Located in the Andaman Sea off the south-eastern coast of Thailand, the Phi Phi Islands are a group of six islands that make up one of the world’s most stunning archipelagos, with steep limestone cliffs jutting out of the waters, emerald lagoons, and powdery white sand beaches.
- What to expect
- Tips & impressions
- Safety
- Getting there
- Entrance fees
- The islands
- Koh Phi Phi Don
- Monkey Bay
- Monkey Beach
- Nui Bay
- Phi Phi Viewpoint
- Koh Phi Phi Leh
- Maya Bay
- Koh Bida Nok and Koh Bida Nai
- Koh Phai (Bamboo island)
- Koh Yung (Mosquito island)
- Etiquette
- Weather
- Flora & Fauna
- Deals for Ko Phi Phi
- Closing Thoughts
At the center of the archipelago is the magnificent Koh Phi Phi Leh – the ultra-famous uninhabited island that mesmerizes its visitors with its turquoise waters filled with baby sharks, and the fine soft sand of Maya Bay, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
On the largest island, Phi Phi Don, the beach village of Ton Sai has an abundance of delightful restaurants, a vibrant nightlife, and hotels and resorts that cater to all kinds of budgets.
This tropical paradise has something for everyone, and visitors can indulge in the beauty and tranquility of the landscape by basking under the sun on white powdery beaches, swimming, or kayaking in the warm turquoise waters.
Or, like many other of the 130 islands in the Krabi province, Phi Phi offers plenty of opportunities for rock climbing, exploring the many secluded caves hidden in the limestone cliffs, or simply hiking its dense forests.
The islands also have some of the best snorkeling and diving sites in the world, which can all be reached by taking the iconic tail boats and island-hopping around.
In the evening, the gorgeous sunsets give way to a vibrant, fun, but laid-back nightlife, delicious cuisine, renowned friendliness, and so much more.
Here you will find some information on the islands, the best season to visit, and the best beaches, but in short, it can all be summarized as follows: there is no reason not to visit this sliver of paradise.
What to expect
- Emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, powder-fine white beaches.
- Beautiful landscapes with giant limestone cliffs protruding from the sea.
- A slew of islands, one more paradisiac than the previous Among these is Koh Phi Phi Leh, which hosts the ultrafamous Maya Bay, one of the most beautiful and famous beaches in the world.
- Famous friendly Thai hospitality from the “Land of Smiles”.
- An offer that caters to any need, from adventure to sightseeing, partying, excursions, and relaxing beach stays.
- One of the safest countries in the world.
Tips & Impressions
- Small motorboats in the area usually have a capacity of 8 people, and for small crossings, the helmsman will charge 800 THB. They will usually tell you to stay near the boat or pier while waiting for more passengers to arrive. Depending on the destination, time of day, etc., this wait might be longer than one would accept. What matters is the overall price, so agree with your other boat companions to split the fare between how many of you there are, or even agree to pay the entire fare yourself for a private trip.
- Some islands are more party-friendly, and in those, it is common to find several “happy” beverages and foods. These are all psychedelic. Also, many bars and huts on the beach sell pre-rolled cannabis joints. Thai laws regarding drugs are very harsh, but in these touristic locations, they are generally overlooked. If caught, the response would probably be to give a bribe to the police officers (which, in this case, you should absolutely do rather than get into the local legal system).
Country Info
- Language: Thai is the official language
- Population: 69 million (2019 est.)
- Timezone: UTC +7
- Ethnic Make-up: Thai 96%, Burmese 2%, other 2%.
- Religion: 93% Buddhism (official religion), 5% Islam, 1.2% Christians, 0.8% others.
- Political System: constitutional monarchy
- Currency: Thai Baht (THB), symbol ฿
- Credit Cards: Credit cards are accepted in large cities and tourist destinations but even there street markets and food require cash.
- Electricity: Socket types A, B and C, 220 volt / 50 hertz
- Tipping Customs: Not expected, but appreciated
- Haggling Culture: Common in markets and street stalls
Check the Thailand page for more country general information
Safety
- Safety:
- The Krabi province is often described as one of the safest places in Thailand.
- The biggest worries are small theft, which is not very frequent, and scamming, the latter being more common.
- When it comes to nightlife, there is a slightly higher risk of drinks being spiked.
- Common safety practices should be followed; therefore, walking on the beach alone at night or in very isolated places should be avoided.
- Natural risks: The area is known for tsunamis, earthquakes, and storms, so from a natural disaster point of view, it does have some risks.
- Emergencies number: 911
Getting there
The only way to reach the Phi Phi islands is by boat, either ferry or speedboat. Most people arrive from Ao Nang or from Phuket where they arrive by airplane, but there are companies that organize boat transfers also from Koh Lanta, or as far away as Khao Lak.
The islands are 40 kilometers southeast of Phuket and about the same distance from Ao Nang. The boat transfer takes around 2 hours by ferry and 1 hour by speedboat.
All boats reach Ton Sai Beach at Phi Phi Don, where there are numerous other companies or privates which can organize transport to other parts of the main island, or to the other smaller surrounding islands.
Entrance fees
When arriving at Tong Sai Bay at Phi Phi Don there is a cash-only entrance fee of 20 baht that visitors have to pay for the upkeeping, trash removal, and helping with the visitors’ footprint on the island. This is a one-time fee and not a daily fee and will not be asked again if you go to other islands on day tours and get back with normal small longtail boats.
Additionally, at national parks such as Maya Bay or Bamboo Island, another cash-only fee of 200 baht must be paid. This instead is a daily/per-visit fee per person
Tip
Tong Sai Beach is the main hub of the island with many bars and fast foods, and in general, it is a bit of a tourist trap. Since it is also the main harbour and port of the island try to avoid remaining in Tong Sai Bay during your stay.
Instead, stay in the northern or southern of the island. The north is more beautiful with nicer high-end hotels and a more tranquil atmosphere, while the south has more rugged or secluded hotels surrounded by lush jungle.
The islands
There are six islands in total, with the two main islands being Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don.
Koh Phi Phi Don
The largest of the islands Ko Phi Phi Don is the only Island that is inhabited and where you can stay for the night.
Best beaches
Without going to Bamboo Island or the must-see Maya Bay on Phi Phi Lee Island, Phi Phi Don offers some spectacular beaches.
- South: Long Beach and Loh Moo Dee Beach
- North: Nui Bay
- Eastern side: Loh Bakao Bay
- Western tip: Monkey Beach
All of these bring the typical white sandy beaches with tranquil waters and with many nearby hotels but still maintain an unspoiled aspect and most are without services such as sunbeds or umbrellas.
Monkey Bay
On the south-western side of Phi Phi Don, in front of Tong Sai Bay is Monkey Bay. It is more famous for the titular wild monkeys rather than its beach, and the long-tailed macaques can be seen roaming around during low tide.
As always when around monkeys, be aware of their playful nature which can quickly turn to aggressiveness. Many monkeys that are used to human contact are also prone to stealing small items and are obviously drawn to food.
Monkey Beach
To the north of Monkey Bay near Tong Sai Bay is Monkey Beach. Here macaques can also be found as elsewhere on the island but they are not so present.
The spot is more famous for its stunning scenery and the beautiful and bigger beach. Monkey Beach can be reached by sea (boat or kayak) from Loh Dalum Beach, which is on the opposite side of the small strip of land facing Tong Sai Bay
Nui Bay
The main appeal of Nui Bay, on the northern part of the island, is that it is a small hidden bay that is relatively hard to reach. This means that if you get there early in the morning you may have the entire beach to yourself before the tail boats start arriving.
It can be reached by boat or by foot by hiking from Phi Phi viewpoint for about an hour.
Phi Phi Viewpoint
For those wanting a short hike and break from all the relaxing sunbathing they can go to Phi Phi Viewpoint which stands at the center of the island and offers epic views of the town, the entire island (as well as the nearby Phi Phi Leh island).
There are three levels of viewpoints with viewpoints 2 and 3 being the highest and offering the best views.
Koh Phi Phi Leh
Ko Phi Phi Leh is the gem of the Phi Phi islands and what made the entire archipelago famous.
It is an uninhabited island, declared a natural reserve and nowadays there are strict controls to visiting it in an effort to maintain the unspoiled beauty of the natural scenery.
For example, as of 2022 swimming is not allowed and visitors can only stay for 1 hour. As stated above a relatively high fee (for Thai standards) must also be paid to help preserve this natural reserve.
Nonetheless, no trip to Phi Phi islands can be considered complete without visiting this island and the main highlights of Maya Bay and Pi Leh Bay.
Trivia pill
Hardly a little-known fact, but Phi Phi Leh island was made famous from the Danny Boyle 2000 movie “The Beach”. The plot of the movie revolves around this paradisiac beach and the efforts by the few international visitors who had settled there and had built a self-sustaining community to keep this beach secret and avoid it being spoiled by the hordes of tourists.
Ironically the beach at Maya Bay was damaged during filming by landscaping for the set where the beach was extended and flattened and a lengthy lawsuit followed. Also, the movie gave notoriety to this island and today it is one of the most famous places in Thailand attracting hordes of visitors to the point that Maya Bay was closed in 2018 for 4 years until 2022 to allow nature to heal itself and preserve the ecosystem.
Maya Bay
Maya Bay is hands down the winner for scenery and beauty in Phi Phi. The white sandy beach surrounded by giant rock formations, and the abundance of fish and baby blackfin sharks swimming in the shallow turquoise waters make this bay a small sliver of paradise.
Pi Leh Lagoon
Perhaps even more spectacular than Maya Bay is Pi Leh Lagoon, on the opposite side of the island. This is a cove with a small opening leading to a turquoise lagoon completely surrounded by tall limestone cliffs.
Also, this is only accessible by boat and most tours include a stop here where the small boats can enter and circle around the impressive and calm lagoon.
Koh Bida Nok and Koh Bida Nai
To the south of Phi Phi Leh are the two small islets of Bida Nok and Bida Nai. These are basically only limestone cliffs jutting out of the sea with no beaches but are popular destinations for divers and snorkeling.
Koh Phai (Bamboo Island)
This is a small flat island located northeast of Phi Phi Don, with fewer people and a nice sandy beach covering most of the island.
Lots of Phi Phi island tours include this place in the itinerary, but it never feels too crowded, and if you walk around the side of the island for a while you may have it all to yourself.
Despite its small size, there is also accommodation here in terms of a tent camp.
Koh Yung (Mosquito Island)
Very close and north of Bamboo Island is Mosquito Island which has two beautiful beaches. Because of its infamous name, it is often less crowded than other islands and this makes it also a great place for snorkeling and diving.
Weather
The climate of Krabi is tropical and hot all year round with an average high temperature which never drops below 31 °C. At night, temperatures rarely drop below 20 °C.
The rainy season is between May and October, and the dry season is from December to March. Due to the southwest monsoon, the rainy season can be quite abundant.
The best time to visit the Phi Phi islands is therefore the dry season from November to April but it’s also peak season with crowded beaches and fully booked hotels. During the wet season, Phi Phi can also be enjoyed and even bathing in the sea during the sudden strong rainfalls. However, it is a good idea to plan a few extra days to spare in case the weather conditions force some boat tours or transfers to be canceled.
Flora & Fauna
- The Andaman Sea is one of the most beautiful and peaceful in the world. Despite there being no sea creatures to watch out for in particular, be wary of the usual animals that can ruin your stay (i.e. sea urchins near corals). Also, jellyfish are pushed to shore and the beach is actually where it is more probable to find them. Anyways the species of jellyfish are not particularly irritating and their sting will not amount to much more than a bruising.
- As with any tropical climate country, mosquitoes are your main enemy here. Ditch the perfume and take out the insect spray. As expected this is especially true during the evening/at sunset. Also as soon as you are not in direct contact with the beach, there will be vegetation, usually mangroves, and you will be mosquito lunch.
- There is a large amount of fauna in the area, from the myriad of geckos, monkeys, fruit bats, and birds. Being tropical jungle ecosystems, scorpions, snakes, and spiders are also common.
Etiquette
- Familiarize yourself with the “wai”. Hold your hands together upright, bring them to your chest and bend your head in a small bow so that your nose points to the point of your fingertips. Use it to greet people or say goodbye, say thank you and generally return it to anyone who does it to you. There are obviously many nuances related to societal stratification, religious peculiarities, and age rankings, but as a visitor, it is enough to stick to the basics and not perform the wai if your hands are busy holding a phone, beverage, sunglasses, or anything for that matter. Better to simply nod respectfully in this case.
- There are two fundamental institutions in Thai society: Buddhism and the Royal family. As such neither should be criticized or disrespected.
- Avoid homogenizing those from Thailand with people from neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, or Myanmar.
- When it comes to the temple/Wat, shoes or sandals must be removed when entering it. Needless to say that Buddha statues are sacred objects, and should not be touched, or stood on the altar where they are.
Deals for Ko Phi Phi
Closing thoughts
It is no wonder that Thailand is a world-renowned holiday destination. All the islands in the Krabi province have been blessed with everything that is “needed” for a wonderful relaxing stay. From delicious food to easy-going and welcoming people, to awe-inspiring scenery, warm weather, and pristine beaches facing calm emerald waters.
The Phi Phi islands may be one of, if not the most popular destination in the region, and despite not being an unknown gem anymore as may have been depicted in the 2000 movie “The Beach”, they still offer a spectacular natural scenery while maintaining a laid back and genuine feel.
Simply put these small islands jutting out of the calm Andaman Sea are a little sliver of paradise and a perfect holiday destination.
