Phi Phi Islands

One of our favorite spots on our tourist routes is the Phi Phi Islands. The name speaks for itself: this is not one island, but a whole closely located group just an hour's journey from Phuket. The archipelago includes Phi Phi Ley, Phi Phi Don, Bamboo, Mosquito, Bida Nai and Bida Nok. A total of six islands located close to each other. Territorially, they are part of the Krabi province.

Story

The first settlers of Phi Phi Don came from Malaysia and were surprised by the fiery crowns of the trees - Avicenna maritima, or fire tree. The archipelago was called "Pilau api api", which meant "flaming islands". Over time, the pronunciation acquired a "Thai" tint, and "api api" was transformed into Phi Phi.

Bida Nok and Bida Nai Islands

Certified divers can explore underwater life, from turtles to sharks. However, these islands are not suitable for snorkeling or lazy beach relaxation: strong currents pass near the shores, there is no sandy shoreline and no parking space on the rocky cliffs. The Thai name reflects the asceticism of their forms: Bida translates as "boot".

Mosquito Island

There is a coral reef around the island. At low tide it opens up completely and becomes an insurmountable obstacle for boats. This place is not offered for excursions, but you can get to the coast by boat during high tide. According to information from local residents, this island is closed to visitors in 2023, although there have been no official announcements from the national park.

Bamboo Island

The most beautiful island of the archipelago - with white beaches, a spacious coastline and groves of casuarina coniferous trees. Tourists can look at huge monitor lizards, as well as try their hand at snorkeling or just relax on the seashore. It is part of the Nopparattara National Park, so landing is paid - 400 baht per person (this fee is already included in the price of our excursions ). Rangers are responsible for order. Residential buildings were not built on the territory of the national park, as well as bungalows for overnight tourists. But there is a free toilet and a shop with drinks and snacks (with fairly high prices). But these shortcomings are compensated by beauty - Bambu is even compared to Bounty, although the famous shots from the advertisement were not recorded here.

Phi Phi Ley Island

The second largest island in the Phi Phi group. It is also part of the national park, and visiting the territory is paid (included in the cost of our excursion programs). The territory is uninhabited and branches out into several lagoons with narrow exits, closed by rocky labyrinths.

The story of Maya Bay is well known, which was captured in the film "The Beach" starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Unfortunately, the coast suffered during filming: trees were cut down, and corals were also destroyed. The film company "20th Century Fox" covered up with permission from local authorities and a promise to fix the problems in the future. But this did not happen, and in 2006 the court ruled that both officials and the film company had committed a crime and must pay a hefty fine of several million. After that, the popularity of the island jumped, and during peak visiting hours, vacationers filled the coast.

Until January 1, 2022, the bay was restored. Now landing is already allowed, but without swimming. Boats are left at the parking lot in Loh Samah Bay, and tourists walk along the coast along wooden platforms to preserve the fragile natural balance. In 2023, you can walk along the beach and take a photo shoot in the water against the backdrop of the rocks. You can also see baby reef sharks near the shore. There is no need to be afraid of these babies - they are completely harmless.

The second place that attracts attention on the island is the Pile Lagoon. Natural conditions, namely the combination of corals that close access inside during low tide, and limestone rocks have turned the lagoon into a granary. The water here is soft and pleasant in composition. That is why some call Pile the "lagoon of rejuvenation". The picturesqueness of the place is also great due to the depth - 80 meters of water create the feeling of a dark abyss.

Phi Phi Leh can surprise not only with lagoons and bays, but also with caves, among which the Viking Cave stands out. You won’t be able to go there, but the view from the boat creates a complete impression of the space. Now they mine the nests of the swallow-salangal inside, which are used as a delicacy and highly appreciate their usefulness. The cost of 100 grams of this product is about $ 100.

Phi Phi Don Island

This island is the only one inhabited in the entire archipelago.

The village grew up on a spit between two rocky capes, and all the infrastructure essential for the population is located there: a school, shops, a police station, a hospital, currency exchange offices, restaurants and cafes.

The main means of transport here are bicycles, and the island is generally pedestrian-oriented. Motorbikes are rare (used mainly for transporting goods), and there are no cars at all, as well as wide roads.

Dolam Bay is famous for its bars. After sunset, there are daily discos and fire shows.

You can pay due attention to the local sunrises and sunsets at the observation deck, which is considered the main attraction of Phi Phi Don. The view is provided by the high location in the mountainous area, so the climb up there itself becomes a small adventure. It is important that you cannot bring alcohol up. This is due to the religious composition of the island's population - the majority of residents adhere to Islam, so the outlets near the mosque do not sell alcohol. Entrance is paid - 50 baht per person.

How to get to Phi Phi Islands

There is a transfer to Phi Phi Don Island - these are ferries and speedboats. You can book a comprehensive ticket at our agency in the "Transfer to Phi Phi" section, it includes a transfer by minibus from the hotel to the pier (there are surcharges from remote areas) and a boat ticket (ferry or speedboat to choose from). We described recommendations for an independent trip in the article "Guide to an independent trip to Phi Phi" . This option is not suitable for those who want to go to these islands for one day.

For a one-day trip, there are currently the programs "Phi Phi + Khai" , "Phi Phi + Bamboo" . These are full-fledged excursions with a visit to the national park and meals, accompanied by a Russian-speaking and English-speaking guide. All park fees are included in the cost of these programs.

For those who want to combine a trip to Phi Phi and a visit to other islands of the Andaman Sea, there is one two-day program with an overnight stay on the island of Phi Phi Don: “11 islands PRO” .

To get advice from our manager and book excursions, click the “Contact us” button below this article.