Phi Phi Islands Travel Guide
Phi Phi Islands Guide: The Two Worlds
With this Phi Phi Islands guide, I tried to collect tips that will be helpful for you before heading there. A tiny island with two totally different vibes – from peaceful views to wild night parties.
Hey guys,
Have you ever been to a place that feels like two different worlds well … Welcome to Phi Phi and with my Phi Phi Islands guide, I’ll walk you through what makes it so unforgettable (the bad and the good).
When I first stepped onto its shores, I was expecting a beautiful Thai island, and it kind of was, but what I found was so much more. From stunning sunrises to midnight madness, Phi Phi wraps its arms around you and pulls you into a noisy, chaotic, and crazy experience.
In this post, I’ll share the full story of my Phi Phi adventure – what to expect, what to avoid, and how to soak up every bit of this unforgettable place.
Let’s dive in
Quick Tips from My Phi Phi Islands Guide
- Durantion: 2 nights, and in my opinion it was more than enough.
- Stay: Anita Resort Phi Phi (if you can book the bungalows)
- Tours: Book a tour to Maya Bay, explore Viking Cave and Monkey Beach, and swim and snorkel in cristal clear waters.
- Eat: The Mango Garden – if you are a mango lover i promise you this is for you.
- Drink: The Snug Bar – great for a pre-dinner cocktail.
- See: The Viewpoint hike – especially Viewpoint 3.
- Do: Bargain at the shops, explore both sides of the island, watch the Fire Shows, watch the sunset, check out the parties, rent a Long-Tail Boat
Arriving in Phi Phi
We took a ferry from Phuket and once we docked, the crazyness of Phi Phi hit me.
Upon arrival, a modest 20 THB fee (approximately €0.53 or $0.58) is collected to support environmental preservation efforts. There are no cars or scooters on the island, it’s super small, with narrow pathways you’ll have to walk by foot. The only wheels you’ll see are hotel staff pushing bag carts to help tourists with their luggage, so I really recommend packing light. We chose to stay at Anita Resort Phi Phi, a charming spot, get the bungalows for an authentic experience, they are lovely.
Read more about Koh Phi Phi National Park – here.
The island immediately split in two before my eyes – one side peaceful and quiet, the other bursting with music, fire, and people everywhere.
One thing I noticed right away were the mosquitos. They were way more aggressive 😄 than the ones in Phuket, so make sure to bring something for this. I use the thai massage oil in the tiny jars and it helped like charm.
Day & Night
By day, Phi Phi was beautiful, great views, lots of souvenir shops (which I love), slow-paced wandering and chilling, cute coffee spots, and everyone was so nice and welcoming.
But when the sun sets, the party starts. Loh Dalum Beach becomes a wild blur of lights, fire shows, loud speakers, and strangers are turning into your dance partners. It’s crazy and slightly overwhelming if you did not expected this.
We started our night at The Snug Bar for some cocktails, then we walked to the beach and watched the famous fire shows, which were really great. I’ve uploaded a short video so you can see.
Phi Phi Viewpoint
My Phi Phi Islands guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Viewpoint hike.
One morning, I woke up early and decided to hike to the Phi Phi Viewpoint. I’d heard it was beautiful, but I didn’t expect it to hit me so deeply.
The hike itself is doable , but with lot’s of stairs so keep that in mind (do it in the morning to avoid the intense heat, bring lots of water, a hat, and comfy shoes), and there are three marked viewpoints. Make sure to go all the way to Viewpoint 3 – it’s where the island’s iconic hourglass shape can be fully seen. Before you reach the top you will have to pay a small entrance fee of 50 baht. Also, at the top you will find the Viewpoint Bar, so if you have time just enjoy a drink.
At the top, I saw photos of Phi Phi before and after the 2004 tsunami are displayed. That moment was very emotional for me. The island lost so much – over 4,000 people died or were injured. And yet, here it stands, stunning and alive. It made me appreciate the resilience of this place and people even more.
The People, the Vibe & the Spots
If Phi Phi has a secret, it’s the people. The locals are truly amazing, always smiling and ready to help. What I loved about Thai culture is how warm and respectful everyone was, genuinely kind to everyone.
The Shops:
As I mentioned, the place is full of shops, so if you want to buy something, just bargain, Thai people love it! It’s like a game for them. It was a bit difficult for me at first, but by the 5th or 6th day, I got the gist of it.
The Laundry spots:
It might sound crazy, but one of the first things you’ll notice are the laundry spots, they’re literally everywhere, and many tourists actually use them. They typically cost around 50 baht per kilogram.
7-Eleven, The Weed Shops & The Tattoo spots:
Also, the 7-Elevens are everywhere, so if you need something on the go, you’ll have plenty of options. What struck me the most were the weed shops, they were literally one after another, I couldn’t believe it! I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many weed shops in one place, and everything around me smelled like weed… oh, and the tattoo places too again literally everywhere.
The Long-Tail Boats:
The Long-tail boats will probably be another first things you notice on the Phi Phi Islands. For many people staying in remote hotels, they’re the only way to reach the village, since there are no cars or other vehicles on the island. I know I said negotiation is a big deal, but for this specific activity, it’s almost impossible.
The Hospital:
There’s also a small hospital close to the pier , around 5 min walk, however it’s for smaller injuries, but for anything more serious, you’d need to head over to Phuket, where the hospital is much better equipped.
Watch the Sunset:
Who doesn’t enjoy watching sunsets, so here are few suggestions I can give you to admire the view:
- At Loh Dalam Bay – there are few great bars to enjoy the sunset and a cocktail , you can try The Sunflower Beach Bar or The Slinky Bar.
- At Ton Sai Bay – you can try Pirate Bar or the Chill out Bar
- Or just climb the Phi Phi ViewPoint and watch it from there , you can either sit on the rocks or have a drink at the Viewpoint Bar.
What’s Not Perfect
Okay, what i didn’t like were the beaches and the water, they didn’t blow me away like I expected. Maybe because of the tourism pressure, the nature here isn’t as untouched as some spots in Thailand. The water was really greasy and stinky, and if you want to swim, I honestly don’t think you can do it. I had to go really far from the beach just to reach water that was a bit deeper.
But honestly, between the vibe, the people, the food, and the fire shows, I barely noticed. And as I mentioned, I stayed there for 2 nights and I don’t regret it. Phi Phi was definitely a place I wanted to see.
Phi Phi is such a place of contrasts , peaceful in the mornings, wild at night, full of beauty and resilience, and with a vibe that changes with the tide.
It reminded me that the best places aren’t always picture-perfect. Sometimes they’re wild, raw, and crazy – just like life.
So, if you ever want to visit Phi Phi I advice you to pack your sense of adventure & an open mind ( you will need this).
Have you been to Phi Phi Islands? Or is it on your bucket list? Leave me a comment and share your favorite memory, or your biggest question. We can keep the story going
– Tsveti 🌸
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