The spectacular Phi Phi Island archipelago is made up of six beautiful outlying islands located between Phuket and Krabi in the Andaman Sea. The largest island known as Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island where the tourist hotels are located, while the others are fascinating to explore by boat or underwater on a dive or snorkeling trip. The islands have magnificent vertical limestone cliffs, lush forested mountains, gorgeous white sand beaches and the clearest water you can imagine. Here are just a few highlights you cannot miss during a visit to Go Phi Phi Island
Phi Phi Ley lies to the south of Phi Phi Don and is has fascinating rock formations that jut vertically from the sea water. There are two hidden coves here, one is home to Maya Bay, where the softest powder white sand beach can be found. This is the famous film location of the movie “The Beach” featuring Leonardo Di Caprio, and as such attracts crowds of tourists each day. We strongly recommend exploring Maya Bay early in the morning to avoid the tour boats allowing you to walk freely on the beach and appreciate its full beauty!
Just around the corner from Maya Bay is an amazing emerald green lagoon surrounded by vertical cliffs. After entering the lagoon through a small passageway it feels as if you are enclosed within the lagoon walls. This is an amazing place to stop the boat to swim and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings.
Discover the historic drawings on the cave walls at Phi Phi Leh that resemble those of the Viking era. Today, this cave is also home to swallows who produce a nest from saliva, a much sought after Chinese delicacy. See how the bird’s nests are harvested by locals with a precarious formation of bamboo sticks stretching up the cave walls!
Located opposite Laemthong Beach is the tranquil Bamboo Island, the perfect island escape with a heavenly white sand beach. Unlike Phi Phi Don, there are no mountains on this small island, just a beautiful beach to swim in the crystal clear waters and picnic for lunch or stop by to watch the sunset.
Alongside Bamboo Island is a rocky island with only one small beach and a reputation for swarms of mosquitos at dusk and dawn. The attraction for Mosquito Island is underwater, with an amazing array of marine life to explore on a dive or snorkeling trip, however the National Marine Park currently banning diving trips to this island to preserve and regenerate its coral reef.
There are two islands further south of Phi Phi Leh that are said to the best in the archipelago for diving. Bida Nok and Bida Nai Islands offer a variety of reefs to explore that are habitats for a large variety of fish and marine life. Cuttlefish, titan triggerfish, squid, lobsters and morays are often seen here.
Explore the main island of Phi Phi Don which is popular all year round with backpackers and holidaymakers from around the world. Unlike the tranquil Laemthong Beach, the Tonsai area is packed with guesthouses and hotels, shops, restaurants, bars, tattoo shops and dive shops. There are some beauty spots to discover – in particular the view point on top of the mountain which overlooks both bays. Phi Phi Don is also a great place for rock climbers to test their skills on the vertical limestone cliffs.