Top things to do and to see in Phi Phi Island

Phi Phi Island is probably the most famous island in Thailand. In this travel guide, you can find some of the top things to do and see in this amazing place.

If you are looking for information about Phi Phi island, one thing that is immediately clear is that this island is a tourist trap. That is why I wasn’t excited to travel there. However, I think certain places should be visited at least once, and Phi Phi was one of them.

After my trip, I can confirm what many other people said: Phi Phi island is indeed a tourist trap, but I want to add that not all islands are that bad.

In this article, I will explain how you can relax and avoid most tourists, even those on one of the most visited islands in the world.

Useful info

The first thing to say when talking about Phi Phi is that there are two islands with almost identical names, Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Leh, which are very close.

The only Island where you can stay for the night is Koh Phi Phi Don. Koh Phi Phi Leh is an uninhabited island declared a natural reserve. The famous Maya Bay (from the movie The Beach) is in Koh Phi Phi Leh; see the first picture of this post. It’s not possible to spend the night in Koh Phi Phi Leh.

Phi Phi Don is where all the tourists from Ao Nang and Phuket arrive. Getting there is relatively easy. If you are in Krabi or Phuket, you can take a ferry boat (it takes about 3 hours). You can book your ticket at several travel agencies around Krabi.

Most tourists stay in the southern part of the island, in Tong Sai Bay, where almost all hotels and restaurants are located. Tong Say Bay is a tourist trap: McDonald’s, Italian restaurants, fire shows in the evening in many restaurants, and hundreds of shops selling all the same things made in China. Despite this, Phi Phi is still a beautiful island, and with some tricks, you can enjoy this paradise and avoid most tourists.

Everything depends to a large extent on the choice of the hotel. Yes, because apart from Tong Sai Bay to the south, another part of the island in the north is completely disconnected and only accessible by boat. The northern part of Phi Phi is a real paradise; you will find all the best resorts. Sleeping in the north of Phi Phi is not cheap, but I think it’s worth spending at least two nights, especially if you have traveled all the way to Phi Phi Island.

Phi Phi Island: When to go

The climate in Phi Phi, in the Andaman Sea, is tropical, so it’s hot all year round. The rainy season runs from May to the end of October, while the dry season runs from December to March. Keep in mind that even in the dry season, there can be occasional showers, especially in December.

I recommend visiting Thailand during the dry season since the water in the ocean will be much clearer and ideal for snorkeling and diving.

Where to stay in the north of the Island

In this part of the island, there are far fewer tourists than in the south, and honestly, it seems to be a completely different place. There are several resorts, and I stayed at the Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island.

The location is great, as you would expect from a Holiday Inn Resort. Although some bungalows are a bit too old, the area is spectacular. There are three swimming pools, one perfect for watching the sunset while sipping a cocktail. The resort is right on the beach and covered with thick tropical vegetation. As soon as you arrive north of Phi Phi, the hordes of tourists will be only a distant memory.

I read on some blogs that getting to this part of the island is expensive because you’ll have to take a long-tail boat. It’s not true: there is a ferry that, for a few euros, will take you to the north of Phi Phi. The ferry leaves twice a day.

The downside of sleeping in this part of the island is that the few restaurants there cost about twice as much as those in Tong Sai, and there’s not much to do in the evening. But I also imagine that if someone decides to sleep in this part of Phi Phi, they don’t have much interest in nightlife.

Where to stay in the south of the Island

If you want to save some money, stay in the Tong Sai area. You’ll find plenty of options on Trip. Some hotels can be reached on foot, while others might require a 5-minute longtail ride.

If your accommodation is in Long Beach, you’ll probably find fewer people than near the main bay area.

Things to do and to see

The main reason to visit Phi Phi is for the beautiful beaches and crystal clear water. So, the main thing to do is visit Maya Bay and the nearby beaches.

The problem is that Phi Phi is full of tourists who have come for the same reason. So what can you do to avoid the crowd and enjoy this paradise? There are several travel agencies scattered around the island that offer more or less standard tours to all the main attractions. Still, the only real way to avoid tourists is to ask one of the locals with a long-tail boat to take you where you want very early in the morning.

When I say very early in the morning, you should be in Maya Bay by 6:30 a.m. at the latest. Remember that Phi Phi Leh is close to the southern part of Phi Phi Don, so it takes about one hour to get there if you are north of the island. I arrived at Maya Bay at 6:30 a.m., and there were two other boats. At 7:00 a.m., it was already full of tourists.

In Tong Sai Bay, you’ll see many agencies trying to sell Maya Bay tours that leave early in the morning to “avoid tourists”. That’s unfortunately not true. They will all get to Maya Bay after 7:30 am, which is too late.

Here’s another tip: when you arrange your island-hopping tour with one of the locals, tell him you also want to see Koh Bida Nok. It’s a small island that is quite popular among divers. None of the tourists who join the regular tours visit this amazing place. If they tell you that it’s not good for snorkeling, don’t listen to them. It’s one of the best places where you can snorkel around Phi Phi Island. You’ll see an incredible number of starfish and tropical fish.

If you don’t really mind the crowds and your priority is having some comfort, then you can book one of the tours available here.

Phi Phi Island Rules

Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh closes annually from August 1 to September 30 for marine rehabilitation, then typically reopens on October 1, so travel in those months will not include landings at the bay.

When open, access is via the floating pier at Loh Sama Bay with a boardwalk to the beach. Boats cannot anchor or land on Maya Bay itself, and swimming is generally not allowed to protect reef sharks and recovering coral. On top of that, visitor numbers are managed with capacity limits and timed entry during peak hours.

The bay is inside Hat Noppharat Thara, Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, so bring cash for park fees collected by rangers or at the pier, and expect standard national park rules: no feeding fish, no coral or shell collecting, no littering, and permits needed for drones.

During the August to September closure, tours still operate around Phi Phi Don and alternative bays, focusing on snorkeling and viewpoints rather than Maya Bay landings.

Rules can be fine-tuned each season, including stricter time slots or conservation measures, so double-check close to travel dates and choose operators who follow park guidance to avoid last-minute changes.

Losama Bay reminds me of Big Lagoon in El Nido, in the Philippines.

The panoramic view of Tong Sai

Another thing worth doing in Phi Phi is hiking up to the viewpoint for a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire bay, with its turquoise waters and curved beaches. The climb is not too difficult, but it does get steep in parts, so bring some water and wear comfortable shoes.

I recommend starting early in the morning or going in the late afternoon to avoid the hottest hours of the day and to enjoy softer light for photos. If you stay until sunset, you’ll be rewarded with an incredible scene as the sun dips behind the limestone cliffs.

Last but not least, check the tide timing, or you’ll end up with an ugly picture like mine.

Final thoughts

Phi Phi left me with conflicting feelings. Unfortunately, it’s a real paradise ruined by mass tourism. We must remember that we are all responsible if we go there. Phi Phi reminded me of the Philippines, although Thailand is a real tourism machine and, therefore, much more exploited.

I think it’s worth visiting Phi Phi at least once in a lifetime, but keep in mind what you’ll find there. Having said that, Thailand is still a wonderful country where you can eat very well, there are fantastic beaches, and the prices are very affordable.

Last but not least, I recommend getting a reliable Travel Insurance when traveling abroad. I use this one, which I think is currently one of the best in terms of price/coverage. I love that it works on a monthly subscription, so I can easily adjust it as my plans change. Plus, it’s valid in over 180 countries, including short visits back home, making it perfect for anyone living a nomadic lifestyle.

If you need an eSIM, I recommend this one. You can read my travel guide about swimming with Whale Sharks in the Philippines here. Here are more pictures I took in Krabi. If you want to visit Bangkok, don’t miss Ayutthaya. You can read more info here.