The Phi Phi Islands sit roughly midway between Phuket and Krabi, inside Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Koh Phi Phi Don, the only inhabited island, is two limestone massifs joined by a narrow strip of sand with a car-free village on it. Koh Phi Phi Leh, a short boat ride south, is uninhabited: sheer cliffs enclosing Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon.
Phi Phi is very beautiful and very popular. The secret to enjoying it is timing: stay on Phi Phi Don and go out by longtail at first light, or pick a day trip that leaves early.
Top things to do: Phi Phi Islands
Maya Bay — know the rules
The bay made famous by The Beach was closed from 2018 to the start of 2022 so that its coral and blacktip reef sharks could recover. It is open again with strict limits: boats land at a floating pier at Loh Sama on the far side and you walk through, visitor numbers are capped in timed slots, and swimming is not allowed — you may only wade at the water’s edge. In recent years the bay has also closed for about two months in the green season, usually August and September. Dates and rules change, so check before you book.
Pileh Lagoon
A long, emerald inlet walled by cliffs on the east side of Phi Phi Leh. Boats anchor inside so you can swim. It is far quieter before about 9 am.
Phi Phi Viewpoint
A steep 20–30 minute climb from the village to the classic view over the twin bays of Tonsai and Loh Dalum. Go for sunrise or late afternoon and take water. There is a small entry charge.
Bamboo Island and the north
Koh Mai Phai (Bamboo Island) is a flat island ringed by white sand north of Phi Phi Don. The beaches of Laem Tong and Loh Bagao in the north of Phi Phi Don are where the quieter resorts are.
How to get to Phi Phi Islands
- From Phuket: ferries from Rassada Pier take around two hours to Tonsai Pier; speedboats are quicker.
- From Krabi and Ao Nang: ferries from Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town take about 1.5–2 hours; seasonal boats also run from Ao Nang and Railay.
- From Koh Lanta: ferries and speedboats run mainly in the high season. See the routes guide.
Insider tips
- The national park fee (around 400 baht for foreign adults) is often collected in cash on the day and is not always included in tour prices.
- Viking Cave can only be viewed from the boat. Do not feed the monkeys at Monkey Beach; they bite.
- There are no cars on Phi Phi Don. Porters with handcarts meet the ferries; hotels in the north send their own boats.
Best tours & tickets for Phi Phi Islands
These well-reviewed experiences are the easiest way to see Phi Phi Islands:
Speedboat day trip from €32 Phuket: Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay Day Trip with Lunch
The classic Phuket day out and one of the most-booked boat trips on the whole coast, with more than four thousand reviews. A speedboat covers Phi Phi Leh’s famous bays, a snorkel stop and a beach break in a single day, at a price that is hard to beat.
- Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave
- Snorkelling stop and Khai Island
- Hotel transfers and lunch included
Speedboat day trip from €70 From Krabi: Phi Phi Early Bird & 4 Islands by Speedboat
An early departure is the single best way to improve a Phi Phi day, and this one has the reviews to prove it: 4.9 from around three and a half thousand travellers. It combines Phi Phi Leh with island stops on the way back to Krabi.
- Early start to reach Maya Bay ahead of the main rush
- Pileh Lagoon swim and snorkelling
- Thai buffet lunch
Private longtail from €44 Koh Phi Phi: Maya Bay Private Longtail Boat Tour & Snorkel
If you are staying on Phi Phi Don, a private longtail is the way to see Phi Phi Leh: you can leave at first light and be at Maya Bay long before the day-trip boats from Phuket and Krabi.
- Your own boat from Tonsai
- Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Bay and Viking Cave
- Choose your own start time
Premium speedboat trip from €103 Phuket: Phi Phi Sunrise Boat Tour to Bamboo and Khai Island
The premium take on the Phi Phi day trip: leave before dawn, arrive ahead of the crowds and keep group sizes sensible. Rated 4.9 by more than 1,700 travellers.
- Very early start for a quieter Maya Bay
- Bamboo Island and Khai Nai
- Buffet lunch, guide and hotel transfers
