Phi Phi is a group of 6 islands of which only one is inhabited, Phi Phi Don. The other Islands are Phi Phi Ley, Bamboo Island, Mosquito Island, Koh Yung, Bida Nok and Bida Nai; some of the most stunning islands in the world, both above and below the surface. With so much to savour and enjoy on the Phi Phi Islands it is difficult to single out what are their biggest and best attractions. Yet the long white beaches, stunning cliff and jungle scenery and outstanding coral reefs and tropical fish are consistently at the top of the favourites list with guests that visit Phi Phi.
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Your introduction to Phi Phi Don: as you swing around the headland on the ferry boat from Krabi or Phuket, Ao Tonsai opens and appears before you with overwhelming alacrity. Suddenly there is a massive cliff range on one side, a tropicana of jungle and white sand on your other side and the village and beach of Tonsai still 2 kilometres away at the head of the bay. Nothing quite prepares you for this experience and nothing ever robs you of the memory. The picture-postcard quality of the view is awesome. There is then so much more to seeing and experiencing the scenery of the Phi Phi Islands. Be sure to visit the hill-top lookout of Viewpoint that provides you with a bird's-eye view of the two bays, Ao Tonsai and Loh Dalum, that converge on the central sand-spit of Phi Phi Don but don't quite meet. Add to this the jungle-trails from Long Beach to Loh Mo Dee or Ao Tonsai to Ao Runtee and the high-rise bouldering trail from Loh Dalum to Yung Kasem (bouldering is a mild form of rock-climbing where you clamber up and over large boulders rather than negotiate vertical walls) and you can see the stunning island scenery from a range of heights, back-drops and overhead canopies. Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lei have over a dozen bays and beaches between them. These range from the awe-inspiring drama of the limestone cliffs surrounding the beaches of Ao Maya (Maya Bay - Phi Phi Ley) to the lush, verdant, jungle-green hills bordering the east coast beaches of Phi Phi Don. Tonsai Beach is often busy, however there are also more remote beaches, access to these beaches like Ao Runtee, Loh Mo Dee, Ao Nui and Ao Lana (all on Phi Phi Don) is commonly by long-tail boat. Only the more popular, busier, beaches have amenities that sell soft drinks, beer or food or provide bathrooms for public use. On other beaches it really is back to nature. Surrounding all this stunning scenery is the vibrant beauty of the Andaman Sea. The water has an average, yearly, temperature of 29 degrees centigrade, the clarity of the visibility is crystal-like and the vibrancy of the marine life and coral reefs is tangible. Snorkelling or scuba diving activities are a must for every visitor. |
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| The Phi Phi Islands are rife with colourful tropical fish, like the orange clownfish that dances in front of your mask, and also attract some bigger visitors like the blacktip reef shark that you can snorkel beside every morning in only 1-4m of water. A shelf-reef borders the entire east coast of Phi Phi Don with access from Loh Mo Dee, Ao Runtee and Laem Tong just a 25m swim off the beach. On the west coast the cliff walls plummet 18-25m down to the seabed and the underwater drama continues with sea-level caves, blowholes and underwater tunnels and swim-throughs all eroded out of the limestone cliff-faces. On Phi Phi Ley the underwater world is different again. Greater diversity of coral types (barrel-sponges, fan corals, massive mountainporous corals, brain corals) and formations can be found in Loh Samah and Ao Pi-Leh. Plus increased chances of seeing a whaleshark, leopard shark or dolphins around the southern end of the smaller island. And so much more... |  |
