The most well-known island in Thailand, Koh Phi Phi, is the one shown on postcards and must be included on your itinerary. This page will cover every aspect of the island, including practical advice on tours, diving, the best beaches, nightlife, general costs, where to stay, how to get there, and when. There’s even a ready-to-use screenplay!
All of the tours are doable for individuals who are traveling alone. However, joining a group or taking a private trip is simple if you’re traveling in a pair or with friends. Additionally, if you’d like, the party can be accompanied by a Portuguese-speaking guide.
What to do in Koh Phi Phi
If you’re looking for a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Koh Phi Phi should definitely be on your list. This tropical island is home to beautiful beaches, lush rainforests, and incredible snorkeling. There’s plenty to do on Phi Phi, but here are our favorites:
Boat Tours
You must take a boat to explore other islands and beaches. Pileh Lagoon, Bamboo Island, Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay, Nui Bai, and Long Beach are frequently visited by boat cruises. Pay attention, as the cost of the trip you choose might not include the 400 baht entrance fee.
It’s also crucial to be aware that Maya Bay is still closed and has no opening date; nevertheless, it is still possible to view it from a boat, simply not to disembark. How you go about taking the boat tours on Koh Phi Phi differs. Advance reservations are advised from November to March, when demand is at its peak.
-Gold Day Tour
With a maximum of 25 persons, the speed boat ride is shared by those who want to see everything the island has to offer. Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, Shark Point, Loh Moodee Beach, Wang Long Cave, Nui Bay, snorkeling, Loh Samah Bay, Bamboo Island, Sunset, and swimming with plankton are among the places the speedboat passes by. The pricing already includes the Bamboo Island environmental fee. A guide accompanies the group. Lunch is provided, along with fruit, water, and soda. On the boat, there is styrofoam with ice if you want to bring your own beverage. There is a vest available for folks who can’t swim so they may still enjoy the sea.
- Price: 1600 baht with the environmental tax included in the price.
- Tour duration: from 11 am to 7:30 pm.
-Pirate Ship
The Pirate Boat is a sizable vessel with two levels, a shower, and the island’s only themed vessel. Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay, Bamboo Island, and Sunset mark the tour’s conclusion. It consists of snorkeling gear, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks. Water, fruit, tea, coffee, and a special meal are all provided on the Koh Phi Phi Pirate Boat and are all included in the tour cost. All pictures are also free.
- Value: 1200 baht
- Tour duration: from 12:00 to 19:00
-Boat (Speed Boat)
Traditional Koh Phi Phi boat trips cannot access some locations, but the speed boat tour does. Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, Shark Point, Loh Moodee Beach, Wang Long Cave, Nui Bay, snorkelling, Loh Samah Bay, Bamboo Island, and Sunset are among the places the speedboat goes through. The pricing already includes the Bamboo Island environmental fee. A Portuguese-speaking tour guide and a photography service are available.
- Speed boat price for the whole group: 10,000 baht for up to two guests, 11,000 baht for up to four, 12,000 baht for up to six, 13,000 baht for up to eight, and above that, just ask for a price.
- Price of the guide in Portuguese: 1000 baht.
- Price of the photography service: to be consulted.
- Shared speedboat price: 1500 baht
- Tour duration: 6 hours
-Long Tail Boat
Thailand’s postage stamp boats are long-tail boats. It is worthwhile to take the private tour, which can accommodate up to 4 persons, with the dependable boatman recommended by Phi Phi Brazuca. The boatman helps you plan your trip; just let him know if you need assistance while scheduling. The values change depending on the length of the tour and the preferred route. A Portuguese-speaking tour guide, photography services, or going it alone are all options.
- Price: 4 or 6 persons can bathe in a 2300 bath for 4 hours or a 3500 bath for 6 hours. The worth of more people rises.
Diving
Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines make up the coral triangle, which includes Koh Phi Phi. To give you an idea, this area is home to 70% of the world’s corals. The nice part is that diving on Koh Phi Phi does not require a diving certification. There is a baptismal option where you are led into the water by a qualified diver, and Phi Phi Brazuca does it in Portuguese!
-Baptism: Discovery Scuba Diving
For individuals who have never dived, this is the best choice. There are two dives that can reach depths of 12 meters, and the instructor is there to help you with everything. You must visit the school the day before for a brief training session on what will happen on the dive day. You get to decide whether you want to go scuba diving in the morning or the afternoon.
During the dive, you will see dozens of schools of various fish swimming together, turtles, barracudas, sharks, and a variety of other marine creatures. The official program is PADI. All necessary equipment, food, drink, fruit, and accident insurance are all included in the price. The option of photography service is available.
- Hours: departure at 7 am and return at 12 pm; or departure at 1 pm and return at 6 pm
- Price: 3,400 baht per person + 400 baht fee for National Marine Park, the largest marine park in Thailand. The baptism value is standard on the island.
-Snorkeling Tour
There are four different kinds of snorkeling trip. The snorkeling is near Maya Bay, with vibrant corals and nemos on the Phi Phi Ley Tour. Blacktip reef shark snorkeling is available at Shark Watch. The tour comes to a close at Wong Long Sunset, as the sun sets over the water. Additionally, the Plankton Tour includes snorkeling during the day, a sunset at sea, and nighttime plankton snorkeling. Every tour has a set departure time.
- Price: 1,100 baht, for a minimum of 3 people and a maximum of 7 people.
-Diving For Accredited
The largest marine park in Thailand, Marine National Park, allows certified divers to go diving there. The dive is up to 30 meters deep, and the cost includes all necessary gear, food, water, fruit, and accident insurance. You get to decide whether you want to go scuba diving in the morning or the afternoon.
- Hours: departure at 7 am and return at 12 pm; or departure at 1 pm and return at 6 pm
- Price: 2,500 Baht each person plus a 400 Baht Park National da Marinha fee. You receive a discount on the package if you complete 6 dives. There is a discount if you bring your own equipment as well.
Trails In Koh Phi Phi
If you enjoy hiking, Koh Phi Phi won’t let you down. There are numerous choices, all of varying degrees of difficulty.
-Long Beach
One of the island’s most stunning beaches is Long Beach. A well-marked 40-minute route is doable, but it can be challenging for individuals who aren’t used to it. The benefit is that you can enjoy the route while passing past empty beaches, some of which have swung by the water, like Love Beach. There is a taxi boat available for 100 baht, though, if you’re not in the mood.
-View Point
The View Point offers the best vantage point from which to view the island. Three different trails are available, each of which is marked and has a similar degree of difficulty. Although nothing is impossible, it takes around 30 minutes to catch your breath going up and down the steep stairs and trail. There is a 30 baht fee that must be paid. People typically travel to view the sunset in the late afternoon, around 17:00. However, it’s best to go early in the morning if you want to view the blue sea.
Fun
On Koh Phi Phi, every night can be special, and there are plenty of possibilities to include in your itinerary.
-Pool Party
The best pool parties on Koh Phi Phi can be found at the PP Princess and the Ibiza Pool Party hotels, both of which are open to non-guests for free. There is also a happy hour in Ibiza from 1 to 2 pm for people who want to relax by the pool rather than party. However, be sure to check it out because the Ibiza Pool Party only hosts parties on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. And on Fridays at PP Princess.
-Reggae Bar (Muay Thai Fight)
The Reggae Bar is a place to have fun and laugh all night long, not only a location to watch classic Muay Thai fights. It is important to be consuming, even if it is just water, in order to be at the bar. At ten o’clock in the evening, professional fighters and random bystanders enter the arena and challenge a spectator to a duel. Fight, male or female! A free drink bucket is given to the winner.
-Pyrotechnics Shows
The daily fireworks displays begin at 9 o’clock on the beach, along with the well-known string. You get a free drink shot if you jump. It’s worth changing bars because the music is varied and most don’t charge to enter if you want to dance and have fun.
Koh Phi Phi Itinerary: 3 Days
DAY 1: Plan to arrive at Koh Phi Phi early in the morning and leave your belongings at the hotel. Take the Pirate Boat Tour in the afternoon, which travels by Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay, Bamboo Island, and sunset. Visit the Reggae Bar at night, but be careful not to overdo it so you can go diving the next day.
DAY 2: Do the baptism dive in the morning, and in the afternoon travel to Long Beach to enjoy the sun. On your way home, stop at Perspective Point to watch the sunset while also getting a bird’s-eye view of the entire island. All you have to do at night is decide which bars you want to visit.
DAY 3: Take a private long tail to more leisurely tour your favorite locations, which are probably Bamboo Island and Pileh Lagoon. Additionally, today is ideal for taking expert images. If your ferry departs the next day, take advantage of a pool party on the way back.
Phi Phi Islands: Practical Tips
If you’re looking to travel to one of the most beautiful and exotic islands in the world, look no further than Phi Phi Islands. Here, you’ll find lush rainforest, crystal-clear waters, and spectacular white-sand beaches. While the island is certainly packed with activities that you can enjoy, it’s also important to know what to do and how to do it safely. In this article, we’ll provide you with some practical tips that will make your trip more enjoyable andsafe. Following the advice will make planning an itinerary on Koh Phi Phi Island simple.
How Long To Stay In Koh Phi Phi
Three days minimum is ideal. Less is too hurried, and you risk “missing” the highlights of the island.
Best Time To Travel To Koh Phi Phi
Thailand has two seasons: a dry season and a wet season. From November to April is the high season, often known as the dry season. However, unlike in nations like Vietnam or southern China, the monsoon season does not restrict travel. At some time during the day, it may briefly rain sporadically (often in the early morning or late afternoon), and then the sun will rise again. Koh Phi Phi is fortunate in that it has constant year-round temperatures between 26 and 32 degrees Celsius.
How To Get To Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi can only be reached from Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang, or Railay by ferry or speedboat. Additionally, it is connected to Koh Lipe and Koh Lanta. The ferry offers more schedules, is slower, and is significantly less expensive.
SCHEDULE:
There are three ferry itineraries from Krabi and Phuket: morning, midday, and afternoon. To enjoy both days while still on the island, it is preferable to take the first one in the morning when you arrive in Koh Phi Phi and the last one in the afternoon when you go. At the Tonsai pier in the island’s middle, ferries dock.
TIMINGS:
- From Phuket: Rassada Pier in Phuket is just one hour’s drive from the airport. On Koh Phi Phi, the ferry ride from Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier takes two hours.
- From Rassada Pier to Tonsai Pier: 08:30, 10:30, 12:20, 13:30 and 17:00
- From Tonsai Pier to Rassada Pier: 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:30 and 16:30
- From Krabi: From Krabi’s Klong Jirad Pier, a 45-minute drive will get you to the airport. On Koh Phi Phi, the ferry ride from Klong Jirad Pier to Tonsai Pier takes two hours.
- From Klong Jilad Pier to TonSai Pier: 09:00, 10:30, 13:30 and 16:00
- From Tonsai Pier to Klong Jilad Pier: 09:00, 10:30, 11:15, 13:30 and 15:30
Koh Phi Phi Distances From other Cities
- Bangkok: 1h flight to Krabi + 2h ferry
- Chiang Mai: 2h flight to Krabi + 2h ferry
- Krabi: 2h by ferry
- Railay: 2h by ferry
- Phuket: 2h by ferry
- Koh Samui: 50 min flight from Krabi + 2h ferry
- Koh Lipe: 4h speed boat
How To Include Phi Phi Islands In The Thailand Route
Thailand can be enjoyed for at least 15 days. You won’t be able to experience the best that the nation has to offer until then. The recommended itinerary for these 15 days is to begin in Bangkok, go north to Chiang Mai, and then immediately south to Krabi. You can spend time in Railay and Koh Phi Phi simultaneously in Krabi.
The reason for saving the islands is that everything is new in the cities, necessitating a larger mental effort. When you get to the islands, everything is enjoyable and has a laid-back beach vibe.
Beaches Of The Phi Phi Islands
- Maya Bay: is the beach immortalized by Leonardo DiCaprio in cinemas.
- Bamboo Island: is a huge strip of deserted sand with crystal clear water.
- Long Beach: beach with hammocks, massage and bars by the sea.
- Monkey Beach: Monkey Beach: Avoid touching them, making rapid movements if they climb on you, and taking items that they could easily steal, including hats and glasses.
- Pileh Lagoon: one of the most beautiful places on Koh Phi Phi.
- Tonsai: the beach of the pier and the center of the island.
- Loh Dalum Bay: parties at night and in the center of the island
A curiosity is that some trees on the island have a ribbon, and others even an altar, in celebration of the lives they helped save from the tsunami that devastated the island in 2004.
How Much Money To Bring To Koh Phi Phi
Your choice of vacation will have a big impact on the cost. Your choice of lodging, cuisine, number of tours, and beverage buckets will all affect the price. To give you an idea, a basic dinner would often run you 100 baht, and a pricey one will cost you 300 baht. Include the cost of this with the cost of your lodging (options below), the cost of the tours you plan to do, and allow time for a drink or two.
- Cosmic: the Hachis Parmentier dish looks like a mincemeat hide.
- La Mamita: Pasta and Hachis Parmentier
- Acqua: more westernized foods.
Where To Stay In Koh Phi Phi
Due to easy access to restaurants, nightlife, stores, agencies, and other amenities, the ideal area to stay on Koh Phi Phi is adjacent to the Tonsai pier (Ao Ton Sai & Ao Lo Dalum) in the middle close to the beach (both sides). Some locations can only be reached by taxi boat, and the fare increases significantly at night. So consider your options carefully before staying somewhere more remote!
What To Bring In Your Bag
You will spend most of your time in a bathing suit on Koh Phi Phi because it is an island (bikini, swimming trunks, etc.); make sure to pack a bikini! Take your Havaianas as well—they are worth gold in Thailand!
Sunscreen and insect repellent, two necessities, are readily available on the island. However, the cost is a little greater here than, say, in Bangkok. Additionally, it’s simple to find shampoo, sarongs, outfits, men’s tank tops (beer! ), and other necessities for the beach. Traveling light and guilt-free is now possible.
How many days are enough for Phi Phi Island?
Phi Phi Island is a popular tourist destination in Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush jungle landscapes. The island can be visited on a day trip from Phuket or Krabi, but many people choose to stay for at least a few days to fully experience all that it has to offer.
If you’re looking to simply relax on the beach and soak up the sun, then one or two days may be sufficient. However, if you’re interested in exploring more of the island, such as by hiking to viewpoints or snorkelling in the surrounding waters, then a minimum of three to four days would be recommended. This would allow you to take your time and enjoy the island’s many attractions at a leisurely pace.
Ultimately, the amount of time you should spend on Phi Phi Island depends on your interests and priorities. If you’re short on time, a day trip can give you a taste of the island’s beauty. But if you’re able to spare more time, you can really immerse yourself in the island’s culture and enjoy all that it has to offer.
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