Koh Phi Phi is a small island group in the Andaman Sea, in Krabi province. Ko Phi Phi Don is the larger island and the only one with permanent residents, about 2,500 according to Wikipedia. Its village, Ton Sai, sits on a low sandy isthmus between two bays and is walked, cycled or crossed by longtail boat, because there are no cars. The smaller island, Ko Phi Phi Le, has no residents and is best known for Maya Bay, which appeared in the 2000 film The Beach.
The islands lie inside Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which shapes the rules: limits on visits to Maya Bay, small fees at piers and parks, and a growing emphasis on protecting reefs. Visitors arrive by ferry from Krabi, Phuket or Ko Lanta, and many come only for a day. Staying a night or two gives you the quiet hours at either end of the day, when the day-trip boats are gone.
For Indian families the island needs honest planning. Boarding boats, wet landings and steep steps are part of the experience, seas can close ferry routes in the wetter months, and vegetarian, Jain or Indian food is thin on the ground compared with Ao Nang or Phuket. In return you get dramatic limestone scenery, easy walking in the village and sunsets over Loh Dalum Bay.
The 2004 tsunami struck both bays of the isthmus, and the island has rebuilt since. A visit goes best with a calm sea, a flexible schedule, travel insurance with medical cover, and one big outing each day instead of three.
Before you plan
Koh Phi Phi at a glance
- Best months
- December to February is the driest…December to February is the driest and calmest; March and November are workable. August to October is the wettest and roughest, and boat services can be disrupted.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 nights is comfortable2 nights is comfortable; a day trip from Krabi or Phuket is possible but rushed and weather-dependent
- Airport
- No airport on the islandsNo airport on the islands. Krabi International Airport (KBV) is the nearest, then a transfer to a pier and a ferry of about 1.5 to 2 hours; Phuket (HKT) is the other common gateway.
- Railway station
- None on the islands or in KrabiNone on the islands or in Krabi. Rail travellers reach mainland stations in other provinces and continue by road and boat; most visitors fly.
- Getting around
- No carsNo cars. Walk, cycle or take a longtail boat between beaches; luggage often goes by barrow from the pier.
- Daily budget
- Island prices run higher than…Island prices run higher than mainland Krabi for rooms, ferries and boat tours; check current ferry fares, park fees and room rates, which change with the season
- Senior comfort
- Fair with planning: Ton Sai is flatFair with planning: Ton Sai is flat, but boat boarding, wet landings, heat and steep viewpoint steps need care; choose calm months and rest in the afternoon
- Language
- Thai is the local languageThai is the local language; English is widely used in tourist businesses, and a few Hindi or Indian-language speakers may be found in Indian restaurants
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Koh Phi Phi: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Koh Phi Phi itinerary
One good day
1 day in Koh Phi Phi
Take an early ferry from Krabi or Phuket and drop bags at your guesthouse or a pier left-luggage service. If everyone can manage the climb, go up to the Phi Phi Don Viewpoint first while the air is cooler. Return for lunch in Ton Sai, then join an afternoon longtail or small-boat trip to Maya Bay and Pi Leh lagoon if the sea is calm. Finish with a walk on Loh Dalum Bay before the last ferry. Confirm the return ferry time and give yourself a buffer, because sea conditions can change schedules.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Koh Phi Phi
Arrive by morning ferry, settle in and have a slow lunch in Ton Sai. In the late afternoon, climb to the viewpoint only if the group is fit, otherwise stroll Loh Dalum Bay and visit the tsunami memorial. Watch the sunset from the beach and keep dinner simple.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Koh Phi Phi
Arrive, settle in and walk Ton Sai at an easy pace. In the late afternoon, visit Loh Dalum Bay and its memorial, and watch the light fade over the water.
Day-by-day plan →
