Ko Phi Phi

Understand

The named islands are:

Ko Phi Phi Don (Ko Phi Phi Yai). The largest and only populated island. Ko Phi Phi Leh (Ko Phi Phi Noi). A smaller island to the south, popularised when parts of the movie The Beach were filmed there. Uninhabited apart from birds nest harvesters and a few Maya Bay wardens. Expect plenty of tourists during daylight hours, especially in Maya Bay, also known as "the beach". Ko Bi Da Nok and Ko Bi Da Nai. Two small adjacent limestone karst formations to the south of Phi Phi Leh, with near-vertical cliff walls rising from the sea. Ko Mai Phai (Bamboo Island). A small low-lying islet to the north of Phi Phi Don with several good beaches. Ko Yung (Mosquito Island) (north of Ko Phi Phi Don). The island has a stone beach in the east and small sandy beaches at the foot of the hills. It is teeming with colourful coral reefs. Most of the development of Phi Phi Don is in or around Ton Sai Village, which is on the low, sandy isthmus that joins the two hilly spurs that comprise the rest of the island. There are also other, quieter resorts on Long Beach, Laem (Cape) Thong, and at other less accessible areas of the island. Ko Phi Phi was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, when the island's entire infrastructure was nearly wiped out. Redevelopment was, however, swift, and building regulations in place to limit the height of new buildings to preserve the island's stunning views. While very laid back, many of the local islanders are Muslim. You will lose considerable respect if you walk around town in your skimpies (this applies to Buddhist areas of Thailand too!). While many thoughtless tourists do parade down Main Street in their Speedos or thong bikinis, to avoid offending your hosts, it's best just to throw on a pair of shorts or a sarong. Similarly, going topless on the beach, while grudgingly tolerated by most locals, is also best avoided.

Climate

Weather in the region is tropical. There are only two seasons: the hot season from Jan-Apr, and the rainy season from May-Dec. Temperatures during the year average 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 89.6°F) and the yearly rainfall averages 2569 mm. Unlike in, say, Europe, the rain in this region comes down heavily over short periods.

Getting there

By plane

Krabi International Airport (KBV IATA), ☏ +66 75 636541 or ☏ +66 75 636542, is about 10 km from the city limits, 15 km from the city centre, 40 km from Ao Nang, and 23 km from Had Yao. Thai Airways operates daily direct flights from Bangkok, likewise Air Asia from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Bangkok Airways flies direct from Krabi and Ko Samui nearly every day of the week. Nok Air operates daily flights to Krabi from Bangkok (Don Mueang). Air Asia has a special “Island Transfer” offering that includes a flight from Bangkok to Phuket, surface transport, and a ferry to Ko Phi Phi. It can be booked at their website.

Air Asia, ☏ +66 2 5159999. Bangkok Airways, ☏ +66 2 6555555, ☏ +66 2 2655678. Nok Air, ☏ +66 2 6272000 Thai Airways, ☏ +66 2 2800060, ☏ +66 2 6282000, ☏ +66 2 3561111, ☏ +66 75 701591. The international departure tax surcharge is 700 baht but is included in most ticket prices. Domestic departure tax is included in the price of the flight. National Car Rental and Budget Car Rental have branches at the airport. Motorcycle taxis are available outside the terminal. Krabi Limousine (☏ +66 75 692073) has a desk inside the terminal and provides "limousine taxi" (using large air-conditioned sedans) transport to Krabi for 500 baht, Phuket for 2,500 baht. Air-conditioned airport bus service is 90 baht to Krabi. The bus service meets all incoming flights and serves most outgoing flights. A songthaew to Krabi town is 40 baht from the road near the airport. Going to the airport they will drop you right at the departure terminal.

By boat

Travelling to Ko Phi Phi by boat is how almost everyone arrives. Ferries leave from Phuket and Mainland Krabi daily (from Krabi, two ferries a day, 09:00, and 14:30, and from Phuket at 09:00, 11:00, and 14:30 (11:00 during high season only). Sailing time from Phuket or Krabi is 1.5-2 hours. Tickets can be purchased on the dock, from tourist offices, most local guesthouses and hotels or online at Phi Phi Ferry, Phi Phi Island Ferry. There is a 20-baht per person fee on the pier for "keeping Ko Phi Phi clean". There is still plenty of rubbish on the beaches. Ticket prices:

Getting around

Phi Phi is supposed to have no motorised transport, though there are a few motorcycles with sidecars, usually used for goods and construction material transport. Transport on land is by foot or bicycle, but in the populated areas of Ton Sai, nowhere is more than about a ten minutes walk from anywhere else. Longtail boats sail between all beaches. On Phi Phi Don, you can also walk to any beach. From Ton Sai to Long Beach, expect to pay 40 baht/person in the afternoon, at least 80 baht at night. To have a complete boat to yourself, expect to pay at least 100 baht. Wheelbarrows are used to transport goods, including your luggage if you like. Expect free transport from the pier to your room, but not necessarily in the opposite direction. The most common ways to get around on Ko Phi Phi are by foot and by longtail. As with most everything in an area like this, the price for longtail boats is a negotiation. Take some foam earplugs for the longtail boat rides. It's a fun ride but the engines are loud and after 45 minutes it can get to you. Negotiating for longtail boats is usually done according to where you want to go and how many hours you want the trip to last. As an example, 1,200 baht for a 6-hour outing to Ko Phi Phi Leh and Ton Sai Bay from the Holiday Inn Resort.

See

Phi Phi Don

This island is the largest of the 6 Phi Phi islands and consists of two main sections. It is on Ton Sai where the original inhabitants settled and is now the site of most accommodations. Phi Phi Don is quite stunning and has earned the title of one of the most fantastic islands in the world. Nowadays though, with development, the beaches have paid the price, so they're not quite as spectacular as they were in the past.

Fire Show. There are several highly skilled and entertaining fire shows held nightly at several venues on the island, including at Carlito's, Apache Bar, Hippies, Carpe Diem, and The Tia and Millie Sunflower Bar on Loh Dalum. Hin Khao Beach. This beach is extremely quiet and can only be reached on foot. Laem Thong. At the very north of the island. A lovely, quiet beach with exhilarating scenery. Accommodation at Laem Thong is pricey. Lanti Beach. Next door to Yao Beach, Lanti Beach is very similar in many regards with its great scenery and coral reefs. You can get there on foot. Monkey Beach. Accessible by foot or by renting a canoe, or be lazy and charter a longtail. Be careful as the monkeys can sometimes be aggressive. Some tourists report attacks and local hospitals caution about rabies. (You should not feed wildlife). Ton Sai Bay. Ao Ton Sai is where most of the action is, be it restaurants, bars, hotels, or guesthouses. Most tourists stay at Ton Sai Bay because of the convenience. Even though it isn't the most beautiful place on Phi Phi, it is still impressive. Tsunami Memorial Garden (by the Tia and Millie Sunflower Bar). A beautiful place for quiet contemplation and paying one's respects to the victims of the tragedy. Viewpoint. Walk up to the viewpoint, 186 m above sea level (a very steep walk of between 10–25 min, depending on your fitness), to get a breathtaking view of the entire island, particularly at dawn or sunset (bring a torch). You will be surprised at how narrow the sand strip is between the two main parts of the island. Yao Beach. Yao Beach, just south of Ton Sai, offers visitors some fantastic views, scenery, and coral reefs for snorkelling and scuba diving. This small place is packed out, however, with places to stay and so some people complain that it has been overdeveloped. You can get there either by walking from Ton Sai or taking a longtail boat.

Phi Phi Leh

The second largest of the Phi Phi Islands is extremely beautiful, and near-pristine, but is uninhabited because it is a national park.

Do

Bird Watching. The best time of the year for bird watching is from Jan-Apr. Many rare birds are to be seen there: gurneys, finfoots, big-winged brown kingfishers, egrets, bitterns, and herons.

Diving

There are many dive shops on Ton Sai Bay within walking distance of each other. They can organize all diving and accommodations. Expect to pay the same everywhere. A PADI open water course is 13,800 baht, with SSI being 900 baht less. There are a few different trips offered by Phi Phi dive operators, the typical trip is a two-tank local dive in the Phi Phi Marine Park which will run about 2,500 baht, or 2,000 baht if you bring your own gear. They also do 2-3 tank trips to the King Cruiser wreck with your follow-up dives at both Shark Point and Anemone Reef. This trip usually runs between 3,200-3,900 baht depending on the number of dives you do. Further away, Hin Daeng has some of the steepest drops in Thailand (over 60 m) as well as being the place you are most likely to see manta rays and whale sharks, and can be a great dive trip, but it only runs if sea conditions are good.

Dive Thailand (on Long Beach). Long Beach Divers (on Long Beach). UK-run. Sea Bees Diving (Sea Bees Diving), Laemtong Beach, Phi Phi Island, Krabi, 100/435 Moo 5, Chalermprakiet Rama 9, Rassada, Muang Phuket, ☏ +66 75 627 300, info@sea-bees.com. 08:09-18:00. The Sea Bees dive centre on Koh Phi Phi is at the Holiday Inn Resort, on the northern part of the island called Laem Tong Beach. This beautiful white sandy beach is considered to be the most beautiful beach on Koh Phi Phi Island. It is part of the Had Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park where you will find an oasis of tranquillity, and is close from Phuket and Krabi. (updated Mar 2015)

Shopping

Most stuff is brought in by boat, so most things are less original and more expensive than on the mainland. However, there are a few shops that manufacture their goods on the island. Prices for commodities vary widely between shops. Most of the items sold here are either made by local fishermen or they are brought to the island from Phuket town. Rising commercialization and inflow of tourists throughout the year seems to be a big bonus for these locals. Remember to haggle.

Eat

In general, Southern Thai food is known for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (khanom jeen) and chicken with yellow rice.

1 Ae Fish BBQ. Extremely fresh seafood, deliciously cooked. Try the deep fried fish and chili. 100–300 baht. (updated Mar 2023) Calamero Resto. A wide selection of breakfasts, fresh pasta, pizza, Thai food, sandwiches and more is complemented by fruit shakes, liqueurs and evening cocktails. And the best "fried ice-cream". All food is clean, good and cheap. Cosmic. Italian restaurant with two outlets on the island. Serves pizza. The Thai food is disappointing. All pizzas cost 150 baht, all Thai dishes with rice cost 80 baht. Papaya (small green shop restaurant opposite Reggae Bar, next to Tiger Bar). 17:00-. One of the first restaurants rebuilt after the tsunami. Run by the enthusiastic and friendly Mr Nod. Don't let the unprepossessing looks of the restaurant put you off as the food is good and a very good value. Serves authentic Thai food, hot and spicy as it should be, but the staff allow you to express the spiciness as percentage, with 100% being "Thai spicy". Among local expats living on the island, this place may be known as the place to get good cheap Thai food, but it's no longer the cheapest. If you are looking for a personal-sized portion with rice at a cheaper price ask for your food to be "on rice", otherwise portions are huge. Help yourself to the drinks in the fridge, which will be included on the bill, and check out the cat which lives in there. Papaya opens around 17:00 and, in high season, is packed by 18:00 or 19:00. Go early if you're not prepared to wait. The Pirate's House. Great Indian and Western food, but the Thai food at this place is not the greatest. A bit pricey, but nice and clean. Be careful when you take a seat, it's very easy to hurt your knees on their heavy and impractical wooden tables. Unni's. Wooden authentic Thai restaurant with a charming atmosphere. Serving quality western dishes and Thai classics. Australian imported beef, pork, steak and sausage set Unni's apart from the rest. (updated Feb 2020) Khun Niyom. A chain of three stalls found on the Koh Phi street market, Khun Niyom offers some of the greatest tasting Thai dishes on the island. There is a wide menu selection and delicious smoothies and fruit shakes. The stalls are often busy, with long waiting times, it can be tough to get a seat here. (updated Feb 2020)

Drink

Ton Sai Bay has a variety of nightlife, something for everyone’s taste. Jazz, blues, and classics can be found at the leading hotels. Or, if it's romance you're after, you and your loved one can relax in one of the outside hotel bars and sip a cocktail under the stars. Regulations on the island force all bars and clubs to close at 01:00. Local bars owners are petitioning to extend the closing time until 02:00. Until then, there is a silent disco on Loh Dalum Bay from 01:00 until 04:00 each morning.

Breakers. American/Aussie-style pub with huge LCD wide-screens. Great food, big portions and an extensive selection of spirits as well as draught beer and cider. Carlitos Bar. Relaxed drinks on the beach served by amiable waitresses. During the winter months this place is full of Scandinavian party-goers. Most of the service staff this time of year is over on extended holiday from Sweden so expect a lot of beautiful tanned blondes to be walking around. Hippies Bar (on the Ton Sai Bay side). The original Hippies has returned. The same staff, great music, cocktails and nightly fire shows! Ibiza Bar. One of the best beach dance bars. A live music band, playing classic rock and roll hits, is a great feature as well. Hosts fire shows every night with dancing and fun games. Reggae Bar. Popular place that organizes mock Muay Thai fights most nights. If you are there at the right time you can even join in. They invite tourists, usually drunk, to get into the ring geared up to pound each other for a few rounds in exchange for a couple of free buckets. Rolling Stoned Bar. Great live rock music. They also have four pool tables in one of the more popular bars on the island. The Only Bar (on Loh Dalum Bay). Nautically-themed beach bar with "ark" and longtail bar, pool table and laid-back beach seating. A great place to watch the often spectacular sunsets. (updated Feb 2020) Slinkys Bar (close to Apache). Phi Phi Island's biggest and most popular beach club. Starting out as a Woody's Liquor Store, Slinks has grown into one of the busiest nightlife spots on the island. In a prime beach location, fire performers begin the evening at 20:00 with a high rope fire display. A rodeo bull holds the limelight in the front of the bar. Techno, House and Trance music plays into the early hours of the morning, with alcohol being sold by the bucket. (updated Feb 2020)

Sleep

Accommodation is relatively expensive. Doubles range from 400 baht up into the thousands the closer you get to the beach. If you are on a budget expect to work hard to find a decent price. If you get really desperate, a couple of places rent out tents for about 200–300 baht. Prices double during the high season of Oct/Nov-May. Other times of the year you can find relatively cheap accommodation for around 200-300 baht. To have the best choice for accommodation, arrive on Phi Phi just before the full moon party, when most people will be on Ko Pha Ngan. Since a lot of people move from Ko Pha Ngan to Ko Phi Phi after the party, accommodation may be very hard to find on Phi Phi around this time. It is not uncommon to see people arrive on the morning ferry only to leave in the afternoon because they have been unsuccessful in finding accommodation. Backpackers need only to look further east on the main street for relatively cheap accommodation. Certain guesthouses have dorms, and some have reputations for being good sources of camaraderie and parties. Compare. All the dorms are different.

Budget

1 Coco's, 224 M .7 (30 meters from the viewpoint stairs, 12 minutes walk from the pier), ☏ +66 75 401600, fax: +66 75 401600, zzzppcoco@gmail.com. 08:00-20:00. Check-in: 14:00-20:00, check-out: 08:00-11:00. Rooms at the quiet edge of the village underneath viewpoint hill, 4 minutes walk to Loh Dalum Beach and the village; see map. Budget, standard and superior fan and air conditioned rooms with WiFi. 500-3,000 baht. Oasis Guesthouse. Nice fan rooms with clean shared baths. Close to bars/restaurants but the noise doesn't make it to the rooms. Prices are simple, no negotiating but good prices on rooms, tour packages and travel to mainland. 500 baht. Phi Phi Hill Resort (Long Beach (Had Yao)), phiphihill@hotmail.com. Great budget bungalows. Expect plenty of stairs to and from the beach (though there is a pulley system for your luggage). Sunrise bungalows 700-750 baht (fan) and Sunset bungalows 1,200-2,000 baht (fan or air-con, with breakfast). 700-2,000 baht. Phi Phi Rimlay. Very nice air conditioned rooms near the beach. From 800 baht. The Rock Backpacker, ☏ +66 75 601021, pptherockbackpacker@hotmail.com. Clean, friendly place, excellent for meeting other tourists. 200 baht dorm beds, 300 baht tiny singles and a few 500 baht doubles (prices double during high season). View Garden Resort. Rooms with bath, double bed, and shared balcony. 300 baht.

Mid-range

Chao Koh Phi Phi Hotel & Resort (on Ton Sai Bay a 10-min walk to the pier), ☏ +66 75601083. Nice resort with fan and air-conditioned rooms near the beach. 1,200-3,500 baht. (updated Nov 2022) Holiday Inn Resort. A great place to get away for couples and families. It is expensive by Thai standards. There are no clubs or bars in this area, and to get to any clubs or bars is by a 45 minute longtail ride. There are 4 resorts clustered on one beach. Food at the resort is expensive, but there are two independent restaurants nearby. On the longtail boat journey back from visiting Ko Phi Phi Leh, it's recommended to stop at Ton Sai Bay for provisions as it's one-third the price there. 1,800-4,200 baht. Kinnaree House (center of Ko Phi Phi). Rooms with private bathroom, twin or double bed. 1,000-2,000 baht. Phi Phi Andaman Legacy (on Ton Sai Bay; after getting off the boat, about 7-10 min walk straight on the beach side), ☏ +66 75601106. 2,000-5,000 baht. (updated Nov 2022) Phi Phi Banyan Villa (on Ton Sai Beach, 200 m from the main pier). 2,000-5,200 baht, including breakfast. Phi Phi Casita (in Loh Dalum, 5 min walk to the beach and 10 min from Ton Sai). 1,500-4,000 baht. Phi Phi Charlie Beach Resort (on Loh Dalum Bay, Phi Phi Don), ☏ +66 859001080. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. 100 m from the market, the Ton Sai pier, banks and food shops. 1,500-2,500 baht. (updated Nov 2022) Phi Phi Lagoon Resort (15 min by longtail from Ton Sai Bay to Loh Bagao or Loh Lana Bay), ☏ +66 75 623239, +66 84 8898225, phiphilagoon@gmail.com. Remoteness incarnate. This is one of the best get-away family bungalow complexes on the island. It is not even easy to get there as you have to take a taxi boat after you arrive at the main pier. In a coconut orchard, the resort offers comfortable, but simple accommodation. No discos or loud music at night. Air conditioned bungalows. Daily fishing trips and BBQ parties with the owner of the resort is a special touch. Nearest hotel to the beautiful secluded beach at Nui Bay. 2,500 baht. Phi Phi Viewpoint. Wide variety of rooms from bungalows with fans to air-con with minibar, all with awesome views of the bay. Pool, full service dining, two bars, kayak rentals, diving lessons and a private trail to the viewpoint. Poor food quality, the bill might be higher than listed on menu. 1,800-5,900 baht. Pong Pan House (near Loh Dalum Beach, centre of Ko Phi Phi). A cheap guesthouse. 1,000-1,500 baht.

Stay safe

Ko Phi Phi has a couple of pharmacies and a hospital. For serious illnesses, go back to Krabi or even better, Phuket.

Go next

Ao Nang Krabi Town Phuket Rai Leh

More pictures of Ko Phi Phi

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.