Phi Phi Island Things to Do & Detailed Travel Guide

The Phi Phi Islands are one of those iconic Thailand destinations that you’ve probably seen on postcards and all over social media. Its iconic limestone cliffs, turquoise waters and white sand beaches have made it one of the most touristy places in Thailand, but for good reason.

I visited Koh Phi Phi on my 3 week trip to Thailand and decided to stay a few nights there to explore all that the islands have to offer. In this Koh Phi Phi travel guide, I explain whether you should stay in the Phi Phi Island, how to get there, where to stay, and tell you the 6 best things to do in the Phi Phi islands, from relaxing on pristine beaches to watching fire shows at night.

About the Phi Phi Islands

The Phi Phi Islands are a small group of islands in the Andaman Sea, between Phuket and Krabi. There are two main islands – Koh Phi Phi Don, the inhabited island where you would stay, and Koh Phi Phi Leh, a protected national park home to the famous Maya Bay. The main town in Koh Phi Phi Don is just a very narrow piece of land in the middle island, where you can walk from Tonsai Bay on the south side to Loh Dalum Beach on the north side in like 2 minutes!

Should you stay on Koh Phi Phi?

Many people visit Phi Phi as a day trip from Phuket or Krabi, which is convenient if you want to see the islands without lugging your suitcases there on a ferry. But I personally think that staying at least one or two nights on Koh Phi Phi is worth it. When you stay overnight, you get to experience more than just Maya Bay and the other super popular sites. You’ll get the chance to explore remote, empty beaches, wander through the streets, watch incredible sunsets, and experience the nightlife on Koh Phi Phi.

You should stay on Koh Phi Phi overnight if…

• You are travelling from Phuket to Krabi. The Phi Phi islands are located right in the middle, so you can stop there for a couple days on the way. This is exactly what I did on my trip to Thailand.
• You are a backpacker wanting to experience some nightlife. Koh Phi Phi has some great party hostels and fire shows on the beach for those wanting to make friends and have fun at night.
• You are flying in and out of Phuket and want to experience a small Thai island without travelling too far. Although Phi Phi is not my favorite Thai island that I visited, it’s super easy to get to from Phuket, which is an hub with many international flights.

How long should you stay on Koh Phi Phi?

I recommend spending a maximum of 3 nights on Koh Phi Phi. 2-3 days will give you enough time to do and see everything on Koh Phi Phi Don and the surrounding islands. Even if you just stay 1 night, you will be able to experience a lot that the island has to offer, like the beautiful sunsets and fun nightlife.

On my trip to Thailand I spent 4 nights on Koh Phi Phi, which was 1 night too long. As a traveler who likes to explore and see new things everyday, the last day on Koh Phi Phi I felt a bit bored. However, if you are the type of traveler who likes to relax at the beach for days at a time, then you should move to Koh Phi Phi! The white sand beaches are great for lounging and the clear, blue water is perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

Getting to Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi is accessible by ferry or speedboat from Phuket, Krabi and Ao Nang. The ferries take about 2 hours, and the speedboats take 1 hour but cost a bit more.

From Phuket: Rassada Pier to Ton Sai Pier. Click here to book.
From Krabi: Nopparat Thara Pier to Ton Sai Pier. Click here to book.

Getting around Phi Phi Island

There are no cars or scooters on Koh Phi Phi, so the only way to get around is by foot. Keep this in mind when packing and when booking accommodation, since you’ll have to walk from the pier to your hotel. The roads are not ideal for wheeling a suitcase. However, our hotel was about a 5 minute walk from the pier and we had no problem wheeling our suitcases the short distance.

The island is very small and you can walk almost anywhere in town in about 10 minutes. I recommend using google maps to navigate around the island. It’s very easy to get lost in the narrow, winding pathways.

You can also get longtail taxi boats to take you to some of the remote beaches and resorts on the island, which are not accessible by foot.

Where to Stay on Koh Phi Phi

The accommodations on Koh Phi Phi range from budget hostel to beachfront resorts. Since the island is so small, almost everything is within walking distance, besides some of the resorts which are located on remote beaches.

We stayed at P2 Wood Loft, a budget-friendly hotel located right in town. I loved the location and our room was big and clean. Although it wasn’t right on the beach, there were multiple beaches within a 5 minute walk.

Here’s some other highly-rated hotels and hostels:

Phi Phi Island Things to Do

Take a Longtail Boat Tour

A longtail island hopping tour is the must-do activity in the Phi Phi islands. You’ll get to sail past towering limestone cliffs, go snorkeling at Pileh Lagoon, say high to monkeys at Monkey Beach and visit the famous Maya Bay. We joined a small group tour that we booked directly at Ton Sai pier, but here is a similar one if you want to book ahead of time.

If you are travelling in a group, I highly recommend booking an early private island hopping tour that will allow you to explore the popular spot before the crowds. Maya Bay in particular gets very crowded. We arrived around 10 am and there was quite a few people, but we were still able to enjoy the scenery and get some good pictures. I can imagine it gets more packed in the afternoon.

If you’re staying in Phuket or Krabi, you can also visit the Phi Phi Islands on a full-day speedboat tour. After about a 1 hour boat ride, you’ll arrive to the islands and stop at a few of the stunning locations. The full-day tours typically include a buffet lunch as well.

Don’t forget to wear your bathing suit and bring plenty of water, reef-safe sunscreen and a waterproof case for your phone if you want to take pictures in the water!

Hike to the Phi Phi Viewpoints

Koh Phi Phi Don has 3 popular viewpoints that you can hike to from town. On Google Maps they are labeled as Viewpoint 1, 2 and 3, with Viewpoint 3 being the farthest and highest. They are all found along the same trail, and you can use Google Maps to navigate you there. All the viewpoints offer incredible, panoramic views of the island, so just walk as far as you are comfortable.

The viewpoints are only 1-2 miles from town, but the hike is steep and sweaty. I recommend going at sunrise or sunset for cooler temperatures and even better views. We went to Viewpoint 2 at sunset and saw a beautiful sunset over the ocean. There were so many people up there hanging out and taking in the view.

Relax at Long Beach

If you want to have a relaxing day while visiting the Phi Phi Islands, head to Long Beach. It’s a quiet stretch of sand with beautiful swimming water, making it a nice little escape from the main town.

Long Beach is about a 30 walk from town on a path following the ocean. You’ll mostly be walking on a road past hotels, but the last bit is a trail. To get to the beach, you’ll have to climb down a short but steep dirt path. If you don’t feel like trekking, you can also take a taxi boat from town. Make sure to bring a towel, a book, water and snacks. You’ll only find a couple restaurants near the beach.

Kayak from Loh Dalum Beach

Renting a kayak on the Phi Phi islands is a great way to see it from a different perspective. You can rent kayaks from Loh Dalum Beach (the beach on the opposite side of the pier, only about a 2 minute walk). The rental includes a dry bag to keep your things and a life jacket.

The water in the bay is calm making it great for a relaxing paddle. But if you want a bit more adventure, you can explore some of the nearby coves and hidden beaches. Monkey Beach is close enough to kayak to, where you’ll find lots of sneaky monkeys hanging in the trees.

Watch a Fire Show

Head back to Loh Dalum Beach at night to watch an impressive fire show. A few of the bars along the beach do them, particularly Slinky Beach Bar. The performers do some dangerous acts like twirling flaming ropes and sticks and it’s really fun to watch!

The fire shows are free to watch from the beach, and there’s many bars you can sit at if you buy a drink. My friend and I are not party people but we loved hanging out at the beach to enjoy the fire shows and people watch. Each night there was something fun happening, like a limbo competition and mechanical bull riding.

Final Thoughts

If you’re traveling Thailand, I hope my guide helped you plan you your visit to Koh Phi Phi, whether you go for the day or stay overnight to experience all that the island has to offer. If you want to continue planning your trip to Thailand, check out my 3 week Thailand Itinerary and my 6 Favorite Thailand Adventures.

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