Phi Phi island is one of the most impressive sceneries in Thailand. This comprehensive guide explains an overview of Phi Phi Island, activities to do, and Places to Visit In Phi Phi Islands.
If you are in Thailand wondering what to do, visit Phi Phi Island, and you will not be disappointed. There is a wide array of activities on Phi Phi Island. Phi Phi Island has various islands like Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Leh. Even on its tiniest island, you will not miss anything exciting to do. Most of its islands have beautiful beaches and bays.
Above the seas, there are beautiful limestone cliffs and white sands, and below it, there are colorful coral reefs and vibrant sea life like sharks. YOU can also enjoy swimming with these natural sea creatures. There are also artificial creatures on this island. Do not forget your camera when visiting this island since you will miss out on beautiful sites.
Overview of Phi Phi Island
Phi Phi Island is a famous marine national park in Thailand (Krabi Province). It measures around 388 km2. It is mainly known for its coral reefs, limestone karts, and white sandy beaches, making it a popular place among divers.
The marine national park surrounds two regions; the Krabi Town coastline in Hat Noppharat Thara and Mu Ko Phi Phi. The Hat Noppharat Thara has few beaches and mangrove forests on its coastline. However, it does not enclose any region on the mainland.
The islands contain rubber, shore, and ironwood. It also includes trees such as Banyans, Champa, and other forms of vines. Mangrove trees available include red mangroves, white beans, and sama. Most individuals’ popular lace in the park is the Phi Phi Island and the beaches along the Krabi coast.
The park is mainly affected by tropical monsoons seen during the rainy season (May to December) and the dry season (January to April).
History of Phi Phi Island
The word Phi Phi has a Malay origin. Its original name was Pulau-Api-Api, meaning the fiery isle. Pulau Api Api refers to the fiery tree, the grey mangrove on the island.
Islands Around Phi Phi
If you are unaware, Phi Phi has several islands. Most of them begin with Koh, translated to an island in Thai. You will sometimes hear other individuals refer to it as Phi Phi island while others as Koh Phi Phi, but you will rarely listen to it as Koh Phi Phi island.
Koh Phi Phi Don
You will find almost everything from the main town to hotels and where most parties occur. There are various beaches in Phi Phi Don, and you can find most hotels in its narrow area. You can also find hotels on remote beaches, but you will need a boat ride to get there. If you love parties, ensure you choose a suitable beach! The good thing is that its hotels have a free boat ride.
Koh Phi Phi Leh
If you have ever heard of Maya Bay, it is located in Phi Phi Leh. Maya Bay was closed for around three years but was recently opened. You have a thirty-minute long tail boat ride to reach it since it is a few kilometers to the side.
Koh Yung
It is located in the north of Phi Phi Don. It contains a rocky beach on its east and a strand of sand in its hill’s fold. You can also find beautiful corals there.
Koh Pai
Pai Island is located around Yung Island. It has sandy beaches on its north and east. On its south, it has broad coral reefs.
Pida Nai & Pida Nok Island
These are small islands popular among divers because of the underwater scenery. The Pida Nok Island is a good choice for advanced and beginner divers since it has shallow and deep dive sites.
Activities To Do and Places to Visit In Phi Phi Islands
The most popular attraction on Phi Phi Island is its crystal clear water. Most activities on the island involve being in the water. If you do not love water, you can try activities like rock climbing and fishing trips. You can also laze by the beach and enjoy the warm sun rays absorbed by your body.
Visiting Koh Phi Phi Leh & Maya Bay
The Phi Phi archipelago has several islands; the second largest is Koh Phi Phi Leh. This island has one beach in Maya Bay, which has white sand and clear crystal waters, so most people enjoy visiting. Most people prefer visiting the place from November to April since it is high season.
Phi Phi Viewpoint
The Phi Phi Viewpoint is a good spot for adventure hence most popular among couples and families. It is located in Koh Phi Phi Don, which is shaped unusually. Its main village is found on its horizontal bar strip of sand between Dalum Bay (on its north) and Tonsai Bay (on its south). The viewpoint is located at the sand strip’s east; from it, you can see the bays and the village.
Its altitude is 186 meters, meaning it takes around twenty to forty minutes to arrive there using a paved and well-trodden path. If you are a photographer, you should aim to go there before noon to get good pictures because the lighting at that time is perfect.
Bamboo Island
Bamboo Island, known as Koh Phai, is one of the islands in the Phi Phi archipelago. It is a good place for individuals who love tropical adventure. Koh Phai has a width of 600 meters, and its length is 700 meters. It is also surrounded by white sand entirely. If you love snorkeling, then Bamboo Island should be on your list. It is also graced with coral reefs on its western side shore. You can also find drinks and snacks stores there.
If you want to be away from the crowds, then Bamboo island is a perfect spot. For lovers of snorkeling, Bamboo island offers massive opportunities for that. The Hin Klang coral reef is between Phi Phi Don and Bamboo island. This coral reef offers swimming opportunities, and you feel like you are swimming in an aquarium.
The island is surrounded by a reef 500 meters from its shores. If you are in Tonsai Village or Sea Gypsie village and might be wondering how you can get to Bamboo island, you can get a long-tail boat that will take around forty minutes to reach there. Since the island is property to the national park, you will be required to pay an entrance fee to access it.
Viking Cave
The Viking Cave is one of the most popular attractions of Koh Phi Phi Leh. It is found at the bottom of a cliff in the northeastern region of the island, and it will take around thirty minutes to get there if you are using a long-tail boat from Tonsai Bay.
Most local people call it Tham Phaya Nak, which owes its name to the paintings on its walls. These paintings resemble several boat types; some look like a Viking Ship known as Scandinavian Drakkar. The paintings were made by sailors sheltered in the caves when the weather was unbearable.
In the Viking Cave, harvesting of birds’ nests takes place there. According to the Chinese culture, they improve good health and skin too.
Diving
One of the most popular activities on Phi Phi island is diving. The island boasts various professional dive centers dispensing courses such as Divemaster and Discover Scuba Diving. The most common dive sites include; shark point, King Cruiser Wreck, and Anemone Reef. All diving sites take around forty minutes for you to reach there from Koh Phi Phi Phi Don.
Shark Watching Tours
The Koh Phi Phi Don boasts shark-watching tours. The Phi Phi waters are a host of leopard sharks and other types of sharks. If you want to go for a shark-watching tour, you must be there from six since it opens at that time and lasts only for half a day.
When touring, you will be provided complete snorkeling equipment, and a professional guide will lead you. The most popular site is the small shark point, where people go for shark watching. Also, you can find another Shark Point on the west coast of Phi Phi Don, but it is only accessible during diving tours.
Swimming with the sharks gives you an exciting and dramatic experience. Swimming with the black tip sharks is not as scary as it seems. These sharks are timid and not harmful as they look. If you show fear, they swim away. You may also encounter several sharks swimming in circles. Shark watching should be on your to-do list the next time you visit Phi Phi island.
Moo Dee Bay
The Moo Dee Bay is known for its long white sand beach (300 meters long). Emerald waters border this bekah. It is located on the Koh Phi Phi Don East coast, a great escape from crowds. To reach the Moo Dee Bay, you can walk from Tonsai East since it is one kilometer away from Bayview Resort. If that6 might be tiring for you, you can take a long-tail boat at Tonsai Pier, and you will be there in fifteen minutes.
If you want a fabulous and relaxing spot in the morning, the Moo Dee Bay is a perfect spot. It also offers excellent snorkeling opportunities at its end.
Cliff Jumping
One of the most popular activities on Phi Phi island is cliff jumping due to its incredible jumping spots. If you want to cliff jump, you should begin as slowly as three meters and gradually work up to twenty meters. There are also combinational tours such as snorkeling with cliff jumps.
Rock Climbing
If you love rock climbing, you should visit the Krabi Province and Koh Phi Phi, and you will not be disappointed. These places have towering limestone cliffs that make up for their topography. You will observe sites like Tonsai Beach and Diamond Cave from there. For thrilling climbing walls, visit the Koh Phi Phi Don. Most local shops around that area have information on the routes. Below is famous rock climbing walls:
- Drinking Wall: On your way to Tonsai West, you will find the Drinking Wall. It is located behind an empty football field. It has various challenging bolted routes (from grade 5 to 7 c). If you love the sun ray while climbing, visit that place before 11 am. Most snakes are available during the rainy season, so be careful.
- Ao Ling Wall: It is located south of Tonsai Tower. Getting there on foot is difficult, so you should consider hiring a long-tail boat instead. Its routes range between 3 to 8b. Some of its standard courses include; Trip Master Monkey and La Main de Buddha.
- Hin Tak: It is south of Ao Ling Wall; from there, you can see Tonsai Bay. It contains around nineteen routes from grade 5 to 8b. YOU can only access it by boat.
Conclusion
The Phi Phi island got famous after being in The Beach movie acted by Leonardo DiCaprio. This island is worth your visit since it provides a good site for your photography, and its natural beauty will leave you mesmerized.
There are various activities for you to undertake on the Phi Phi island, such as snorkeling, shark watching, rock climbing, fishing, and cliff jumping. Some of its attractions include; Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Don Viewpoint, Phi Phi Leh, Viking Cave, Bamboo island, and Koh Yung.
