manLeigh
The crewThe Degenerates
Distributed byDefected Records
AtmosphereCercle Sets, here we come
Runtime11–14 nights
The Routes

Pick your poison.

Four options, each costed for a group of 6. Tap a tab to see the dates, the day-by-day plan, and the damage. You can vote for more than one option in the form below.

Option 01 · Thailand

Koh Samui → Pattaya → Bangkok

Sep 23 – Oct 4, 2026 · 11 nights. Front-loaded on Samui to anchor the Saturday 26 Sep Full Moon Party, descend through Pattaya, then land in Bangkok for legendary cocktails, food and nightlife before flying home.

$2,600 – $3,667 pp
Three tiers — Lean / Standard / Premium
(breakdown below the itinerary)
What's in it
Nights
11
Big nights
3
Recovery days
3
Full Moon
Sat 26 Sep ✓
Bases
Samui 5 · Pattaya 3 · BKK 3
Exit
From Bangkok
Wed23Sep

Koh Samui arrival

Melb → BKK → Samui (long travel day). Villa check-in, sunset drinks, easy welcome dinner.

Arrival
Thu24Sep

Chaweng beach club

Daybeds at SEEN or ARKbar. Sunset DJs, beach party energy. Easy build-up.

Beach club
Fri25Sep

Villa + recovery

Pool, massage, private chef BBQ. Early night — FMP tomorrow.

Recovery
Sat26Sep

Full Moon Party ⭐

Late breakfast, nap, crew uniform, pre-drinks, speedboat to Phangan, Haad Rin Beach until sunrise.

Full Moon
Sun27Sep

Full recovery

Speedboat back, villa pool, massage, private chef, no plan.

Recovery
Mon28Sep

Samui → Pattaya

Morning flight Samui → U-Tapao. Check in, villa pool, Walking Street warm-up.

Transfer
Tue29Sep

Pattaya beach club

Beach club / yacht / pool-villa day. Sunset chill.

Beach club
Wed30Sep

Walking Street send

Big Pattaya night. Walking Street in full effect.

Huge
Thu01Oct

Pattaya → Bangkok

Private van transfer (~2hr). Check in, rooftop dinner, light night.

Transfer
Fri02Oct

Big Bangkok night

Brunch, pool, proper dinner, then Thonglor / Ekkamai / Sukhumvit clubs.

Huge
Sat03Oct

Bangkok wind-down

Massages, shopping, farewell dinner. Easy night.

Recovery
Sun04Oct

Fly home

BKK → Melb. Sleep on the plane.

Exit

Three tiers, your call.

Same accom totals — what flexes is how you fly and how much spending buffer you build in.

Lean
$2,600 pp
Accom$1,350
Extras$250
Flights$1,000
Budget intl carrier (Scoot / Jetstar / AirAsia) + overnight bus + ferry to Samui. Save $650, lose ~12 hrs in transit.
Standard
$3,250 pp
Accom$1,350
Extras$400
Flights$1,500
Standard intl + internal flights to/from Samui. Decent spending buffer for beach clubs, yacht days, and Pattaya nights.
Premium
$3,667 pp
Accom$1,767
Extras$400
Flights$1,500
Upgraded villas the whole way: LUXE MANSION (Bangkok), Paco Villa (Pattaya), Villa Thalassa (Samui).
Option 02 · Euro A

Munich → Amsterdam → Malta

Sep 24 – Oct 5, 2026 · 11 nights. The full European tour, no compromise: steins in Munich, canals and chaos in Amsterdam, then closing out summer with sunset house at Defected Malta. Send it like a footballer's bender.

$5,672 pp
Highest total
(Amsterdam accom is the killer)
What's in it
Nights
11
Oktoberfest
✓ 3 nights
Defected
✓ 5 nights Malta
Amsterdam
3 nights
Flights
~$2,600 pp
Extras
~$600 pp
Thu24Sep

Land in Munich

Fly Melb → Munich (long haul). Check in, beer hall warm-up.

Transfer
Fri25Sep

Oktoberfest day 1

Tent reservation. Steins, lederhosen, full sends.

Huge
Sat26Sep

Oktoberfest day 2

Brunch, back to the tent. Pace yourselves.

Huge
Sun27Sep

Fly Munich → Amsterdam

Quick 90 min flight. Check in, canal walk, easy dinner.

Transfer
Mon28Sep

Amsterdam day

Coffee shops, museums (lol), red light by night.

Medium
Tue29Sep

Amsterdam send

Big night out. Whatever Amsterdam offers, it's accepting.

Huge
Wed30Sep

Fly Ams → Malta

3hr flight. Check into St. Julian's. Defected pre-party (Thu start).

Transfer
Thu01Oct

Defected Day 1 — Pre-party

Official festival kicks off. House music all life long.

Defected
Fri02Oct

Defected Day 2

UNO super-hub, beach session by day, club by night.

Defected
Sat03Oct

Defected Day 3

Fort St. Elmo + The Ditch. The big one.

Defected
Sun04Oct

Defected closing

Boat party finale. Runs through Monday early hours.

Finale
Mon05Oct

Fly home

Malta → Europe hub → Melbourne. Sleep on the plane.

Exit
Accom pp
$2,472
Extras pp
$600
Flights pp
$2,600
Total pp
$5,672
Option 03 · Euro B

Munich → Athens → Malta

Sep 24 – Oct 5, 2026 · 11 nights. The smart European route: swap Amsterdam for Athens, save serious money. Same Oktoberfest, same Defected, plus Greek food and Athens nightlife. Those who came to the last bux get it — a combo that's hard to beat. Beer, beats, bouzoukia.

$4,450 pp
Best Europe value
$1,222 cheaper than Euro A
What's in it
Nights
11
Oktoberfest
✓ 3 nights
Defected
✓ 5 nights Malta
Athens
3 nights
Flights
~$2,400 pp
Extras
~$600 pp
Thu24Sep

Land in Munich

Long-haul from Melb. Check in NH Munich, beer hall.

Transfer
Fri25Sep

Oktoberfest day 1

Tent reservation. Steins, lederhosen, full sends.

Huge
Sat26Sep

Oktoberfest day 2

Brunch, back to the tent. Try to keep it together.

Huge
Sun27Sep

Fly Munich → Athens

2.5hr Aegean flight. Check in Piraeus area, taverna dinner.

Transfer
Mon28Sep

Athens day

Acropolis, Plaka wandering, easy Greek food.

Medium
Tue29Sep

Athens night

Big rooftop dinner, Psyrri or Gazi for nightlife.

Huge
Wed30Sep

Fly Athens → Malta

1.5hr Aegean flight. Check into St. Julian's.

Transfer
Thu01Oct

Defected pre-party

Festival kicks off. UNO opening party.

Defected
Fri02Oct

Defected Day 2

Beach session day, club night.

Defected
Sat03Oct

Defected Day 3

Fort St. Elmo or The Ditch — the big one.

Defected
Sun04Oct

Defected closing

Boat party finale through Monday morning.

Finale
Mon05Oct

Fly home

Malta → Europe hub → Melbourne.

Exit
Accom pp
$1,450
Extras pp
$600
Flights pp
$2,400
Total pp
$4,450
Option 04 · Euro C

Athens → Malta → Bangkok → Home

Sep 25 – Oct 9, 2026 · 14 nights. The wildcard: skip Oktoberfest, do longer Athens (maybe an island day trip, or take in some footch — Olympiacos / Panathinaikos / AEK derbies are electric), longer Defected, then home via Bangkok for 4 nights of pure joy and recovery. Europe for the price of Thailand — courtesy of the Bogan Express.

$3,482 pp
Cheapest Euro route
3 extra nights vs A/B
What's in it
Nights
14
Oktoberfest
✗ Skipped
Defected
✓ 6 nights Malta
Bangkok
4 nights recovery
Flights
~$1,882 pp
Extras
~$500 pp
Fri25Sep

Fly Melb → BKK → Athens

Routes via Bangkok (saves a stack on flights). Land Athens, easy night.

Transfer
Sat26Sep

Athens send

Acropolis day, big rooftop dinner, Psyrri at night.

Huge
Sun27Sep

Athens recovery

Slow morning, beach, taverna.

Recovery
Mon28Sep

Athens day 4

Day trip or chill mode. Pack for Malta.

Medium
Tue29Sep

Fly Athens → Malta

1.5hr flight. Settle into St. Julian's.

Transfer
Wed30Sep

Malta day off

Beach day, Valletta wander, pre-festival reset.

Recovery
Thu01Oct

Defected pre-party

UNO opens. Festival begins.

Defected
Fri02Oct

Defected Day 2

Beach + club.

Defected
Sat03Oct

Defected Day 3

Fort St. Elmo. The big one.

Defected
Sun04Oct

Defected closing

Boat party finale.

Finale
Mon05Oct

Fly Malta → Bangkok

Long travel day. Land BKK, hotel pool.

Transfer
Tue06Oct

BKK recovery

Thai massage, pool, easy dinner.

Recovery
Wed07Oct

BKK send (optional)

One more big night if bodies allow. Or pure rest.

Optional
Thu08Oct

BKK final day

Massages, shopping, last Pad Thai.

Recovery
Fri09Oct

Fly home

BKK → Melbourne (cheap return).

Exit
Accom pp
$1,100
Extras pp
$500
Flights pp
$1,882
Total pp
$3,482
What is

Defected Malta.

Sunset boat parties. UNESCO forts turned dancefloors. 5,500 house heads on a Mediterranean island. Defected's flagship festival — five years in, sold out every edition. Press play below.

1 – 4 October 2026 · 5th Edition

House Music
All Life Long.

"From the music to the venues, the production to the togetherness — Malta has quickly become the cornerstone of our summer. The end of European summer." — Wez Saunders, CEO Defected Records

Attendees
5,500+
Stages / venues
4
Boat parties
Yes
Festival pass
~$500 pp
01
Super-hub

UNO Malta

Multi-room mega-venue in Attard. The festival's main HQ — multiple stages running in parallel. Opening and closing nights centre here.

02
UNESCO site

The Ditch

UNESCO World Heritage site in Valletta. Ancient fortifications turned open-air rave. One of the most iconic settings in European dance music.

03
Historic fort

Fort St. Elmo

16th-century star fort overlooking Valletta harbour. Saturday is the big one here — sunset to sunrise sets in a 500-year-old fortress.

04
On the water

Boat Parties

Intimate sunset boat parties around the Maltese coast. Limited capacity, the most-fought-over tickets of the weekend. Worth every euro.

2026 Lineup Highlights
Hot Since 82 · Green Velvet · Jayda G · Honey Dijon · Armand Van Helden · Lil' Louis · Todd Terry · Kevin Saunderson · Dennis Ferrer · Eliza Rose · Sam Divine · Eats Everything · Low Steppa · Oden & Fatzo · Shermanology · Chez Damier · Syreeta · Sidney Charles · The Ritual with Anané & Louie Vega

Press play.

Two sets from Defected Malta 2025 — two different venues, same energy. Vibe check before you vote.

Café Del Mar · Sunset

Todd Terry — Classic Vocal House

House music legend closing out the weekend at Café Del Mar, Defected Malta 2025.

The Ditch · Peak hour

Eats Everything — High Energy Vocal House

UNESCO fortress turned open-air rave. The set that explains why Defected Malta is the move.

Side by side

The damage.

Per-person costs for a group of 6. Spending money not included — figure $80–150/day on top. Numbers shift if more/fewer people join each leg.

OptionRouteNightsFestival headlinerAccom ppFlights ppTotal pp
Thailand · LeanSamui · Pattaya · BKK11Full Moon Party$1,350$1,000$2,600Cheapest
Thailand · StandardSamui · Pattaya · BKK11Full Moon Party$1,350$1,500$3,250
Euro CAthens · Malta · BKK14Defected Malta$1,100$1,882$3,482
Thailand · PremiumSamui · Pattaya · BKK11Full Moon Party$1,767$1,500$3,667
Euro BMunich · Athens · Malta11Oktoberfest + Defected$1,450$2,400$4,450
Euro AMunich · Ams · Malta11Oktoberfest + Defected$2,472$2,600$5,672
Cast your vote

Lock it in.

Tell us which option you prefer, which legs you can make, and your budget comfort zone. RSVP closes Saturday 30 May 2026 so we can lock villas, flights and festival tickets.

FAQ

Quick answers.

The questions people keep asking before they commit. Tap to open.

Can I just do part of the trip?

Yeah — let us know in the form. You can drop in and out as needed. Half a send still counts.

Are the dates actually locked, or could they shift?

We can work with you, but won't lie — it's tight. The two festival anchors are fixed: Full Moon Party Sat 26 Sep and Defected Malta 1–4 Oct. Everything else flexes a little, but not much.

When do I need to pay, and how?

We're all booking flights individually. As we book accom and confirm numbers, we'll sort the group-pay side — Leigh will run it. RSVP by 30 May so we can lock the option.

Can my partner come along?

Fuck no.

Why isn't [X] on the list? Can I suggest something?

Legit — that's the whole point of the form below. Drop it in the Notes field, we'll consider it.

Crew survival

Non-negotiables.

The boring logistics that quietly hold the best trips together. Bookmark it — this is the difference between a perfect send and a Saturday morning at the immigration office.

01
Docs

Passports + Visas

  • Aussie passports get visa-free entry to every destination on the table
  • Passport must be valid 6+ months past your return date
  • Thailand: complete the TDAC within 72 hrs of landing — free, at tdac.immigration.go.th
  • Schengen (Germany / Netherlands / Greece / Malta) = 90 days in any 180

Renew now if it's borderline — DFAT queues are not your friend.

02
Insurance

Travel cover

  • Get it BEFORE you book flights so trip cancellation kicks in
  • Read the alcohol clauses — most policies won't pay out if you're shitfaced

You will be TPD after this one.

03
Money

Cards + cash

  • Wise or Revolut multi-currency card = best FX rate, lowest fees
  • Thailand: $1 AUD ≈ ฿22. Keep cash for street food, tuk-tuks, FMP
  • Europe: $1 AUD ≈ €0.60. Card works everywhere — even Greek tavernas
  • Tell your bank you're travelling or watch the card lock right before the speedboat

ATM fees in Thailand are $10 a hit — take a bigger note out, less often.

04
Connectivity

eSIM + data

  • Saily or Airalo eSIM = plug in on landing, done
  • Thailand 30-day plan ~$15 USD · Europe multi-country ~$25 USD
  • Turn roaming OFF before you take off

I'm not spotting ya data.

05
Tickets

Locked-in bookings

  • Defected Malta tickets on sale NOW — sold out in 2025, don't sleep
  • Full Moon Party: gate entry, but pre-book the speedboat from Samui
  • Oktoberfest: tent reservation only — walk-ups are a coin flip
  • Villa deposits go out ~July, balance ~August

Good villas and the best tickets fill up by July. Don't be that guy.

06
Health

Body prep

  • No required vaccines — but Hep A + Typhoid recommended for Thailand
  • Pack electrolytes, Paracetamol, Imodium — Asia stomach is real
  • Reef-safe sunscreen + mozzie repellent for Thailand
  • Lederhosen for Oktoberfest — easier (and cheaper) to buy in Munich

Hydrate or DIE-drate. Buy electrolytes at the airport, not your funeral.