Arguably some of the most beautiful islands in Thailand with bright white sands, clear blue water and pretty wooden longtail boats bobbing at the shorelines – why would you not put this small argipelago of islands on your Thailand bucket list?
We have put together some useful information to help you plan your perfect trip to the Phi Phi islands!
WHEN TO VISIT: November to February is the High season, known as the ‘Cool season’ with Mild comfortable weather. March to May is Hot Season (and the time we’re visiting, temperatures have been averaging 28-35 degrees celsius so far with high humidity) and June to October is Rainy season.
AMOUNT OF TIME: 2 full days if staying on the island or 1 day on an excursion.
VIBE: The island has a mix of Hotels and Hostels. As Phi Phi Don is a small Island Hotels are smaller which means in the evening travellers tend to leave their accommodation to eat, drink and walk through the small streets on the island. Think alleyways lined with shops, bars and restaurants. Fire eaters and colourful lights on the beach. There is a nice atmosphere in the evening and during the day it is fairly quiet as the most popular thing to do is go island hopping. Around 11am-2pm we noticed most of the day tours stopped on Phi Phi Don so the island tended to get a little busier around lunchtime.
The food offerings on the island cater more to western tourists so you will find prices are slightly higher and dishes are international.
GETTING AROUND: The only Island you can stay on in the Phi Phi Islands is Phi Phi Don. As the island is so small there are no roads and you will be walking everywhere by foot (or jumping on a long tail boat) to get around. Depending on where you choose to stay, your hotel could be a short boat ride away to the more secluded spots on the island. The main area with accommodation is right near the port and this is where you will find all of the main streets and happenings throughout the day.
TRAVEL TO PHI PHI: To get to Phi Phi you will need to travel by ferry boat or take a day trip excursion from Phuket or the mainland. From the Mainland Krabi is the best route to access the islands. We travelled from Phuket to Phi Phi Don and then departed the island to Krabi as part of our trip.
Things to do
Phi Phi Don Viewpoint: One of the best things to do on the island is to climb the viewpoint to see those postcard perfect views. From the highest viewpoint not only can you see an overview of Phi Phi don and the two bays, you can see right over to Phi Phi Leh, the island where you can find Maya Bay & Phi Leh Lagoon.
Our top tip would be to head right to the very top view straight away. The viewpoint is split into levels and although the first has a nice view and props for the background of your photos it has nothing on the view right at the very top.
We would recommend you bring some water with you as there are steps to climb from the town an then an uphill walk to the top. The walk is fairly easy, however if you’re affected by the heat easily, you may want to complete this activity early in the morning before the sun gets too hot!
Island Hopping tour: The most popular way to see the area is to sail via boat. On most boat trips you will visit the famous island of Phi Phi Leh and then your tour will take you to a collection of smaller coves and uninhabited islands to enjoy.
You can book a day trip via Phuket or the Mainland as mentioned above, however if you’re staying on Phi Phi Don you can get daily boat trips for a much more reasonable price than that of the mainland and you’ll probably get to see some of the islands before they get busy.
The mainland and Phuket are around 2 hours away via boat so while those on day trips from here are sailing towards the islands, your journey will be much shorter. Therefore you’ll get to spend more time in the different spots and you can enjoy the scenery with little interruption.
If you’re visiting Maya Bay, double check if your tour includes the national park fees, some do not and you’ll have to pay this on top of the cost of your trip.
Visit Phi Phi Leh (Maya Bay and national park): If you didn’t want to take an island hopping trip around the area you can hire a Longtail just to take you to Phi Phi Leh at your own leisure. The main spots are Phi Leh Lagoon known for is beautiful turquoise water (a great spot for a dip) and Maya Bay which was made famous by the movie ‘The Beach’ starring the young Leonardo Dicaprio. This island was used as the backdrop for the film, depicting a tropical oasis. Maya Bay is part of the national park, so as mentioned above you will need to pay to enter the island.
For around 4.5 years Maya Bay has been closed to the public in an effort to conserve and clean up the area which was being damaged by Mass Tourism. Since early 2022 the beach has reopened with new rules. You can no longer swim in the sea here and boats are restricted from entering the bay to protect the coral, however this has resulted in rehabilitation of the wildlife. When we visited we even saw a reef shark swimming in along the shoreline!
Our guide told us the best and quietest time to visit Maya Bay was in the middle of the day as most of the bigger trips visit Phi Phi Don during lunchtime!
Spend some time at the Beach: Phi Phi don has two main beaches which are easily accessible and wonderful to chill & relax at. The water is is clear, sand is soft and fairly shallow so it is perfect for a swim. The biggest beach is Loh Dalum and the other is Ton Sai which located at one end on the same side as the port.
Take a long tail boat to secluded bays: There are plenty of longtail boats which you can privately hire by yourself or with new found friends to take you to some secluded bays on Phi Phi Don or on surrounding islands. This is a great way to have your own tailor made adventure and feel like you’re hitting ‘off the beaten path’ spots.
Get lost in the alleyways of Phi Phi Don: As there are no roads on the island there are many smaller pathways and alley’s to wander around and explore. You’ll find souvenirs, new attire, cafes, bars and restaurants lining the way. This is a great way to spend your evening, ending up at the beach to watch the fire dancers.
Snorkelling: With lovely clear water the area is perfect for a snorkel to spot some tropical fish!
Try Diving: Koh Tao is arguably one the best place to earn you Openwater Diving qualification in Thailand. If you do not have the time or plans to visit Koh Tao but would like to give it a try, there are dive schools located on Koh Phi Phi Don offering ‘Try diving’ taster sessions. The Diver Schools often practice safety skills in the shallows near Ton Sai beach and you could try thia to get a real taste of the sport.
Canoeing/Kayaking: On Loh Daulm beach there were vendors renting kayaks by the hour to explore the bay surrounding the beach. If the water is calm we couldn’t think of a better way to explore the water at your own pace!
