Pronounced “Pee-Pee”, the Phi Phi Islands are actually a group of 6 islands! The two main ones are Phi Phi Don, which is the only inhabited island, and Phi Phi Lee, where the famous Maya Bay is situated. And although lots of people see Phi Phi Don as a party heaven for backpackers, there is actually so much more to this island than bucket cocktails!
Here are the BEST things to do on your next visit to the Phi Phi Islands:
1. Take a Day Tour of the Phi Phi Islands
The best way to see all of Phi Phi Islands’ highlights is to hop on a day tour! These usually include a visit to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, and Bamboo Island, as well as lots of snorkeling stops on the way.
Day tours from Phi Phi Don can cost anywhere from 600-1,500 bahts per person, going up to around 2,500-3,500 for a private tour.
Note: a National Park Fee of 400 baht per person is required to visit the other islands of the archipelago. Some tours include this fee and others don’t, always double-check!
If you’re looking for the coolest party boat, we highly recommend the Phi Phi Pirate Boat (1,500 bahts, including National Park Fee). For a private longtail trip, we recommend Che (WA: +66 98 076 4105). A sunset tour with him costs around 2,500 bahts for 4 people + National Park Fee.
Around Tonsai Village you can also find very cheap day trips that cost around 500 to 600 bahts per person + National Park Fee. These cheap tours are usually a Russian Roulette – some people love it, and some think they wasted their time. We were lucky and really enjoyed our cheap tour!
Pro tip: to avoid the crowds, it’s best to plan a day tour for early morning or late afternoon. Some tour operators also offer a sunset tour, which allows you to visit Maya Bay right before it closes at 5 PM when the crowds are mostly gone.
2. Do Some Beach Therapy
Get your summer bag ready! Phi Phi Islands are home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and we have a complete guide that covers ALL of them. From the stunning Maya Bay to hidden coves surrounded by impressive limestone cliffs, there’s a beach for every type of traveler on Phi Phi!
Also read: The Complete Guide to ALL of Phi Phi Islands Beaches
3. Hike to Phi Phi Island’s Viewpoints
Phi Phi Don has three viewpoints, named Viewpoint 1, 2, and 3, that offer amazing views of the island! The first level offers a view of the main town of Tonsai, while the second level provides a view of Tonsai Bay and the surrounding islands. The third level offers the most spectacular view of all, with an uninterrupted view of the island’s stunning coastline.
They’re all accessible through the same route: a super steep staircase close to Tonsai Village! The journey takes around 20-30 minutes and the stairs will take you to a small ticket office where a fee of around 30 baht is required for access to Viewpoints 1 & 2. If you opt to make your way to Viewpoint 3, there’s another fee of 20 baht.
Note: make sure to bring some extra cash with you as fees can change from time to time. The land is privately owned and therefore fees are up to the owner’s mood.
The best time to visit Phi Phi Viewpoint is early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the temperature is cooler, and the light is perfect for photography. However, be prepared for crowds, especially during the peak tourist season!
Also read: Top 17 Most UNIQUE Things to Do in Krabi
4. Snorkel with Sharks
Yes, you read that right! Right in front of Long Beach, near Tonsai Village, there is a famous snorkeling point called Shark Point. Here you can spot blacktip reef sharks swimming around the reef, just around 200 meters from the beach! The best time to see the sharks is during the early mornings and after 5 PM when there are fewer boats around.
You can snorkel basically everywhere on Phi Phi, but here are some of the best snorkeling spots on the archipelago:
- Hin Klang: right in front of Laem Tong Beach in the north of Phi Phi, is one of the best places to snorkel in all of Southern Thailand!
- Bamboo Island: located about 5km from Phi Phi Don, this small island is surrounded by an extensive reef, perfect for snorkeling.
- Loh Moo Dee Beach: on the opposite side and just a short 15-minute walk from Long Beach, this peaceful beach has a beautiful coral reef suitable for snorkeling.
- Pileh Lagoon: this one really depends on the time of the day you’re visiting. Since the lagoon gets really crowded after 10 AM, the best time to snorkel here is during early mornings. Separately, the low season is also best as fewer boats visit it every day.
- Maya Bay: no boats are allowed on the bay any longer, but boats can stop at about 500 meters from the beach to look at it from afar and snorkel near the limestone cliffs.
Note: if you’re snorkeling far from the beach, or on the open sea, make sure to go with a guide. Some areas can have strong currents, especially at mid-tide. For small group snorkeling tours during off-peak hours, we highly recommend Blue View Divers!
5. Take the Plunge and Go Diving
Diving sites on Phi Phi Islands are suitable for divers of all levels and are famous for the abundance of leopard sharks, colorful corals, big schools of reef fish, and other marine creatures like barracuda, lionfish, moray eels, and the occasional Whale Shark.
Some of the best diving spots on the archipelago include the Viking Cave, Bida Islands, Anemone Reef, and the wrecks: Kled Gaeow (a purposefully sunk old Thai navy ship), and King Cruiser (the remains of a car ferry that sank in 1997).
Phi Phi is also a great spot to get your PADI Open Water certification! The cost of the course is around 300-400 euros. If you’re already certificated, fun dives cost around 70-110 euros for two dives + a 600 baht (~17 euros) fee that must be paid in cash for diving in the marine park.
6. Get Adventurous & Go Jungle Hiking
The northernmost part of Phi Phi Don hosts some of the nicest beaches on the island, but the only way to access it is by either hopping on a boat or by a 2-hour adventurous jungle hike.
If you opt for the jungle hike, you can follow Google Maps up to Loh Lana Bay or you can join a guided tour with @jungletrekphiphi, which includes all Viewpoints on the way north, sunset on a secret beach, and the boat back with a quick stop to see the glowing plankton.
Also read: Khao Sok National Park – The Ultimate Guide for All Budgets
7. Paddle Your Way through Paradise
Another fun way to see all the beauty of the island is by renting a Kayak or a SUP Board. The most famous kayaking route are the ones from Loh Dalum Bay to Monkey Beach and Loh Dalum Bay to Nui Beach (which includes lots of sea caves and small coves on the way ). It takes around 25-40 minutes to Monkey Beach and 45 minutes to 1 hour to Nui Bay, depending on the wind conditions.
Other great routes are the ones from Tonsai Beach following the limestone wall to the right and from Long Beach to Vikings Beach.
Renting a kayak should cost around 200 baht per hour for a one-person kayak, or 300/hour for a two-seater. Renting for a full day should be around 500-600 baht.
8. Let Loose & Party Hard
It’s no mystery that Phi Phi is a party island and oh boy, parties do get wild here! Think riding a mechanic bull naked or fighting a stranger in a boxing ring to win a cocktail-in-a-bucket kind of wild. You can also find laid-back bars and beachfront fire shows with limbo competitions.
Some of the most famous party spots are the Slinky Beach Bar and Ibiza Beach Club at Loh Dalum Bay, and the famous Phi Phi Reggae Bar at Tonsai Village.
Bucket cocktails are sold mostly everywhere in Tonsai at night, and they cost around 150-200 baht. Needless to say, you’ll never be sure what’s really inside of these, but we can confirm it will be a party for the books.
9. Try Traditional Thai Massage
A Thai massage is probably the best way to end your days at Phi Phi Island. Massages here are super cheap (around 300 Baht for 1 hour), and massage houses are everywhere! You don’t even have to look for them, the famous “massage, massage” chanting will always find you.
