Snorkelling in crystal clear water, paddling kayak around stunning rock formations and relaxing on a white sand beach under the palm tree…

Sounds like heaven, right? Well, this heaven on earth is called Koh Phi Phi! It is a small island (ok, a group of six small islands) in the Andaman sea, somewhere between Phuket and Krabi. Between the six of them it is only one island that is inhabited but don’t let that fool you, because there’s actually a lot of things you can do here!

So, without further ado, let’s dive in 10 things you can do in Koh Phi Phi!

1. Hike to the Viewpoints 1, 2 and 3

The Viewpoints are the spots to see the beautiful view over Phi Phi Island. Viewpoint 1 is located 334 steep steps away from the little street behind Chaokoh Road. Viewpoint 1 is a memorial park for the Tsunami that struck in 2004. It is very pretty and tidy, you will have a chance to take pictures near a giant sign saying ‘I LOVE PHI PHI’.

To find Viewpoint 2 you will need to follow the footpath that is slightly going up the hill. This hike will make you sweat like crazy, but trust me, the panoramic view of two bays surrounded by turquoise water will be worth it. Here you will find an open wooden deck where you can take pictures, many rocks to sit around and enjoy the view, cafe with a rooftop terrace to grab a refreshing drink or a snack.

The less crowded Viewpoint 3 is a 15-minute walk away from Viewpoint 2. You will find a small path behind the restaurant. The hike there will be more in nature with a tiny dirt road, but there are many signs along the way so you won’t get lost. The view from this point is stunning as well. There is a little cafe/shop there as well.

There is a 30 baht entrance fee that will be collected when you reach Viewpoint 1. And another 20 baht for Viewpoint 3. You will find toilets at each point. As the days are hot and the hike is not the easiest don’t forget to take and drink plenty of water.

Read more about Koh Phi Phi: Tips and Things to Know Before Visiting Koh Phi Phi and a Complete Travel Guide of this Island!

2. Visit best beaches of Koh Phi Phi

There are a lot of beaches that you can visit in Koh Phi Phi. Some of them are crowded, while others are peaceful and quiet. Some you can reach by foot, but some will require you to hire a longtail boat or rent a kayak. Here’s the list of the beaches worth visiting on Phi Phi Island:

Loh Dalum is the main beach on the island, a long and pretty narrow stretch of sand, usually fairly crowded, with a few restaurants and resorts around, easy to access from the Sai Village.

Ton Sai beach is located next to the pier, fine sand beach and pretty shallow water, great place to find package tours for day trips and snorkelling. Best to visit in the morning and late afternoon as it gets crowded with speedboats touring from Krabi or Phuket.

Viking beach is a lovely beach just a short 15-minute walk away from the Ton Sai Village. It is pretty quiet in there, with just a few people relaxing and walking by.

Long Beach – white powdery beach with crystal clear water and a relaxed atmosphere. It is located a little jungle trek away from the Ton Sai Pier, but really worth the sweaty 30 minutes hike. At the far end of the beach, you will be able to see the Shark Point and maybe spot one if you’re lucky!

Loh Moo Dee Beach – secluded white sand beach near Long Beach. You can walk there by following the path going inland from Phi Phi Long Beach Resort & Villa, near Shark Point.

Nui Beach – a little sandy bay that is surrounded by high karst cliffs, crystal clear water with a shade of turquoise blue and a shallow shore perfect for snorkelling and swimming. Located away from the crowds, surrounded by lush greenery. I mentioned Nui Bay and how to get there a few points above.

Loh Lana Bay – a beautiful fine sand beach located on the northwest side of Koh Phi Phi Don. This beach is pretty wild and quiet, with no hotels or restaurants around. Sometimes you will have a chance to be the only one there.

Other beaches worth to consider are Phak Nam Bay, Laem Tong Beach, Monkey Beach, Loh Ba Kao Bay, Wang Long Bay, and Pirate Beach Cove. Some of them are accessible only by boat or kayak.

3. Enjoy The Night Life In Koh Phi Phi

Phi Phi island is known to be a ‘party island’. A slow and steady beach holiday pace during the day becomes a wild party place during the night. From beach parties and poolside dancing to Muay Thai matches and fire shows, you can have it all! Loh Dalum beach and a few surrounding streets are the main action places. If you’re interested, here are a few bars to consider:

• Banana Rooftop Bar
• Slinky’s
• Tree House
• Reggae Bar Phi Phi
• Hippie’s Bar
• Ibiza
• Dojo Bar
• Stockholm Syndrome

Besides lively bars and beach parties during the night, you can enjoy the boat parties that will start your party going much earlier – BLANCO’S PARTY BOAT, BOB’S BOOZE CRUISE, and PIRATE BOAT.

4. Visit Maya Bay

Maya Bay is an iconic destination that is out of this world. White sand beach, coin-shaped bay with clear turquoise water and dramatic rock formations leaves everyone speechless. You can dip your toes in the water (no swimming allowed) and try to spot baby sharks showing up on the shore once in a while.

Maya bay is located on Phi Phi Leh Island, and to get there you will need to hire a boat or join the tour. You will embark on a floating pier in Loh Samay Bay, on the other side of the island, and after a 5-minute walk through a lovely park, you will reach Maya Bay. There is a little shop for drinks and snacks in this area (and a few toilets too).

Maya Bay’s (and all Phi Phi Islands) popularity started when it was featured in the movie ‘The Beach’ (starring Leonardo DiCaprio) and with years more and more tourists from all over the world had this place on their bucket lists. Growing popularity did some damage to nature and Maya Bay was closed for 4 years, from 2018 to January 2022, and for two months (August and September) in 2022, to protect the local environment and restore the natural marine ecosystems. As of the date of writing, the beach is open for visitors again.

There is a 400 baht fee to enter Maya Bay, as it belongs to Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. This fee might be included in the tour price, might not be. The entrance fee helps to reduce the number of visitors and to help the government to preserve nature.

5. Visit Pi Leh Bay

For me personally, Pi Leh Bay is one of the most beautiful bays that I visited in Thailand. It is a place where emerald green clear water meets majestic rocky cliffs. The whole view of the lagoon is surreal.

This place is located close to Maya Bay, it takes around 10 minutes to reach it, and it is usually included in tour packages. Just jump from the boat and enjoy a swim around in this paradise. It is a perfect place to snorkel, the water is clear and many beautiful creatures are splashing around. It might get a bit crowded with boats at times, but this shouldn’t put you off of visiting Pi Leh Bay.

6. Visit Bamboo Island (Koh Pai)

Koh Pai is a little flat island covered with lush greenery, sandy beach and clear blue water. It is a perfect spot for snorkelling, the coral reef that lies next to the island gives an opportunity to spot interesting marine life. Or you can visit a little bar that is serving cold drinks and snacks and then relax under the trees.

Visiting this island is included in most of the tour packages or you can hire a longtail boat for the day and visit on your own schedule. Koh Pay belongs to Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park so there will be a 400 baht entrance fee. It doesn’t get very crowded but there will be a few touring boats, and if the timing is right, you might get the whole island to yourself!

7. Visit Monkeys at Monkey Beach And Monkey Bay

Although I am not a big fan, I know that monkeys are interesting to watch and interact with. Monkey Beach and Monkey Bay are two different places, but both are inhabited by these little creatures.

Monkey Bay is located on the southern side of the island, a 7-minute boat ride from Ton Sai Pier. You will see the monkeys sitting on the trees or rocks. You can get off your boat or kayak as the water is shallow and go to say hello to monkeys (have some snacks if you want them to come closer to you).

Monkey Beach is located in the island’s northern part and is easily accessible with a kayak (or longtail boat) from Loh Dalum beach. There is a small sandy beach where you can embark and walk around. The monkeys might show up looking for food, so be prepared to be in the spotlight!

8. Visit Nui Bay in Koh Phi Phi Don

The little sandy bay that is surrounded by high karst cliffs is an ideal little getaway from the busy beaches on Koh Phi Phi Don. It offers clean crystal clear water with a shade of turquoise blue and a shallow shore perfect for snorkelling and swimming.

Nui Bay is located on Loh Dalum Bay so it is easier to reach it from that side of the island. You can hire a longtail boat which will bring you there in 10 minutes and will cost around 1000 baht. Or, you can rent a kayak and easily paddle there yourself, it only takes around 40 minutes (at a relaxed pace) to reach it. Kayak rent prices vary from renter to renter, but it is about 150-200 baht for an hour, 300 baht for a few hours and around 600 baht per day.

Or, you can hike all the way to Nui Bay. To do that, you will need to find yourself at Viewpoint 3 and follow a little washed-off sign that says Loh Lana Bay. Or you can walk all the way to the end of Loh Dalum Bay, find a Kitty House and follow the coastal path and then the jungle path further. I highly recommend using this detailed guide with pictures here. The hike might be a bit challenging because there’s no direct way to go there. You will be met by slippery stones, a narrow jungle path, and a steep hike up the cliff covered in roots. Maybe a few monkeys, spiders and snakes too. But this hike will give you an unforgettable experience on Phi Phi Island.

9. Take a Day Trip from Koh Phi Phi

The best way to explore Koh Phi Phi Don and other islands is by boat!

There are a lot of tour operators or longtail boat rentals on the island. You will have a chance to choose half-day or full-day tours with a longtail boat or speedboat. There are a lot of things to see around. Most of the tours include visiting the famous Maya Bay and Pi Leh Lagoon. Some will offer to visit Bamboo Island, Monkey Bay, and snorkelling at Shark Point. Also, watching the sunset from a longtail boat and swimming with fluorescent plankton might be on the agenda.

If you’re wondering about prices, they vary from seller to seller… It might be from 800 baht to whatever and there is a 400 baht (each) entrance fee to visit Maya Bay and Bamboo Island. It’s worth asking if it’s included in your trip or if you have to pay separately. We paid 800 baht for a tour + 400 baht entrance fee. It was a full-day tour with sunset (which we didn’t see because it was cloudy) and swimming with plankton.

If you are in the mood for exploring combined with a party on board, there are a few companies that are organizing these fun tours. Check out BOB’S BOOZE CRUISE and PIRATE BOAT.

Of course, you can hire a longtail boat by yourself and adjust the itinerary according to your wishes! A lot of families, groups of friends and couples are doing that. That gives more freedom and privacy, but it is a bit more expensive than the joined tours with other travellers.

10. Get a Traditional Bamboo Tattoo

If you love tattoos and thinking of getting a new one, then consider it done on Koh Phi Phi. There are quite a few places that are doing traditional Bamboo tattoos. It is not only an incredible experience but also, unlike machine tattoos, you can go swimming the next day! Bamboo Tattoo prices start from 1500 baht for a small tattoo or a symbol. Check out the Skull Tattoo and Tapear Tattoo Studio if you’re interested!

Wandering what you can do after Koh Phi Phi? Read a Complete Guide to Pattaya and Top Things to do in Bangkok!

Let me know which one will you do first!

Happy Travels!

Dovile xx