Ko Phi Phi Beach Guide

Ko Phi Phi is considered one of the most beautiful islands in south-east Asia. And with good reason – a thin sand bar links two rocky outcrops, creating a gorgeous tropical lagoon. But tourism on the island has always been surrounded with controversy; many believe that the beach resorts and other tourist developments have damaged the island’s natural beauty. But despite the recent influx of travelers, Ko Phi Phi’s beaches remain much less developed than the big resort towns in Phuket or Ko Samui.

Rather than a single island, Ko Phi Phi is actually a long archipelago. The only inhabited island is Ko Phi Phi Don – this is where the the beach-front bars and hotels are clustered around the long sands of Ton Sai Beach. Ton Sai town can be reached by ferry from either Phuket or Krabi town, and is popular amonst travelers for its ramshackle, hippy vibe. Hotel reps will meet you as you step off the boat, and the competition is fierce. Once you strike a good deal, your bags will be whisked away on a trailer, and you are free to wander through the quaint, narrow streets that stretch towards the hills, away from Ton Sai Beach. Hotels up on the hillside are usually cheaper, and some of them have spectacular views of the bay. Ko Phi Phi’s nightlife is concentrated on Ton Sai Beach. Some of the bars host open Thai Boxing nights – if you’re feeling brave enough you can step into the ring in exchange for a free bucket of cheap Thai whiskey.

Tranquil Beaches on Ko Phi Phi

Ton Sai beach is fun, but what really makes Ko Phi Phi special is the astonishing natural beauty of its undeveloped areas. Nearby, Ko Phi Phi Leh is a startlingly beautiful, uninhabited island. Take a boat-tour from Ton Sai to check out breath-taking rock formations, untouched beaches, and whole secions of coastline overrun with wild monkeys. A must-see is Maya Bay, where the smash-hit movie The Beach was shot. If a day-trip isn’t quite enough, and you want to spend the night at a deserted beach, then you should take a long-tail boat to the tranquil northern beaches of Ko Phi Phi Don. A handful of secluded beach-cottages make it possible to stay here for days at a time, escaping the hustle and bustle of the main beach.

No matter which beach you choose to visit on Ko Phi Phi, it will be hard to ignore the tragic remants of the 2004 tsunami. The tiny island community was devastated by the disaster, and small tributes and memorials are dotted all along the beaches. If you’d like to pay your respects, anyone is free to visit the Tsunami Memorial Park at Ton Sai Beach.