Ko Phi Phi

The beach on this side of the island is popular with sun worshippers and beach partyers.

The day on Loh Dalam Bay can- be divided into 4 – morning – early afternoon – very quiet as most backpackers are resting.

The afternoon is sun tanning time

As this bay faces west/north west the evening time can be spent watching the sun fade in a rosé sky.

After dark the bay comes alive to the sound of music – as night after night it reverberates to the sounds of beach parties till early dawn.
Morning then comes and the cycle starts over.

Flyers with the latest night time beach party are circulated throughout the day – so it's hard to miss hearing what's about to happen

Long beach is much more quiet and relaxing than Loh Dalam Bay. It can be accessed by long boat from the ferry port or by road winding through the town.

Long Beach – stretches for several kilometres and lies just east of the main village. Easy access to the beach and resorts is by long tail taxi from the ferry port across Ton Sai Bay.

This beach is much more quiet than the beach on Loh Dalam Bay. Between the village and the edge of the beach a number of small restaurants provide good food and have a spectacular view of Ton Sai Bay

Phi Phi Don is the main island of the Phi Phi islands – there are six in total – the mains one being Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh – just across the bay from Long Beach.

This bay is across from Long Beach and the viewing point on the east side of the hill.

This beach is quite accessible from Long Beach – so if you stay at a Long Beach resort – you can easily follow one of the small roads over the hill to the palm lined beach.

The beach is backed in the north by hills that reach down to the waters edge. On the south side tall palm and coconut trees offer shade during the hot day.

The beach is relatively small compared to the main beaches – its about 400 metres in length but during the low tide it broadens out as the water recedes.

After a pleasant day stretched out on the beach why not take a hite up the many steps to the veiwing poing overlooking Phi Phi town and beaches. From here on clear days teh sunset can be spectacular.

The Ferries from Krabi and Phuket moor at the village port.

Scheduled Ferry are the cheapest and most popular method to get to Phi Phi Island.

Ferry crossings take about 2 hours from Phuket and roughly 90 minutes from Krabi depending on conditions and run every day all year round.

Most of the year the trip is fairly smooth although conditions can get a little more choppy during the months of September and October.

If departing Phi Phi to an airport, allow yourself at least an hour to get to the airport from Phuket Port and 40 minutes from Krabi Port to the Krabi Airport.

Ton Sai is the main village on Phi Phi. On both sides of Ton Sai, the circular bays have long stretches of white soft sand.

The island's village is built on a sandy isthmus, connecting two limestone hills. On either side of the village are wide open bays, lined by sandy beaches.

The isthmus – is flat – not more than a metre or two at it's highest. The village was devastated by the 2004 tsunami. Today it has an early warning system with escape routes marked.

Apart from through the village there are virtually no roads- just hard packed tracks. Motor bikes are minimal and cars hardly exist.

Porters often meet the ferries and carry heavy bags to the local hotels.

Immortalised in the movie "The Beach" this sheltered bay and stretch of sandy beach is high on the list of things to do.

The secluded beach of Maya Bay was immortalised in the 2000 movie the Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio and has become a favourite haunt of visitors to Ko Phi Phi – though common first reactions is "oh it's not as I expected " especially at low tide or "oh it's so crowded ".

Some boats take you in through the main water channel in front of the beach others, anchor in a small bay, and let you swim about ten metres to a rope ladder, where upon to haul yourself through a gap in the rocks.
If venturing for the swim make sure you have water tight bags for cameras and phones – many are water damaged before ever seeing the beach.

In recent years, toilets and café have been built – allowing some luxury on the island.
Despite the number of visitors the island is stunning and well worth the boat ride.

Enjoy a snorkel in this amazing bay.

Loh Samah Bay is a mecca for snorkelling and divers.

Many of the tour operators stop here and visitors can experience some amazing under water sights.

The bay also has excellent dive locations – the cliffs are covered in clams and hard corals.

Scorpion fish, lionfish and angelfish are often seen by divers.

Diving trips can be arranged at many of the tour operators or dedicated diving centres on Ko Phi Phi.

On the long tail boat trip to the infamous Beach – pass by the caves where bird nests are still harvested.

On the long tail boat trip to the infamous Beach – pass by the caves where bird nests are still harvested. Enjoy the wondrous gorge of Ao Pie.

Or just enjoy the swaying of the boat as it rounds Loh Samah Bay.

Many of the tour operators stop in Loh Samah Bay for snorkelling.- During the busy season this bay can become crowded with long tail and speed boats.

The operators should be encouraged to spread their departure times out such that they don't all arrive in the Ao Pie and Loh Samah Bay at the same time.

Common comments on these trips is about the large number of people and boats spoiling the atmosphere.

If you have a chance perhaps hire a smaller longboat for a trip in the afternoon

On the trip by boat to Ko Phi Phi Leh, the operators stop at Monkey cliff for some photo opportunities.

This cliff has been inhabited by monkeys for hundreds of years.

Today they come out to greet the visitors on the daily trips to Ko Phi Phi Leh.

During any visit you will see from a distance the monkey families clinging to the cliff face or scrambling over the trees and branches.

Feeding the monkeys has been banned.

From the pier you can either book a boat tour - where you will be brought along with other visitors to some of the great locations around the islands or you can book a water taxi by the hour and suggest where you should be brought - though be open to the suggestions of the taxi operator as they know the more quiet and less frequent places.

A good way to relax is to jump over the side of a long boat into the crystal clear waters around the islands. Many of gteh boat operator carry a suppy of snorkel masks - though before you set out snorkel bet some food for the fish - they will thank you for your efforts by swimming really closeby.

The island is well served by Ferries both from Krabi and Phuket. The mid afternoon ferry may better suit the late beach party nights on the island. When booking the ferry it can be useful to have a taxi to your final location booked in advanced.