Phi Phi Island Travel Info
Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh

Phi Phi Islands

One of the most gorgeous tropical destinations, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley, form part of the Hat Noppharat Thara - Koh Phi Phi National Park.

Located south west of Krabi, these breathtakingly beautiful islands are recovering following the Tsunami which swept through in December 2004 and should be ready to welcome visitors in the near future.

Phi Phi Don

Phi Phi Don, the larger of the two islands, offers a backdrop of sheer limestone cliffs and a stage of sandy beaches dotted all around the island. Around the coast and just offshore, are lovely coral gardens and deeper reefs, perfect for diving and snorkeling.

Unlike many of the other islands, there are no cars on Phi Phi! Don. "Roads" are simply small tracks that criss-cross the island, so to get around you simply take a local longtail boat, or kick off your shoes and walk!

Phi Phi Leh

Unlike its larger sister, Phi Phi Ley is uninhabited and entirely composed of steep limestone cliffs, caves and small rocky coves.

There are several beautiful bays ideal for shallow snorkeling, and on the northeast side, the famous Viking Cave, contains prehistoric paintings. The island is also a popular site for nesting swifts, and local people come there daily to collect the nests used to make Bird's Nest Soup, a Chinese gourmet delicacy. Day trips are available from Phuket that go to both islands and offer snorkeling at Phi Phi Lei. If you are already on Phi Phi Don, it's possible to hire a local boat or join a tour to visit Phi Phi Lei

Neighboring Islands

Koh Yung - (Mosquito Island) North of Phi Phi Don has some well preserved offshore coral gardens. Good for snorkelling. The island gets it's name from the black clouds of mosquitoes at sunset.

Koh Phai Nok - (Bamboo Island) - A tiny island 700 metres surrounded by coral reef. Next to Koh Yoong. Small beaches on the north and east side and coral gardens off the south end.

Koh Bida Nai and Koh Bida Nok. Small islands visited mainly by divers for their underwater scenery. Ko Pida Nok is very good for both advanced and beginners with both shallow and deep dive sites.

How to get there

See schedules/prices and book a transfer to Phi Phi Island

From Phuket
Tour agencies can arrange transport including transfer from your accommodation to the jetty, and the boat to Phi Phi. If you simply want to get there and back for an overnight stay, expect to pay around 400 Baht return. Tickets can be used for any return trip and are not tied to a specific date, so you can be flexible with your plans. Normally it is not necessary to book in advance, although during holidays, especially Christmas and January, it is advisable to be at the pier 20 minutes before departure.

Day tours cost between 500-1,200 Baht, depending on the boat, the time taken to get there, the quality and quantity of the lunch, and the options available e.g.., snorkelling side trips, or glass bottomed boat.

From Krabi Province
Boats depart from Krabi town and Ao Nang beach around 4 times daily (subject to change) The journey takes about 90 minutes depending on weather conditions. During the low season (May - October) departures may be delayed.

From International Destinations
The last boat from Phuket to Phi Phi leaves at 13.30 so you must allow time to get a taxi from the airport to the boat dock. Tickets should be booked in advance through travel agencies as it is not always possible to buy tickets on arrival. Allow around 1 hour from the airport to the ferry. As connections can be subject to delay it is advisable to stay overnight in Phuket before continuing your journey to Phi Phi.

Day Trips from Phuket
If you're staying in Phuket but would like to visit Phi Phi Island for the day, there are a number of tours available. Prices vary between 500-1,200 Baht including lunch and depend on the type of boat, quality of lunch, and options offered e.g., snorkeling and glass bottomed boat. Tours normally start in the early morning around 7.00 am and usually return by about 6.00pm.

Where to Stay

Phi Phi counts numerous hotels: from budget guesthouses to 4 stars resort, please check out which accommodation suits you best: Phi Phi Hotels & Resorts

Thai Holidays & Festivals

Many Thais travel during festivals and holidays, so boats can be crowded and flights, especially from Bangkok, fully booked. Below are some of the more important festival dates to check with before making your travel plans.

• January - New Year - Busy until around 6th January when it calms down!

• February - Chinese New Year - varies with the calendar - around the 2nd full moon. Ferries are busy.

• April 13/14/15 - Songkran Festival or Thai New Year. This is the water festival when many Thais return to their home. Don't expect to travel easily around this time as buses, flights and ferries are very busy. This is a major holiday in Thailand.

• November Loy Kratong around the 12th. A beautiful festival where floating kratongs (literally "leaf cup" with lighted candles are placed on water to take away bad luck. Not too many people travelling at this time of year.

• December - Christmas - High season. Expect full flights, buses and busy boats.

Weather

Phi Phi weather follows the same basic weather pattern as Phuket.

• October - March - Generally good weather, low rainfall and average temperatures 30-32C(90F)
• April - May - Very hot and humid. Temperatures reaching 38C(95F+)
• June - September - Variable. Temperatures average 30C (90F) About an 80% chance of rain in June and September, but remember, it doesn't rain all the time! Also the rain is warm and there are some excellent value hotel rooms in this season.