A Beginner's Guide To Phi Phi Island

Ko Phi Phi is a small archipelago in Krabi Province in South Thailand.

This is a group of 6 small islands on the Andaman Sea and according to the Nature Magazine, Phi Phi island ranks among the top 5 island getaways in the world, and is the best tropical paradise in Asia.

If you are planning to stay overnight at Phi Phi, then you must do so at Ko Phi Phi Don as this is where all the hotels/resorts are located. There are strict regulations prohibiting any construction work at the other islands and so you will not find any hotels or resorts there. Most day tourists arrive at Ko Phi Phi Don from either Phuket or Krabi, and it takes about 90 minutes from either of them depending on the tide. There are public ferries 3-4 times a day that transport passengers between Phi Phi, Phuket and Krabi at scheduled times.

But there are also long tail boats and speed boats that you can take to visit anytime. If you have some extra money, you may also take the chopper that will fly you to Phi Phi and this needless to say saves time and you can see the dramatic coastline too.

But there are those who would spend a few days here, rather than at Phuket or Krabi. So do you want to experience your island vacation? I wonder how it feels to be surrounded by water on all sides and to live in an island. Is there something like 'an island mentality' - more of that later.

Anyway, here is a picture of the main island "Ko Phi Phi Don" taken from the sky.

And here is a guide to all the islands that make up Phi Phi.

Ko Phi Phi Don - the largest and only populated island.

Ko Phi Phi Leh - Have you seen the movie "The Beach" starring Leonardo Di Caprio. See it (but I must warn you because it is quite violent and not a treasure really) because of the incredible 'Maya Bay' that is located in Ko Phi Phi Leh. This is a smaller island to the south that also has beautiful lagoons, hidden coves, caves - and it is a great site for diving and snorkeling too.

Ko Phai - Also known as Bamboo Island, this is a small low-lying islet to the north of Phi Phi Don with several good beaches. It absolutely looks a stunner.

Ko Yung - Also known as Yung Island, it is located north of Ko Phi Phi Don. The island has a stone beach in the east and small sandy beaches at the foot of the hills. It is teeming with various kinds of colorful coral reefs.

Bida Nok and Bida Nai - These are two small adjacent limestone karsts to the south of Phi Phi Leh, with near-vertical cliff walls rising from the sea.