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Thai archipelago in the Strait of Malacca
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Tiger at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ko Phi Phi (หมู่เกาะพีพี) is a small archipelago in Krabi Province, Southern Thailand. It makes up much of the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.
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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.
This beach is extremely quiet and can only be reached on foot.
At the very north of the island. A lovely, quiet beach with exhilarating scenery. Accommodation at Laem Thong is pricey.
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.
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).
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.
A beautiful place for quiet contemplation and paying one's respects to the victims of the tragedy.
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, 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.
A bay on the west coast of the island. It is U-shaped with a large rock in the middle. There is a very small beach and small caves at the end of a very narrow gorge. There is also a hole in the rock, accessible from the water only, that leads to the gorge behind Maya Bay Beach. It is a very short stroll to go from Loh Samah Bay to Maya Bay this way, but be careful depending on the tide and waves. Going through the hole can be a bit challenging depending on your level of fitness and there are rocks beneath the surface.
Maya Bay has arguably Phi Phi’s most fantastic beach and was the location for the movie The Beach (starring Leonardo DiCaprio) in 1998. The bay also has hard coral and colourful reef fish which makes it a favourite spot for snorkellers and first-time divers. There is also a jump spot (~20 m) in one of the creeks behind the beach, and some climbing is possible on the cliff just next to it. You can take a longtail boat to Maya Beach for about 1,500 baht for half a day. It is recommended that you arrive at Maya Bay before 08:00, when the place can still be enjoyed in solitude. From 09:00 on, hoards of speedboats with tourists on package tours arrive from Phuket. Another thing to think about when coming to Maya Bay is the time of year. During the high-season (Oct-May) you will feel like you are at Disneyland, but during the off-season it could be slightly better. Park rangers enforce a national park entry fee of 200 baht/person. If you are travelling with a tour group, it will be included in the price of your trip. The park police will only attempt to charge you the park entrance fee if you turn up on a longtail boat. A mid-afternoon departure (15:00) is best. You get to catch the sunset as you leave Maya Beach (you can't see the sunset on the beach).
Cave with prehistoric paintings and edible-nest swiftlets.
Pi Ley is a large inlet on Koh Phi Phi Ley in-between Phaya Naak Cave and Loh Samah. The whole inlet is surrounded by vertical cliffs. The sea is shallow near the mouth and the depths of the inlet are reached by going over the coral reef at its entrance. At the back of the inlet is a large 100m wide pool that is about 5-8 m deep.
Bamboo Island
Not far from Ko Yung is Ko Pai. On the north and east sides of the island are sandy beaches. At low tide the coral is very close to the surface which makes it quite difficult for snorkelling.
This island just north of Ko Phi Phi Don has a rocky beach and some coral.
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.
UK-run.
Sea Bees Diving
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.
Daily sunset and snorkel tours. Tour Phi Phi Leh and cruise into the sunset. Climbing, slacklining, weddings.
Runs "Shark Watch" snorkelling trips to Shark Point that guarantee a sighting of sharks.
Will point you in the right direction to the black tip reef shark's habitat metres from the sandy shore.
Ao Ko Phi Phi
The most known bay in the islands. Here is located the biggest village, with shops, restaurants, trees, and most of the resorts. It is mid-separated of Hat Hin Khom by a big hill and has a deeper ground, compared with Lo Dalam. Also, here is the pier where most of the boats dock from other points, such as Phuket, Ao Nang or Ko Lanta. Is normal to see the bay almost full of speed boats, long-tail boats and sailboats.
Ao Lo Dalum
The other very well-known bay in Phi Phi Islands. Lo Da Lum has a fine pristine beach, where many people come to take a bath in the crystalline waters and where many boats anchor in the sand, because there is no pier. Here, the sea floor is less deep than in Tong Sai and in low tide, it is common for people to walk on the wet sand and watch the fishes. In this bay stands out some hotels, such as Phi Phi Cabana Hotel and CoCo Beach Resort. Far in the distance, you can appreciate Ko Hin Ut (Camel Rock Island).
Monkey Beach
This particularly secluded beach is known with the name of Monkey Beach, because of the population of macaques that walk free in the sand, and live in the surrounding trees. You can interact and give food, such as coconuts to the monkeys, but you have to be careful and not bother they, because sometimes, the monkeys can bite, steal your things or become territorial with tourists, because of their babies.
Monkey Beach 2
Another small beach, next to Pirate Cove, known in English with the same name as Yong Kasem Beach. This one is located at the east side of the karst formations of Ton Sai Bay.
Ao Nung Long
A small secluded and deep lagoon where is located Wang Long Cave, that gives the name to the bay.
Wiking Beach (Khom Beach)
The largest and only populated island.
Phi Phi Long Beach
The largest and only populated island.
Ao Pho
The largest and only populated island.
Ao Lo Moo Dee
The largest and only populated island.
Toh Ko Beach
The largest and only populated island.
Rantee Beach
The largest and only populated island.
The largest and only populated island.
Ao Lo Bagao
The largest and only populated island.
Ao La Na
The largest and only populated island.
Nui Beach
The largest and only populated island.
The largest and only populated island.
Maya Beach
The largest and only populated island.
Little Maya Beach
The largest and only populated island.
Ao Lo Samah
The largest and only populated island.
The Lagoon
The largest and only populated island.
The largest and only populated island.
The largest and only populated island.
Monkey Bay
The largest and only populated island.
The largest and only populated island.
Extremely fresh seafood, deliciously cooked. Try the deep fried fish and chili.
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.
Italian restaurant with two outlets on the island. Serves pizza. The Thai food is disappointing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The original Hippies has returned. The same staff, great music, cocktails and nightly fire shows!
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.
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.
Great live rock music. They also have four pool tables in one of the more popular bars on the island.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Very nice air conditioned rooms near the beach.
Clean, friendly place, excellent for meeting other tourists.
Rooms with bath, double bed, and shared balcony.
Nice resort with fan and air-conditioned rooms near the beach.
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.
Rooms with private bathroom, twin or double bed.
100 m from the market, the Ton Sai pier, banks and food shops.
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.
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.
A cheap guesthouse.
A luxury beach resort with Thai-style accommodation. A tempting outdoor swimming pool lies looking over the white sand beach and emerald coloured ocean.
Luxury hotel in Ton Sai Bay. Prime location closest to the main pier with large swimming pool.
A good place for honeymooners. Expensive. Some staff don't speak English.
Public ferries from Krabi or Phuket to the resort are available. Accommodation is amid lush surroundings and the beach is just a short stroll from your cottage.
Luxury, modern hotel with pool access.
On the beach amid gardens. Private and shared bungalows with good attention to detail. Safe, clean and environmentally friendly with spectacular views.
This resort has all individual cottage rooms at different levels of the lush green hills. It has a private pool and the only beach bar with a fire show in long beach. It is also said to have the best views of Phi Phi Ley.
By plane
Krabi International Airport (KBV), +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.
By boat
Travelling to Ko Phi Phi by boat is how almost everyone arrives.
By all-inclusive tours from Phi Phi Island
There are many speedboat tours of Phi Phi island for people staying on Phi Phi Island. Speedboats are generally small for groups of 4-12 people.
By all-inclusive tour from Phuket
Agencies selling all-inclusive day trips from Phuket are all over Patong town, and most everywhere else on Phuket Island.
By bus
As Ko Phi Phi is an island, the bus will get you close but you'll still need to cross by boat or plane at the end.
By car
By train
The nearest train station to Krabi is in Surat Thani Province which is a 1 hour drive east of Krabi.
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.
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