Koh Phi Phi is commonly known as the party island in Thailand, however, it doesn’t need to be all about that. Some of the most beautiful snorkelling and diving spots are located around the coast of the Phi Phi islands as well as the world-famous Maya Beach.
In this article we share our top things to do in Koh Phi Phi and why this island doesn’t need to be all about the party.
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The Best Things to do in Koh Phi Phi
If you are trying to decide what Thai islands to visit, make sure Koh Phi Phi is on your list. The beautiful beaches paired with the exciting nightlife make it a memorable trip!
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
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Where to Stay in Koh Phi Phi
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Koh Phi Phi, so you will not be short on options. Here are our top suggestions for the best places to stay in Koh Phi Phi for any budget.
Luxury – One of the most luxurious places to stay on Koh Phi Phi is Saii Phi Phi Island Village. This resort features a private beach and an infinity pool with a pool bar. There are 4 different restaurants onsite as well as a fitness centre and a spa. All rooms and bungalows have air conditioning and a private outdoor seating area.
Book your stay at Saii Phi Phi Island Village here.
Mid-Range – Phi Phi Bayview Resort is located on a hillside of Laem Hin Beach and is a 10 minute walk from the town centre. There is a pool area with a swim-up bar and each private room and villa has air conditioning.
Book your stay at Phi Phi Bayview Resort here.
Budget – PP Midnight Hotel is within walking distance to the beach as well as being in the centre of town, close to bars and restaurants and the nightlife. All rooms are air-conditioned with free wifi.
Go on a Boat Trip in a longtail
A boat trip is one of the best ways to see the spectacular sights around the Phi Phi islands.
For a private boat trip the cost was 1800 baht for 4 hours and 400 baht per hour thereafter. We rented a private longtail boat for 1800 baht and headed out at around 7am with the aim to beat the majority of the crowds. A lot of people will have the same idea so you won’t be entirely on your own, however, you will be surrounded by fewer boats than if you left later on in the day.
There will generally be an itinerary to follow that will mean you can get out and do some snorkelling, as well as admire some of the stunning sights from the boat. However, if there is a specific sight you would like to see, you will most likely be able to tailor an itinerary to suit you.
Visit Nui Beach
Nui Beach is one of our favourite spots on Koh Phi Phi and if you visit before the boats arrive, you can have this paradise all to yourself. Nui Beach is located on Phi Phi Don and it is a lot easier to get to if you are staying in the north of the island.
From Loh Lana Bay, turn left along the beach towards the small huts, here you will see a sign directing you to climb up the hill. There is a rope that you can use to help pull yourself up as the ground can be quite slippery. Make sure you wear plenty of mosquito repellent as they will come at you in force when you get in amongst the trees here.
Continue to follow the hill down the other side and you will be greeted with the sight of the most beautiful white sandy beach with large impressive sea stacks out in sea in front.
Are you brave enough for Monkey Beach?
Monkey Beach is located on Koh Phi Phi Leh and can be visited by taking a boat trip there. You will likely see many other boat trips here as it is a popular spot to visit. The white sands and blue water is absolutely beautiful, however, this is not a beach that you would take your beach towel out and sunbathe on.
It is highly likely that you will see many monkeys here (it is called monkey beach for a reason) and due to tourists feeding them, they will come out expecting food.
We witnessed the monkeys becoming very aggressive on monkey beach, running at tourists and grabbing their legs and belongings. You didn’t even need to have food on you for the monkeys to attack you. We stood in the water and used our zoom lense to capture photos of the monkeys and since they don’t like water, they didn’t come anywhere near us.
Visit Maya Beach
The famous film ‘The Beach’ with Leonardo Di Caprio made Maya Beach so popular and unfortunately, the over-tourism of May Beach has led it to become under strict control of entry. 4000 tourists were entering Maya Bay every single day which over time was damaging the corals and scaring off the black tip reef sharks that used this bay to mate.
This has resulted in swimming not being allowed in the bay and tourists can only go up to their ankles to take a photo. If you want to go onto the beach, you will need to pay 400 baht per person and walk around the back to enter the beach as boats are not allowed into the bay.
Instead of going onto the beach, our boat sailed into the outer area of the bay where we could admire the surrounding scenery from the boat.
Take a trip to the Viking Cave
Viking Cave is a pretty impressive sight to see on the coast of Koh Phi Phi Leh. The cave is located north of Piley Bay on the east coast and boats will often slow down here to allow you to take photos of this incredible structure on the side of the cliffs.
Although tourists are not allowed inside the cave, the view from the boat is still very impressive at 10-15 metres tall!
Viking Cave was apparently named after the drawings of ancient Viking ships that were found drawn on the cave walls.
Watch a Fire Show
Watching a fire show in Thailand is an absolute must-do activity, so why not go to one when you are in Koh Phi Phi? We enjoyed a show at Slinkys bar on the beach which started at 20.30 and finished long after we had gone to bed! The show was free as long as you buy a drink to cover your seat. There is a lot of audience participation throughout the night if you are willing to get on stage and feel the heat from the fire.
If you are staying in Ton Sai, your bed won’t be far away but it is worth keeping in mind that if you are staying in the north of the island, you will need to arrange a boat taxi home and at night this will cost 1000 baht.
Watch a Muay Thai Match
In the heart of Ton Sai, there are many bars and restaurants with live music but one of the more unique bars is Reggae bar, where you can watch some Muay Thai in action.
Not only can you watch the game, you may also be encouraged to participate in some Muay Thai too!
Go Snorkelling at Pileh Lagoon
If you head out on a boat tour during your trip to the Phi Phi islands, you can stop at the Pileh lagoon and go for a swim and do some snorkelling. We were lucky enough to spot some baby sharks whilst we were snorkelling at this spot and so many fish! Watch out for the sea urchins though as there are a lot here!
Hike to the Phi Phi Viewpoints
One of the best places to admire the views over Koh Phi Phi Don is by hiking up to the viewpoints. If you are staying in the north of the island, this will take around 1 hour to get to as you will have a rather sweaty hike through the jungle to get there. However, by doing this you will also save yourself a 700 baht ferry day fare to get to Ton Sai.
There are 3 view points, coming from the north you will reach the third view point first. It costs 20 baht to enter and there are plenty of seats and cold drinks to enjoy here, whichever way you have walked, you are going to need it! Keep your belongings safe as there are a number of monkeys around here that will wait to steal your drink when you’re not looking!
Viewpoints 1 and 2 cost 30 baht to enter for both. Viewpoint 2 will most likely be the busiest when you visit as it has the best view height over the town of Ton Sai.
Scubadive in the Underwater World
Some of the best diving spots in Thailand are located in the Phi Phi islands. There are plenty of diving tours that leave the island daily and can take you out to these spots to swim with the sharks, turtles and hundreds of fish.
Before You Leave for Koh Phi Phi
Before you set off on your way to Koh Phi Phi, there are a number of things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best insurance for your trip to Thailand. All of this is discussed in detail below.
How to Get to Koh Phi Phi
When you arrive in Koh Phi Phi, you will arrive at the harbour at Ton Sai by boat. There are many different boat companies that can take you to to Koh Phi Phi is you are travelling from Krabi or one of the neighbouring islands. When you arrive onto the island, you will need to pay a 20 baht tourism charge which goes towards the management of waste.
If you are staying in Ton Sai, you will need to walk to your accommodation, however you will most likely have a representative meet you at the harbour to help you with your luggage.
If you are staying in the northern end of the island at Loh Lana Bay, you will need to cross through Ton Sai to Loh Dalum Beach and catch a longtail boat which takes around 15 minutes and will take you up north.
There are no vehicles on Koh Phi Phi except from scooters with side carriages that you will see up north.
Where to Stay in Koh Phi Phi
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Koh Phi Phi, so you will not be short on options. Here are our top suggestions for the best places to stay in Koh Phi Phi for any budget.
Luxury – One of the most luxurious places to stay on Koh Phi Phi is Saii Phi Phi Island Village. This resort features a private beach and an infinity pool with a pool bar. There are 4 different restaurants onsite as well as a fitness centre and a spa. All rooms and bungalows have air conditioning and a private outdoor seating area.
Book your stay at Saii Phi Phi Island Village here.
Mid-Range – Phi Phi Bayview Resort is located on a hillside of Laem Hin Beach and is a 10 minute walk from the town centre. There is a pool area with a swim-up bar and each private room and villa has air conditioning.
Book your stay at Phi Phi Bayview Resort here.
Budget – PP Midnight Hotel is within walking distance to the beach as well as being in the centre of town, close to bars and restaurants and the nightlife. All rooms are air-conditioned with free wifi.
What to Pack for Your Trip to Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi is blessed with tropical, scorching weather year-round. This means there are three seasons: a hot season (March-June), the wet season (July-October) and cool season (November-February). The temperature during these seasons remains above 26oC and humidity averages around 78%. Due to this, we would recommend that you pack light clothing and a light waterproof. Lucky for you, this makes packing a lot easier and your luggage a lot lighter.
Check out our Summer Packing List for Women and Summer Packing List for Men for some clothing inspiration for your trip to paradise.
When it comes to sun protection in Thailand, it is a lot more expensive to buy it when you arrive. We, therefore, recommend packing as much sunscreen as you can before you leave for Koh Phi Phi.
You definitely don’t want to forget your camera when you are travelling to Koh Phi Phi either. No matter where we go in the world, we always ensure our camera bag is fully topped up.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Koh Phi Phi
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, the best things to do in Koh Phi Phi. If you are visiting this incredible island and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience in Koh Phi Phi.
If you are planning a Thailand trip soon then check out our other Thailand content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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