The only island you can stay on is Koh Phi Phi Don. The rest of the Phi Phi islands are not inhabited. Phi Phi Don is fully developed with many accommodation options. If you wish for a stand out high-end family-friendly option, Phi Phi Island Village can show you luxurious bungalows on a private stretch of pristine sands. For the more budget-conscious who still want a little luxury, Phi Phi CoCo offers excellent value for stylish bamboo villas.

You can only stay on one island- Phi Phi Don. There are several Phi Phi island tours available so you will be able to take day trips to the other islands in close proximity to Phi Phi Don.

Due to their immense popularity, these islands are one of the most expensive destinations in Thailand. Even the prices of the most basic lodgings like hostels are inflated compared to other locations.

With clear blue waters, abundant marine life, and the most well-known isle, Koh Phi Phi Leh with its Maya Bay made famous by the year 2000 Hollywood film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, it is definitely worth visiting and staying overnight to soak up this exquisite part of Thailand. There are just lots of places to visit, to tour and to enjoy, for all types of travellers.

There are parties happening all around the island most nights so if you are wanting a lively vibe of noise and crowds and some hedonism within a beautiful setting, then this is the perfect place for you.

From Phuket International Airport to Phi Phi island takes about 45-minutes via speed boat or an almost two-hour ferry. This is the same if you are coming from Krabi. There is a designated pier at each point of departure and arrival.

Hire a longtail boat and sail around the archipelago in your own private Phi Phi island tour. Enjoy the view or go diving, snorkelling, hiking to the Phi Phi island viewpoint, rock climbing limestone cliffs, cave exploring, and sea kayaking.

A recent activity offered in Koh Phi Phi is deep sea fishing. $85 US dollars for eight hours can grant you the experience of fishing for tuna, barracuda, king mackerel, sailfish, and dorado. A new tour company takes groups of 10 on afternoon jungle treks through the island’s interior for around $44 US dollars per person. One can see secluded beaches, lookout points, and even indigenous plant and animal life. For the party people, there is a so-called Booze Cruise. The package cost starts from $78 US dollars and includes lunch, refreshments of coffee or tea, snacks, drinks, snorkelling, and kayaking.

Krabi district to Koh Phi Phi is about 45 kilometres away and is only accessible by boat or ferry in a designated pier.

The ferry from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi takes up to 3 hours. Ferries depart from Rassada Pier in Phuket Town for the 45km journey. Another option is to go by speedboat, which takes approximately 1 hour, departing from the same pier or designated place on the beachfront.

Ferry cost is around $22 from Phuket to Krabi, Phi Phi, or Koh Samui.

The 300-km journey can take between 5-8 hours by bus or van and ferry. Another option is to take a 55-minute flight from Koh Samui to Krabi. From Krabi airport, you will need to take a minivan or private taxi to the pier at East Railay then a ferry or speedboat onwards to Tonsai Pier on Koh Phi Phi.

There are several nearby islands to Koh Phi Phi that make for interesting and fun day trips with lunch or dining at any of the resorts on these islands. Ko Yao Yai is halfway between Phuket and Krabi, with sandy shores, mangroves, rubber farms and fishing villages and coral-rich waters with some dive sites. A popular resort is Santhiya Resort.
Ko Lanta is an island of Krabi province known for coral-fringed beaches, rainforests, mangroves and limestone structures. You can find the Pimalai resort and Layana Resort and spa here.
On Phuket island-province you can find Pansea beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach and the Banyan Tree Resort (part of its network is Banyan Tree Samui). Karon Beach is Phuket’s liveliest beach.
On Koh Samui, you can find Lamai Beach on Lamai Bay. There’s Bo phut Resort and Banyan Tree Samui.
Koh Phangan is Thailand’s southern island famed globally for its Full Moon Party on Sunrise Beach, Haad Rin. This monthly event has put Koh Phangan on the world map for many decades now.
Hua Hin is a once-quiet fishing village, a traditional Thai village, that has developed into a seaside resort for Bangkok residents when the Thai royal family established their summer palaces here. Here you can find the Anantara Hua Hin Resort.
About 60 km from Koh Phi Phi and between Phuket and mainland Thailand is the Ao Phang Nga National Park on Phang Nga Bay, characterized by towering limestone cliffs and rock formations, small islands and mangrove forests. Phang Nga Bay’s waters are rich in colourful corals.

The central area of Koh Phi Phi Don is the best part. It is the liveliest part of the island, with a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, and bars. Ton Sai West is the quietest part of the island, being on the west coast, far from the madding crowd and noise of revellers.

Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island of the archipelago and there are no motorized modes of transport on the island, so visitors walk everywhere making it one of the safest islands in Thailand. There are resident monkeys around the island so practise caution around them, avoid feeding them as they can be aggressive. The last thing you want is a monkey bite and rabies injections!

Koh Phi Phi consists of six magnificent islands. This incredibly beautiful archipelago is located off the mainland coast of Krabi and definitely a must-see. Its stunning beaches of white sands have luxury beach resorts that are among the best resorts in Thailand.

To travel from Bangkok, the quickest and easiest way is to get to Phuket is to take a flight then choose from either a ferry, longtail boat or speedboat to the Phi Phi islands. By road, the bus journey takes about 15 hours from Bangkok to Phuket then you can get a boat to the islands arriving at Tonsai pier.

The Phi Phi islands are one of the most expensive islands to stay on in Thailand. Budget accommodation is pricey and you will struggle to find Koh Phi Phi hostels and dorm beds for under $30 per night. In high season the prices peak so expect to substantially more than what you might pay on other southern Thai islands.

Phi Phi Cliff Beach Resort, Phi Phi CoCo, and Phi Phi Harbour View Hotel are some hotels with good reviews that offer good breakfast.

Phi Phi island accommodation hotels and beach resorts with panoramic views include Paradise Resort Phi Phi on the beachfront of stunning Long Beach, the Cove Phi Phi overlooking Rantee Beach, Villa 360 with secluded villas enjoying 360-degree stunning views, The Phi Phi Cliff perched on a cliff overlooking Ton Sai Bay, and Phi Phi Island Village Resort which is beachfront on Loh Ba Gao Bay. Those located in the city centre certainly do not have as nice a view as those on the beachfront. In the city centre, you can be most sure of having Wi-Fi services.

Some hotels and beach resorts in Thailand that have star review scores in high ratings by guest reviews as popular with families are the Phi Phi Island Village, Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island, Phi Phi The Beach Resort, Holiday Inn Resort, Phi Phi Harbour View Hotel, Phi Phi Cliff Beach Hotel, PP Princess Pool Villa, and Rawianda Villas with its private villas and tastefully furnished family rooms. All these hotels have swimming pools for both adults and children’s fun and some have children’s pools as well, coming up with three swimming pools altogether.

These hotels have been ranked a good star review score for romantic hotels: Phi Phi Island Village, Phi Phi CoCo Beach Resort, Zeavola Resort, Mama Beach Residence, Phi Phi Phu Chalet Resort, The Cove Phi Phi, Paradise Resort, and Viking Nature Resort. Aside from a romantic ambience in accommodations like just a short walk to a private beach, a private pool villa or even a private plunge pool, a private balcony, they have special deals like “romance packages” offered, too, like a couples spa treatment.

Some of the best-placed hotels and luxury beach resorts near Maya Bay are Phi Phi The Beach Resort, Phi Phi Banyan Villa, Phi Phi Coco, and Zeavola Resort.

These hotels and luxury beach resorts have been ranked highly by travellers reviews: Phi Phi The Beach Resort, Phi Phi Banyan Villa, Phi Phi CoCo, Zeavola Resort and Spa, Mama Beach Residence, Phi Phi Island Village, Phi Phi Cliff, and Phi Phi Relax. These best resorts in Thailand feature tropical gardens, resort spa baths or a private stretch of a stunning beach, outdoor showers, modern rooms & interiors in contemporary Thai style, a beach bar and other facilities for luxury and comfort.

Popular hotels close to Koh Phi Phi Viewpoint include Phi Phi Bonita Resort, Phi Phi Long Beach Bungalow, and Phi Phi ViewPoint Resort, giving guests spectacular views of the island.

Some hotels with good rating scores from guest reviews are the Phi Phi Villa Resort, another boutique resort with accommodations available for all budgets. It has the largest private swimming pool in the Ton Sai Bay area, offering regular amenities for comfort like Air Conditioning and Wifi in all its rooms, massage, spa, and gym features. There is also the Chongkhao Resort just 500 m from the city centre and 15 km from the airport to the pier. Its convenient location gives guests to its restful rooms easy access to all the island’s must-see attractions in this part of Thailand.

Koh Phi Phi is the other name for the Phi Phi Island group. It is an archipelago of six islands and islets. The biggest and only habitable one is Koh Phi Phi Don.

Nightlife in Koh Phi Phi is very much alive. The numerous bars and pubs are in easy to find locations and stay open beyond 2 am, when the music stops, for as long as there are customer crowds. Activities per night include dancing and live bands, fire shows, and Muay Thai boxing bouts (two regular features in some bars per night). There is even a resort offering a free salad bar and soup with your meal at a set time per night. Another one doling out free cocktails to start off the party per night. And of course, we can’t fail to mention the famous Buckets, the surest and most definite offering per night, which is a mixture of mild to medium alcohol and energy drinks.

Resort and hotel prices in Koh Phi Phi are generally higher than in other islands in Thailand. Backpackers and budget travellers can still stay and enjoy a vacation, too. Most budget accommodations are dorm-style but there are some with private rooms and even air conditioning and hot showers. Basic amenities would be air-conditioning, wifi, a single bed and a shower per room. If you want to stretch or are not certain with your budget, you can try booking a room on a per night basis.

Most traveller reviews say that a day trip to Koh Phi Phi is not worth it because one gets to feel short-changed from the travel time to the costs. There are just too many things to discover and experience in this archipelago that calls for at least a 3-day stay or a long weekend. That can allow the islands especially Phi Phi Don to show off their gifts from nature.

Koh Phi Phi accommodation deals show activities for the guests to do while on the island. These activities are, of course, marine-related but land-based events are offered too.

Maya Bay, which was made famous as the shooting location of the 2000 Holywood movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, has been closed to tourists by the Thai government. There are plans for the rejuvenation project for coral restoration and the installation of a new jetty. Other facilities are not closed.

Koh Phi Phi is one of Thailand’s famous destinations for travel aficionados. Rightly so, with its pristine waters and a generous variety of sights and sites showing off the beauty of nature’s creations. It is also famous as the location of the 2000 Hollywood film “The Beach,” shot in Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh Island.

There are several dive shops offering classes and diving lessons for interested guests on the islands with certified instructors.

Swimming lessons are available with certified instructors, not affiliated with hotel amenities, though. Most beach resorts in Thailand have an outdoor pool in which beginners can practice safely.

Don’t expect any discount deals on Phi Phi accommodation when you travel to Phi Phi during peak season. One can negotiate or hope for discounts for such activities as early check-in, or booking reservations far from the city centre, or a room that doesn’t show the sea view nor show the Koh Phi Phi beachfront or have balconies overlooking colour-filled gardens to enjoy a magnificent sunset view.

Ao Nang is a town in Krabi province known for its long beachfront. It is also accessible to the dive sites in the nearby islands of Ton Sai Bay. A daily ferry service can bring you from Ao Nang to Phi Phi on a 2-hour trip with a short stop near Railay Bay where other passengers can be picked up.

Wi-Fi services are available in all hotels in Ko Phi Phi not just in the city centre or 4-5 star hotels. Even a budget hotel resort offers Wi-Fi services, too.

Phi Phi Island is actually an archipelago of 6 islands and islets located in the Andaman Sea in Southern Thailand. It is about 46 kilometres southeast of Phuket Island, the most famous of Thailand’s tourist destinations. The two main islands are Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don. The beauty of the islands has been called “ridiculously stunning” by CNN, because of the looming limestone cliffs over soft white sand pristine beaches. Koh Phi Phi is under the administration of Mueang Krabi District, Krabi Province.

The Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park is a marine national park in Krabi province established in 1983. As of 2019 (pre-Covid pandemic lockdowns), the number of visitors to the park reached 1.1+ million, 77% of whom were foreigners.

The Viking Cave, although currently closed to tourists, is one unique sight and site in the Phi Phi Islands. Located on the east coast of Phi Phi Ley, it has been so named because of the prehistoric drawings on its walls which depict seemingly Viking ships. It is believed that these drawings were done by pirates or sea gipsies who took shelter from monsoon storms in the cave. Measuring 3.2 square km in size and 10-15 m high, the cave is inhabited by thousands of swifts birds which make their nests in the many ledges along the cave walls, from their saliva. These nests are the main ingredients of the world-famous and expensive Chinese dish called birds’ nest soup. Before the cave’s closure, the harvesting of these edible birds’ nests was a thriving industry.

“Phi Phi” is Malay in origin. It refers to Pokok Api Api, meaning fiery tree, the grey mangrove found in the islands.

There is a small hospital between Phi Phi Cabana Hotel and the Ton Sai Towers, about 5-7 minutes walk from the pier. It had been set up as a transit point prior to bringing over patients to hospitals in Phuket island. There are also some pharmacies for basic medical needs.

Considering the massive and continuously rising number of foreign visitors to places like Phi Phi, arriving tourists pay a 20-baht fee to assist in the “keeping Koh Phi Phi clean campaign.” The collected fees are centralized to a private company to transport collected rubbish and waste to be disposed of in mainland Krabi. At the same time, Maya Bay has also been temporarily closed to allow for a recovery program to be implemented.

In peak season, it is certainly going to be difficult to find a good room at less than $50 in 3-star Phi Phi Island hotels and luxury beach resorts, much more in one with a 4-5star rating or in most Phi Phi islands pool villas.

Restaurants abound in Phi Phi Island, serving traditional Thai and international cuisine. Among the Phi Phi Islands hotels, Phi Phi The Beach Resort, Pirates House Restaurant, Bar & Hotel, Phi Phi Relax, and Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island with their restaurants on-site are notable for their tasty servings of traditional Thai food fare.

The best time of the year to have a vacation in Phi Phi is also the peak season for tourists – between November and April. The weather is cool and pleasant with just a few episodes of rain showers. To be precise, November to February is the coolest time when the spate of rains is done. The period from March to the middle of May is the hottest with rising humidity. May to October is monsoon season, with the high humidity records — but this is also the cheapest season to get a lower unit price in a great resort of your choice, even a luxury hotel or boutique resort possibly in good locations.

The top hotels, 3-5star hotels in Koh Phi Phi especially the luxury beach resorts in Thailand offer babysitting services with qualified staff among their family-friendly amenities. Zeavola Resort. Phi Phi Island Village, Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island are some of the popular Phi Phi Island family resorts. There are smaller hotels providing this service, too, like Phi Phi Nice Beach Hotel Hip, PP Charlie, and Phi Phi Nice.

One can have a vacation, relax and luxuriate in the comforts offered, at the same time attend to some work that needs urgent attention in most types of Phi Phi islands accommodation, especially the best beach resorts and the luxury beach resorts. These top picks have business amenities, too, offering direct access to and free WiFi. Zeavola has a computer station, Holiday Inn has a 24-hour business centre.

Souvenir shops and stalls dot the island of Phi Phi. For those who don’t feel like walking around just for shopping, Phi Phi Islands resorts like Phi Phi the Beach Resort, Phi Phi Island Village, PP Princess, Phi Phi Cliff Beach, Phi Phi Nice Beach Hotel Hip, and Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island have shops within the resort.

Shopping attractions are rare in Phi Phi. For a real shopping spree, there is Bangkok. But there are shops that grab one’s attention, with original articles for sale. Quality bags and accessories like authentic and vintage silver and stone jewellery, vintage and ethnic clothing, homemade beads, and knickknacks are among the speciality items around. And for a real tropical vacation vibe to your Ko Phi Phi holidays, there are more than 20 tattoo parlours offering various designs and styles.

Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley, the main islands are similarly pedestrian in nature. People go around on foot or by bicycle. There are no motorized vehicles, except for a few motorcycles with sidecars attached, used for transporting goods. To go from Phi Phi Don to the other islands, there are the long-tail boats, Thailand’s traditional marine transport. There’s always the caveat to bring earplugs when taking a longtail boat because the engines can be too loud to bear comfortably.

Besides diving and swimming lessons provided by private certified instructors and cooking classes in some of the hotels and resorts, there are other activities one can take classes in.
Rock climbing
There were more than ten climbing shops and schools in Phi Phi and Krabi with experienced and qualified instructors and classes from beginner to advanced levels, but some of these have closed or gone out of business. Of the remaining 8, the notable ones are Railey Beach Real Rocks Climbing School, The Rock Shop Ton Sai Rock Climbing, and Base Camp Ton Sai. Rock climbing walls are also available in the resorts and other parts of the islands like Ton Sai Tower, Hua Ling Wall (Monkey Head Wall), Ao Ling Wall (Monkey Bay Wall), to name a few.
Kiteboarding
The island is dotted with beaches all around and this is a good condition for learning and doing kiteboarding. There is one school on the island offering classes from beginner to advanced.

For a brisk and experienced walker (adults), it will take about 20 minutes only. For those who would like to do a leisurely stroll, 30 minutes will take you to the top. The pathways are well-trodden and mostly paved. There are several areas to stop by for a rest if necessary.

Fear not. There has not been any report of humans being attacked or bitten by sharks. This is one place in the world where marine lovers can enjoy the best of the sea and its bounty.

The Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 that hit many islands of Southeast Asia had struck a large part of Phi Phi Don’s inhabited area with 10,000 occupants reportedly (including tourists) there at that time. 70% of the buildings had been destroyed. By July 2005, 850 bodies had been recovered and 1,200 reported still missing. Earlier that year, a voluntary organization was set up by a former resident of the island, who together with 68 Thai staff recruits and more than 3,500 volunteer backpackers returned to Phi Phi to do clearing and rebuilding. The next month, a second voluntary organization emerged and worked on removing debris from the bays and coral reef. After six months, buildings had been repaired by the government, and several hundred businesses had been restored. By year-end, almost 1,500 hotel rooms in Ko Phi Phi Don resorts were opened and a tsunami warning system had been installed by the government assisted by some volunteers.