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Hotels in Koh Phi Phi

Two bays joined by a sandy isthmus

Koh Phi Phi

IdiomaEnglish
MonedaTHB
Huso horarioGMT+7
Temperatura26-35 °C
Prefijo+66
Población71.8M
Área513,120 km²
EnchufesTipo A / Tipo B / Tipo C / Tipo O
Agua del grifoNo potable

Descubra Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi is 2 main islands and a handful of rocky outcrops between Phuket and Krabi. Only Phi Phi Don is inhabited, and it has an unusual shape: 2 limestone hills joined by a narrow sandy isthmus, on which the whole village stands. That's exactly why the 2004 tsunami caused such devastation here — it struck from both sides at once. The uninhabited Phi Phi Leh is the reason people come: it's home to Maya Bay from the film The Beach, a cove hemmed in by 100 m walls, which was completely closed between 2018 and 2022 to allow the destroyed coral to recover. There are no roads or cars on the islands — you get around on foot or by boat. Day trips from Phuket bring in thousands of people daily, so the difference between Phi Phi at 10am and at 7am is enormous.

What to see

The places worth your time in Koh Phi Phi, and what to expect at each

Maya Bay

Maya Bay

Phi Phi Leh, by boat

A cove on the uninhabited Phi Phi Leh, enclosed on three sides by limestone cliffs, made famous by the film The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio. After years of overcrowding it was closed in 2018 and didn't reopen until 2022, with strict new rules.

Tip: Boats can no longer enter the bay itself — they anchor behind the headland, and you enter via a jetty on the other side. Swimming in the bay is banned and monitored, visits are time-limited, and up to 1,000 people can be there at midday. Take the first boat of the morning.

Admission:
park entry THB 400
Time needed:
2 h
Phi Phi Viewpoint

Phi Phi Viewpoint

above Tonsai

Three viewing platforms above the village, showing the island's whole shape: two green hills joined by a narrow isthmus with a bay on each side. It's the most famous view of Phi Phi, familiar from every brochure.

Tip: 700 steps lead to the top, and the climb takes 25 minutes in the heat and humidity — go at 6am or an hour before sunset. A small fee is charged at the first platform; the upper two are free.

Admission:
from THB 50
Time needed:
2 h
Tonsai Village

Tonsai Village

Phi Phi Don

The island's only village, built on a sandy isthmus between two bays. There are no roads or cars, just pedestrian lanes with stalls, bars, dive-gear rental shops and hotels. Everything arrives here by boat, and leaves the same way.

Tip: The lanes look chaotic, but the village is small and can be walked in 20 minutes. Bars on the north side by Loh Dalum play music until morning; if you want to sleep, stay on the south side near the pier or outside the village.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Long Beach (Hat Yao)

Long Beach (Hat Yao)

Phi Phi Don, south

The best beach on the inhabited island, 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by boat from the village. White sand, a shallow entry and a coral reef just offshore where you can snorkel straight from the beach without a boat.

Tip: The path from the village runs over rocks and can be impassable at high tide in places — ask about times, or return by boat taxi. Mornings tend to be quiet, since day-trippers don't come to Long Beach.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
full day
Bamboo Island

Bamboo Island

by boat, 30 min

A small, flat island northeast of Phi Phi Don with one of the loveliest sandy beaches in the Andaman Sea and a coral reef all around it. Uninhabited, and part of the national park.

Tip: Come on the first boat of the morning — from 11am to 2pm dozens of tour boats anchor here at once. There's almost no shade on the island and it's unbearable at midday; sunscreen must be reef-safe, or you won't be allowed onto the jetty.

Admission:
park entry THB 400
Time needed:
half a day
Pileh Lagoon

Pileh Lagoon

Phi Phi Leh, by boat

A narrow inlet on Phi Phi Leh enclosed by sheer cliffs, where the water is so still it looks like a pool. There's no beach, just rock and an emerald surface — you swim straight from the boat, and it's the best place to swim in the whole archipelago.

Tip: A stop here is usually part of round-island boat tours and lasts 20 minutes. The water is deep with no beach, so a life jacket, available for hire on the boats, is useful. Anyone chartering their own boat can arrive at 7am and have the lagoon to themselves.

Admission:
included in the tour
Time needed:
1 h
Monkey Beach

Monkey Beach

Phi Phi Don, southwest

A small cove on the southwest of Phi Phi Don, home to a large troop of macaques accustomed to tourists. The monkeys come right up to the boats and show people no respect whatsoever — they're wild animals, not an attraction.

Tip: Don't feed them, and don't bring a clear bag of food to the beach — the macaques will open it even from a backpack on your back. A macaque bite means an immediate trip to the mainland for rabies treatment, as the island clinic doesn't stock the serum.

Admission:
included in the tour
Time needed:
1 h
Loh Dalum

Loh Dalum

Phi Phi Don, north

The village's northern bay, a half-moon of white sand with turquoise water. At low tide the sea retreats some 200 m, leaving wet sand; at high tide it's one of the island's most beautiful beaches. Fire shows are held here in the evening for the bars.

Tip: The difference between high and low tide here is extreme — you need to time your swim with high tide, or you'll be wading ankle-deep. Times are posted in every bar. After 9pm, the beach turns into an open-air bar with music.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Laem Tong and the sea gypsies

Laem Tong and the sea gypsies

Phi Phi Don, north

The northern tip of Phi Phi Don, with luxury resorts and a village of the Urak Lawoi — sea nomads who lived off fishing in the Andaman Sea long before tourism arrived. It's the closest point to the snorkelling reefs and has the clearest water on the island.

Tip: There's no road here — you go by boat from the village, about half an hour, and hotels run their own transfers. Anyone staying here should expect to take a boat back to Tonsai for food and nightlife.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day

Photos: Maya Bay — User:Mikecleggphoto from www.travelanddestinations.com (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Phi Phi Viewpoint — Ssuri (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Tonsai Village — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy (CC BY 2.0) · Long Beach (Hat Yao) — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Bamboo Island — Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Pileh Lagoon — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Monkey Beach — Alexey Komarov (CC BY 3.0) · Loh Dalum — Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Laem Tong and the sea gypsies — Renek78 (CC0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Tonsai Village

Best for: a first stay and nightlife

The sandy isthmus with the island's only village, where everything is on foot. Accommodation from hostels to mid-range, restaurants, bars and the pier. Noisy until late, especially on the Loh Dalum side. Without accommodation here, you're reliant on boat taxis.

Long Beach and southern Ao Lo Dalam

Best for: a beach within reach of the village

The southern shore, 20 minutes on foot from the village, with the best beach on the inhabited island and a coral reef just offshore. Mid-range hotels and bungalows. You can walk into the village at low tide or take a boat taxi in a few minutes.

Laem Tong and Loh Bagao

Best for: resorts and peace and quiet

The northern part of the island, with large resorts, private beaches and the clearest water. Complete peace and quiet with zero nightlife — it's half an hour by boat to the village. A choice for those who want Phi Phi as a quiet holiday, not a party.

Phi Phi Leh

Best for: day trips, not overnight stays

The uninhabited island with Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the Viking Cave. Overnight stays aren't allowed, and it's part of the national park with a paid entry fee. Visited by boat from Phi Phi Don or as part of a full-day trip from Phuket and Krabi.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

Phi Phi has no airport or airstrip — the only way here is by boat. Ferries run from Phuket in 2 hours and from Krabi in 1.5 hours, usually 2-3 times a day in high season, less often outside it. Speedboats manage it in 45 minutes, but cost more and can be rough in waves. A waste fee is collected from arrivals on the island. The nearest airports are Krabi and Phuket.

Krabi International + ferry (KBV) · 60 km

  • Transfer to the pier and ferry· 2 h 30 min total· THB 600
  • Speedboat from Klong Jilad· 1 h 15 min· THB 900

Phuket International + ferry (HKT) · 75 km

  • Transfer to Rassada Pier and ferry· 3 h total· THB 700
  • Speedboat from Phuket· 1 h· THB 1,200

Around town

There are no roads, cars or scooters on Phi Phi — the only ways to get around are on foot and by boat. The village can be walked in 20 minutes, and Long Beach is reached along the shore in 20 minutes on foot or by boat taxi in a few minutes. Longtail boats can be chartered by the hour or half-day for more distant beaches and Phi Phi Leh; the price is agreed in advance and rises in the evening. Luggage is carried through the village on carts, so large suitcases aren't well suited here.

On footThe only way to get around the village and to the viewpoint; the streets are narrow and car-free. · free
Boat taxiFrom the pier to Long Beach, Laem Tong and nearby bays; the price is agreed in advance. · THB 150
Longtail boat charterFor a half-day to Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon; the archipelago is empty at 6am. · THB 2,500/boat
Ferry to the mainlandTo Phuket and Krabi 2-3 times a day, less often during the monsoon. · THB 400

Useful apps: Grab, Google Maps, Bolt, 12Go Asia

When to go

The season runs from November to April, when the sea is calm and all boats run reliably. December to March is best. From May to October is the monsoon: ferries still run, but speedboats are cancelled in rough seas, Maya Bay trips are often called off, and underwater visibility is poor. Maya Bay is also usually closed from August to the end of September for coral regeneration — the dates are confirmed each year and worth checking.

Best time

December to March

What to avoid

August and September, when Maya Bay is usually closed

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day33°34°34°34°33°32°32°32°32°32°32°32°
Night23°24°25°25°25°25°25°25°24°24°24°23°
Rainy days2248171617182019136
Sea28°28°29°30°29°29°29°29°29°29°29°28°

Food & drink

Everything on the island arrives by boat, which means food is pricier than on the mainland and choice is more limited. Fish and seafood are picked from ice displayed on the street outside the restaurant and grilled right in front of you — it's charged by weight, so ask for the price to be written down. The cheapest options are the eateries in the back lanes and the stalls selling roti and fruit smoothies. In high season, getting a table after 9pm can be difficult — booking ahead is standard practice almost everywhere.

What to try

Tom yum goong

A hot and sour soup with prawns, lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves. It comes in a clear version and a creamy one made with coconut milk; the creamy version is milder and a better place to start.

Pad thai

Rice noodles fried with egg, tofu and peanuts, served with lime and bean sprouts. The safest choice if you don't like spice, and a fraction of the restaurant price at street stalls.

Som tam

A salad of shredded green papaya pounded in a mortar with chilli, lime and fish sauce. The standard spice level is too much for most Europeans — say "mai phet" or ask for just one chilli.

Massaman curry

A mild curry with coconut milk, potatoes, peanuts and cinnamon, which reached Thailand via Muslim traders from the south. The least spicy of all Thai curries.

Gaeng som

A sour southern curry with fish and vegetables, orange from turmeric and very spicy. It's a dish cooked at home in southern Thailand and rarely found in tourist restaurants.

Roti

A thin fried flatbread with banana and sweetened condensed milk, a legacy of the Muslim south. Sold at night market stalls with a large griddle, and the most common street dessert.

Khao niao mamuang

Sticky rice with coconut milk and slices of ripe mango. Best from March to May, mango season; outside it, it's made with imported fruit and it shows.

Moo ping

Marinated grilled pork skewers, sold roadside in the morning for breakfast with a bag of sticky rice. The cheapest and best Thai breakfast.

What it costs

Street food in the village

THB 80–120

Lunch at an eatery

THB 150–250

Dinner with grilled fish

THB 500–800 per person

Large Chang beer

THB 120–180

National park entry

THB 400

Half-day boat tour

from THB 900

Ferry to the mainland

from THB 400

Night in a 3-4 star hotel

THB 2,000–4,000

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsAtwo flat pins (US/JP)Btwo flat pins plus ground (US)CEuroplug, two round pinsOThai
Voltage220V / 50Hz
Tap waterDo not drink tap water — Don't drink the tap water or use it to brush your teeth. Bottled water costs around 10 baht a bottle at 7-Eleven and is available everywhere. Ice in drinks, on the other hand, is safe — it's made industrially from treated water and can be recognised by its regular shape with a hole in the middle; worries about ice are outdated in Thailand.
TippingTipping isn't compulsory, and Thais don't tip each other. In tourist restaurants, round up or leave 20-50 baht; better places often already add a 10% service charge. Round up for tuk-tuk and taxi drivers. Give a spa masseuse 50-100 baht.
Driving on theleft
SafetyThe islands are safe and violent crime is rare, but 3 specific risks apply. Riding a scooter on the island's sandy, steep roads is the most common cause of injury among visitors, and insurers won't pay out without a category A motorcycle licence. Box jellyfish are present in the sea from April to October, and some beaches keep bottles of vinegar on hand as first aid. And when diving, make sure at least 18 hours pass between your last dive and your flight, or you risk decompression sickness.
Opening hours7-Eleven and Family Mart shops are open around the clock and are everywhere. Alcohol may legally be sold only from 11am to 2pm and from 5pm to midnight — outside these windows, shops won't sell it no matter what you try, though this doesn't apply to restaurants. Markets and food stalls run from morning until night, and temples close around 5pm. On Buddhist holidays and election days, alcohol sales are banned nationwide.
Customs & etiquetteThe head is sacred and the feet unclean — never touch anyone's head, and don't point your feet at a person or a Buddha statue. Cover your shoulders and knees to enter temples, and leave your shoes at the door. The royal family is protected by lèse-majesté law, and any disrespectful remark or damage to a banknote bearing the king's portrait is a criminal offence carrying real prison sentences. Don't raise your voice or show anger: losing your temper means losing face in Thailand, and it always makes things worse.
A few local wordsHello — Sawatdi khráp (muž) / khá (žena)Thank you — Khòp khun khráp / kháHow much does this cost? — Thâo rai?Not spicy, please — Mai phetThe bill, please — Kep tang

How to plan your days

1 day

A day on Phi Phi

  1. 1At 6am, climb to the viewpoint above the village while it's still cool.
  2. 2Breakfast in Tonsai, then a swim at Loh Dalum at high tide.
  3. 3Afternoon walk to Long Beach and snorkelling from the shore.
  4. 4Return by boat taxi, then a massage in the village.
  5. 5Dinner with grilled fish and a fire show on the beach.

2 days

2 days with Phi Phi Leh

  1. 1Day 1 as above.
  2. 2At 7am, a private boat to Maya Bay before the tour boats arrive.
  3. 3Pileh Lagoon and a swim straight from the boat.
  4. 4A stop at Monkey Beach, back around midday.
  5. 5Afternoon to relax, evening at the bars on Loh Dalum.

3 days

3 days with snorkelling

  1. 1The first 2 days as above.
  2. 2A full-day trip to Bamboo Island and the surrounding reefs.
  3. 3Snorkelling at Mosquito Island and a swim on the white beach.
  4. 4Return in the early evening, dinner in a back lane.
  5. 5If time allows, a diving course or a trip to Koh Lanta the next day.

Day trips

Phuket

45 km · 1 h by speedboat, 2 h by ferry

Thailand's largest island, home to the airport, the Big Buddha statue and a Sino-Portuguese old town built by Chinese tin merchants. Most visitors from Phi Phi come here mainly for departures, but the old town and temples are worth a half-day stop.

Krabi and Railay

42 km · 1 h 30 min by ferry

A mainland province of limestone towers, with the Railay peninsula reachable only by boat and Phra Nang beaches beneath an overhanging cliff. It's the closest place for rock climbing, as well as a temple reached via 1,200 steps.

Koh Lanta

45 km · 1 h 30 min by ferry

A long, flat island southeast of Phi Phi with several kilometres of continuous beaches, plus a national park and lighthouse on the southern tip. It's noticeably quieter than Phi Phi, and in season a direct ferry runs between the islands once or twice a day.

Frequently asked questions

Is Maya Bay open?+

Yes, reopened in 2022 after 4 years of closure to let the coral recover, but with rules: boats can't enter the bay and anchor behind the headland instead, entry is via a jetty on the other side, and swimming directly in the bay is banned. It's also usually closed from August to the end of September.

How do I get to Phi Phi?+

By boat only — the island has no airport. The ferry from Krabi takes 1.5 hours, from Phuket 2 hours, a speedboat roughly half that. Services run 2-3 times a day in high season, less often outside it. An island waste fee is charged on arrival.

Is it worth staying overnight on Phi Phi?+

Definitely, if the islands matter to you. Day trips from Phuket bring in thousands of people between 10am and 3pm; anyone staying overnight has Long Beach and Maya Bay almost to themselves in the morning. The difference between the island at 7am and at noon is enormous.

Are there cars on Phi Phi?+

No, there are no roads, cars or scooters on the island. You get around on foot or by boat, and luggage is carried through the village on hand carts. Large hard suitcases don't work well here — they're difficult to manage on sand and through narrow lanes.

How much is the national park entry fee?+

400 baht for a foreign adult, payable on visits to Phi Phi Leh, Maya Bay and Bamboo Island. On organised tours, entry is often listed separately and paid on-site, so check whether it's included or not.

Where should I stay on Phi Phi?+

Tonsai Village for convenience and nightlife, Long Beach for the best beach within reach of the village, the north near Laem Tong for peace and resorts with their own beaches. On the north side, expect to take a boat for meals and evening entertainment.

When should I visit Phi Phi?+

From November to April, when the sea is calm and boat services are reliable; December to March is best. During the monsoon from May to October, ferries still run, but speedboats are often cancelled, Maya Bay trips are called off, and underwater visibility is poor.

Are the monkeys at Monkey Beach dangerous?+

They're wild animals used to people, and they'll take food themselves, even from a backpack. Don't feed them or show them a clear bag with food inside. A bite means an immediate transfer to the mainland for a rabies vaccination, as the island clinic doesn't stock the serum.

Tarjeta de llegada

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Requisitos de visa

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Números de emergencia

Police191Ambulance1669Fire199

Idioma

Thai

Moneda

THB

Huso horario

GMT+7

Prefijo

+66

Población

71.8M

Área

513,120 km²

Voltaje

220V / 50Hz

Lado de conducción

Izquierda

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