Phi Phi Island, Thailand

Phi Phi Don

Phi Phi Don is where everything is: the main town, all the hotels, restaurants, shopping, bars and the party! The landing pier is on Tonsai Bay, and the opposite side is Loh Dalum Beach. Phi Phi Don has several beaches, and hotels are mostly around the narrow part of the island. However, hotels are also on remote beaches, but it requires a short longtail boat ride to reach them. So if you plan to enjoy the party, you should pick the right beach! Of course, those hotels provide a free shuttle boat, but a boat ride might not be fun if you party too hard.

Koh Phi Phi Leh

Phi Phi Leh is where you will find the famous Maya Bay, which closed for three years and has recently reopen. It’s just a few kilometres south and about 30 minutes by long-tail boat. The island gained international fame as the filming location for the movie “The Beach.” Popular activities on Phi Phi Leh include snorkelling, diving, and exploring the island’s caves and lagoons.

Koh Mai Phai (Bamboo Island)

Bamboo Island is a small, uninhabited island located 8 northeast of the main Phi Phi island. It is known for its pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and abundant marine life, making it a popular destination for snorkelling and diving. The island is surrounded by coral reefs and offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. It is also home to a small bamboo forest, which gives the island its name.

Ko Yung (Mosquito Island)

Mosquito Island, also known as Koh Yung, is a small island located just next to Bambo Island mentioned above Phi Phi in Thailand. The island is uninhabited and is known for its beautiful coral reefs and diverse marine life, making it a popular destination for snorkelling and diving. Despite its name, Mosquito Island is not known to have a significant mosquito population.

Tonsai Town – Phi Phi Central Area

Phi Phi Don looks like a mad maze between 2 bays: Tonsai Bay, where ferries drop you off, and Loh Dalum Bay, where the main beach is.

To imagine what walking down that maze feels like, picture the following: a T-Shirt shop, a tattoo parlour, a bar, a dive centre, a tattoo parlour, a fast food, a bar, a travel agency, a massage parlour; repeat again and again. I’ve never seen so many tattoo shops per meter square! I’ve never seen so many cats, either!

Most shops don’t open in the morning but until late at night. It is probably because most of the island’s population is away exploring the islands. Other visitors enjoy the soft sand and the beautiful scenery (if tides permit). The remaining tourists are probably still in bed trying to get over a massive hangover from one of these cheap ‘buckets’ that looked so cool the day before (read about it lower on the page)

In the afternoon, the crowd emerges to hang in the streets: shopping, drinking too early or having a massage. Plenty of small restaurants for all tastes and budgets, but most look somewhat touristy. We tried a decent beachfront restaurant called ‘Tonsai Seafood’, which was quite good and ‘The Point Restaurant’, below average. However, our best dining experience was at ‘Le Grand Bleu’, a long-established French restaurant serving an excellent choice of French and Thai food at reasonable prices.

Phi Phi explodes with life from 9 pm as bars start fire shows, live bands and Muay Thai performances (Thai boxing). There are bars after bars all along the main streets but for the best party, aim at Loh Dalum Bay, where fire shows take place. Young people buy a ‘bucket’ on their way there and sit on the beach before a makeshift stage to enjoy or even participate in small fire shows. The music is loud and pretty good, making people dance on the beach. Everyone seems to have the time of their life.

The general impression is that Phi Phi is not real Thailand apart from some fantastic cliffs and bays. It’s a bit of the Khaosan of the south, with a permanent Full Moon Party. Anyone not selling something on Phi Phi is a Farang (a foreigner). You will never see or hear a Thai person saying: “I’m going to spend a weekend on Phi Phi Island”. On the other hand, the young Thais working on the island are very smiling and helpful.

There are some mosquitoes, mostly once the sun has set, but many convenience stores and pharmacies are on Phi Phi island.

Long Beach

Long Beach is a superb sandy bay located just next to Tonsai Bay and easy to access by walking along the coast. The place is home to excellent hotels and bungalows like the Phi Phi Villa Resort.

Laem Thong Beach

Laem Thong Beach is a beautiful and secluded beach located on the northern tip of Phi Phi Island. The beach boasts clear turquoise waters and soft white sand, making it an ideal spot for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkelling. The area is less developed than other beaches on the island, providing a peaceful and serene atmosphere for visitors to enjoy. Some of the popular hotels in the area include Zeavola Resort, Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island, and Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort.

Loh Dalum Bay

Loh Dalum is a stunningly beautiful shallow bay located on the southern side of Phi Phi Island. It is easily recognizable as the wide expanse of turquoise water that is visible on the right-hand side of the famous panoramic photo taken from the viewpoint. Despite its size, Loh Dalum is a relatively narrow stretch of beach, measuring only 160 meters in width. In fact, you can walk from the main town of Tonsai to Loh Dalum in just a minute or two.

Despite its small size, Loh Dalum is a popular destination for tourists visiting Phi Phi Island. There are several hotels, restaurants, and bars located along the beach, which makes it an ideal spot for travellers looking for a lively atmosphere. The party scene on Loh Dalum is legendary, with music and dancing continuing into the early hours of the morning.

Phi Phi Viewpoint

Reaching Phi Phi Viewpoint is a bit challenging, but it’s not too hard if you go at your own pace. Expect to sweat and maybe be bitten by local mosquitoes each time you stop breathing in a shade of a tree. Mosquitoes are smart as they ambush themselves in those strategic locations. At the end of the first long flight of stairs, you will reach Viewpoint Number 1 and the ticket counter. It costs 30 baht from that point on.

Monkey Beach

Bamboo Island (Koh Mai Pai)

Bamboo Island is a popular snorkelling spot located 8 kilometres northeast of the main island. This island is often part of the day trips travellers usually book in Phuket, or as a short boat ride from Phi Phi island itself.

Buying a typical day trip around Phi Phi

If you wish to rent a boat, expect to pay around 1,500 to 3,000 baht, depending on what you want to visit. Here are the usual places where longtail boats will take you to.

To Phi Phi Leh and around

• Maya Bay
• Viking Cave (Used to be open to the public, but it’s now restricted)
• Loh Dalum Bay
• Monkey Beach

Then to the north of Phi Phi Don

• Mosquito Island
• Bamboo Island

Diving in Phi Phi Island

Diving around Phi Phi Island is a fantastic experience you shouldn’t miss. Not many places in the world can offer such unique dive sites. If you have never experienced diving before, remember that a cool option called ‘Discover Scuba Diving’ doesn’t require any training, just a briefing usually given on the boat deck on the way to the dive sites! I did it, and it was fantastic.

Phi Phi Banyan Villa

Phi Phi Banyan Villa Info

Location: Tonsai Bay
Range: 3-star
Swimming pools: 1
Restaurants and bars: 1
Facilities: Fitness room
Distance to the beach: 350 metres to Loh Dalum Bay
Distance to Phi Phi centre: 250 m
Address: 129 Moo 7 Tambon Ao Nang, Amphoe Mueang Krabi, Chang Wat Krabi 81210
Phone: 075 601 023
Bookings: see the rates

PP Princess Resort

Phi Phi Princess Resort Info

Location: Tonsai Bay
Range: 4-star
Swimming pools: 1
Restaurants and bars: 2
Distance to the beach: across the garden, to reach the superb Loh Dalum Bay
Distance to Phi Phi centre: 500 m
Phone: 075 601 166
Bookings: see the rates

Phi Phi Villa Resort

Phi Phi Villa Resort Info

Location: Long Beach
Range: 3-star
Swimming pools: 1
Restaurants and bars: 1
Facilities: Fitness centre, Spa
Distance to the beach: on the beachfront of a superb beach!
Distance to Phi Phi centre: 450 m, easy to walk
Address: 1/5 Moo 7 Phi Phi Island, Muang, Krabi 81000
Phone: 075 628 900
Bookings: see the rates

Slinky

Slinky is a beach bar famous for its fire show and club music right on the beach.

Stones Bar

Stones Bar is on Loh Dalum Bay and has a fire show.

Reggae Bar

Reggae Bar, unlike a reggae bar, is somewhat famous for organising friendly Muay Thai fights between customers. As you wear head protection, it doesn’t seem to hurt (much), but it depends on your opponent. Nevertheless, it seems to be a lot of fun.

Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm Syndrome invites customers to drink games outside the bar; games involve a hose and a funnel and how fast you can drink from these.

Other popular places to party in Phi Phi

• Dojo Bar
• Breakers
• Kong Siam Live Bar has a fantastic singer able to entertain the crowds with drinking songs.
• Carlito’s Bar is a waterfront bar on the other side of the bay. Als,o with club music and fire shows but with a better sitting area.

What’s a ‘Bucket’?

Buckets are extremely popular in Phi Phi, and you can find them everywhere after sunset. Usually, a cheap mix of local whiskey (Sang Som), a red bull (you know what), a mixer and ice in a small plastic bucket, and a couple of straws. You can take this around as you party. As it’s sweet and cold and often uses cheap local alcohol, you don’t feel you are drinking much, and the Red Bull boosts you. Most people get drunk much faster and much more than they think. Fun.

Where to get a tattoo in Phi Phi?

That’s a tough one, they are everywhere, and they all claim the same thing: a sterile environment and a new needle for each customer, also Bamboo tattoos are available. So follow your instinct but let us know if you can recommend one shop. I looked at a couple of standard-size tattoos; they cost between 5,000 to 10,000 baht and take 3 to 6 hours to execute.

Le Grand Bleu

Le Grand Bleu is a great French restaurant that has been famous since 1992.

Ciao Bella

Ciao Bella is an Italian restaurant right by the sea, on Loh Dalum Beach, just next to the party.

Tonsai Seafood

Tonsai Seafood serves seafood and Thai food on the Tonsai waterfront opposite Phi Phi Banyan Villa, where we stayed.

Shopping in Phi Phi

The famous expression “Same Same but Different” was probably coined here. ‘Phi Phi island’ tee shirts, short pants and light skirts, swimsuits, bags… everything you need for a holiday on a small island. Don’t expect much originality, but browsing is always fun, especially when there is not much to do.

Useful information about Phi Phi

▷ There are many convenience stores, banks, ATMs, and pharmacies everywhere. There are a hospital and a large modern clinic, so you know you won’t have to worry about these.

▷ There are no cars on Phi Phi, but you will hear “Peep-Peeeep!” dozen times as locals try to push carts loaded with all kinds of stuff.

▷ Phone signal coverage is surprisingly good from Phuket to Phi Phi! But Wi-Fi in hotels is useless.

How to get to Phi Phi Island from Phuket?

There are two easy ways to get to Phi Phi island: by ferry or speedboat. A Ferry costs around 400 baht and takes about 2 hours to reach Phi Phi from Phuket. A speedboat ride costs 900 baht per person but only takes 50 minutes. (A ferry from Krabi will take one hour and a half). Usually, the transfer includes pick up from your hotel and is a return ticket, but double-check anyway.

Any hotel in Phuket will be able to arrange this for you. If you rent a car, you could also park at the Rassada pier in Phuket town and buy your ferry ticket, but it’s not cheaper. You also can check this site for available discount tickets by Kohlife.

Where is Phi Phi Island?