Phi Phi Island is one of the most attractive islands in Southeast Asia. It offers beautiful beaches, breathtaking views, but also great nightlife. You can visit it as part of a day trip from Phuket or Krabi, or you can spend a few nights here. Is it worth it? Here are 10 things you shouldn’t miss.
Visit the famous Maya Bay beach
One of the most popular activities on Phi Phi is definitely day boat trips to the surrounding islands and beaches. The beach you definitely mustn’t miss is Maya Bay. It is the most visited place in Thailand, where the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed. Read more about this beach here.
Swimming in Pileh Lagoon
Right next to the famous Maya Bay is the Pileh Lagoon. If you are booking a group boat trip, you will not want to miss this stop. It is the most beautiful and famous lagoon in the area, which is a great place for swimming. The water is clear turquoise and the rocks around it give it a great vibe. It is definitely the most beautiful lagoon we had the opportunity to see in the whole Thailand.
Bamboo Island
From Phi Phi Island, a 40-minute boat ride will take you to another paradise called Bamboo Island. The island with its white sand and bamboo trees offers tourists great conditions for snorkelling. In addition to the beautiful beach, there’s also a bar and restaurant, so you can spend the whole day on the island.
Monkey Bay
You’ll need a boat or kayak to get to this beach. It is a tiny beach in close proximity to Phi Phi, which is characterized by the abundance of monkeys. Although monkeys may seem like friendly creatures at first glance, you have to be very careful!
During our visit, a monkey attacked a little boy while he was taking pictures of it. We don’t recommend feeding them, and by all means don’t look them directly in the eye as they may attack you.
Kayaking
If you decide to spend a few nights on Phi Phi Island, we definitely recommend renting a kayak. By kayak you can explore the surrounding beaches, which you can’t get to except by water. Popular places include Monkey Bay, Monkey Beach, Nui Bay, and Long Beach. You can rent a kayak from 5€ per hour.
Long Beach
The most beautiful beach on Phi Phi is definitely Long Beach. Unless you don’t mind a little jungle walk, you’ll be there in 30 minutes.
The other option is a water taxi, which you can catch in the city centre and will cost you about 2.5€ per person. There are several restaurants, bars and shops on the beach.
Viewpoints
Another very popular place are the viewpoints from which it is possible to observe the whole island. The most famous are viewpoint 1 and viewpoint 2, which are only a few metres apart. The route to the viewpoints starts in Tonsai village and will take you about 30 minutes.
However, you need to be prepared for a large number of steps. We recommend visiting the viewpoints early in the morning or at sunset, as it tends to get too hot during the day. Entrance to the sightseeing is 0,5€ per person.
Food market
There is also a local market on Phi Phi Island, where you can buy everything. From fresh fruits and vegetables, smoothies, sweets to pad thai and other local specialties on a skewer.
There are also several local restaurants on the market, where you’ll be tempted by the locals. We spent 3 days on the island and we have to say that these are the restaurants where we enjoyed the food the most. For the main meal you will pay about 3€ per person.
Thai box
Have you ever been to a Thai box? If so, you’ll agree with us that the atmosphere there is always amazing! If not, now is the time.
On Phi Phi Island there is a place called Reggae Bar, where Thai boxing matches are held every day from 21:00. Admission is free, but the only requirement is the purchase of a drink. In addition to professional fighters, you will also see a duel between tourists. It has its own charm.
Party on the beach
Even though we initially thought that Phi Phi was a small and quiet island suitable for families with children, we were convinced otherwise. At night it becomes a party place.
If you’re a nightclub lover, we definitely recommend a visit to Loh Dalum beach, where there are plenty of beach clubs to keep you entertained. There will be happy hours, fire shows and good music.
As you can see, Phi Phi Island offers tourists many ways to spend the day. We spent 3 days on the island and we were far from bored.
Despite the fact that many people choose the option of a day trip from nearby Phuket or Krabi, we are more in favour of the second option. 2 or 3 nights seem like the ideal time to spend on this exotic island.
