10 ESSENTIAL THINGS TO DO IN PHI PHI

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This list of 10 essential things to do in Phi Phi, is made to serve as a guide to organize your trip or your stay in Phi Phi, one of the most incredible places in Thailand, which we are sure, will not leave you indifferent, no matter how much you have read or have been told.
Located on the coast of the Andaman Sea, in the province of Krabi, this archipelago consists mainly of 4 islands Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Koh Pai or Bamboo Island and Koh Yung or Mosquito Island.
Of these, Koh Phi Phi Don, is the most famous for being in which Tonsai is located, a small town where you can find all the tourist infrastructure such as hotels, restaurants, agencies, diving schools ... etc in addition to being the place in which is the port where the ferries that arrive from Krabi or other islands disembark every day.

Phi Phi, in addition to being known as one of the essential places to see in Thailand, is famous for being the place where Maya Bay is located, better known today as "The beach", by the Leonardo Di Caprio movie, which is located in Koh Phi Phi Leh.

Although we, after the experience, would recommend you come at least 3 or 4 days to the archipelago, to be able to know it with more tranquility, another of the highly recommended options is to book this excursion to the Phi Phi Islands by speedboat from Krabi or this one from Phuket, With which you can know the best of the area in a day.

Based on the experience of the two times we have traveled to Phi Phi, during which we wrote this travel guide to Thailand, we have prepared this list of what we believe, are the 10 essential things to do in Phi Phi. We start!

1. Stroll through Tonsai, one of the things to do in Phi Phi

Although it may seem that Tonsai has no interest, nothing is further from reality. This small town, strategically located as a gateway to the archipelago, is also the busiest place in Phi Phi Don, the island where it is located. This will also be the place where you should look for accommodation, something we will talk about at the end of the post in more detail.
Before starting to walk aimlessly, something that is also a very good option to introduce the surprise factor in the places to see in Phi Phi, we recommend you read these little features of Tonsai, so you can enjoy everything you have What to offer:

Tonsai we could say that it is a "T" shaped town, in which each of its lines offers something different.
The entire area around the port, where ferries arrive, is the busiest and where most of the restaurants, cafes, agencies and shops are concentrated. In addition to these, this is also where you will find many of the cheapest accommodations on the island and from one of the streets, you can access the viewpoint, one of the places to visit in Phi Phi.
Crossing perpendicular to the pier and crossing Tonsai, you will reach Loh Dalum Bay, on the opposite side of the island, which is where the vast majority of nightlife venues and the noisiest accommodations are also located, something to have Keep in mind if you are looking for peace of mind on your trip to Phi Phi.
This area changes completely during the day and you can explore it and even walk along the beach at times, without anyone. At night the change is drastic and is one of the areas most frequented by travelers looking for a dose of party.

Tonsai in Phi Phi Don

If from the pier you continue on the left, you will find one of the quietest areas of Tonsai and a beach to our beautiful taste, in which there are not usually many people, so it is perfect if you want to flee from the massification of others areas of the island.
If you take the opposite direction, from the dock on the left, following one of the main streets, you will go through a couple of beaches also highly recommended, until you reach the U Rip Resort area, our accommodation in Phi Phi on the last trip, in front to which there is also one of the quietest beaches in Tonsai.
From here you can follow a path along the coast and go through three small coves before reaching Long Beach. This is one of the things to do in Phi Phi that we recommend you not to miss and that we will talk about later.

You can book your transportation to Phi Phi here.

Tonsai Beach

2. Tour organized in Phi Phi

Without a doubt, enjoying a boat tour of the archipelago is one of the essential things to do in Phi Phi. Although there are different options, the most famous includes a combination of islands, lasts all day and has an approximate price of 3000THB per person. Keep in mind that these types of tours also include water, food and snorkeling equipment.

Viking Cave
Phi Phi Le Lagoon
Maya Bay Keep in mind that currently The beach is closed to try to regenerate it again
Monkey beach
Bamboo Island
Mosquito Island
Loh Moo Dee Beach

Monkey Beach, one of the places to see in Phi Phi

Other options include more or less places or they can be half-day or full-day tours. We recommend you look at different options before booking with any of them and above all, check that the company is licensed and uses safe transportation.

If you have several days, we recommend you to make several departures and thus enjoy the places with more tranquility. A good option would be:
1st day: Take a route through Phi Phi Don, through the Tonsai and Long Beach area.
2nd day: Make an organized tour, as discussed above.
3rd day: Take a private tour with long tail, along some of the beaches of Phi Phi Don, accessible only by boat and climb to the Phi Phi viewpoint.

Excursion in Phi Phi

3. Private tour in Phi Phi

Keep in mind that you can do all the excursions that we mentioned previously privately in long tail or traditional boat. In addition, contrary to what it may seem, this is not so expensive and in many cases, even if they do not include food, it can be interesting, especially if you want to visit somewhere before there are many people or you want to spend more time in some lagoon or beach.
Taking into account the distances, we would recommend you to opt for this option only to get to know Koh Phi Phi Leh, making stops at Monkey Beach, Phi Phi Le Lagoon, Maya Bay and Ao Loh Samah and at most, going around Koh Phi Phi Don, to see the beaches that are furthest from the Tonsai area and even make some extra stop to bathe.

Prices vary according to distances or places to visit:

Half day (3h): 1500THB
1 full day (6h): 3000THB
Loh Mudee (one way): 600THB
Bamboo Island (4h / 45-minute journey): 2500THB

You can hire any long tail in the coastal area of Tonsai. There are dozens of them and from what we saw, they all have the same prices.

Long Tail in Phi Phi

Although long-tail excursions to Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island are offered, we believe that the distance is too long to do on this type of boat. In our case we were asking and we were lucky that the boy directly told us that there was a lot of waves to go to Bamboo Island, so we opted for another closer trip. If you want to make this journey longer, it is important to find out how the sea is to avoid surprises or bad experiences.

4. Go up to the viewpoint, one of the essential places to see in Phi Phi

Despite the effort, we assure you it is worth it! This would be the summary of the climb to the Phi Phi Don viewpoint, one of the essential things to do in Phi Phi, from where you can have a unique perspective of the island, with the bays of Tonsai and Loh Dalum in front and the neighboring island Phi Phi Leh, on the left.
We recommend you go up early in the morning, since the heat is much less stifling and therefore, the 30-minute climb will be much less tired. In addition, the light during the morning until practically noon is perfect for photos and to see the incredible color of the two bays.

Climb to the viewpoint, one of the things to do in Phi Phi

Although there are several areas from which to reach the starting point of the road to the viewpoint, we recommend you take the one that starts at Café Amena, from where you will only have to follow a few meters until you reach the stairs that take you to viewpoint 1, to which You will arrive after climbing a flight of hard stairs.
The entrance fee is 30THB per person and although it is convenient to bring water, you can find many places to buy in addition to drinks, snacks or meals.

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

5. Maya Beach, the beach of Leonardo Di Caprio

The beach. With this name, this impressive place in Thailand became famous after Danny Boyle chose it as the framework for his film and Leonardo DiCaprio gave it prominence.
And it was from that moment when he began to receive more and more tourism, beginning the beginning of the end. Although initially there were not many people who came here, we were the first time 15 years ago and were practically alone, in 2018 The beach In the high season it received up to 3,500 visitors in a single day. Something really unsustainable for nature and what caused that finally, that year the authorities took action and decided to close it to the public.
Initially this measure was intended to be carried out only a few months, but seeing that after these, Maya Bay still did not recover, it was decided to try a regeneration through a definitive closure.
And in 2019 it continues, but with great progress and hope. The coral seems to be present again in this area of Thailand, although it will take at least a decade to reach the levels of before and about 60 blackfin sharks arrive every day in the area, showing that the closure measure is being effective .

Despite that, today there are many Phi Phi agencies that continue to promote visits to Maya Bay on their tours. These only reach the red flags 300 meters from the coast of La Playa, but we are not sure that this does not cause that in the end, we will also destroy this area of the archipelago.
After our experience this year, in which we also approach Maya Bay, as one of the essential things to do in Phi Phi, we hope that in a few years, this paradise will be reopened to tourism. But always in a responsible way, with a certain number of visitors per day and with the obligation to take care of it and maintain it.

Maya Bay in the Phi Phi Islands 15 years ago

6. Enjoy the beaches of Phi Phi

Without a doubt, the beaches of Phi Phi are one of the great reasons to travel to this area of Thailand and of course, another of the places to see in Phi Phi essential. Although the island has many beaches, many of them accessible only by boat, if you do not have many days here, we advise you to focus on the most accessible, which are also really spectacular.
Our selection are:

Beach 1
Playa 2 (in front of the U Rip Resort hotel)
Beach 3
Viking beach
Long beach

As you can see, the first 3 have no name since we cannot locate it on the map, but you will easily see them by location. In addition, on the road that borders the coast and leaves from the U Rip Resort, where we stayed for a week on the second trip to Thailand, you will find 2 small beautiful coves, on the way to Long Beach. Keep in mind that the last section, to reach the beach, is between rocks and although it is a short section, it is difficult.

Beach 2 in Phi Phi

Another option is to take a long tail in Tonsai that will take you directly to Long Beach for 100THB per person from 7 am to 6:30 pm and after this time, 150THB per person.
This is one of the most incredible areas of Phi Phi to watch the sunset, so it can be a good option to come to spend the afternoon, have a drink in one of its bars and wait for the sunset.

7. Restaurants

Another of the best things to do in Phi Phi is to try the delicious Thai cuisine in one of its most recommended restaurants. Although we have to confess that we liked the restaurants where to eat in Thailand recommended from the mainland much more, in Phi Phi we could also enjoy many of them, among which we find some that we are sure, we will not forget.

After spending a week in Phi Phi, we leave you a list of what were our favorite restaurants on the island:

Monster Burger: Considered the second most recommended restaurant in Phi Phi, we would also include it in the list of things to do in Phi Phi, since after two visits, it became one of our favorite places on the island.
With a small place, with no more than 5-6 tables, the main feature of this restaurant is that they only serve hamburgers, which you can design yourself with the products you like best, choosing from the meat to the type of bread, the ingredients, the sauces ... etc. of all those on the list.
The first time we were there we ordered a crab burger, with different condiments, one with blue cheese, two portions of potatoes, two beers, a lemonade and water for 970THB. Brutal! Although as you can see the price is higher than usual in Thailand, if we consider the location and quality, this is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants to eat in Thailand.

P.P. Wang Ta Fu: We came here for being one of the restaurants with the best rating on TripAdvisor and having a sushi menu with some Thai dishes, something that we liked very much in principle. After trying it, we discovered that it is one of the greatest fakes in the history of this recommendations page.
After seeing the letter, we ask for several varieties of nigiris and some of rolls, which we have to say, although edible, are not at all of the quality and presentation that they should have considering that it is in the first position of the list of recommendations.
After paying, we realize that at each of the tables, they have a sign that says they make a 10% discount for each review on TripAdvisor. At that moment we understood everything, although we had already fallen into the trap.
Garlic 1992: Located in one of the best known areas of Phi Phi, this is the perfect option if you want to eat some traditional dish, without great luxuries, but perfectly cooked and at tight prices. We enjoyed a pad thai plus a plate of fresh fish and it was a great experience. We were also lucky to be accompanied by two friends, Ana and Alfredo, who were the ones who discovered this place.
Efe Mediterranean Cuisine Restaurant: In the center of Tonsai, this is an unusual restaurant since in its menu, it has many Mediterranean dishes. We ordered hummus, babaganoush and tuna pizza, plus beer and water for 650THB.
While they are not the best dishes we have tried in this category, both the restaurant, the service and the product, are very good if you want to forget during a day of Thai cuisine and represent a perfect option to enjoy a gastronomic day nice. Keep in mind that you can only pay in cash and do not accept credit card.
Acqua Restaurant Koh Phi Phi: This is another of the most recommended restaurants in Phi Phi, which we tried during our trip. Located in one of the most central shopping streets of Tonsai, they have a fairly wide menu with Italian dishes and sandwich as well as some dishes of Thai cuisine.
We ordered a plate of pasta, pad thai, beer, coconut smoothie and two expresses for 720THB. Highly recommended! You can pay by card but it has a 3% surcharge.
Grand PP Arcade: Within the list of Tonsai's most recommended restaurants is this restaurant with a fairly extensive menu with varieties of different types of cuisine. We ordered some spring rolls, breaded chicken, squid, coconut smoothie and water for 600THB.
Dow Restaurant: Located in the center of Tonsai, this restaurant has two stores, facing each other, distinguished among them by being vegetarian. We ordered a Thai pad with prawns, hummus with falafel, coconut smoothie and a fruit shake for 390THB.
Although the price is very tight, if we take into account the prices that are on the island, being honest, we have to say that at least the dishes we order, are not up to being the number 3 of those recommended, so That we really would not repeat.
Aroy Kaffeine: After all the places to eat in Thailand that we are recommending, this would enter our top 10. Located in the center of Tonsai, on the main street, this small place takes maximum care of the product, the service and the presentation, making it one of the most recommended options where to eat in Phi Phi. We ordered a Thai pad with shrimp, pesto quesadillas, water, beer and two coffees for 809THB. Highly recommended!
We repeat for dinner and we can only say that, the desserts are amazing!

Acqua Restaurant Koh Phi Phi

How to have internet in Thailand?
If you want to have internet in thailand a good option is to buy one Holafly SIM card, with which you will have internet from the moment you land, several GB of data, keeping your WhatsApp number and support service in Spanish.
You can buy your Holafly prepaid SIM card here with a 5% discount for being our reader.

8. Diving or snorkeling

Although we cannot say that Phi Phi is the best diving destination in Thailand, we cannot deny that it has many interesting points to practice in addition to having multiple areas to enjoy snorkeling.
Some of them are only accessible by long tail, such as those mentioned above that are recommended to meet on an organized or private tour, but others are easily accessible on foot, such as those you can find in the Long Beach area and surroundings.
If you have two or three days on this island, you can take the SSI Open Water diving course with a Spanish instructor.

Snorkeling in Phi Phi

9. Party in Phi Phi

We will not deny that Phi Phi is one of the best known places in Thailand to enjoy the night. But we can not deny that this is also a point that for many travelers is so negative as to consider not traveling to this area of Thailand.
If you are one of the first, do not worry since Phi Phi is a true paradise if you are looking for fun and party at night. Although if you are of the latter, like us, we can tell you that we understand you perfectly and that we were also in that uncertainty and even, before arriving, we came to think that we were wrong deciding to come to Phi Phi for a week. You can not imagine what we were wrong and is that contrary to what many people think, the party is concentrated only in one area, that of Loh Dalum Bay, in the opposite part of the port, where ferries arrive, so If you do not stay in this area or do not step on it during the night, you can enjoy the quieter Phi Phi.

Keep this in mind, especially when choosing your accommodation in Phi Phi, to find an area far from the most central of Tonsai, where most of the island's entertainment venues are concentrated.

10. Relax and enjoy paradise

There is nothing better to do in Phi Phi than relax and enjoy one of the most amazing paradises in Thailand. We recommend you come only with the idea of charging batteries, discovering a paradise and above all, dedicate time to yourself! Phi Phi is the perfect place for that.

What to see in Phi Phi

How to go to Koh Phi Phi

Depending on your origin, there are different ways to reach Phi Phi, the ferry being the last means of transport, which is the only way to reach Phi Phi Don, which is the island where Tonsai is located, where it is port.

From Krabi: Ferries from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi Don leave from the port on the outskirts of Krabi, about 4 kilometers away. The journey takes about 2: 30h and the price is about 15 euros per person. We recommend you book the ferry from Krabi to Phi Phi in advance, especially if you travel in high season, so you don't run out of seats.
Keep in mind that with the 12Go platform you can book together, in addition to the ferry, transport from the hotel, the airport or anywhere in the city, something that greatly speeds up the process, as well as facilitating it.

You can book it here.

From Ao Nang: From Ao Nang you have different options of direct ferries, which will take you to Phi Phi in approximately 2 hours, for a price of about 15 euros per person.

You can book it here.

Excursion from Krabi or Phuket: As we commented at the beginning of this post, another option to get to know Phi Phi is to make an excursion to the Phi Phi Islands by speedboat from Krabi or from Phuket, with which you will not have to worry you are welcome.
From Bangkok: From Bangkok, the most appropriate option is to fly to Krabi and from there, take a ferry to Phi Phi. Another option is to go by bus to Krabi and take the ferry there, but in the end it can be even more expensive and also take practically a full day of travel.

You can book it here.

From Chiang Mai: As from Bangkok, the most recommended option is to fly to Phi Phi and from there, take a ferry to Tonsai in Phi Phi.

You can book it here.

Traditional boats in Phi Phi

Where to stay in Phi Phi

As we mentioned before, the area where you must stay in the archipelago is Koh Phi Phi Don, where is the town of Tonsai and all the tourist infrastructure. Within this island, the most frequented area is the town of Tonsai, although within this and the surroundings, there are several areas, which are more or less recommended depending on what you are looking for.

Tonsai: This is the cheapest area but also the most crowded and the noisiest. We recommend you keep it in mind so as not to disappoint you.
Tonsai Viking Beach area: This area, although it is only 5-10 minutes walk from the most central area of Tonsai, is very quiet in addition to having several spectacular beaches next to it, including the path that takes you to Long Beach.
We stayed for a week at the U Rip Resort and it has an exceptional quality / price ratio, being one of our recommendations.
Long Beach: Despite being one of the most beautiful and well-known beaches on the island, according to our experience, the accommodations in the area, although they have an exceptional location, being far from the most central area of Tonsai, which you must travel through from a fairly tired or long tail trail, we believe that it is not the most suitable unless you want to relax and not leave the area or be there much of your stay.

Book your accommodation in Phi Phi here.