Rainy season :
May-Dec Monsoons : Sep- Nov
Dry season : Jan-Apr Average Temp. : 17-37 c
High Season : Dec-May Low Season : Jun-Oct Phi Phi Don & Phi Phi Ley
are 2 islands about 40km from Krabi and Phuket. Located in a national park, both are
incredibly scenic, with glorious white sand beaches and blue, blue water.
On uninhabited Phi Phi Ley, where development is not allowed, it remains an island
paradise and a favorite spot for boat-trips.
However Phi Phi Don, once a
quiet fishing community, is now an overdeveloped and, during the high season, overpriced
tourist resort. Beautiful Ton Sai Bay has been taken over by noisy boats and, from
12-16:00 during the high season, the beach is crowded with day-trippers from Krabi &
Phuket.
Despite these
conditions Phi Phi still has much to offer the visitor. The beautiful beaches of Loh
Dalam, Hin Khom and Long Beach, are quiet, less crowded. Undeveloped beaches on nearby
islands can be visited by boat. Good snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing sites are also
in the area.
Most of the facilities
and services are near the harbor. Accommodation is along Ton Sai Beach, Loh Dalam Beach
and in the village. There are some options along Long beach but it's a long 40min hike, or
a 30B boat ride from Ton Sai Beach.
Main Village:
TON SAI on Kho Phi Phi
From the village to Long Beach (Hat Yao) 30 min walk. Boat service available At the port
in village rooms sb,f from 300B
5min walk from pier through the village (bank, ta, many restaurants) leads to the beach on
the N side.
many resorts, crowded, expensive.
Tourist Office :
Visitors usually get info in Krabi before going to the islands.
Free map & hotel info from Krabi Tourist Office.
Krabi Travel Agencies book accommodation.
Useful Publication 'Krabi Holiday Guide' by K Scott, 90B, from some restaurants &
shops in Krabi.It was published in 1996 and hasn't been updated.
Transport
Pier: on Tong Sai beach. Boat available to Krabi, Phuket, Koh Lanta, Railey beach, Aonang
beach
Local
Transport
Many agents in Ton Sai. Can book onward transport from Krabi.
Boat to Long beach 40B/p
ta Maya Tour & Travel Main St, near Boat jetty
Had a huge board listing prices of all accommodation in Koh Phi Phi at time of
research.
ta Songserm Travel Main St, near Boat jetty
Shopping &
Other
Books Several 2nd hand bookshops.
Photo Stall near jetty. Fuji film 90B, Underwater disposable camera 390B.
Kiosk, Main St opposite PPK Diving. Friendly manager Not there at time of last research
trip - maybe back for the season.
Kodak Photo Shop: Main St, near Pizza Mama.
Developing 36 print, 210B plus 7B p/print, takes 1 day.
Laundry Guest houses. 40B/kg
la Siamese: 30B/kilo see Massage
Massage Siamese: On alley at side of Patcharee Fr. heading to the viewpoint. 200B/h,
Massage courses, braiding & Laundry.
Night Spots
- Tin Tins: Alley next to
the beach road. Often full. Dancing, live music, showing foot ball
- Reggae Bar: behind the
restaurant. Impressive setup, located on hill. Always full.
Internet
@ Telecom office: see above. 0.5B/min
@ Internet cafe: 3B/min
RESTAURANTS
KOH PHI PHI (Don), THAILAND
If you want to have a
meal looking the beautiful view, reasonably priced, tasty food is hard to find on Koh Phi
Phi. The beach front resort restaurants - full of tour groups and day-trippers, are a
rip-off. However some restaurants on the main street in the middle of the island has many
reasonably priced, (food 40B+, water 10B, coke20B). Also at the beginning of the street
there is a local people's market and food area where you can eat simple food with
30B.
Ton Sai beach
Rd.
From the pier, turn right.
- Pee Pee: Bakery Main
street.
International/Bakery 20-70B
Popular. Relaxing. Good French bread and Baguette sandwiches. Shows videos.
- Patcharee French
Bakery: Main street, Inland side International/Bakery 20-70B Rec
Similar to Pee Pee Bakery (Opposite), not as popular.
Main street:
From the pier, turn right and walk 50 m and turn left at Infinity Travel agent which leads
to local market.
- Many local food
venders. patthai, fried rice 30B, coffee 10B, shake 20B etc.
- Vasana Restaurant: on
the main street, mainly seafood a lot of fish displayed in front of the restaurant. Very
popular. Price is very reasonable. Cheap food is also available.
- Viking Restaurant : on
the main street. next to Vasana. many seafood, grilled chickens, fried vegetable, etc.
Good bf with 50B Equally popular place
- Bird Thai Alley: near
Post Office Thai 30-50B, Some locals eat here.
- Bilon Snack: on the
main street. further N from the 2 above. local/western Very nice interior and good bf.
- Pee Pee: Bakery Main
street. International/Bakery 20-70B
Popular. Relaxing. Good French bread and Baguette sandwiches. Shows videos.
- Patcharee French
Bakery: Main street, Inland side International/Bakery 20-70B
- Similar to Pee Pee
Bakery (Opposite), not as popular.
- Pancake Stall: Main Rd,
S end. Pancakes 20B+ Best pancake Indian style, with, banana/chocolate/condensed milk,
filling.
- Chaoka Garden: Hin Khom
Beach.
- Seafood/Thai 50-120B
Reasonable prices, Scenic views out to sea.
Boats to Ton Sai Bay , Phi Phi
Island
- from Krabi 250B.
Leaves at 10:30 & 13:00
- from Ao Nang/Railay
300B
Leaves at 9:30 Oct - May
- from Koh Lanta 300B
Leaves at 8:00, 13:00 Oct - May
- from Phuket 300B, 8:30,
13:30,
Boats from Ton
Sai
- to Krabi
1h20m. Oct-May: 250B 9,13:30, 1.5hr.Jun-Oct: 200B ?
- to Phuket 300B 9:00,
14:30, 2hrs
- to Ao Nang/Rai ley Oct
- Apr.300B, 15:30, 1h
- to Ko Lanta 200B 14,
15:30 1h20min (bartered from 170)
Travel
Agencies
Many agents in Ton Sai. Can book onward bus/train transport through to most tourist
destinations in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
SIGHTS
KOH PHI PHI (Don), THAILAND
Tour
Tour around the 2 Phi Phi islands, including lunch 350-400B(5-8 people in long-tail boat),
500-600B(big boats)
Note: Big boat can not go inside one of the nice bays at PhiPhi Ley.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling Boat Tour
400B/per day, includes lunch & snorkeling gear.Visit Phi Phi Ley - Viking Cave Pileh
Bay, Wang Long Bay, then on to Bamboo Island, and back to Hin Pae Rocks on Phi Phi
Don.
Rental Can rent mask & snorkel or fins all over the island 50B
Other Popular Snorkeling spots
Ao Maya - cave site with wall paintings
Ko Yung -Mosquito Island
Ko Hua Khwaan -Chicken Island
Scuba Diving
Some of the best diving sites in Thailand are around Phi Phi. Visibility is best during
Dec-Apr.
Diving spots:
Bida Island S of Phi Phi Ley, site of beautiful coral reef and lots of fish
Mosquito Island Dives to wreck sites.
50m underwater tunnel Should only be attempted by experienced divers.
Diving
centers:
Many. Western staff. There is a gentlemen's agreement amongst all the Diving Schools,
prices are standard except one in Long Beach. PADI Open Water Course -9,900B 3-4 day
course.
Leisure Dive: All diving courses include cheap accommodation or less 200B each day.
Fishing
A popular sport on Phi Phi. You can catch huge fish, have your photo taken at the weigh-in
and then eat some of it for supper at a restaurant. 1,800B /boat /day, 1,400B half day.
Drinks included. Beside this there are many fishing guides. They all guaranteed to catch
fish.
Rock Climbing
More established on Railey but during the high season Westerners organize 1 day courses
for around 1200B.
Ask around at bars, restaurants & dive centers. |