Complete guide to the Phi Phi Islands: what to do, where to stay and when to go
- Mar 2
- 8 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Phi Phi (also known as Koh Phi Phi) is a small archipelago in the Andaman Sea, in southern Thailand. It’s known for its dramatic cliffs, turquoise water, and storybook-like coves.
Most of the action is on Phi Phi Don, the inhabited island, where you’ll find a perfect mix of quiet beaches, narrow streets with bars and food stalls, and travelers soaking up the laid-back island vibe.
Just a few minutes away by boat is Phi Phi Leh (the wild little gem of the national park) with caves, lagoons, and crystal-clear bays that make you want to jump straight into the water.
In this complete guide to the Phi Phi Islands, we share everything you need to plan your trip: how to get around, where to stay, what to do, and when to go depending on the weather.
What will you find in this complete guide to the Phi Phi Islands?
📍 How to get around in the Phi Phi Islands walking, boats and how transport actually works
🏠 Where to stay by area best zones depending on noise, budget and vibe
🌊 What to do in the Phi Phi Islands boat tours, viewpoints, nightlife and must-do experiences
🏝️ Best beaches in Phi Phi hidden spots, famous bays and where to relax
🌧️ Best time to visit and rainy season weather, rainy season and when to avoid crowds
✨ Our experience honest tips, mistakes and what we’d do differently
How to get around in the Phi Phi Islands
Getting around Phi Phi is easy and very laid-back. There are no cars or motorbikes on the islands, and most journeys are made on foot or by boat.
Walking
On Phi Phi Don, the main island, everything is quite close: beaches, bars, restaurants, tour offices, and accommodations.
Walking is the most common and practical way to get around.
If you stay in areas like Tonsai Village or Loh Dalum, you’ll barely need any other transport.
Boats and longtail boats
To travel between islands (such as from Phi Phi Don to Phi Phi Leh or nearby islands), the usual way is by the famous longtail boats or speedboats. They’re fast, picturesque, and the best way to enjoy the scenery and reach all the little corners of the islands.
Many accommodations also offer private boats or organized tours, which makes exploring the area much easier without worrying about logistics.
Where to stay in Phi Phi
The main island is Koh Phi Phi Don, and that’s where almost all accommodations are located.
It’s divided into areas that are fully accessible on foot and more isolated areas where you depend entirely on a longtail boat.
Areas accessible on foot
Tonsai Village / Tonsai Bay
The most touristy and central area of Phi Phi.
Located in the middle of the island, where everything is walkable: the pier, restaurants, tour offices, bars, and excursions.
✔️ Many accommodations of all types
✔️ Ideal if you're traveling on a budget
❌ One of the noisiest areas due to beach parties and bars
❌ Not the island’s best beaches, although you can reach nicer ones in about 10 minutes on foot
Where we stayed:
We stayed at Phi Phi at Pier Hotel and had a great experience. The hotel felt beautiful, quite new, and the service was excellent. It’s also right across from the pier, where all the longtail boats are docked.
⭐️ What we liked most ⭐️
• Beautiful views
• Not right in the middle of the chaos
• Directly opposite the port, just a 3-minute walk away (this was a HUGE WIN)
❗️ Good to know ❗️
✔️ The beach here isn’t the prettiest since it’s the port beach, although the view is still lovely
✔️ We had no noise issues, but we visited in the low season, which likely helped
Loh Dalum Bay
The liveliest beach area.
This is where most of the nightlife happens: bars, music, beach parties, and fire shows. The beach is wide and beautiful and during the day it’s usually quite calm.
❌ Very noisy until late
Viewpoint Zone:
A much quieter area than the center with spectacular views .
It's a 10–15 minute walk from the town. The beaches are a bit further away.
❌ There are many stairs and steep climbs
❌ Not recommended if you’re traveling with heavy luggage.
Areas where you'll need a boat
These beaches are incredible, but because they’re more isolated, they can only be accessed by boat.
Long Beach
A stunning beach with crystal-clear water, ideal for snorkeling with reef sharks. This area has quieter, higher-end hotels.
❗ Cons
• About a 30–40 minute walk to town through jungle and over rocks (not recommended at night because it’s completely dark)
• Most people go back and forth by longtail boat
Laem Tong Beach (resort area)
The most exclusive and peaceful part of Phi Phi, with idyllic beaches perfect for disconnecting. Mid- to high-range resorts are located here.
❗ Cons
Completely isolated, only accessible by boat
You’ll usually eat most meals at the hotel
Rantee Bay, Phak Nam Bay and other isolated coves
Areas of total tranquility, with beautiful beaches and boutique hotels surrounded by nature.
❗ Cons
Full dependence on longtail boats
If the sea is rough, transfers can be difficult
Things to keep in mind before booking
From our personal experience, we don’t think staying in boat-only areas is really worth it.
Why we don’t recommend it:
• You depend on boat schedules
• Every boat transfer costs money
• You lose the freedom to walk around town whenever you want
• In many isolated areas, there’s only the hotel restaurant
We recommend checking the accommodation location very carefully before booking. We actually had to change ours last minute for this exact reason.
Phi Phi is a small island, and there are plenty of excursions that take you to all the surrounding beaches, so you don’t need to stay in an isolated area to enjoy them.
What to do in the Phi Phi Islands
Here are the best things to do in Phi Phi to make the most of the islands, based on our experience.
BOAT EXCURSIONS: The best of Phi Phi
Phi Phi Latino Excursion (Spanish-speaking tour)
First things first: if you speak Spanish, we highly recommend this tour. We genuinely loved it.
It’s a full-day Spanish-language tour that takes you to the most famous Phi Phi islands and beaches, including:
Maya Bay
Bamboo Island
Pileh Lagoon
Mosquito Island
Monkey Beach
Raya Bay
Viking Cave
Nui Bay
And also, sunset views.
The entire route is done in traditional longtail boats and includes:
✔️ Breakfast
✔️ Lunch
✔️ Water throughout the day
✔️ Snorkel mask
We found it very complete and absolutely recommend it.
👉 Tip: book in advance. It sells out quickly. It’s also a great way to meet people.
Price: 1200 THB + 400 THB national park entrance fee (Maya Bay and Bamboo Island).
You can find them on Instagram as PhiPhi Latino .
If you’re looking for an English-speaking option, there are plenty of similar tours available around the island.
Private tour on a longtail boat
You can also arrange private longtail boat trips.
Prices vary depending on distance and locations:
Half day (3 h): 1500 THB
Full day (6 h): 3000 THB
Loh Moo Dee (one way): 600 THB
Bamboo Island (4 h / 45 min journey): 2500 THB
👉 You can hire them directly along the Tonsai waterfront.
WALK AROUND TONSAI VILLAGE
A lively little town and the busiest area of Phi Phi Don, where most restaurants, cafés, tour offices, and shops are located.
The streets are narrow and full of stalls selling everything from woven bags and bracelets to super refreshing mango smoothies for hot days.
And the best part: everything is steps from the beach. You can literally be having a drink in Tonsai and, 30 seconds later, have your toes in the sand.
VIEWPOINTS AND INCREDIBLE VIEWS
Phi Phi Viewpoint
From the viewpoint, you get a unique perspective of the island, with Tonsai and Loh Dalum bays in front and Phi Phi Leh off to the side.
🌅 Route: the climb is short but demanding, especially because of the steep stairs at the beginning and the heat.
🕑 Approximate times
Viewpoint 1: 15–25 min
Viewpoint 2: 25–40 min
Viewpoint 3: 40–60 min
The path is well signposted and combines stairs, paved sections, and dirt trail.
🗺️ Recommended route: start from Tonsai Village, follow signs to Viewpoint 1, and continue upward.
NIGHTLIFE IN PHI PHI
Phi Phi is famous for its vibrant nightlife. Most of it happens in Loh Dalum Bay, on the opposite side of the ferry pier.
Beach bars
Fire shows
Music and parties until late
🌊 Best Beaches in Phi Phi
In Phi Phi you’ll find everything from very quiet beaches to hidden coves that, as mentioned, can only be reached by boat.
Beaches you can reach on foot
Town beach — lively, with bars and restaurants
✔️ Super affordable
❌ Not ideal if you're looking for nature or quiet
Long Beach
One of the island’s most beautiful, relaxed atmosphere (25–35 min walk or by boat)
Loh Moo Dee Beach
Very quiet, 15–20 minutes from Long Beach .
Rantee Beach
Uncrowded with palm trees and crystal clear water. You can get there by walking along a jungle-like path or by boat.
Beaches only reachable by boat
If you want to explore independently without a tour, you can use longtail boats (water taxis). Just go to the pier and ask prices and destinations.
Monkey Beach: ideal for snorkeling and nature.
Nui Beach: small, idyllic, and very quiet.
Wang Long Bay: excellent snorkeling
Bamboo Island: one of the most beautiful with white sand and turquoise waters
Maya Bay (Phi Phi Leh): famous for its scenery, accessible only by boat.
PRICES DEPEND ON ROUTE
Taxi boat within Phi Phi Don: 100–150 THB per person (e.g. to Long Beach).
Remote beaches or coves accessible only by sea: 300–600 THB depending on distance.
Private boat (ideal for Bamboo Island, Nui Beach or Monkey Beach): 2,000–3,000 THB per boat.
OUR FAVORITES
⭐️BAMBOO ISLAND
⭐️LOH MOO DEE BEACH
OTHER ACTIVITIES...
THAI MASSAGES AND SPA
You'll find them all over the island at super affordable prices.
DIVE
A little more expensive than in other places in Thailand but definitely amazing.
KAYAK AND PADDLE BOARD
You will find various stalls near the beach for approximately 150-300 TB/hour
Best time to visit the Phi Phi Islands — weather and rainy season
Phi Phi has a tropical climate, with warmth and humidity year-round. Daytime temperatures usually range from 26–32 °C (79–90 °F), and nights are warm and pleasant.
The difference between dry and rainy season is mostly seen in rainfall, sea conditions, and water visibility.es:
🌞 Dry season (November – April)
Mostly sunny days and ideal temperatures.
Calmer seas, perfect for snorkeling, and boat trips.
Best months: December to March.
🌧️ Rainy season (May – October)
Higher humidity and more frequent rain, especially between September and October.
Rougher sea at times, affecting boat trips.
Fewer tourists and lower prices for accommodation and tours.
When did we go?
We visited in July, which is the rainy season, and the weather was quite changeable. The first day was spectacular (sun and clear skies) perfect for enjoying the island. But then the rain arrived, sometimes heavy, which meant it wasn’t the best season to experience everything fully.
That said, temperature was never an issue: even with rain, it stayed warm and pleasant. Locals told us the previous week had been sunny, which confirms how unpredictable the weather can be this time of year.
OUR EXPERIENCE
The Phi Phi Islands were a destination we had been really looking forward to, and in many ways they lived up to it. The scenery feels straight out of a movie, dramatic landscapes and turquoise water everywhere.
Even so, it wasn’t our best stop of the trip. We arrived tired, it was our final destination in Southeast Asia and to top it all off, we both got food poisoning and lost a full day recovering.
A small warning: this is fairly common, mainly due to non-potable water, even through ice or brushing your teeth.
We also traveled in the rainy season without realizing Thailand’s climate varies by region. We had just come from Koh Tao with perfect weather, and here the rain changed some plans.
Still, Phi Phi has something special, and it’s a place we would absolutely return to for a second chance.
Keep planning your trip to Thailand
The Phi Phi Islands are part of our tour of Thailand.
If you’re planning your itinerary, continue with:
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