Things to do in Koh Phi Phi
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Koh Phi Phi
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Dry season: calm seas, best visibility, highest prices; book months ahead.
Hot and mostly dry; Songkran in mid-April.
Monsoon: rougher seas, cheaper hotels, some tours cancelled.
What's on
- Songkran 13-15 April
Thai New Year water festival, celebrated island-wide.
- Loy Krathong Full moon, usually November
Lanterns and floating krathong on the beaches.
Best things to do in Koh Phi Phi
Maya Bay
The cliff-ringed cove, best on the earliest tour before the flotilla arrives.
Pileh Lagoon
A glassy emerald lagoon inside the cliffs, swum in the morning calm.
Phi Phi Viewpoint
The three-level climb to the classic panorama over both bays.
Viking Cave
Sea cave with ancient paintings and active swiftlet-nest harvesting, seen by boat.
Monkey Beach
A macaque-troop cove by longtail or kayak; watch, do not feed.
Long Beach
The island's best swimming beach, quieter than the Tonsai bays.
Bamboo Island
A castaway ring of white sand with good snorkelling off the beach.
Loh Dalum Bay
The sunset and nightlife bay: swim by day, fire shows after dark.
Where to stay in Koh Phi Phi
Tonsai Village, the isthmus
first-timers, food and nightlife
Long Beach, east coast
beach days with village access
Laem Tong, the boat-access north
quiet and diving
Loh Ba Gao, the secluded northeast bay
self-contained resort calm
Think twice about
- Right above the Loh Dalum bar strip
Fire shows and bass until late; two streets back sleeps fine.
- Far west-coast coves with no boat service
Stranded in practice; skip hotels that cannot guarantee transfers.
- Tonsai East's half-built hillside
Some sea-view listings face construction; check recent photos.
Best restaurants in Koh Phi Phi
Garlic 1992 Restaurant
The island institution since the 1990s: Thai classics and cheap full meals.
The Mango Garden
Garden-setting Thai staples at fair prices, calmer than the main drag.
Papaya Restaurant
Indian and Thai curries under one roof, generous portions.
ACQUA Restaurant Phi Phi
The island's upscale Italian: proper pasta, seafood and wine.
Anna's Restaurant
Long-running European-Thai menu, dependable and central.
Only Noodles
Fast, cheap noodle soups and stir-fries for lunch.
Basil Bistro
Cheerful room with strong vegan and vegetarian options; arrive early.
Unni's Restaurant
Scandinavian-run since 2007: mixed menu, big salads, famous mojitos.
Outdoor things to do in Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi Leh
Two-tank dive day over coral gardens with leopard sharks and turtles.
Ton Sai Bay
Night boat tour for the bioluminescent plankton swim on dark nights.
Nui Beach
A quiet west-coast snorkel cove with coral close in, no facilities.
Ao Nang Beach
The mainland day trip by ferry: town, markets and the Railay viewpoint.
Best hotels in Koh Phi Phi
Blu Monkey Phi Phi Island
Modern central village hotel, a short walk from Ton Sai Beach.
Coco's Guest House
Simple budget rooms near Loh Dalum with a helpful tour desk.
Phi Phi Banyan Villa
Pool hotel on the quieter side of Ton Sai Bay.
Paradise Resort Phi Phi
Right on Long Beach with massage and tour desk.
P.P. Charlie Beach Resort
Beachfront boardwalk position near the pier end of Long Beach.
OUTRIGGER Phi Phi Island Resort
The rebranded Zeavola: teak villas and a strong dive centre on Laem Tong.
Phi Phi Holiday Resort
The former Holiday Inn on Laem Tong: three pools and a dive centre.
SAii Phi Phi Island Village
Bungalows and hillside pool villas on a private coconut-grove beach.
Is Koh Phi Phi expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | THB 1,800 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | THB 3,800 a person |
| Splurge | THB 9,500 a person |
| No limits | THB 25,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Maya Bay: a few days ahead
- Koh Phi Phi Leh: a few days ahead
- Ton Sai Bay: a few days ahead
- ACQUA Restaurant Phi Phi: a few days ahead
- Hotels November to March: book months ahead; the island sells out.
- Maya Bay tours: book the day before for the early-morning slot.
- Diving and the plankton night tour: book a day or two ahead in season.
- ACQUA restaurant: book ahead in season for dinner.
Is Koh Phi Phi safe?
- Petty theft and drink trouble concentrate on the Loh Dalum strip late at night.
- Keep valuables in the hotel safe and watch your drink.
- Do not swim drunk; currents between the bays are stronger than they look.
- Emergency: 191; tourist police 1155.
Koh Phi Phi travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Maya Bay at midday is a different, crowded place; take the early or late slot.
- Fire-show bucket drinks are mostly ice and mixer; watch the pour.
- There are no hotels on Koh Phi Phi Leh; mislabelled listings mean Koh Phi Phi Don.
- Jet skis are banned around the islands; operators are illegal and uninsured.
Getting around Koh Phi Phi: public transport and more
- No cars: the village is on foot, everywhere else is by longtail boat or footpath.
- Longtails are the taxis; agree the price before boarding, especially at night.
- Ferries link Tonsai Pier to Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta several times daily.
- Viewpoint and Long Beach paths are unlit; bring a torch after dark.
Who Koh Phi Phi suits
| Solo travellers | Great |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Great |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Great |
Make Koh Phi Phi your trip
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