Phi Phi islands are a group of islands located some 40 kilometres southeast of Phuket and are part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. This is a national marine park which is part of the Krabi province.
There are 6 islands in total and are best accessed via the many speedboat and long tail boat tours from Phuket and Krabi. Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le are the largest of the islands. Phi Phi Le is best known as the location which featured in the Leaniardo Di Caprio movie ‘The Beach’, filmed in Maya Bay. The popularity of the movie dramatically increased tourism to the islands. In 2004 the islands were devastated by the Tsunami.
The islands are known for clear blue waters, stunning beaches, bays and incredible rock formations. The stunning landscape attracts many tourists looking to enjoy the scenery, snorkelling and nightlife.
What to do there
Most activities in the Phi Phi islands involve tours and activities to enjoy its natural beauties such as the beaches, bays, limestone cliffs and aquatic life. Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest and only inhabited island. Here you can enjoy shopping, nightlife, restaurants or hotels. Here are some of the most popular things to do in Phi Phi.
Phi Phi Le and Maya bay
Phi Phi Le is the second largest island and is home to May bay, which featured in the film ‘The Beach’. The island is stunning and known for its clear waters, limestone cliffs and tropical vegetation. Viking bay is a popular area to visit. The stunning caves contain ancient paintings of what look like viking ships. The islands are uninhabited, so you can appreciate all the natural beauty thailand has to offer. Phi Phi Le is very popular due to the movie and gets very crowded with boat tours during the high season of November to April. It is usually a stop on most of the boat tours to the islands from Phuket and Krabi.
Bamboo Island
Bamboo island is a small island around 5km north east of Koh Phi Phi don. The island is surrounded by pure white sand with tropical vegetation in the centre. The location is popular for snorkelling in its clear blue waters. There are camping trips over night in addition to the many boat tours which can be arranged from Phuket or Krabi.
Phi Phi Viewpoint
Phi Phi offers stunning views of Koh Phi Phi Don and its village and 2 bays. The viewpoint is around 186m and takes around 30mins to hike to the top. It offers magnificent views of Phi Phi Don, its 2 main bays and the islands unusual ’H’ shape with strip of sand in between. You can also see Phi Phi Le from here.
Diving
The Phi Phi islands offer top quality diving with many stunning locations to explore, within easy travelling distance from Koh Phi Phi Don. Shark Point, Anemone Reef and the King Cruiser Are popular areas which are located to the west of the islands. Maya bay and Phi Phi Le are also very good areas to explore.
Nightlife
Koh Phi Phi Don is where the main bars and beachbars are located in Tonsai Village, Tonsai East, and Loh Dalum Bay. The Phi Phi islands are known for a laid back yet lively atmosphere, with many places offering just a laidback vibe if partying is not your thing.
Monkey Bay
Monkey bay is a popular spot for snorkelling due to its amazing coral reef. Monkey bay is inhabited by monkeys who have become accustomed to being fed by the tourists. It is not uncommon for these monkeys to become aggressive, so treat them with caution! The monkeys can be seen from the ocean as they gather on the cliffs. Monkey bay can visited by long tail boat or as part of day trips to the Phi Phi islands.
How to get to the Phi Phi Islands
There is no airport in the islands, so the easiest way to visit is by ferry from Krabi or Phuket. There are also many day trips by speedboat from Phuket or Krabi. These day trips can be easily booked from your hotel or in and around the resorts. The day trips usually include a combination of the main sights such as Phi Phi Le, the viewpoint, bamboo island and various snorkelling locations. Most of the trips include lunch and refreshments throughout the day. Speedboat is a great way to view the beauty of the islands and take in some snorkelling as well.
Where to stay
Koh Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island in Phi Phi. There are areas which are suited for people looking for a lively atmosphere, and more tranquil relaxing areas also.
Central Area
Tonsai West, Tonsai Village, Loh Dalum, and Tonsai East are considered the ‘central’ area of Koh Phi Phi Don. These areas are more lively, with a wider choice of restaurants, bars and hotels. Stick to Tonsai West if you want to stay central, but looking for a quieter vibe.
Golden Bay
Head to Golden bay on the north eastern coast if you are looking for high end resorts, with a relaxing vibe. The area is much quieter and has a few restaurants and bars, with a fishing village. The beach is great for scuba and snorkelling, or just relaxing in the sun. The busier central area is around 40 min by boat if you want a livelier atmosphere. This is also a great location to explore Bamboo island which is only 5km away.
Phi Phi Islands in summary
Phi Phi is a stunning place to visit. Its white sandy beaches, stunning limestone cliffs and breathtaking scenery make it a must see if visiting the amazing sights of Thailand. It is a great location to spend a vacation if you are looking for a location to stay that has a laidback lifestyle and is not too built up. There is also a great blend of nightlife with quiet, relaxing areas to suit all people. There are many sights to explore while staying in the area and it is also easy to visit on day trips from Krabi and Phuket.
Great read, I’m staying near the Phi pho islands in a couple of months. Do you recommend any particular restaurants?
Oasis bar and restaurant is a great place, it serves good local food and the seafood in particular is great.
What your operator do you recommend to get there? Do I book online or through the hotel?
I am based in the UK and use a tour operator called THG holidays. They can arrange the flights, car/transfers and accommodation. Look for your operators that are specialists in Thai vacations – rather than an online ‘hotel and flight’ option.
Thank you
good read. I am planning on travelling from Krabi next year
Where did you stay in Thailand?
I prefer to stay in Phuket, on the west coast area where the beaches are stunning, quiet and relaxed with many nice resorts. Khao Lak is also a nice area if you don’t mind travelling a little further for trips to Phi Phi etc – it has great beaches and a nice quiet atmosphere.
Thank you for your article. We will be visiting Thailand this year and your article has inspired us. Please can you confirm if there are toilets on the boat trips? How many people typically board and can you purchase refreshments or take your own?
No problem and glad it has inspired you. If you take a speedboat there is usually a small toilet on board. Ferries also have restrooms. Long tail boats are small motor boats which do not. There are also toilets along most of the main spots such as bamboo island Koh Phi Phi Don. Many of the trips provide refreshments such as water/sodas and there are many trips which include a buffet lunch on Koh Phi Phi Don.
The number of people depends if it’s high season or not, and which boat you opt for. The speed boat can hold around 20-30 people. During high season it will be at capacity but quieter during lower season.