Koh Phi Phi

What is Koh Phi Phi known for?

You want Maya Bay quiet, with the cliffs and the water and almost no one else. Leave early by private speedboat and you get it. Koh Phi Phi is known for Maya Bay, made famous by the film The Beach. It is also known for sheer limestone cliffs above clear water full of fish. Phi Phi Don, the larger island, also has busy bars and crowds. The real beauty is on the water, around the empty island of Phi Phi Leh.

The group has two main islands. Phi Phi Don has the hotels, the main port at Tonsai Bay and a small village. Phi Phi Leh has no hotels and holds Maya Bay, Loh Samah and Pileh Lagoon. A private boat lets you see the best of both in a single morning.

Beyond Maya Bay, the best stops are Pileh Lagoon, a green pool ringed by cliffs, and the reefs off Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island. The water is clear in the dry season, and reef fish come close to the surface. In the evening, the centre of Phi Phi Don has many bars; our advice is a quiet dinner elsewhere.

Is Koh Phi Phi worth visiting?

Yes, as a private boat day from Phuket or Krabi. The view of Maya Bay from the water is the one to come for. Stay overnight only on the quiet north coast of Phi Phi Don. The centre of Phi Phi Don is crowded, noisy at night and not a luxury setting. The water is where Phi Phi shines.

Start at 7:00 and you have Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the snorkel spots at their best. By late morning the day boats arrive in large numbers. By then you are ahead of them, heading for lunch somewhere quiet.

Example plan: one private day on Phi Phi. You leave Phuket at about 6:30 after an early coffee and reach Maya Bay as it opens at 07:00. You swim in Pileh Lagoon, then snorkel a quiet reef. Lunch is on a calm beach or on board. You are back at your villa by mid-afternoon, before the sea picks up.

With young children, remember that boat days are long and sunny. We bring shade, cold drinks, life jackets in every size and snacks. If the children tire, the captain shortens the route and heads home. Nothing on a private day is fixed, so the pace follows your group.

Coming for one day? Our Phi Phi island tour guide shows the private boat route, from Maya Bay at first light to Bamboo Island.

What are the rules at Maya Bay?

Maya Bay has strict rules. Boats land passengers at the Loh Samah pier on the back of the island. They then move to a buoy set by park officials. Swimming at Maya Bay is not allowed. The bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September, the Royal Gazette notice shows.

Visits run from 07:00 to 18:00 in rounds of up to one hour, PRD Radio Krabi reports. You walk a short boardwalk from Loh Samah to the viewing area on the beach. Anchoring on coral is banned. Ko Yung, nearby, is closed indefinitely.

Park tickets are electronic, and TAT advises visitors to carry a passport. Foreign adults pay ฿400 and children ฿200, the Tourism Authority of Thailand states. The park is also on the Department of National Parks special-fee list. Drones need written permission from the park chief, applied for in advance.

Please respect the bay. Stay on the boardwalk and marked paths, take all rubbish back to the boat and do not touch or stand on coral at any stop. Use reef-safe sunscreen. These rules helped Maya Bay recover after its long closure, and park rangers enforce them.

Where should you stay on Koh Phi Phi?

Stay on the quiet north coast of Phi Phi Don, away from Tonsai village. SAii Phi Phi Island Village and Phi Phi The Beach Resort are the most comfortable options. OUTRIGGER Phi Phi Island Resort, formerly Zeavola, is in a soft opening. Some villas, the restaurant and the spa are still being finished, OUTRIGGER says.

SAii Phi Phi Island Village. A large beachfront resort on a quiet bay in the north-east, with pools and villas. It suits families.

OUTRIGGER Phi Phi Island Resort. The former Zeavola on the north coast, planned at 63 suites and villas after renovation, OUTRIGGER's news release said. Check what is open before you book.

Phi Phi The Beach Resort. A hillside resort above a quiet bay, with sea views from its rooms. It suits couples who want peace.

Book early for December to March, when the few good rooms fill fast. Transfers to the north coast run by boat from Tonsai or direct from Phuket, so we arrange the boat with your room.

Our advice: stay in Phuket and see Phi Phi as a day trip. That is the honest answer, even if a night on the island is easier to sell. One planner books your villa, car and boat as one trip, for any group size, with our Thai team at the pier. Read our Phuket guide for villas and resorts.

Is Koh Phi Phi expensive, and is it better than Phuket?

Yes, Phi Phi Don is more expensive than you might expect for the comfort it offers, because everything comes by boat. Phuket is the better base, with more luxury resorts, villas and restaurants. Phi Phi is best as a day out from Phuket or Krabi, or one night on its quiet north coast.

A private speedboat from Phuket gives you Phi Phi without the crowds or the move. You leave your villa after an early breakfast, stand on Maya Bay's sand before nine, and are back for a sunset swim.

What adds to the cost? Park fees for each guest, the boat, fuel for the route and lunch. A private boat is the one cost worth paying for here. You choose the timing, reach Maya Bay before the crowds and travel only with your group. Tanner gives a written quote with every item listed.

How do you get to Koh Phi Phi?

Take a private speedboat from Phuket or Krabi, the fastest and most flexible way. Public ferries run from Rassada Pier in Phuket to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. The trip takes about 2 hours, the ferry line's timetable shows. From Krabi, ferries leave Khlong Jilad Pier. Phi Phi has no airport.

Our private island day charter and Phuket yacht charter cover the boat, crew, drinks and snorkel gear. See our Phuket to Phi Phi and Krabi to Phi Phi guides for every option.

How long does a private speedboat take? It depends on the boat, the sea and the route, so we plan the timing with the captain the day before. On calm days, the crossing is smooth and quick. On windy days, a larger boat is more comfortable, and we may adjust the plan.

Luggage and transfers are simple. Our driver collects you from your villa, the boat crew meet you at the pier, and the same crew bring you back. If you stay overnight on Phi Phi, the boat takes you straight to your resort's beach where possible.

When is the best time to visit Koh Phi Phi?

The best time to visit Koh Phi Phi is November to April, the Tourism Authority of Thailand advises. The sea is calm and clear. From May to October, the Andaman Sea is often rough, and boats can be held back by high waves. Maya Bay is closed from 1 August to 30 September.

The Thai Meteorological Department's Phuket records show February as the driest month and September as the wettest. For more, see our Krabi guide.

In the green season, some days are still calm and bright, and the islands are quieter. Keep plans flexible, as the captain may move a trip to a better day. In the high season, start early to see Maya Bay before the busiest hours.