The Phi Phi-Islands (Thai Mu Ko Phi Phi, spoken: mùu gkɔ pii pii) are a group of six islands in the eastern Andaman Sea in the province Krabi, each about 40 kilometers from Phuket and the city Krabi away. The two main islands are Ko Phi Phi Don and Ko Phi Phi Le.
The small islands, some of which are still covered by dense forest, with white beaches and crystal clear water - turquoise blue when the weather is fine - come pretty close to the ideal of a tropical paradise. The fact that the film here also contributes to its popularity The Beach from 2000 was filmed with Leonardo Di Caprio.
background
The infrastructure on the Phi Phi Islands was destroyed by the seaquake in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. 200 bungalows were washed into the sea, some of them together with residents and employees. The number of people killed on Phi Phi is around 850. 1,300 people are still missing. 70% of the buildings in the main town were destroyed. The reconstruction is now almost complete. There are still a few signs of the flood disaster on the beaches.
getting there
You can get to Ko Phi Phi by boat or seaplane. There are ferries from several times a day to Phi Phi Don Phuket or Krabi. Duration approx. 1.5 hours, costs approx. 400 baht (8 euros). In addition, boat trips including snorkeling or diving to Phi Phi Leh are offered from various locations.
NokAir and Thai Air Asia offer (as of March 2015) daily combined flight and ferry connections from Bangkok-Don Mueang via Krabi (Nokair) or Phuket (Air Asia) to Phi Phi. The combined flight and travel time is approx. 5:10 hours. The standard price for one way at Nokair is around 3500 baht. There are saver prices from around 1500 (Air Asia) or 1600 Baht (Nokair).
mobility
Since there is only a small street on the main inhabited island (Phi Phi Don), there are hardly any cars. Motorized vehicles are normally not allowed to enter the interior of Tonsai Village. Either you walk or can be transported around the outside in a longtail boat. Otherwise, mainly carts, mopeds with sidecars or golf carts are used for transport. Many locals also travel by bike.
Tourist Attractions
- Ko Phi Phi Don. The larger of the two main islands is 28 km² in size: 8 kilometers long and 3.5 km at its widest point, and consists of two rock masses connected by a narrow jetty (Ao Lo Dalam Chong Kao). In the bays on either side of the compound are extensive beaches with views of great cliffs that drop steeply into the water.
- Ko Phi Phi Leh. 6.6 km²: 3 kilometers long and 1 kilometer at its widest point; uninhabited and consists almost entirely of cliffs and caves. The island offers an impressive picture: steep cliffs and blue lagoons formed by white sand. The island was with Maya Bay in 1998 the setting for the movie "The Beach".
trips
Regional operators offer snorkeling trips to the Phi Phi Islands.
activities
The main activities on Ko Phi Phi are swimming, diving and boat trips. Since the real "life" only takes place in the main bay, there are many small shops, diving schools, restaurants and various bars. We recommend the lounge / bar "Carpe Diem" in the direction of Long Beach. Located directly on the beach and with a nice ambience like seats in a long tail boat, and a second level was built directly into a tree.
The legendary Ko Phi Phi Sunset Trip shouldn't be missed if you're only on the island for a few days. It is a trip on a kind of excursion boat to Maya Beach, where the film "The Beach" was filmed. There are a few stops along the way. With the paddle boat you can explore a fantastic lagoon and then look at the coral reef and the countless fish in the shallow water with a snorkel and diving goggles. Maya Beach is accessed by swimming and then through a hole in a rock wall via a small cave. Finally there is the sunset over Phuket at dinner. The whole thing takes about 6 hours and costs about 500 THB. The necessary equipment is available on board.
kitchen
In view of the stream of tourists who wallow through the alleys of Phi Phi every day, it is not surprising that the prices here are usually a little higher than on the mainland. Of course, the numerous open restaurants near the harbor are particularly eye-catching. In the seafood displays, you can put together your own meal and then choose a method of preparation from the menu at the table or give it to the BBQ, where everything is grooved.
Cheap
There are still small, inconspicuous food stalls on Phi Phi Island. The employees of the small shops, construction workers, etc. eat here. You just move a few meters into the side streets. On the street side you often only see a small display with some fruit. Behind it is often a small, dark room, where you can see people sitting, especially at lunchtime. A delicious rice soup and a handful of chicken satay skewers often cost no more than 70 or 80 THB
nightlife
Specific descriptions of the numerous bars and discos are not possible at this point. The selection is too diverse. Only 3 are representative here. The Reggae bar can be found in the center of the village and has its own Thai boxing ring, where courageous tourists can step into the ring after the show fights and test their repartee to the applause of the cheering crowd. The Hippies bar is right on the beach (pier side) if you go north from the place. She is known on the island for her fire shows. On the way there you come to the Apachebar over, which is built quite idiosyncratic on several levels like terraces and offers a discotheque every evening and shows changing small shows.
At Lodalum Beach there are also a lot of beach bars with evening fire shows, most of them are open until around 1 a.m. and play the usual club charts, the Stones Bar is more drum'n'bass-heavy and open all the time (after 1 a.m. the music gets quiet turned).
A specialty on Phi Phi is that many Farang girls (i.e. Europeans) also work for the bars, so you should keep in mind when buying drinks;)
