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Koh Phi Phi Holiday Guide
December 26, 2007 |
The Hollywood blockbuster “The Beach” was filmed on Koh Phi Phi Ley
A holiday on Koh Phi Phi
Located in the Andaman Sea in the southwest of Thailand, Koh Phi Phi is a chain of six islands designated as a national marine park. The largest and only one of these islands permitting inhabitation is Phi Phi Don, where you can enjoy the newly developed tourist infrastructure. The unspoilt Phi Phi Ley is the second largest island and is only open for daytrips while the other four islands are very small and don’t permit visitors to go ashore. Phi Phi Don was considerably devastated by the 2004 tsunami which flattened nearly all of the buildings between its two bays. However, the island has been pleasantly redeveloped.
Flights to Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi Don is only accessible by boat. All public transport arrives here from Phuket, Ao Nang, Krabi and Koh Lanta Island. Diverse private boat trips are also available, and you can hire a long-tail boat to visit other islands. Bound for Phi Phi, three ferries a day leave Phuket’s ferry terminal, the journey taking two hours, and two daily boats depart from Krabi Town, the trip taking 90 minutes. There are additional boats from Ao Nang beach in Krabi as well as services directly from Koh Lanta. However, all these services are subject to change during the low season.
Sightseeing in Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi Don is renowned for its characteristic butterfly shape, and most of the tourist facilities are situated between the two deep bays, within 500m of each other. Before the tsunami, the island had become considerably over-developed, whereas current regulations have limited development along the seafront, leaving it pleasingly natural. You can walk from the central village up to a lookout point where you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the two bays.
An aerial view of Tonsai Bay - the main embarkation point on Phi Phi Don
Phi Phi Ley features a lovely unspoilt beach as well as nature trails leading to a small grotto. The water here is incredibly clear and the island is uncrowded with only a couple of tour boats arriving at a time. This is the location where numerous scenes from the Hollywood epic The Beach were filmed.
Take a Long Tail Boat for a day trip to Phi Phi Ley
Fun by night – eating, drinking and partying
As you may expect, the cuisine on Phi Phi Don is dominated by a wide range of seafood dishes served by various charming restaurants lining the main street. This island used to be a rocking spot with a vivid nightlife, beachfront parties and bars presenting live music. However, since the tsunami tourist facilities have been restricted so that the number of travellers who stay overnight has significantly decreased.
Fun by day – shopping and activities
There are not many shopping options available on Phi Phi Don, apart from a few souvenir shops and some clothing and jewellery outlets. Leisure activities comprise kayaking, which is offered at the two bays, and some beach action including volleyball. Paragliding and jet-skis have fortunately been left behind in Phuket.
The two best-liked activities in the Phi Phi islands are without doubt snorkelling and diving. Several operators provide dive trips to the reefs of the area. If you don’t possess a PADI certification, you can easily arrange snorkelling in connection with a boat tour to the islands. A further appealing recreational activity is rock climbing, with excellent opportunities on the karst formations that provide stunning panoramas.
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