Phi Phi Island is not one island but a small archipelago in Thailand’s Andaman Sea, sitting between Phuket and Krabi in Krabi Province. You stay on Phi Phi Don, the only inhabited island, and you day-trip to Phi Phi Leh, the uninhabited one that holds the famous Maya Bay. There is no airport and there are no cars — you arrive by boat and get around on foot or by long-tail.
This guide covers everything you actually need to plan a trip to Koh Phi Phi: how to get there from Phuket and Krabi, the current Maya Bay rules, the best beaches and snorkeling, and whether to come as a day trip or stay a few nights.
Table of Contents
- Where Is Phi Phi Island?
- How to Get to Phi Phi Island
- Maya Bay: The Rules You Need to Know
- The Best Things to Do on Phi Phi Island
- Phi Phi Island Day Trip vs Staying Overnight
- Best Time to Visit Phi Phi Island
- Where to Stay on Phi Phi Island
- Practical Tips for Visiting Phi Phi Island
- Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is Phi Phi Island?
Ko Phi Phi lies about 40–45 km from both Phuket and Krabi town, roughly halfway between them. The two islands you will hear about are very different:
- Phi Phi Don — the larger, inhabited island where all the hotels, restaurants, bars and ferry piers are. Its hourglass shape wraps around two back-to-back bays, Tonsai and Loh Dalum.
- Phi Phi Leh — smaller, uninhabited and protected as national park. This is where Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the Viking Cave are. You visit it on a boat tour; you cannot stay overnight.
Because Phi Phi Don has no roads or cars, everything is walkable within Tonsai Village, and longer hops are done by long-tail boat. Pack light — you may be wheeling or carrying your bag along the pier and village paths. Our packing list generator is a quick way to cover the island essentials.
How to Get to Phi Phi Island
Every route to Phi Phi is by sea, from either Phuket or Krabi. Ferries are cheaper and slower; speedboats are faster and usually part of a tour. Book ahead in high season (November–April), when boats fill up. A one-way ferry ticket runs roughly 300–600 THB; speedboats and tour transfers cost more.
From Phuket to Phi Phi Island
Passenger ferries leave from Rassada Pier in Phuket Town and take roughly 2 hours to reach Tonsai Pier, with several departures a day. Speedboats do the same trip in about 45–60 minutes but cost more and are often sold as part of a day tour. If you are flying into Phuket (HKT), allow time from the airport to the pier — the airport arrival calculator helps you work backwards from your ferry.
From Krabi to Phi Phi Island
From Krabi, ferries run from Klong Jilad Pier (and seasonally from Ao Nang and Railay) and take about 1.5–2 hours. Krabi is slightly closer, so if you are choosing a mainland base purely on the Phi Phi commute, it is marginally quicker — but Phuket has far more flights.
| Route | Ferry time | Speedboat time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket (Rassada Pier) → Phi Phi | ~2 hours | ~45–60 min | Most departures; book high season |
| Krabi (Klong Jilad) → Phi Phi | ~1.5–2 hours | ~45 min | Slightly shorter crossing |
| Ao Nang / Railay → Phi Phi | ~1.5–2 hours | ~45 min | Seasonal, weather-dependent |
Getting Around Phi Phi Island
There are no cars, motorbikes-for-hire or taxis on Phi Phi Don. You walk everywhere in and around Tonsai, and take a long-tail boat to reach beaches like Long Beach or remote resorts on Laem Tong. Agree the fare before you step in — short hops typically cost 100–500 THB depending on distance.
Maya Bay: The Rules You Need to Know
Maya Bay, on Phi Phi Leh, is the reason many people come — the sheer-cliffed cove made famous by the film The Beach. It was closed completely from 2018 to 2022 so its trampled reef could recover, and it reopened with strict rules that are still in force:
- No swimming. You can wade knee-deep at the shoreline, but swimming in the bay is banned and rangers enforce it. Boats now dock at a pier on the far side (Loh Samah Bay) and you walk in.
- 400 THB national park fee (200 THB for children), paid on entry to Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.
- Open 7am–6pm. Go on the first boats of the day — by mid-morning it is crowded, and in the May–October low season rough seas can close it at short notice, and Maya Bay usually shuts for part of the low season (around August to early October), so check the current dates before planning around it.
Almost everyone visits Maya Bay as part of a half-day or full-day boat tour from Phi Phi Don, Phuket or Krabi, combined with Pileh Lagoon and the Viking Cave nearby. Going independently by chartered long-tail is possible but rarely cheaper.
The Best Things to Do on Phi Phi Island
Beyond Maya Bay, Phi Phi packs a lot into a small area. Here are the stops worth your time.
Hike to the Phi Phi Viewpoint
The short, steep climb to Phi Phi Viewpoint (Viewpoint 1 & 2) delivers the postcard shot: the two curved bays of Tonsai and Loh Dalum meeting at the island’s narrow waist. Go at sunrise or late afternoon to beat the heat, and bring water — it is around 20–30 minutes of stairs.
Snorkel Pileh Lagoon, Bamboo Island and Shark Point
Phi Phi’s snorkeling is its quiet highlight. Pileh Lagoon is a glowing emerald cove ringed by cliffs; Bamboo Island (Ko Mai Phai), to the north, has powder sand and shallow reef; and Shark Point is the spot to see harmless blacktip reef sharks. Most island-hopping tours string these together.
Visit Monkey Beach
Monkey Beach (Yong Kasem Bay) is a short boat ride from Tonsai and lives up to its name, with a resident troop of macaques. They are wild and can be aggressive — do not feed them, and keep phones and snacks out of reach.
Relax on Long Beach (Hat Yao)
Long Beach is the island’s best stretch of sand for swimming and shore snorkeling, with a clear view across to Phi Phi Leh. It is about a 20-minute walk or a quick long-tail ride from Tonsai, and noticeably calmer than the village beaches.
Experience Tonsai Village After Dark
Tonsai Village is the island’s hub — a car-free maze of guesthouses, dive shops, street food and bars. At night the action moves to Loh Dalum Bay, where beach bars like Slinky run fire shows, and the Reggae Bar hosts amateur Muay Thai fights you can even sign up for. It is lively rather than refined; if you want quiet, base yourself away from Loh Dalum.
Dive Phi Phi’s Reef and Wreck Sites
Phi Phi is one of the Andaman coast’s best dive bases. The Bida Islands offer blacktip reef sharks, leopard sharks and soft coral, and the nearby King Cruiser Wreck is a famous dive. Shops in Tonsai run try-dives and PADI courses, with a discovery dive starting around 2,500 THB. Even if you don’t dive, the snorkeling boats reach the same reefs.
Swim with Bioluminescent Plankton
On dark, moonless nights, evening long-tail trips take you out to snorkel with bioluminescent plankton that glow bright blue when the water moves — locals call them the fireflies of the sea. It is one of Phi Phi’s most memorable and least expensive after-dark experiences.
Phi Phi Island Day Trip vs Staying Overnight
You can visit Phi Phi as a day trip from Phuket or Krabi — speedboat tours leave early, hit Maya Bay, a snorkeling stop and Monkey Beach, and return by late afternoon. It is a long, busy day and you share the sights with every other tour.
Staying two or three nights on Phi Phi Don is the better experience: you see Maya Bay before the day boats arrive, hike the viewpoint at golden hour, and get the island in the evenings once the crowds sail away. Map it out with our day-by-day itinerary builder, and sketch costs with the travel budget calculator.
Best Time to Visit Phi Phi Island
The dry season, November to April, is peak for a reason: calm seas, reliable ferries and sunshine. December to February is the busiest and priciest window. The monsoon, May to October, brings rain, rougher crossings and occasional tour cancellations — but also lower prices, greener scenery and far fewer people. If your trip hinges on Maya Bay, favour the dry months.
Where to Stay on Phi Phi Island
All accommodation is on Phi Phi Don, and the area you pick sets the tone of your trip:
- Tonsai Bay — central and convenient, steps from the pier, restaurants and dive shops. Mid-range and budget.
- Loh Dalum Bay — the party beach; great if you want nightlife on your doorstep, noisy if you don’t.
- Long Beach (Hat Yao) — quieter, scenic and good for snorkeling, a walk or boat ride from the village.
- Laem Tong — the secluded north end, home to the upscale resorts, reached by boat transfer.
Practical Tips for Visiting Phi Phi Island
- Bring cash. ATMs on Phi Phi are limited and charge high fees; card acceptance is patchy outside bigger hotels.
- Do not drink the tap water. Stick to bottled or filtered water — check the tap water safety guide for Thailand.
- Sort connectivity before you sail. A Thai eSIM keeps you online without hunting for wifi; estimate your needs with the eSIM data calculator.
- Pack the right adapter. Thailand runs on 230V with Type A, B and C sockets — confirm with the plug and voltage checker.
- Respect the national park. Reef-safe sunscreen, no touching coral, no feeding wildlife. The rules that closed Maya Bay exist to keep it open.
Most UAE residents can enter Thailand without a visa in advance — see where else you can go in our guide to visa-free countries for UAE residents. If you are island-collecting, our Bora Bora travel guide plans a very different kind of island trip the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Phi Phi Island?
Only by boat, from Phuket or Krabi. Ferries from Phuket’s Rassada Pier take about 2 hours; from Krabi about 1.5–2 hours. Speedboats are faster (around 45–60 minutes) and usually part of a tour.
Can you still swim at Maya Bay?
No. Swimming has been banned since Maya Bay reopened in 2022. You can wade knee-deep at the shore, but rangers enforce the no-swimming rule to protect the recovering reef.
How much does it cost to enter Maya Bay?
The national park fee is 400 THB for adults and 200 THB for children, paid on arrival. This is separate from the cost of your boat tour.
Is Phi Phi Island worth visiting as a day trip?
Yes, but staying overnight is better. A day trip from Phuket or Krabi is long and crowded; two or three nights on Phi Phi Don lets you see Maya Bay early and enjoy the island after the day boats leave.
What is the best time to visit Phi Phi Island?
November to April, the dry season, has the calmest seas and most reliable ferries. May to October is cheaper and quieter but brings rain, rough crossings and possible tour cancellations.
What is there to do on Phi Phi besides Maya Bay?
Hike to Phi Phi Viewpoint for the twin-bay view, snorkel Pileh Lagoon, Bamboo Island and Shark Point, visit Monkey Beach, relax on Long Beach, and enjoy Tonsai Village and the Loh Dalum beach bars at night.
Are there cars on Phi Phi Island?
No. Phi Phi Don has no roads or cars. You get around on foot within Tonsai Village and by long-tail boat to reach other beaches and resorts.
Phi Phi Don or Phi Phi Leh — what’s the difference?
Phi Phi Don is the inhabited island where you stay. Phi Phi Leh is the uninhabited national-park island you visit by boat, home to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the Viking Cave. You cannot stay overnight on Phi Phi Leh.
Is Phi Phi Island worth visiting?
Yes — if you manage expectations. Phi Phi is busy and developed, and day-trippers see it at its most crowded. Stay two or three nights, reach Maya Bay and the viewpoint early, and the beaches, snorkeling and karst scenery are genuinely worth it. If you want somewhere quieter, nearby Koh Lanta and Railay are calmer alternatives.