Phi Phi is part of the Krabi province and is located on the territory of a national park . This preserves the local nature, which attracts tourists. People come here for a carefree beach holiday, water activities, parties on the beach. Of the six islands, one is inhabited. All the infrastructure is there - cafes, bars, restaurants, centers for equipment for entertainment. The best hotels in Phi Phi receive positive reviews from guests, you can be sure of a comfortable stay.
✔️ A bit of chronology and facts
Archaeological finds indicate that people have lived here since prehistoric times. Today, the population consists of Buddhists, Thai Chinese, Muslims and sea gypsies. The mixture of these cultures creates a unique mix, and traditional folk festivals and celebrations are often held.
The main and only inhabited island is Phi Phi Don. Its area is almost 10 km². The tourist boom began after the release of the famous film "The Beach" in 2000. It was filmed on Phi Phi Le, in particular in Maya Bay , which attracted the most travelers. In 2018, it was closed for restoration, as the large influx of people damaged the local ecosystem. In 2022, it was reopened for visiting, but with restrictions so as not to cause a new ecological disaster.
✔️ Entertainment Features
Here you can have a real reboot and rest from the concrete jungle. Phi Phi Don is quite a lively place, but it has a relaxed atmosphere. You will find luxurious beaches , picturesque bays, walks along the coast or a hike in the tropical forest, evening dances on the beach. Local residents hold a variety of shows that help you to feel the local spirit of peace, get acquainted with the traditions and culture of the islanders.
Guests are also offered to go on boat trips and engage in water sports. Diving and snorkeling are popular in the region. The underwater world pleases with fascinating landscapes and diverse inhabitants. This is a popular destination, one of the most famous in Thailand, so the prices for a holiday on Phi Phi are appropriate. But if desired, you can find an inexpensive accommodation option.
✔️ Possible transfer options
This group of islands is located approximately 40 km from Phuket, where there is an important international airport. From there you can get to the resort by ferry, speedboat, seaplane. The transfer depends on your preferences and possibilities. You can agree on the move with the host company or hotel, if it has such a service in its assortment.
✔️ Weather conditions
The islands are influenced by tropical monsoons, creating two seasons: rainy - from May to December, dry - from January to April. It is better to find and select a tour online to Phi Phi in the second period to enjoy a beach holiday. Here everything depends on precipitation, because the temperature is always approximately at the same comfortable level.
✔️ What to bring back from your trip
You won't find much shopping in the region. On Phi Phi Don there are markets selling fruit and vegetables, clothing stores, and souvenir shops. If you are interested in more significant purchases, go to Phuket. People go there even just for the sake of goods. There you will find a variety of bazaars, shopping centers, and shops. They sell ceramic and tin dishes, home decor, branded clothing, gastronomy, jewelry, Thai cosmetics, fruits, silk and batik products , local alcohol and tea, medicines based on natural ingredients, products made of wood, stone, ceramics, hammocks, and paintings by local artists.
✔️ Search and selection of tours online to Phi Phi, reasons to buy a tour or a trip
The islands cannot boast of important architectural landmarks, but people do not come here for them. The main type of leisure here is relaxing on the beach and in nature.
▶️ Beach holidays
First of all, Phi Phi is associated with Maya Bay and its beach. There is no infrastructure there, only a cozy sandy shore, emerald sea, cliffs covered with greenery, and tropics approaching the shore. After restoration, a special platform for entering the water and a place for disembarking from boats appeared here. This was done to protect the underwater world. It is necessary to take into account the restrictions on visiting this place, because if the possible number of visitors is exceeded, you will not be able to get there. Most of the beaches are located on Phi Phi Don:
◼️ Tonsai - a 1200 m section, divided into a technical area, where boats are moored, and a recreation area. The latter has about 300 m on the right side and a small location on the left. This is not the best place for swimming: it is quite shallow, the landscape is not the best, you will not see wild species. Behind the cape is a rather beautiful part of the coast. There is a lot of tourist infrastructure here: cafes, hotels, bars, a pier, etc.
◼️ Lo Dalam , also located on the isthmus of the island. This is a small beach, you can swim here only at high tide. This is a picturesque place with a lively atmosphere - it is constantly noisy, fun, there are many parties. The entry into the water is smooth.
◼️ Lo Ba Kao , Lo Lana Beach , Nui Beach are three beaches located nearby. This is one of the most remote places on the island. But you will be rewarded with the beauty of this location. All three areas are located on the same plain. The shore is covered with sand, the entry into the water is smooth. It is inconvenient to swim at low tide. All the necessary infrastructure is nearby.
◼️ Lo Mo Di is a wild section of the coast. It is not so easy to get here, but it is worth it - a picturesque bay, soft coral sand, slender palm trees near the shore. This place is not very popular among tourists, so an atmosphere of privacy awaits you here. The entry into the water is smooth, at high tide it is even more difficult to reach the depths, but for children it is a real paradise. There is infrastructure, but it is not rich. This is a place for a quiet beach relaxation.
◼️ Long Beach is a purely tourist place where you can swim all the time, the bottom is sandy, comfortable, the entrance to the water is sharp. This beach cannot please with amazing views, this is a standard place, but for a simple seal rest it is perfect.
◼️ Ao Hin Khom , a small section of the coast belonging to the hotel. This place is quite beautiful. The beach is hidden in the thicket of tropics and rocks, the surface is sandy, the entrance is gentle, further from the shore there are stones and large boulders.
On the main and other islands there are still many locations for swimming. It is for their beautiful landscapes and rest in these picturesque locations that it is worth buying a tour to Phi Phi.
▶️ Ancient landmarks
There are no ancient temples or palaces here. But it is worth visiting the Viking Cave. It is located on the island of Phi Phi Ley. On its walls are ancient rock paintings. They depict elephants, Scandinavian ships, boats. There is also a legend that pirates used to hide here. The cave is one of the main attractions of the region. In addition to its tourist significance, it also has agricultural value - sea swallows build nests in the rocks, which are an ingredient in the famous soup. Local residents collect them for export.
▶️ Nature
Another reason to buy a tour to Phi Phi is the luxurious nature. The main one in this matter is the island of Phi Phi Ley. Its area is about 6 km of untouched tropics. The most popular places on the island have already been named above - Maya Bay and Viking Cave. In addition, there are other picturesque bays, you can walk through the forest, watch animals, enjoy the taste of juicy fruits and feel like you are in a real paradise.
You can enjoy beautiful views from the observation decks. They are equipped on Phi Phi Don. Also, near some hotels there are their own elevations. So you can see the panorama of this and other islands of the group.
Another island worth visiting is Mosquito. It is small, only 150 by 800 m. It can even be called just a rocky cliff in the middle of a clear emerald sea. On the eastern side of the island there is an amazing sandy beach. Not far from the shore there is a coral reef allowing you to go snorkeling.
In general, this group of islands boasts many places to explore the underwater world. The rainbow coral gardens are home to barracudas, lionfish, stingrays, moray eels, leopard sharks, moray eels, eels, crabs, octopuses, tunas, sea turtles and many species of colorful tropical fish. There is also a wreck here - a place where a ship sank. The ship was wrecked in 1997. It cracked in the middle, today it is a haven for marine life and a popular diving spot.
▶️ Additional entertainment
There are not many leisure options here. But people come here for something else. You can diversify your vacation with nightlife. As soon as dusk falls, the island lights up with many lights, music is heard, people have fun, dance, enjoy the atmosphere and drinks. At such parties, various shows, competitions, events are held. There is even a ring for Thai boxing. Everyone can watch the athletes sparring.
This place is suitable for both long and short holidays. If you are interested in a more active holiday, you can buy a weekend tour to Phi Phi and then continue your trip around the country. But it is definitely worth staying here at least one night to enjoy the sunset and have fun at the parties.
