Explore Phi Phi Islands: The Ultimate Guide to Top Activities

With lots of things to do in Phi Phi islands, they are the absolute dream – crystal-clear turquoise waters, relaxing beaches, numerous long-tail boats and gorgeous palm trees all around! The Phi Phi islands are comprised of 6 main islands – Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Bamboo Island, Mosquito Island and the very small ones Koh Bida Nok & Nai Islands at the southern end of the Phi Phi archipelago.

How To Get To Koh Phi Phi Islands

Before we start exploring all the things to do in Phi Phi islands, let’s first see how to reach them. You can only reach the Phi Phi islands by speedboat or ferry. There is no airport there, which I believe is the best part! The main port in the Phi Phi islands is the Tonsai Pier. The speedboat transfers are at least 5 times more expensive, but you’d be saving yourself at least 1 hour per way, as well as sweating at the super hot ferry.

To get from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi

A ferry from Krabi to Phi Phi can be taken from Krabi Town (Klong Jilad Pier), Railay Bay or Ao Nang (Nopparat Thara Pier) and it only costs about 9-11 EUR per way. The journey will last about 2 hours. Click here to see the full ferry timetable. You need to be at the pier at least 45-60 minutes before departure to make sure you don’t miss the ferry. Ferries and most speedboats don’t run at the dark hours, most likely because there are many obstacles along the way 🙂

To get from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi

You can get a ferry from either of the 3 major ports in Phuket – Rassada Pier, Sea Angel Pier or Numchai Pier. The tickets typically cost between 10 and 20 EUR and the journey takes about 2-3 hours. Click here to see the full ferry timetable. If you’d like to speed things up – get a speedboat! Here is one speedboat transfer you can book.

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Things to do in Phi Phi islands

1. Visit the amazing spot from the movie “The Beach” – Maya Bay

I hadn’t seen the movie “The Beach” until shortly before visiting, so it wan’t really on top of my list of things to do in Phi Phi islands. I had wanted to watch it for a long time but never got the chance. Overall, it was a fun thriller to watch, especially in the 2000s when it came out. But I was so curious to see the famous Maya Bay where “The Beach” was shot and how it was represented in the movie itself! No major spoilers, so read on even if you haven’t seen it 🙂

“The Beach” shows that this “secret amazing beach where no boat can take you” is somewhere around Koh Samui – which is on the East side of Thailand, while the Phi Phi islands are actually in the West. Our most favorite actor – Leonardo Di Caprio, has to actually swim for a few kilometers in order to get to the island, as no boat would take him there (as it was considered a national park). A friend of mine told me that he had actually done something very similar even before the movie came out! The Phi Phi islands were incredibly pristine back then.

The Crowds At Maya Bay

Yep, this is definitely THE top thing to do in Phi Phi islands for most tourists. Thus, it really does get pretty crowded! Chances are, you’d be able to get a few photographs without people in them, but that doesn’t mean they’re not there. In order to see Maya Bay with the fewest possible people you generally have two options – either visit very early in the morning (we were there around 8:00 am), or get there even earlier and watch the magical sunrise! Here’s where you can book a sunrise trip to see Maya Bay from Phuket, and another one if you’re staying in Krabi instead. Don’t pout about the early hours – trust me, it’s absolutely worth it seeing this bay without having to deal with 4 people per square meter 🙂

Want to beat the crowds? Check out this special early tour!

Maya Bay Closures!

However, I would highly recommend booking your visit to Maya Bay well in advance! Despite the 400 THB entrance fee to Maya Bay, the beach gets over 5,000 visitors per day (and, trust me, it’s not THAT big). A few years ago, the Thai authorities have announced that Maya Bay and a few other beaches classified as national parks will be officially closed for tourists during the raining season (June-September). At all other times, the authorities will most likely only allow for a maximum of 2,000 tourists per day at Maya Bay. This is less than half what it gets now, and these measures will hopefully help with preserving the environment and corals. Thus, you should absolutely plan ahead and book your trip there in advance.

Luckily, the authorities decided to open Maya bay for tourists once again just recently, but still – try to Google before your visit, since they might just change their mind again, who knows.

Phi Phi islands are amazing, but they’re not famous for their nightlife. If you’re in the mood for some cool vibes, check out these  21 best places to party in Thailand.

2. Pileh Lagoon

The Pileh Lagoon, located in Koh Phi Phi Leh is not just a top thing to do in Phi Phi islands – it’s one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world! If you’ve booked a trip to Phi Phi, this will definitely be one of your spots. The lagoon is almost closed off and has a relatively tight entrance. Yes, it doesn’t have a beach, but it’s not that deep and it’s very nice for snorkeling! Definitely don’t miss swimming in these crystal-clear turquoise waters. The best time to see the Pileh Lagoon is between 11:00 and 13:00 as that’s when the 100-meter cliffs don’t stop the sun from illuminating the water <3

3. Loh Samah Bay

Loh Samah Bay (Koh Phi Phi Leh) in the Phi Phi islands is another great one you shouldn’t skip. The waters a bit deeper than the Pileh Lagoon, but the surrounding cliffs are incredibly impressive – it will certainly take your breath away and make you fall in love even more with these Thai islands.

4. Viking Cave

The Viking Cave has a few paintings inside its walls – most are of boats and resemble the signature Scandinavian boats – dakkars. It’s a pretty fascinating natural phenomenon! I certainly enjoyed it, I’m sure you will too, when you visit this top thing to do in Phi Phi islands and especially, Koh Phi Phi Leh 🙂

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5. Loh Lana Bay

When going around Koh Phi Phi Don by a long-tail boat, I never imagined that we’d discover a beach that would easily become my very favorite in the Phi Phi islands! Yes, even more beautiful than Maya Bay and more stunning than the Pileh Lagoon. However, I am not talking about the huge beach strip that you’d see on the map, surrounded by lots of restaurants and hotels (a perfect lunch date, though!). I am actually showing you guys the far left-end of this beach (you can only reach it by boat).

The beach is not just ridiculously photogenic with its crystal-clear blue waters. It is also a superb snorkeling spot – one of the best things to do in Phi Phi islands AND the sand honestly feels like kinetic sand. Yes, really! <3 There are quite a few large stones on this beach and the trees are probably about two meters from the water at high tide, which is the main reason the sand is so perfect. On your trip to the Phi Phi islands, make sure you tell your boat captain to take you to that wonderful beach!

6. Nui Beach

Nui Beach at Koh Phi Phi Don is probably the second most famous beach in Koh Phi Phi after Maya Bay. And no need to wonder why – just look at these breathtaking cliffs! It’s a good snorkeling spot, and you can lay around on the beautiful small beach, while enjoying the iconic Thai island views.

7. Monkey Beach

Well, no need to wonder this top thing to do in Phi Phi islands is called Monkey Beach! 🙂 There are lots of monkeys around usually, coming out of the forest. However, be careful, they aren’t always friendly (even if you feed them) and they can certainly bite. It’s best to enjoy them from a distance, while laying on the beautiful beach of Koh Phi Phi Don.

8. The Phi Phi Islands Viewpoint

The Phi Phi Viewpoint is an absolute must when you’re visiting Koh Phi Phi Don! The hike is only about 20-30 minutes long (one-way) and it’s best to do it around 10-11 am, this is when the color of the water really pops and it’s also amazing for taking photos. Be careful if you’re visiting the viewpoint at the very hot season (i.e. above 40 C) – bring a hat and plenty of water with you.

9. Bamboo Island

Bamboo island, one of the top things to do in Phi Phi islands, is actually a national park (so you’ll have to pay a fee to step on its beaches – 400 THB). This island is the 3rd largest in the Phi Phi island archipelago and its lush forest in the middle is surrounded by a beautiful strip of beach at its outer sides. It’s only about 600/700 meters long/wide, not a large island at all, but still a very beautiful one.

If you’re an avid fan of snorkeling as I am – Bamboo island, Phi Phi is definitely a fantastic spot! Lots of corals and curious friendly fish for you to explore. (P.S. You can see both Mosquito island and Bamboo island in this photo, which was taken from Koh Phi Phi Don!)

10. Mosquito Island

Mosquito island was closed when we visited in early 2018. It is very possible that they’ll keep it closed for a while, but it’s possible that it’s for the best. The island gets its name from the huge hoards of mosquitoes that roam the island around sunset. I bet that’s not on your list of top things to do in Phi Phi islands, is it? 🙂 It’s still a very peculiar island and you can still go around it by boat, while enjoying its curious limestone cliffs. Mosquito island is very close to Bamboo island, so if you’re visiting Bamboo island – you’ll certainly pass by Mosquito island too 🙂

11. Koh Bida Nok & Nai Islands

The 5th and 6th islands from the Phi Phi archipelago are Koh Bida Nok & Koh Bida Nai. They are located at the very south and are tiny! Why are they worth visiting, then? Well, Koh Bida Nok & Nai are actually the best place for diving at the whole of Phi Phi islands! You can even spot zebra sharks and stingrays, the widest variety of marine life in the Andaman sea has gathered around these two tiny islets. If you’re in the mood for snorkeling, Koh Bida Nai is much shallower and would better suit your needs.

Where To Stay At Koh Phi Phi

Even though Koh Phi Phi Don has lots of hotels, if you want to avoid the crowds and see both sunsets and sunrises over the Andaman sea – there is only one hotel that can offer you that. Holiday Inn Phi Phi is secluded – you can only reach it by boat from the ferry pier, which means that no backpackers can reach it easily. This Phi Phi hotel is very well suited for families, which means that it is quiet and relaxing – none of the famous Thai island parties. The hotel has an absolutely mesmerizing beach and even a few swings by the water – and it was definitely one of my top things to do in Phi Phi islands.

Check out the full review of this amazing place here.

Looking to explore more of the amazing islands in Thailand? Here is a guide to Ko Lanta’s most amazing beaches!

Tips To Protect The Environment

A few simple rules to remember when visiting all of these gorgeous beaches in the Phi Phi islands:

• Do not step on the corals!
• Please, clean up after yourself. While snorkeling at Nui Beach, we found a PLASTIC BAG (yep, that’s right!) among the cute zebra fish in the water. It wasn’t even floating above, just floating inside. So please, don’t leave your trash anywhere near the water!
• Don’t leave your plastic bottles on secluded beaches. Always bring your trash with you!
• Use a marine-friendly sunscreen to protect not just yourself, but the environment too.