Koh Phi Phi Island is a stunning spot in Thailand, with its limestone hills, turquoise lagoons, and Maya Bay, the most famous beach on earth.
Both islands have stunning scenery. Leh Island is uninhabited, while Don Island has hotels, restaurants, and more.
You can visit the Phi Phi Islands in a single day (by boat) from Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Lanta. This will give you time to explore Maya Bay and its main attractions. Or, you can spend a few extra days on Phi Phi Don to explore more.
Phi Phi Island Thailand Day Tours
GetYourGuide offers pre-arranged day trips for Phi Phi Island from Phuket, Krabi, or Khao Lak. These trips include hotel transfers, boat tickets, island tours, and lunch.
There are also private tours and semi-private tours available. There are private and semi-private tour options if you prefer personal time instead of group one. Prices will be higher unless you have friends with you.
What is Phi Phi Island all about?
The Phi Phi Islands (pronounced “Pee-Pee”) are located in Thailand’s Andaman Sea, approximately 40 kilometers (25 mi) southeast of Phuket and roughly the same distance away from Krabi.
The two main islands are Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don. They’re all part of Thailand’s Krabi province.
Only Phi Phi Don is inhabited. It has everything you need for a quick stay, including hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
How to Get to Phi Phi Island
You can only reach the Phi Phi Islands by boat, either with a ferry from Phuket or Krabi or a fast boat.
The nearest airports are Phuket (HKT) and Krabi (KBV). These two airports have low-cost flights from Bangkok. Skyscanner allows you to search for Thailand flights.
You can find several companies that offer daily trips to Phi Phi from Phuket or Krabi. These usually include pickup and drop-off at the hotel. The day trip can be from Koh Lanta or even as far as Khao Lak, Thailand.
The speedboat (speed ferry) is half the time of the slow boat from Phuket to Phi Phi Don. The boat journey to Phi Phi is about 30 minutes faster if you start from Krabi rather than Phuket.
Remember that these are only transfers to Phi Phi Don, the main island. If you wish to tour Phi Phi Leh or the other islands, you must book a longtail trip once you arrive. This can be done on the spot at Ton Sai Beach in Phi Phi Don.
You can also book a speedboat tour to Phi Phi with a tour operator based in Phuket or Krabi. Shared or private times are available, and all the major sights can be seen for a full day. This is a good option if you are on a strict schedule or want to avoid the hassle.
Phi Phi Island Tourist Fees
You will be charged two tourist fees when you arrive at the Phi Phi Islands.
On Phi Phi Don, a 20-baht cash fee per person is collected when you land in the harbor. This fee is collected from all visitors and helps pay for daily rubbish removal from the islands. This is a one-time fee (not a day fee).
In the national parks, a fee of 200 Baht (USD 6) per person is charged when you debark from Maya Bay (Koh Phai) or Bamboo Island. The price is set each day you visit one of the two locations.
These fees may be included in some Phi Phi tour packages, but you will usually have to pay separately when you leave the boat.
Transport Around the Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands do not have motorbike or car rentals. They are also optional if you stay on Phi Phi Don Island, as the town is small and can be easily walked around. You can rent bicycles.
This can be booked online or in person at the Tonsai harbor after you arrive on Phi Phi Don. You can book online or charter the boat in person after arriving on Phi Phi Don.
Longtails are smaller but can accommodate up to eight passengers. You can therefore share the boat with other travelers or friends to save money.
Kayaking is another option at Ko Phi Phi Don. Kayaking is cheaper than renting a boat, allowing you to access more hidden beaches like Nui Bay or Monkey Beach.
What to do in Phi Phi Island, Thailand?
* Maya Bay
The white sand at Maya Bay was responsible for the Koh Phi Phi Islands attracting tourism. It’s one of the world’s most famous beaches!
Tall limestone cliffs surround the whole beach. The water is turquoise, with sharks and baby fish swimming in it. The sand on the beach is as white as snow. It all looks so perfect. This is paradise, for sure!
Pileh Lagoon
The best thing to do on Phi Phi Island in Thailand is to visit this turquoise lagoon, surrounded by massive rock walls.
Only boats can access the lagoon. The lagoon is a popular stop on most Koh Phi Phi tour packages. Smaller ships can circle the lagoon, giving you a close-up view of the limestone karsts.
Phi Phi Viewpoint
This short hike offers a panoramic view of Phi Phi Don and the island. Phi Phi Leh can be seen in the distance.
The hill has three viewpoints, but the two you want to go for are the higher ones. They offer the island’s best view and are not blocked by trees.
Bamboo Island (Koh Phai),
The island is flat and located to the northeast of Phi Phi Don. It has a sandy beach that covers most of it.
Many Phi Phi Island Tours include this spot in their itinerary. However, it is always open, and you can walk around to the side of it for a while; you might have the place all to yourself.