How to Visit the Phi Phi Islands:
Your Essential Guide
Discover the magic of the Phi Phi Islands: Your complete travel guide
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With emerald cliffs rising from turquoise waters and a legendary nightlife to boot, the Phi Phi Islands are surely Thailand’s most iconic destination. Set in the Andaman Sea between Phuket and Krabi, this archipelago has cinematic-scale beauty on another level, with an infectious, laid-back charm that Thailand has seemed to master. Want to explore this legendary corner of Thailand? Here’s our essential guide on how to visit the Phi Phi islands, with everything you need to know to make the most of your trip.
How to get to the Phi Phi Islands
Reaching the Phi Phi Islands is straightforward. Ferries and speedboats regularly depart from both Phuket’s Rassada Pier and Krabi’s Klong Jilad Pier, taking around 1-2 hours. During peak season, we always recommend booking your boat travel in advance – we love 12.go Asia for all public transport in Thailand.
When to Visit the Phi Phi Islands
The best time to visit the Phi Phi Islands is November to April, when sunny skies, calm seas and perfect temperatures await you. May through October sees the rainy season – though you’ll encounter fewer tourists and lower prices, unpredictable weather can limit activities like kayaking and snorkelling trips.
Phi Phi Don
What are the Phi Phi Islands?
The Phi Phi islands comprise two main islands: Phi Phi Don (the larger, inhabited island) and Phi Phi Leh (smaller, uninhabited, and home to Maya Bay). You’ll stay and eat on Phi Phi Don, but explore Phi Phi Leh on day trips.
Phi Phi Don
Ton Sai Beach & Loh Dalum Beach are the bustling hearts of the island, and it’s here you’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops. Loh Dalum is where everyone comes to sunbathe and swim by day, and then get involved in the beach parties by night.
Long Beach is quieter and more relaxed, with crystal clear waters and spectacular snorkelling. Laem Tong Beach is in the north of the island and is only accessible by boat. Here you’ll find luxe, upscale resorts and magnificent sunsets.
Phi Phi Leh
Phi Phi Leh
The darling of Thailand, Maya Bay was made irrevocably famous by Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie “The Beach”. Closed for a period of time to allow the ecosystem to recover from over-tourism, this spectacular bay is top of everyone’s Thailand bucket list. Jungle-clad limestone cliffs erupt from the sea and surround you on all sides, with a pristine white sand beach and turquoise lagoon. A visit here is a bucket-list activity for many, and the main draw to these islands. Pileh Lagoon, with its otherworldly waters, and Viking Cave, with its ancient cave paintings, are two more unmissable spots on Phi Phi Leh.
Phi Phi Leh
Top Things to do in the Phi Phi Islands
Snorkelling & Diving
With colourful reefs, walls and wrecks, the Phi Phi islands are spectacular places to both dive and snorkel. Shark Point is a reef famous for being the home of (you guessed it) harmless blacktip reef sharks. King Cruiser Wreck and Anemone Reef are two popular dive sites where you can spot leopard sharks and manta rays.
Island Hopping
Hiring a traditional longtail boat is one of the most popular ways to explore the Phi Phi islands and their surrounds. Discover hidden coves, secret beaches and snorkelling sites that are straight out of the Avatar films. Maya Bay is usually always included, and you might also stop at Monkey Beach, known for its playful locals.
Hike to the Phi Phi Viewpoint
For panoramic views of the islands from above, hike to Phi Phi Viewpoint. The trail begins near Loh Dalum Bay, winding upwards through lush rainforest. It’s a steep but manageable climb, rewarded by stunning vistas of the bays below. It’s especially magical at sunrise or sunset.
Where to Eat & Drink in the Phi Phi Islands
Phi Phi Don caters well to the tourist crowds and you can find everything from local eateries and street food to upscale restaurants and European-style bakeries.
Anna’s Restaurant
One of the most popular spots on the island, this local restaurant is famous for serving up heaping portions of authentic, delicious Thai food. As well as staple dishes such as massaman, penang and roast duck curries, you’ll find oddly specific European dishes here too, including Hungarian goulash and Cordon Bleu.
Efe Mediterranean Cuisine
For when you’ve had one too many Pad Thai’s, head to this local favourite serving authentic Turkish dishes. This is the real deal, and some of the best Turkish kebabs and kavurmas (lamb stew) we’ve had outside of Turkey. Grab a table on their terrace and watch the world go by as you feast on perfectly grilled lamb, chargrilled peppers and pillowy flatbreads.
After dark, Phi Phi comes alive. At Slinky Bar and Stones Bar on Loh Dalum Bay, you’ll find beachfront fire shows, music and dancing until dawn. It’s loud, it’s noisy and it’s Thailand’s party scene at its best. For a more relaxed vibe, head to Sunflower Beach Bar, with a more cosy atmosphere and live acoustic music.
The Cove Phi Phi
Where to Stay on the Phi Phi Islands
Zeavola Resort
Gaze out over the jungle canopy and the Andaman Sea from your bed, the floor to ceiling windows giving you panoramic views over the island. Zeavola is a collection of rustic-luxe villas dotted around a quiet bay, designed to feel like a traditional Thai village. Walk the sandy paths beneath coconut palms, indulge at their spa and take one of their complimentary kayaks out into the turquoise waters.
The Cove Phi Phi
You’re so close to the idyllic Rantee Beach from your wooden bungalow that the waves are almost lapping at your door. Nestled beneath swaying coconut palms, this boutique resort feels like a secret paradise escape, no easy feat on the popular Phi Phi islands. Enjoy your coffee on your private balcony, watching the jungle come to life around you and the sunrise over the ocean. Rooms are beautifully designed, rustic but elegant, with rainfall showers and floor to ceiling windows.
A Side Note
There’s no denying that the Phi Phi islands are a popular, over-saturated tourism destination in Thailand. The landscapes of Maya Bay have captivated so many people that it’s regularly closed to preserve the ecosystem. If you travel here, we recommend staying on the islands themselves, where you can boost the local economy of the people who live here. It also gives you the chance to visit Maya Bay and Pileh lagoon in the early morning or evening, before the hoards of day trippers descend from Phuket and Krabi. By doing so, pressure and strain on the landscape is more carefully managed, as not everyone is visiting within the same 4 hour window. With some mindful travel, you’ll discover why Phi Phi is – and will remain – one of Thailand’s most beloved spots.
Things to Do
things to do
