You might have seen everyone praising the Phi Phi Islands as an excellent tourist destination for beach and watersports lovers. But some people also dismiss it as just a fancy place for Instagrammers. Is this really the case? I decided to find out. My focus of investigation was around the different things to do on the island. Should you plan a one-day trip or stay overnight? All of these things raged through my mind, and I could only find answers to these questions if I visited the place myself.
So that’s what I did; I booked my ticket to Phuket and reached Koh Phi Phi via a boat, which takes around a couple of hours. You can only access the island via water, as there are no airports. Helicopter rides are available, but they will mess up your budget pretty good, so it is better to stay away from them. Let’s explore whether Phi Phi Island holidays are worth all the hype.
Day Trips or Overnight Stays? Which Is the Better Option?
Most people term Phi Phi Island as a one-day destination. While a day trip is easily manageable, you will have to rush everything. The island is good enough for at least a one-night stay or even more. You can combine your stay here with other neighboring islands such as Krabi and Phuket.
When you plan an overnight trip to Koh Phi Phi Island, you get ample time to explore the place closely. If you want to stay for more than a day, you will get plenty of options in Koh Phi Phi Don, the only place in the Koh Phi Phi region where humans are found.
What Is There to Do on Koh Phi Phi Island?
There are numerous things to do and places to visit on this stunning island. As I already mentioned, you can witness the best of the Phi Phi Islands if you stay for more than one day here. I stayed there for 2 nights and had plenty of time to check out the island in detail without any rush. Here are some of the things that you must try during your stay in this beautiful place.
Explore Maya Bay
It is the place where the famous movie “The Beach” was filmed. Many people in the world came to know about Koh Phi Phi after this movie was released. May Bay became so popular among tourists that authorities had to close it for several years for maintenance and let it recover from the human effect.
May Bay is definitely worth all the hype and craze generated by tourists from all over the world. The place gets full with people quite quickly, so I would suggest you add it as a first stop to your destination. You can hire a longtail boat to reach there early. It might cost a little extra, but you will have the bay to yourself for a couple of hours before the large groups arrive.
To protect the beach’s ecosystem, the authorities have made some rules. For example, no one is allowed to swim in the water or camp on the beach. There is also a cap on the maximum number of tourists allowed on the beach in a day.
Longtail Boat Tour
The Phi Phi Islands has a car-free culture, and this is what I loved the most about it. This means that you will have to travel on sea via a boat and walk a lot while you are on land. There are no scooters available for renting as well. So, boats are the only option, and trust me, it is worth every penny.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving (Avoid Monkey Beach)
People who term Koh Phi Phi as a destination that is not worth your time and money probably haven’t looked at what’s under the water.
The waters there are quite clear, and you can observe the corals and fish up close quite easily. The best spots I would recommend are Bamboo Island and Monkey Beach. If you have done your research before traveling, you might already know about Monkey Beach.
It is a small beach with a jungle that is home to wild monkeys. The beach is almost always packed with people and monkeys as well. So, it is better to give it a skip. The reason I am suggesting you not visit this place is that your interaction with the monkeys can get wild at any time, and it might end up with you being injured.
Phi Phi Viewpoints
If you really want to bask in the beauty of the Phi Phi Islands, then don’t skip hiking to the famous viewpoints on the island (there are three of them).
The hike begins at Tonsai Village on Phi Phi Don and requires a considerable effort on your part. Make sure your shoes are super comfortable and you have all the gear with you. The first viewpoint is crowded with a lot of tourists, and the views are not that impressive compared to the 2nd and 3rd viewpoints.
From the 1st viewpoint, it took me 45 minutes, as I opted for the less steep path. You can opt for the other one, which is more challenging and takes around 20 minutes.
After you reach the top, relax a bit, take some photos, and drink some water. The place has a viewing deck, some gardens, and rocks for you to sit and relax.
Head over to the viewpoint 3 to check out Phi Phi Island’s beauty at its best. There is a cafe up top that serves amazing delicious food. Please keep in mind that there is a small entry fee of around 30 BHT for every viewpoint.
Final Words: Is Koh Phi Phi Worth Your Time and Money?
Yes. There is no second opinion about the Phi Phi Islands being worth your time and money. So, make your plans to explore this beautiful island as soon as you can. If you are looking for a reliable tour partner, contact Virikson Holidays and get your next vacation sorted.
