Phi Phi Island in Krabi

General information about Phi Phi

Phi Phi (Koh Phi-Phi, also Pi-pi) – a group of six islands in Krabi Province in the waters of the Andaman Sea (archipelago on the map). Usually, when tourists talk about Phi Phi, they most often do not mean the archipelago completely, but specifically the island of Phi Phi Don. Guidebooks are also often written in this way, without mentioning the existence of other small islands in the archipelago. Indeed, Phi Phi Don is the only one in the archipelago that is a full-fledged resort with its own infrastructure, beaches, and a large number of hotels. In general, the Phi Phi archipelagos include the following islands:

• Phi Phi Don Island (Ko Phi-Phi Don, also Phi-Phi Don) is the largest and most popular in the archipelago. Of course, compared to other popular Thai islands, it is just a crumb, its area is only 9.73 square kilometers, and less than three thousand people live here permanently (Pi-Pi Don on the map). Compare this with Phuket, which occupies 576 square kilometers! However, despite its size, it is a very popular and well–known place: tourists from all over the world know him and try to get here.

• Phi Phi Lei (Phi-Phi Leh). An uninhabited island, famous for the fact that the movie "The Beach" starring Leonard DiCaprio was shot here (Pi-Pi Lei on the map). It can be visited as an excursion, if you want to spend the night camping, but no more. See learn more about Phi Phi Lei.

• Ko Mai Phai (also Bamboo Island, Bamboo Island). A non-residential island with a beautiful beach, where vacationers are brought for several hours with excursions, and without any infrastructure (Ko Mai Phai on the map).

• Ko Yung (also Mosquito Island, Mosquito Island). Also non-residential, you can visit it only by hiring a boat, because excursions are not carried here (Ko Mai Phai on the map).

• Bida Nok and Bida Nai. Two tiny limestone islands with steep shores, where it is almost impossible to land. In the waters around them, stops are made for diving or snorkeling during sea excursions. Not independently visited (Bida Nok and Bida Nai on the map).

Rest on Phi Phi

Phi Phi Don is a real paradise where the best for recreation is combined: beautiful sandy beaches, clear turquoise water, sun all year round, free youth atmosphere. But do not think that since this is a remote small island, a rustic atmosphere reigns here – rather the opposite. In the main village and the center of Ton Sai Island, noisy parties do not subside until late at night, progressive rhythms can be heard from bars and discos on the beaches. If this is not enough, you can arrange your party right on the beach, there will always be plenty of people willing to join you. If the noisy nightlife is not for you, and you want to enjoy the peace and quiet – this is not a problem: you can choose places to relax on remote beaches.

You can spend your entire vacation here, or spend only a few days. It will be much more interesting if you diversify your trip by stopping at other resorts in the province of Krabi. For example, you can spend half of your vacation on the mainland of the province, where you can get acquainted with the natural sights of Krabi, and the other half on Pi-Pi. You can also combine PhiPhi with a vacation on Phuket, which is located at the same distance as the mainland of the province.

However, the popularity of this place is also the downside of rest. Unfortunately, the endless flow of tourists and buildings are not changing the image of the resort for the better. It affected not only the relief and nature of all the islands of the archipelago, but also the sea. Walking water in general is still clear, but there is a lot of garbage floating in it. Once perfectly clean sandy beaches, even on uninhabited islets, are littered with garbage that tourists leave behind, or it just throws up on the shore by waves. Coral reefs are dying from human actions, the diversity of underwater life is decreasing. In order to somehow rectify the situation, starting in 2017, the authorities began to temporarily close parts of the archipelago for tourists to visit, and there is even talk of completely closing Phi Phi Don for several years to restore it. Most likely this will not happen, but Phi Phi Lay, where the famous Mai Bay (Leonardo DiCaprio Beach) is located, has already been closed to the public since June 01, 2018 for four months.

Phi Phi Infrastructure

As we have already mentioned, there is a tourist infrastructure only on Phi Phi Don, the rest of the islands of the archipelago are not intended for long-term rest. Phi Phi Don has everything for recreation: budget hostels and five-star hotels with their own beaches, cafes and restaurants, markets and supermarkets, excursions and private guides. There is Internet in every, even the most inexpensive hotel. There are ATMs, banks and currency exchange.

In 2004, the entire archipelago was severely affected by the tsunami, killing 2,000 people. After that, everything was rebuilt, and today nothing reminds of that disaster.

Weather and tourist seasons in Phi Phi, when is the best time to go

Phi Phi is a year-round resort, but during the year the weather changes significantly seasonally, which coincide with the mainland of Krabi and Phuket.

From November to May (until the first half) the high season takes place. The temperature is not too hot, rains are rare. This is the best time to relax, but at the same time a period of influx of tourists and higher prices. There are especially many vacationers from January to April.

Since May (second half) The low season runs through October. It is also the rainy season with the rainiest months in May, September and October. The temperature is very high, an average of 29-30 degrees, precipitation and cloud cover are not uncommon. But the prices of housing and services are going down, there are much fewer tourists. This period is also a good time to go to Phi Phi, and in fact, prolonged downpours for several days are rare, mostly it rains no more than two hours a day, after which it abruptly changes to sunny weather.

Seasons in Krabi by month, when is the best time to go

Current weather in Krabi/Phi Phi and the forecast for the near future:

Attractions and entertainment, things to do

There are practically no historical or cultural attractions on Phi Phi Don and the entire archipelago. The attractions are the islands themselves, their beaches and natural resources. The latter, by the way, disappear quite quickly due to human actions, and this is especially true of the underwater world: corals are dying, the diversity of fish and other marine life is decreasing.

On the main island of Phi Phi Don there are several amazingly beautiful isolated beaches that can be reached on foot, and some only by boat. Some of them are known as the habitat of monkeys. But do not think that since these places are hard to reach, there will be no one there but you. Almost every more or less beautiful bay or beach is visited by large groups of tourists arriving here from other resorts in the province of Krabi and Phuket.

You can also go on a walking tour on foot to one of the observation points on the island's mountains. These are easy hiking trails accessible to everyone without preparation, you just need to take drinking water with you. These observation decks offer panoramic views of the island, and here you can meet the dawn or sunset.

Be sure to swim to one of the uninhabited islands of the archipelago, most often it is Phi Phi Lei and Bamboo Island (Ko Mai Phai). On Phi Phi Lei they visit the famous bay where the movie "The Beach" was filmed, and on Bamboo Island you can just relax on a wonderful sandy beach. Snorkeling or diving are also very popular, because it is believed that they are almost the best in all of Thailand. However, do not naively assume that you will be alone in these places: everything is crowded with tourists who are taken on excursions from Phuket and the mainland of Krabi.

Well, if you see all the sea and island sights, and you want something else, you can go to the mainland and get acquainted with the sights of the province of Krabi. You can do this yourself by getting out of Phi Phi by ferry for a couple of days to the mainland, and rent a transport there. You can also buy a group tour right on the island, but this is not so interesting, since you will spend most of the time on the road.