Phi Phi and Phi Phi Don islands: description, beaches, photos, recommendations. Phi Phi Island - photos and reviews of the excursion to Maya Bay Phi Phi Archipelago
Lovers of the warm ocean and oriental exoticism will definitely be interested in how to get to Phi Phi, one of the most popular Thai resorts. It includes 6 small islands. The largest of them are Phi Phi Le, located in the southern part of the archipelago, and Phi Phi Don, located closer to the north. The latter is the only inhabited island with a well-developed tourist infrastructure, where vacationers come.
The location of the Phi Phi Islands between the famous Phuket and the mainland makes them an ideal place for those who prefer a relaxing holiday in solitude, but do not want to go far from the benefits of civilization.
The name of the resort in Malay is “Pulau Api Api”, which translates as “island on fire”. It is likely that this name was given to the archipelago due to the growth of the unusual Avicennia mangrove tree, the flowers of which have a reddish tint, on all its islands.
How to get to Phi Phi
The Phi Phi archipelago in Thailand does not have its own airport, so local beaches and hotels can only be reached by water from the marinas of Phuket Island and the city of Krabi, a large port located on the mainland of the country.
Although Phuket and Krabi airports accept international flights, there is no direct connection between them and Moscow. Therefore, the easiest way is to purchase an Aeroflot flight ticket (its cost starts from 555 USD) and land at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport 9 hours later. Here or at another airport in the capital of Thailand, Don Mueang, you can transfer to planes of local airlines and, having paid approximately 900 THB - 2000 THB, in one and a half to two hours you will be at the pier of Krabi or Phuket.
If the cost of such tours seems too expensive to you, there are more economical options for such a trip:
- Take a bus that runs regularly between the Thai capital's South Station and Krabi and Phuket bus stations. Every day from 6.30 to 20.30 from here 8 to 15 flights depart in this direction. The ticket price is 700 THB – 1000 THB, but be prepared for the fact that you will have to spend at least 12-14 hours on the way.
- If you find yourself on the Gulf of Thailand islands Koh Phangan or Koh Samui, take a ferry to the nearest mainland town of Surat Thani, which is connected by bus to Krabi. During such a trip, it is very profitable to purchase a comprehensive ticket for all types of transport, which will cost 800 THB – 1300 THB. The duration of the trip is approximately 7-10 hours.
Ferry service
Once you are at the pier in Krabi or Phuket, there will be no problems with further movement: most ferries to Phi Phi run regularly. To get to bustling Phi Phi Don, you'll need the following information:
- From 8.30 to 15.00, 5 ferries depart daily from the Phuket ports with the colorful names “Sea Angel” and “Rassada” to Phi Phi. For travel you will have to pay 340 THB - 360 THB per adult and about 300 THB per child. The journey by sea will last no more than 2 hours. If time, rather than money, is more valuable to you, you should choose a more expensive and faster travel option: a private boat departing from Rassada as soon as there are more people interested. A minibus will take you from Phuket Airport to the pier for 180 THB - 200 THB or a taxi, the fare of which starts from 300 THB. In the latter case, your journey to the shore of the Andaman Sea will last no more than 40-50 minutes.
- If you fly to Krabi, you will have to take a taxi to the pier: public transport goes only to the central areas of the city. The driver will charge you approximately 350 THB - 450 THB, but the journey will take no more than half an hour. The ferry service between the local Khlong Jilad pier and Phi Phi consists of 4 flights, running every day from 9.00 to 15.00. The duration of the trip is approximately 1.5 hours, and the cost of tickets does not exceed 380 THB for adults and 250 THB - 300 THB for children.
Remember that after arriving in Phi Phi, in most cases you have to hire a boat at an additional cost: the pier and hotels are often separated by mountain ranges and impenetrable jungle.
All beaches of Phi Phi
Most of Phi Phi's beaches are suitable for sunbathing and swimming in the gentle Indian Ocean. They differ only in geographical location and degree of civilization. The most popular places for beach holidays include:
- Long Beach;
- Tonsai Bay;
- Lo Dalam.
On Long Beach, located on Phi Phi Don, the infrastructure is quite well developed: you will be provided with comfortable sun loungers, umbrellas, and there are also special canopies and showers. However, there are not so many people here, which makes it a good place for a family vacation. However, you should enter the sea with caution due to the sharp descent and the great depth of the sea near the shore.
Tonsai Bay is a narrow strip of sandy beach connecting two parts of Phi Phi Don island. Next to it is the main marina and a tourist village with numerous entertainment venues, hotels, restaurants and dive centers. Therefore, you definitely won’t be able to admire the beauty of the landscapes of the archipelago here in silence.
Lo Dalam almost its complete analogue of the previous one, where noisy beach parties are held every night. On both beaches, the entrance to the water is gentle and comfortable, and kids can splash around in the shallow water.
Phi Phi has many more secluded and wild beaches. Among them, the most famous are:
Monkey Beach. It was named so in honor of long-tailed macaques - constant inhabitants of the beach, constantly begging tourists for delicacies. Monkey Beach is surrounded by rocks, so there are practically no waves in the local bay. This makes the beach an ideal diving spot.
Nui Bay, where you definitely won’t encounter crowds of tourists. This tiny beach is so hidden between the rocks that it is extremely difficult to find it without knowing the exact coordinates. Like Lo Bahao and Laem Thong beaches in the northeast of Phi Phi Don island, it is suitable for those who are tired of the city bustle and want to be away from the crowds. These places are also famous among divers due to the numerous corals that start almost immediately off the coast.
Maya Bay. It is the most famous among the wild beaches and is located on the island of Phi Phi Ley. Maya Bay is considered part of a national park, so you will have to pay 200 THB for a holiday here. There is a rock nearby where you can practice diving. You can go diving and have a picnic on the beach, but spending the night here is strictly prohibited. So if you plan to have a vacation for more than one day, you will have to return to the boat in the evening. The almost complete absence of civilization makes Maya Bay one of the quietest places in the archipelago.
It was here that the famous film “The Beach” was filmed, in which the charismatic DiCaprio played the main role.
If you go on a tour of the islands, be sure to visit all six of them. Although there are no architectural monuments here, you will enjoy such entertainment as:
- deep-sea fishing, after which you can proudly take home trophies in the form of ocean inhabitants - mackerel and even barracudas;
- Hiking along mountain trails or green jungles;
- diving and snorkeling off the coast of small islands, which will leave original impressions thanks to the richness of the underwater world, which has not yet been destroyed by human activity, and the unusual shape of coral reefs;
- observation decks on Phi Phi Don, which will have to be reached on foot over rough terrain (there is no public transport on the islands);
- A Viking cave on Phi Phi Leh, where you can collect swallow's nests and admire rock art. Entrance is prohibited, but you will be allowed to take pictures against the backdrop of ancient drawings.
The cost of such excursions in most travel agencies ranges from 1500 THB to 3500 THB for an adult and from 1300 THB to 3200 THB for a child (children under 4 years old travel for free). It is best to take photographs on the islands before 8.00 and at sunset, when the weather is not so hot and the flow of tourists decreases somewhat. At the same time, thanks to the play of colors, the sights of Phi Phi look more picturesque.
Most reviews of stays on Phi Phi are positive. Here, almost every tourist will find what is closer to him: a quiet holiday on the beach in a state of relaxation or a noisy party life. Well-established connections with the mainland and a variety of hotels allow you to combine acquaintance with the beauty of the local nature and the preferred level of comfort.
A trip to the Phi Phi Islands is an excellent choice for those who decide to go to Thailand solely for a beach holiday.
Phi Phi Island in Thailand is, in fact, a group of islands in the province of Krabi, but many tourists, out of ignorance, often think that this is the name of one island, but in fact it is a whole archipelago of six pieces of land. Phi Phi is located between the popular tourist destination and the mainland of Thailand; getting there by boat will take 1.5-2 hours and from 300 to 1000 baht, depending on the size and speed of the vessel. The archipelago consists of six islands, of which only two are of interest to travelers and tourists: Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley, the rest are uninhabited and quite difficult to get to.
Phi Phi Don is the main island of the archipelago, which consists of two large mountains, 1 km apart from each other and connected by a narrow (about 160 meters) sand spit, on which all the bungalows, restaurants and bars are built. Despite the small area (28 km2), crowds of vacationers flock here (during the peak season, about 5,000 people come here daily), who can be roughly divided into two parts:
- those who come to soak up the magnificent beach
- those who came to dance and drink alcohol at discos and parties
In the morning and afternoon, tourists calmly sunbathe on the beach, and in the evening and at night young people have fun at parties. Local parties are known far beyond the borders of Thailand, of which only Slinky Beach Bar and Woody Beach Bar (analogues of Kazantip) are worth it, although they only last until 2 am, but those who wish can continue to have fun at someone’s home, as a rule, they invite everyone indiscriminately , acquaintances and random passers-by. And if you want to get to a TOP party that gathers several tens of thousands of people in one place, then go and have fun at the “Full Moon Party”.
Phi Phi Ley Island attracts tourists only with its untouched nature and magnificent scenery. Famous Hollywood films were filmed there, which speaks of truly beautiful nature. You won't be able to live here, because... There are simply no hotels, but sailing by boat as part of an excursion group from Phi Phi Don is always welcome. Further in the article we will talk only about Phi Phi Don island.
Accommodation
About housing on Phi Phi. You will have to pay for it daily and even if you want to stay here for a long time (more than a week), you will not receive any discounts. If you are going here in December, January or February, then make sure to book your accommodation in advance, because... There are practically no free houses and hotels during these months.
The most expensive housing is located near the coast, average price = 4,000 baht. If you go a little deeper into the island, you can find options for 500-1000 baht per day. If you want to save as much as possible, then it is better to look for accommodation upon arrival; this way you can find a comfortable house 30% cheaper than booking the same one via the Internet, but you may end up without a roof over your head. If you still don’t want any extra hassle and will book accommodation via the Internet, then I recommend using the service, where you can find excellent bungalows and hotels at low prices.
Inexpensive housing from owners
If you do not want to hear various sounds from the coast (including loud electronic music) at night, then it is better to rent housing on the outskirts of the sand spit, because... Most of the night parties are held in its center.
By the way, it is more correct to say Pi-Pi, as the Thais pronounce it.
When they talk about traveling to the Phi Phi Islands or vacationing there, they mean Phi Phi Don - the only inhabited island of the archipelago, where there are hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, tour desks and other infrastructure. The remaining five islands are pristine jungles, caves and small sandy beaches. They offer day excursions, mainly for diving and snorkeling, as well as to soak up the secluded beaches.
The most famous island in the archipelago is where the film “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed in Maya Bay in 1999. This is the most popular local attraction; many tourists buy day tours to Phi Phi to see this particular place.
Phi Phi Don is translated as “butterfly” because it is similar in outline. The island is small - the area is only 28 square meters. km. The local landscapes are amazing and consist of limestone cliffs standing vertically out of the water, partially covered with vegetation. They are the hallmark of Phi Phi and the whole (the same natural “statues” can be seen, for example, in).
Phi Phi Islands on the map of Thailand
Who should go to Phi Phi
The Phi Phi Islands are considered by most as a resort for 1-2 days. And most often they are visited as part of some kind of excursion. However, the place is perfect for a full-fledged vacation. There is everything for this here: shops, cafes, restaurants, inexpensive and expensive housing, a lot of excursions to neighboring islands, a gorgeous sea and snow-white beaches. In the evening, you can have fun at open-air discos ala Full Moon Party or just enjoy the view in some establishment on the seashore.
In general, the island is heterogeneous and this is why it will suit different categories of tourists. There are several sections almost isolated from each other with completely different rhythms. For example, this is a place for party-goers and budget tourists. It is here that the entire infrastructure is located with bars, restaurants, nightlife and massage parlors (where you can also find “adult” entertainment). In the evening, a grand open-air disco begins on the coast and the sounds of music can be heard until the morning (the Thai law that all establishments must close at 2 am is not strictly observed here). A very noisy and lively place, great for young people, party-goers and playmakers.
But it's completely different. There are no discos here, there are fewer people and therefore after sunset there is almost complete silence. This beach can be recommended to married couples with children (the entrance to the sea, however, is very sharp) and in general to lovers of a relaxing holiday. Or for those who want to sleep peacefully at night, but also go for entertainment (it’s a 20-25 minute walk to discos).
And the entire east of Phi Phi is completely wild, there is complete silence and almost deserted beaches even during the day. Lovers of wild holidays without people, but who want comfort - expensive hotels and upscale restaurants - should go here. This is the place for them.
How to get there
There is no airport on Phi Phi; you cannot get here directly. At the same time, most planes from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries fly to Thailand at Bangkok International Airport - Suvarnabhumi, and less often to Phuket and Krabi. Then you can travel by land or take a domestic flight - the nearest airports to Phi Phi are in Phuket and Krabi. Where to buy a transfer including bus and ferry.
Cheap flights to Bangkok
You can buy air tickets to Thailand as profitably as possible using special search engines that collect data from all airlines.
If you are already in Phuket or Krabi, then it is best to buy tickets from one of the many local travel agencies or. This is often cheaper than coming to the pier yourself.
From Phuket to get to Phi Phi costs from 300 baht, and from Krabi - from 200 baht. Travel time is about two hours.
Transport
Phi Phi is a small mountain island with almost no roads, there is nowhere to go, and therefore it is poorly developed. There are no taxis, tuk-tuks or motorcycle taxis. Nevertheless, there is a rental of motorbikes and bicycles, but it is not clear why - due to the mountainous terrain you can’t really ride a bicycle, only next to and. But this doesn’t make much sense, because... You can walk them up and down in an hour, exploring all the corners. And it will definitely be faster than riding a bicycle along crowded small streets.
A rented motorbike may be useful to travel along the asphalt road through the center of the island to and. But, in principle, you can reach them on foot in 30-40 minutes from.
The island also offers taxi boats (longtail boats), which can take you to neighboring beaches and islands.
Beaches of Phi Phi
The most popular, noisiest beach is located closest to, where there is a large selection of accommodation. Here are the main nightlife attractions of Phi Phi - bars and discos. It is characterized by large ebb tides.
One of the best beaches in Thailand, located some distance from the center of the island. There is a good selection of accommodation here, and there are cafes. Quite boring at night. You can get there on foot or by water taxi.
The most calm and secluded beach on Phi Phi, but at the same time of very good quality. The only drawback is that it is quite remote and not so easy to get to.
What to do and what to visit
The main thing why tourists come to the Phi Phi Islands is to relax away from civilization, to completely dissolve with nature. - diving, snorkeling, fishing and trips to neighboring islands. You shouldn't expect bars with girls - like in Pattaya or Phuket, but there are still discos and bars, as well as a huge number of foreign young people.
The Phi Phi Islands are part of the National Marine Sanctuary, so the environment is monitored very strictly, and you will be charged 20 baht for entry to the territory upon arrival.
All ferries arrive at the pier in the bay. Thanks to this, this is the most developed place in terms of infrastructure, the best for purchasing souvenirs and booking excursions. There are a lot of people only until 14:30, when the last ferry leaves for the mainland, picking up tourists. From you can walk to, also very popular among tourists. If you want complete privacy, the absence of shops and souvenir shops, then go to the north of the island, to Laem Tong Beach.
Be sure to climb to (altitude 180 meters above sea level) not far from and - from there the island is clearly visible.
Everything is natural. There are a lot of them on Phi Phi Ley: Maya Bay, where the film “The Beach” was filmed; Viking cave with ancient rock paintings; swallow's nests.
Climate
The climate on the Phi Phi Islands is tropical. The average temperature throughout the year is +28…+32, a little cooler in winter, a little hotter in April-May. The best time to visit is from November to early May, when there is very little rain and the sea is calm and there are no strong waves. Water temperature +27…+29 degrees.
| Month | Daytime temperature (degrees) | Temperature at night (degrees) | Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 22 | 48 |
| February | 33 | 22 | 25 |
| March | 33 | 23 | 52 |
| April | 33 | 24 | 129 |
| May | 32 | 24 | 309 |
| June | 31 | 24 | 261 |
| July | 31 | 24 | 273 |
| August | 31 | 24 | 259 |
| September | 31 | 24 | 373 |
| October | 31 | 23 | 330 |
| November | 30 | 23 | 230 |
| December | 31 | 23 | 91 |
*weather data provided by World Climate Guide.
All my reports, photo albums and advice about four trips around Thailand can be found on a separate page -
1st report - about independent travel Phi Phi Islands (Thailand).
Thailand is my favorite foreign country, along with Italy. I want to tell you about my little trip to the Phi Phi Islands for the New Year, where I spent a wonderful 5 days.
I want it to be clear how I choose a country - just point and go (this is not about me) and I also don’t chase the number of countries. I chose Thailand at one time from several Southeast Asian countries and within six months I read all the reports tourists in the Russian segment and chose Thailand rather than Bali or Vietnam, besides, in my travels when choosing a country - I ask myself a simple question - imagine that this is your last trip - and the question - will you go - the answer will be YES!
Having gone to Thailand for the fourth time for almost 25 days, the question arose of where to celebrate the New Year 2016 itself.
And again, many choose the wrong Thailand that they need! Thailand is very diverse and reading reports - I understand what stupid mistakes tourists make, and first of all, in order not to make them, you need to read as many more reports about this country.
I made my choice in favor of the Phi Phi Islands, which are truly one of the most beautiful on the planet. I had never been to them before, but I knew from tourists’ reports that the atmosphere there was quite relaxed and cheerful, especially on New Year’s. I love a varied holiday - sometimes you need to not only focus on the sights, but also just simply relax and even get drunk, with all the consequences that follow from this event - to make it more fun, especially since Thailand, perhaps more than one country in Southeast Asia, contributes to this by complete.
Before Phi Phi, I had already had time to relax in Phuket, flew and saw the golden pagodas of Myanmar (Burma), which you can read about here “On your own to Myanmar - to meet the golden pagodas of Yangon” and spent almost a week in my beloved Ao Nang - admiring ideal tropical landscapes and enjoying a wonderful sea holiday.
The Phi Phi Islands are part of the so-called Golden Triangle Southern Thailand (Phi Phi, Phuket and Ao Nang) - and in this triangle they are located in the very south, - in the northwest - 20 kilometers away is the island of Phuket, and in the northeast, 20 kilometers away is Ao Nang, Krabi . And of course, it is in this triangle that all the most beautiful natural attractions of Thailand are located. Of course, Koh Chang and Samui are very beautiful, but they are far from the beauty of the Andaman Sea. Therefore, if you are going to Tai for the first time, then don’t think twice and go here and you won’t regret it!!! If you choose the very best!!!
After about three hours, the boat arrived at the only island where there is housing on Phi Phi - this is the island Phi Phi Don, only this will be discussed in this first report.
Most tourists (95 percent) get to know Phi Phi through one-day organized tours and are brought here in droves at the same time from Phuket, Ao Nang, Krabi, Lanta and other places.
Don't make this mistake! In my opinion, this is one of the most unsuccessful tours for organized tourists. This will ruin your entire impression of these islands. Such tours are a mockery of oneself. Besides, it all comes down to exploring only one island, Phi Phi Ley, where there are always a lot of tourist groups.
I chose to visit Phi Phi - on my own without companies and for five days. At the pier (it is the only one on the island), I paid 20 baht (40 rubles) tax for visiting the island, quickly found my budget hotel and checked into it. The hotel cost me about 20 US dollars - I booked it 6 months before the trip. You can easily find hotels on the island - right on the pier - there are a lot of barkers. Hotels range from expensive ones above $100 to hostels for $10.
At about 13 o'clock I was already heading to the first beach, for this I returned to the pier again and headed from it along the coast to the left (if you were facing the sea). Usually I prepare carefully, this time I prepared even more thoroughly - I had a map of the island even with paths to all the beautiful beaches.
Phi Phi Island (Thai: หมู่เกาะพีพี) in Thailand is located between Phuket and the mainland. It is a group of islands: two large and several small. These islands gained worldwide fame after the release of the cult film Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio. Administratively, the Phi Phi Islands belong to the Thai province of Krabi.
Phi Phi Island in Thailand
What is so attractive about these islands? Why does the flow of tourists to Phi Phi not dry up every year, but only increase? The answer is simple. There are plenty of such islands in Thailand, but Phi Phi has a developed tourist infrastructure. There are cafes, guesthouses, bars and good internet. On Phi Phi you can live almost in the wild, while still enjoying the benefits of civilization.
The archipelago consists of six islands. The largest of them is the northern island of Phi Phi Don. This is what they mean when they say Phi Phi. This island has all the tourist infrastructure and there is a pier where ferries and boats dock.
To the south is the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Ley. This is where they filmed one of the episodes of the movie Beach. The place where the film was filmed is called Maya Bay. There is no housing or cafes on Phi Phi Ley, and its territory is a protected reserve.
In addition to these two large islands, there are four small ones, which are notable for the fact that there are rocks, water caves and excellent snorkeling near these islands. The water around the entire archipelago is amazingly clean, and the bottom is covered with white sand. The landscapes of these islands are truly very beautiful and we highly recommend visiting Phi Phi for at least one day.
How to get to Phi Phi
The islands are located in the Andaman Sea approximately halfway between Phuket and Krabi. They can only be reached by sea. The easiest way to do this is from the nearby large island of Phuket, from where comfortable ferries depart every hour. You can also get there from the coast of Krabi, for example from Ao Nang Beach. If you are now reading this article while somewhere in Syktyvkar, you will first have to buy a plane ticket to Thailand. This can be done, for example here. We have a separate page for finding cheap air tickets, full of life hacks and useful links.
You can buy ferry tickets at any tourist kiosk in Phuket. You can buy a ferry ticket yourself online here. A ticket to Phi Phi from Phuket costs an average of $10 one way. Travel time takes 2 hours. The ferry is a large comfortable vessel with a bar, TV and air conditioning. You can take your luggage with you, which will be secured on the deck. During the trip you will be able to go out on deck and take photos.
If it is difficult for you to buy a ferry ticket and get to the pier on your own, then watch this excursion in Russian, which includes visits to all the interesting places in the archipelago. The price includes transfer from your hotel in Phuket to the pier.
In addition to the ferry, tourist shops may offer you other ways to get to the islands. They can be combined with some excursions or other islands. We didn't find them interesting because the price was a little too high.
An ideal trip is from Phuket or Krabi to Phi Phi Don island, where you can rent accommodation. And from this island you can easily organize boat excursions to nearby uninhabited islands. It will be both cheaper and more interesting. After Phi Phi, you can visit another beautiful and secluded place - Railay Beach. This is a part of the mainland, cut off by high cliffs, and you can also get there only by water.
Phi Phi Don
The largest island of the Phi Phi archipelago. It has a developed tourism infrastructure. It also has a Tonsai pier where large ferries can dock. There are almost no roads on the island. The maximum you can do is rent a bicycle or a motorbike, which you also won’t be able to go anywhere with because there are no roads.
Until recently, it was an ordinary, almost uninhabited island, of which there are many around Thailand. However, after the film The Beach, crowds of tourists from all over the world flocked to Phi Phi. The Thais quickly began to monetize this flow and cafes, bars, and guesthouses appeared on the island.
In 2004, the islands were severely damaged by a tsunami, which was caused by a powerful earthquake with its epicenter nearby in the Andaman Sea. The island was completely wiped off the face of the earth. A thousand people are still listed as missing. Phuket also suffered greatly then. But more on that another time.
Phi Phi Don Island has several picturesque beaches, with white sand and clear water. The beaches on both sides of the island's isthmus can be very noisy. Especially Lo-Dalam. European youth have occupied this place and are throwing noisy night parties. If silence at night is important to you, then look for housing as far away from this place as possible.
What to see on Phi Phi Don?
In addition to the beautiful beaches, you can go up to the observation deck, which offers panoramic views of both bays. There are two ways to get to this place, both of which are dirt paths uphill. So be prepared for a tough climb.
Phi-Phi Don Island. View from the observation deck Another entertainment option can be a boat trip around the island with a stop at hidden and inaccessible beaches. This is very interesting, since Phi Phi Don is very beautiful and you can meet this beauty almost face-to-face.
Also, be sure to organize a boat trip to the island of Phi Phi Ley with a mandatory visit to Maya Bay (the Beach was filmed there) and Pileh Lagoon (also called Blue Lagoon). We will talk about these places in more detail below, since they are much more interesting than anything else in this archipelago.
Renting a boat costs an average of 1,500 Baht for three hours. Three hours will be enough to go around the island with stops on wild beaches. And in another three hours you can visit Phi Phi Ley with all its attractions and snorkeling.
There are also diving centers on Phi Phi Don, where professional instructors will organize a luxurious underwater excursion for you and provide you with the most modern diving equipment.
Hotels on Phi Phi
There are a lot of hotels on the island. On Phi Phi you can find budget bungalows without air conditioning for 300-400 baht per day and expensive 5-star hotels with a astronomical price tag. The average price for a good hotel with air conditioning is 800-1000 baht per night. You can find accommodation right on the spot, but it is best to book a hotel in advance via the Internet. Almost always the price through booking.com will be lower than what they tell you at the hotel reception. Tested repeatedly from personal experience.
The cheapest hotels in Phi Phi are located on the isthmus of the island, in the areas of Tonsai and Lo Dalam. This area is the most youthful and noisy. Life here involves daily parties until the early morning. If you don't want to spend the night next to the dance floor, then look for a hotel away from this place.
Below you can see a map of hotels on Phi Phi Don Island. The map is clickable and you can see prices for specific dates.
Beaches of Phi Phi
All the islands of the archipelago have beautiful and sometimes almost deserted beaches. On Phi Phi Don island the most popular beaches are Lo Dalam, Tonsai Bay And Long Beach. These beaches are ideal for swimming. The entrance to the water is smooth, the sand is soft and white. In addition, there are almost never waves on Lo Dalam beach. But there is one caveat to this beach - you won’t be able to swim at low tide.
The rest of the beaches of Phi Phi Don island can only be reached by water. Any boatman from the central beaches will be happy to take you. Monkey Beach is a beach where you will be greeted by a flock of wild monkeys. You can treat them to fruits or nuts, but at the same time keep an eye on your things - glasses and phones. Monkeys can snatch your phone and you will never see it again.
Nui Beach is a very small beach, which is closed by rocks on three sides. In the morning and evening it is almost always deserted. You can have a great time together on this beach.
In addition, there are small, unnamed beaches on each island of the archipelago. There are a lot of them and there is no point in describing them. You can see them on a boat tour and ask the boatman to stop there if you really like this beach.
Phi Phi Ley
Phi Phi Ley is the second largest island in the archipelago. It is located geographically just south of Phi Phi Don. This island is famous primarily for Maya Bay, where one of the episodes of the film The Beach was filmed.
You can go to Phi Phi Lei from any beach of its northern brother - Phi Phi Don island. All you have to do is approach any Thai on a longboat (a long motor boat with a propeller that plunges into the water on a long arm). A three-hour excursion to Phi Phi Ley Island will cost 1,500 baht (for the entire boat). Three hours will be enough for you to see all the bays and caves of Phi Phi Lei and even have time for snorkeling.
It is best to go to the island in the early morning or late afternoon. At this time there will be fewer tourists, it will not be so hot, and you will also be able to take good photos due to the position of the sun.
Phi Phi Lei is completely uninhabited. Its steep banks in the form of sheer high cliffs leave no chance for travelers. But it has two absolutely stunning bays. One of them is Maya Bay. There is a fee to visit this bay - 400 baht per person, but you can save money. You will have to pay if you go ashore. You can stay on the boat and see Maya Bay from the water. This is even better, since it is likely that there will be several thousand people in the bay with you.
Maya Bay. Phi Phi Lei Island Personally, this is precisely why I don’t like Maya Bay. Over the course of several years, tourists have greatly damaged the island’s ecosystem. In 2018, Thai authorities closed Maya Bay to tourists to remove tons of garbage. The bay was closed from June to September 2018.
Another beautiful bay on the island is Pileh Lagoon (Blue Lagoon), it is located on the opposite side of Phi Phi Ley island. This bay is not famous for anything, and it is not visited by 5 thousand tourists daily, but it is very beautiful, and if you are not susceptible to the hysteria surrounding the movie The Beach, then a visit to Pileh Lagoon will be much more interesting than Maya Bay.
The boatman will take you to this bay and you can get off the boat. The water depth is shallow, about one meter. The water is very clean and the sand is white. The bay is surrounded by high cliffs covered with green vegetation. The place is very beautiful.
Phi Phi on your own or excursion?
There are inexpensive excursions to Phi Phi Island from Phuket and Krabi. The excursion can be with or without an overnight stay. Maybe you can find an inexpensive sightseeing tour for one day. What to choose is up to you. We prefer to visit the islands on our own by ferry, while also booking accommodation on our own.
You can combine a visit to Phi Phi with neighboring islands, such as Lanta and Railay (yes, this is not an island). To get acquainted with these places for the first time, one night on each island will be enough.