Phi Phi in Thailand: A travellers area guide

Phi Phi was the first island we visited in South Thailand and it really didn’t disappoint! We spent around 4 nights here and we think that was a perfect amount of time for us. The island is well known for its beach fire shows, Monkeys, and party vibes.

First impressions

As our ferry pulled into the vicinity of Phi Phi we were immediately blown away by its beauty. And then it started pissing it down. And I mean really pissing it down! We pulled on our rain macs, stuffed our bags in their rain covers, and jumped off the boat, heading straight for our accommodation. Even with the rain hammering it down, we were in awe of what the island was like. A yellow brick road lines the main strip of Phi Phi where you can find rows of shops, restaurants, and bars, all sat neatly between the pier and the main beach on the island.

Where to stay

Phi Phi island is in our opinion quite a party island. And because of its size, the noise from the beach clubs travels very far. As we were staying on a hill overlooking the beach, it was extremely loud. We also moved onto a bungalow that was even further away in the jungle on our last day and we could still hear it echoing loudly around the island.

Although it was quite loud, we did enjoy our stay at Phi Phi Point Resort. The view was stunning, the room was spacious, however, you can’t be afraid of bugs, because the occasional cockroach, spider, and gecko would enter on their own accord. If you can stand the noise, then we recommend you book here. However, if you want somewhere a bit quieter, although we can’t know for sure, we believe if you book somewhere southwest (pier side) on the island you might avoid the long nights shoving earplugs further into your ears!

What to do

Longtail boat tour

This is a must. Many different places operate longtail or speedboat island tours on Phi Phi and these take you to nearby famous attractions such as Monkey Bay, Vikings Cave, and Maya Bay (the beach was filmed there), as well as let you snorkel in some beautiful destinations and even swim with glow in the dark plankton. Be careful when you swim in the dark though, I went under the water to see the plankton and immediately got stabbed by a sea urchin in both my feet. No sea urchins were harmed though!

The tours are great value for money and offer you an easy way to see all the best areas in and near Phi Phi in one day. You can choose whether you do a half-day or a full day and what kind of boat you would like to do it on.

Kayaking

On Phi Phi beach you can rent a kayak for a very good price. I believe we hired a two-person Kayak for 300 baht (£6.90), which allowed us to have it for two hours. That was more than enough time to kayak over to Monkey Beach (took around 15 minutes) and hang out there for over an hour. We were unlucky and didn’t actually see any monkeys, but it was still such a beautiful beach to be at and there was a sense of accomplishment after having rowed there ourselves.

Watch a fire show on the beach

Phi Phi is famous for its beach fire shows, and it is easy to see why! We were astounded by the men doing the shows and how their bodies get inches away from the naked flames. You can sit and watch whilst enjoying a drink from the bar. There are even opportunities to get involved when they ask members of the audience to come up and help and this offered even more seat-clenching moments. We promise the fire shows will not disappoint in Phi Phi.

Fight in ….. or just watch…. A Muay Thai boxing match

Reggae bar on Phi Phi island is quite something. First, you can watch professionals fight it out in the ring whilst you enjoy a cheap cocktail bucket. Then you can fight your best mate yourself to win a free one. This is of course if you want to. We did not! But boy was it fun to watch. They ask for participants both male and female to fight and although you are provided protective head and hand wear, anything goes really. However of course they stop you before it goes too far.

We saw some cracking fights!

Watch the sunset

Now, this might seem a cop-out to include on one of our things to-do list, but honestly, I have never seen a better sunset than on Phi Phi beach. If the weather conditions are good, purples, golds, and pinks illuminate the sky that sits between the two cliff sides enclosing Phi Phi beach. The beach itself is so calm and quiet at this time of night, so there really is nothing better to do than sit with a cold beer and watch the sun go down.

Hike to Koh Phi Phi viewpoint

Now, this admittedly is something that we were unable to do, due to me being quite ill and rundown whilst we were on the island. But it is something we wish we got the opportunity to, after seeing some of the photos from those who had. The viewpoint offers breathtaking views of the island. We have heard that the trail is good for beginners and intermediates and only takes around 20-30 minutes to complete. However, apparently it is quite strenuous s,o bring lots of water with you.

Overview of the island

Phi Phi was one of our favourite places to stay in the south of Thailand. It is definitely a party island in our opinion and did sometimes mean that we got some restless nights as the noise rang through the island. We did see mostly younger travellers on this island (18-24 age group) and it definitely had the least ex-pats of all the islands, probably due to its size. All in all, if you are looking for some good vibes, plenty to drink, and to watch good entertainment, you will love Phi Phi.