Your Guide to Visiting the Phi Phi Islands (Krabi, Thailand): Phi Phi Island Day Trip
The Phi Phi Islands, located in the Andaman Sea off the coast of southern Thailand, is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to this part of the world. The Phi Phi Islands are made up of two main islands: Ko Phi Phi Don, the larger of the two, and Ko Phi Phi Leh, the smaller and more secluded island. Both islands offer stunning natural beauty and a laid-back atmosphere (if you get away from the crowds of tourists), but are worth the visit nonetheless!
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How to Get to the Phi Phi Islands
The nearest international airports to Phi Phi Islands are Krabi International Airport (KBV) and Phuket International Airport (HKT).
The easiest and most efficient way to visit the Phi Phi Islands is through a tour agency by speedboat - typically just a day tour of the islands. I visited both Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh on a day tour with Klook! This is the exact day tour that I booked from Phuket (not sponsored by Klook, I just highly recommend it as I had a great experience!): Phi Phi Island, Pileh Lagoon, Khai Island or Bamboo Island Day Tour from Phuket with Speedboat by Seastar Andaman.
Klook does a great job taking care of all the transportation and details so you get to sit back and enjoy your day of island hopping. If you have limited time in Thailand and want to visit the Phi Phi Islands, this is a great use of your time and money in my opinion as it is only a day long and you hit all of the most sought-after attractions.
Book your excursion with Klook here!
If you have more time and wish to stay on the islands for longer, there are a few more options for getting here. Depending on where you are departing to Phi Phi, there are regular speedboat and ferry transport options available that depart several times throughout the day. You can check the ferry and speedboat schedule here.
Speedboat: About 1 hour
Ferry: About 2 hours
Speedboat: About 1 hour
Ferry: About 2 hours
Must-Visit Destinations on Phi Phi
One of the main attractions of the Phi Phi Islands is their beautiful beaches. The islands are surrounded by crystal clear waters and are home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. In addition to their beautiful beaches, the Phi Phi Islands are also home to a variety of other attractions. They are also home to several interesting historical and cultural sites, vibrant nightlife, and unforgettable tropical activities.
Ko Phi Phi Don
Monkey Bay
Monkey Bay is a small bay located on the island of Phi Phi in Thailand. It is known for its crystal clear water and beautiful scenery and is a popular spot for snorkeling and swimming. The bay is also home to a colony of monkeys, which is how it got its name. Visitors to Monkey Bay can often see the monkeys playing and swimming in the water.
Location: See location on Google Maps
Note: Two things - Observe the monkeys from afar as they can be violent towards humans, and it is also now illegal to feed the monkeys on this beach in an effort to allow the monkeys to live a normal life of fending for themselves as they should in the wild instead of relying on the snacks of tourists.
Phi Phi Viewpoints
The Phi Phi Viewpoints (there are 3) is a popular attraction on the island of Phi Phi Don. They are scenic overlooks that offer panoramic views of the surrounding islands and the beautiful turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea. The 3 viewpoints are located at the top of hills on the southern part of the island and can be reached by hiking. Below I have them listed with links to their Google Maps location (I know, the names are a little confusing).
Wang Long Bay
Wang Long Bay is a remote beach cove on Phi Phi Don that flows into a natural cave. This is another popular spot for swimming, relaxing on the private beach surrounded by cliffs, and snorkeling to view the abundant wildlife beneath the surface.
Location: See location on Google Maps
Ao Ton Sai (Ton Sai Bay)/Snorkeling
Ton Sai Bay is one of the bays with direct boat access to the civilization of Phi Phi Don island. This is one of the entry points to the accommodations, restaurants, and hiking of the island but the bay itself is a hot spot for tour boats to park for snorkeling at Phi Phi Islands because of the abundance of coral and wildlife in the area.
Location: See location on Google Maps
Ko Phi Phi Leh
Viking Cave
Viking Cave is a popular attraction on the island. It is a large cave located on the Eastern coast of the island that gets its name from the wall paintings of Viking-like figures that can be seen inside. Tourists cannot enter the caves but can peer inside from a boat, in particular, this is typically a stop on tours around the islands.
Location: See location on Google Maps
Pi Leh Bay (Pi Leh Lagoon)
This stunning lagoon is surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and is a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, and booking a private longtail boat ride around the lagoon.
Location: See location on Google Maps
Note: Booking a longtail boat ride in Pi Leh Lagoon directly supports the locals who drive these boats for tourists for a living. There is no cut that is given to the tour agencies that bring the tourists to this cove. So a great reason to book this. Plus, it is a highly memorable experience!
Maya Bay National Park
Maya Bay National Park was established to protect the area's natural beauty and wildlife and to preserve the delicate ecosystem of the bay. The pristine clear waters, jutting mountains, and lush landscape attract tourists year-round. This location is also where part of the movie, The Beach, was filmed.
Location: See location on Google Maps
Where to Eat
Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island of the Phi Phi’s so that means Ko Phi Phi Don is where you can find both restaurants and accommodations for your visit. Here are just a few good places to eat on Ko Phi Phi Don.
Where to Stay
The only inhabited island of the Phi Phi’s is Ko Phi Phi Don so this is where you will find your accommodation options. There are many villas and resorts to choose from on the island but I’ve listed below just a few that are well-rated and beautiful at different price ranges:
(Luxury): SAii Phi Phi Island Village
(Mid): Phi Phi The Beach Resort
(Budget): Chunut House
Tips & Things to Know
Peak season for visiting Phi Phi Island is November through April. During this time frame, the cost of visiting may be on the higher end but is still a good time to visit for the warm weather and less rainy days.
Wet season falls in September in October. I visited in October and was lucky to have had a perfectly clear, rain-free day though rain is a possibility during this time especially and could alter plans for getting to the islands.
There are really 2 ways to the islands - speedboat or ferry. You can get there either through a tour group (like Klook) or on your own by checking the schedules out of Krabi and Phuket.
Practice the “Leave No Trace” principles. This is very important for the continued growth and health of these intricate natural environments for visitors to be able to enjoy for years and years to come. Take all trash back out with you, do not touch or harm wildlife/plants/natural formations, and leave what you find such as shells, sand, etc.
It is illegal to feed the animals on Phi Phi Island - particularly the monkeys that call Monkey Bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh their home. Visitors used to be able to feed them but when lockdowns occurred due to Covid, many of these monkeys died off from lack of tourists and the inability to find food on their own. Since then, this law was put into place to regrow the monkey population and ensure they can sustain on their own as they should in the wild.
It is illegal to take things from the islands. This includes shells, vials of sand, rocks, and anything you find. If all visitors were to take a little something, how do you think these beautiful places would really look?
Wear reef-safe sunscreen when getting in the ocean as the ocean floor surrounding these islands is covered in beautiful corals that need to be protected.
Nearby Attractions
Khai Island (Koh Khai Nok)
Phang Nga Bay
Ko Yao Archipelago
Phuket
Than Bok Khorani National Park
Khlong Phanom National Park
Bamboo Island
Overall, the Phi Phi Islands are a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Thailand. Whether you're looking for a peaceful escape, a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of the islands, or the opportunity to experience the popularity of the islands, the Phi Phi Islands have something for everyone.
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