'''''The province of coal mines, Fossil shell beach, towering mountains, beautiful streams, an abundance of islands, palm plantations, sandy beaches, wonderful sea world, Emerald of Andaman, and heavenly Phi Phi Islands.'''''
'''Ko Phi Phi''' (????????????) is a small archipelago in Krabi Province.
The named islands are:
Although rapidly becoming less and less attractive due to the masses of tourists as well as the construction on the island, it's still a very beautiful place to visit, and is one of those places everybody should go at least once in their lifetime. Although the beaches are not the best in Thailand, the place has a good vibe and nightlife and there are 18 dive shops to choose from.
Most of the (over)development of Phi Phi Don is situated in or around Tonsai village, which is on the low, sandy isthmus that joins the two hilly spurs that comprise the rest of the island. There are also other, quieter resorts on Long Beach, Laem Thong, and at other less accessible areas of the island.
Ko Phi Phi was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, when nearly all of the island's infrastructure was wiped out. Redevelopment has, however, been swift, and services like electricity, water, Internet access and ATMs are up and running again, but waste handling has been slower to come back online.
It should be noted that, while very laid back, many of the local islanders are Muslim. You will lose considerable respect if you walk around town in your skimpies (this applies to Buddhist areas of Thailand too!). While many tourists do in fact parade down Main Street in their Speedos or thong bikinis, to avoid offending your hosts, it's usually best just to throw on a pair of shorts or a sarong; similarly, topless on the beaches, while grudgingly tolerated by most locals, is also probably best avoided.
Weather in the region is tropical - there are only two seasons: the hot season from January to April, and the rainy season from May to December. Temperatures during the year average 25oC to 32oC (77oF to 89.6oF) and the yearly rainfall averages 2568.5mm. Unlike in say Europe, the rain in this region comes down heavily over short periods.
From archaeological discoveries, it is believed that the area was one of the oldest communities in Thailand dating back to the prehistoric period. It is believed that this province may have taken its name after the meaning of Krabi, which means sword. This may have stemmed from a legend that an ancient sword was unearthed prior to the city_fs founding.
The name Phi Phi (pronounced _epee pee_f) originates from Malay, the original name for the islands were _ePulao Pi ah Pi. The name refers to the mangrove wood found there.
Ko Phi Phi is considered to be one of the most naturally beautiful islands in the world (in fact, there are six islands in Phi Phi). They lie 50km south-east of Phuket and are part of Had Nopparattara - Koh Phi Phi National Park which is home to an abundance of corals and amazing marine life. There are limestone mountains with cliffs, caves and long white sandy beaches. The national park covers a total area of 242,437 Rai.
Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le are the largest and most well-known islands.
There are two villages on Koh Phi Phi under administration of Ao Nang sub-district, Muang district, Krabi Province.
Koh Phi Phi comprises of 6 islands, 2 of them main ? Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le. The islands are surrounded by the Andaman Sea.
[http://www.destinationair.com Destination Air Shuttle] - direct seaplane transfers from/to Phuket International Airport and other popular Andaman coast destinations. They often run a low season promotion for transfer from Phi Phi to Phuket Airport for only 2000 baht (high season is 6000 baht), and land at Laem Thong near the northern tip of the island - transport to Tonsai, if required, is about 30 minutes by longtail boat. This is a fairly good deal considering the ferry (400 baht) plus taxi (700 baht) to Phuket's airport will run you around 1200 baht.
'''Krabi International Airport (KBV)''' is about 10 km from the city limits, 15 km from the city centre, 40km from Ao Nang and 23km from Had Yao. Thai Airways operates daily direct flights to/from Bangkok, likewise Air Asia from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Bangkok Airway flies direct to/from Krabi and Ko Samui nearly every day of the week and to/from. Nok Air operates daily flights to Krabi from Bangkok (Don Muang). Destination Air Shuttle, Thailand's only Seaplane service also routinely flies in and out of Krabi (Lanta) from Phuket and to the numerous outer islands.
For more information, contact:
The international departure tax surcharge is 700 baht but is included in most tickets now; domestic departure tax is included in the price of the flight.
National Car Rental and Budget Car Rental have a branch at the airport; motorcycle taxi rides are available outside the terminal.
Krabi Limousine (tel. +66-75692073) has a desk inside the terminal and provides "limousine taxi" (using large air-conditioned sedans) transport to Krabi for 500 baht; Phuket for 2500 baht. Krabi.com offers taxi and minibus (minivans) for less however travellers have to make deposit payment of 200 baht online via credit card.
An air-conditioned Airport Bus service started in 2007, fares are 90baht to Krabi. The bus service meets all incoming flights and serves most outgoing flights (note: it is not possible to catch the first 1-2-go plane in the morning with the new airport bus service) A songthaew to Krabi town is 40 baht from the road outside. Going to the airport they will drop you right at the departure terminal.
Ferries leave from Phuket and Krabi daily (from Krabi two ferries a day : 10 a.m and 03.00 p.m. and from Phuket several times a day during high season). Tickets are 350 baht to/from Phuket, Krabi (450 baht) or Ko Lanta (300 baht). They can be purchased at the dock or from tourist offices, most local guesthouses and hotels. From Krabi Town, the normal passenger ferry does not leave from the center of town anymore, but from a new passenger port (Klong Jilard Pier Tel. 0 7562 0052) about 3 km outside Krabi Town . Free taxi transfer to the pier should be included in the price of your ticket. Many times they'll take you to a travel agent near the Chao Fah Pier and sell you additional accommodations or services. Only ever buy the ticket you need. They add additional ferries during peak season.
Not all ferries are of equal quality. You can often take your ticket from a travel agent and apply it to a nicer ferry. Talk to the locals and find out what is the best ferry to take. The ferries run by Chao Ko group, particularly the smallest "Pichamon IV" are often overcrowded and appear to be very poorly maintaned, which does not inspire confidence, particuarly in heavy seas. In April 2007, a ferry operated by Andaman Wave Master caught fire and sank, and all aboard were forced to jump into the sea. Fortunately, nearby vessels were quickly able to rescue all the passengers, and no casualties occurred. The ferries run by PP Family are larger and seem more suited to the task.
Other tour vessels visit the island from several Phuket-based resorts, usually on day trips, the price for a speadboat from Rawai Beach was quoted at 15,000 baht return(or one way) for up to 6 people(Dec 6 2007). There are many speedboats operating directly from the beach but it may be best to book the day before as most seem to be on away on trips during the day. Speedboats can also be chartered from other nearby locations, but at a very high price (in July 2007, the starting price for a speedboat to Phi Phi Don from Ko Yao was quoted at 20,000 baht).
Buses from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (tel. +66-24351199) to Krabi take about 12 hours and depart as follows:
Shuttle buses run between Krabi airport and Phuket airport several times a day. There are also regular buses that make the 2 hour run. There are buses to Krabi from every provincial town in the south.
From Bangkok: #Proceed along Highway No. 4, passing Phetchaburi ? Prachuap Khiri Khan ? Chumphon ? Ranong ? Phang-nga, to Krabi. The total distance is 946 kilometers. #Travel along Highway No. 4 onto Highway No. 41 at Chumphon via Amphoe Lang Suan and Amphoe Chaiya, Surat Thani. Proceed towards Amphoe Wiang Sa, change to Highway No. 4035 for Amphoe Ao Luek, and switch back to Highway No. 4 again to Krabi. This route is 814 kilometers.
From Phuket: Proceed along Highways No. 402 and No. 4. The total distance is 176 kilometers.
The nearest train station to Krabi is in Trang province which is just south of Krabi.
Phi Phi officially has no motorised transport, though there are a few motorcycles with truck sidecars, usually used for goods and construction material transport. Transport on land is by foot or bicycle, but in the populated areas of Tonsai, nowhere is more than about ten minutes' walk from anywhere else. Long-tail taxi-boats ply between all beaches; on Phi Phi Don, you can also walk to any beach. From Ton Sai to Long Beach, expect to pay 40 baht/person in the afternoon, at least 80 baht at night. To have a complete boat to yourself, expect to pay at least 100 baht.
Wheelbarrows are used to transport goods, including your luggage if you like. Expect free "transport" from the pier to your room, but not necessarily in the opposite direction.
Tourism on Ko Phi Phi, like the rest of Krabi province, has exploded only very recently. In the early 1990s only the most adventurous travelers visited the island, staying in only the most basic accommodation costing the likes of 50-100baht a night. Nowadays, however, the place has turned into one of the major destinations for visitors to Krabi. The development however, is still nothing on a par with the likes of Phuket or Ko Samui. Even _etil this day however, budget backpackers can still get a cheap room away from the beach, up the hill a bit (safe from any Tsunami too!). Then, for those with plenty of spare cash on their credit cards, they can enjoy all the comforts of a 5-star hotel. Ko Phi Phi has plenty of nightlife to drink and dance but if that isn_ft your cup-of-tea, then there are lots of really quiet places to chill out and take it easy.
Krabi is a melting pot of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Muslims and even sea gypsies. The majority of the population in the rural areas is Muslim. Krabi however, does not suffer from any religious tension and the folk live in peace and harmony. Outside of the provincial town, the rural folk speak with a thick Southern dialect which is difficult for even other Thais to understand.
With this kind of mixture, Krabi is always celebrating something be it part of Thai Buddhist, Thai-Chinese or Thai-Islamic tradition. Visitors can also enjoy the annual boat-launching ceremonies of the sea gypsies and various long-tail boat races.
Even though it is Malay in origin, the art of batik has embedded itself within the local culture. There are also a lot of Krabi handicrafts such as pineapple paper.
'''Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival (????????????????????????)''' This is annually held in November to inaugurate the province_fs tourist season. Water sports competitions, cultural shows, and good-natured fun are the schedule.
'''Laanta Lanta Festival (??????????? ?????)''' The festival is usually held in March every year at the Old Community in Ko Lanta called Ban Sanga-Au, which has a very old history of more than 100 years. Ancient Chinese style houses can still be seen here. In this festival, tourists can see the traditional culture, previously unseen ceremonial demonstrations, Southern local performances, folk games, water sports competitions and enjoy the tastes from various kinds of food booths which are provided by prestigious hotels on the island.
'''Sat Duean Sip Festival or Festival of the Tenth Lunar Month (??????????????????????)''' This is the southern traditional merit making occasion to honour one's ancestors. Food offerings such as Khanom La, Khanom Chohu, Khanom Phong, Khanom Ba, and Khanom Kong or Khai Pla, are made offer to Buddhist monks.
'''Chak Phra Festival (????????????????)''' The original waterborne procession, where Buddha images are put on elaborately decorated pulpits on boats are pulled along on the river, has been replaced by a land procession. The festival was formerly accompanied with a performance of traditional boat songs. However, the traditional waterborne songs have since disappeared.
'''Loi Ruea Chao Le Festival (???????????????????)''' This old ritualistic tradition takes place on Ko Lanta during the full moon of the sixth and eleventh month in the lunar calendar. This is a religious rite performed by the sea gypsies of Ko Lanta, as well as, from other neighbouring areas, who gather on the beach near Sala Dan Village. They dance their famous "rong ngeng" round the boats of misfortune to be set adrift. Ceremonies feature singing and dancing. This festival is expected to bring prosperity and happiness to the participants.
'''Viewpoint''' - walk up to the Viewpoint, 186 metres above sea level (a very steep walk of between 10-25 minutes, depending on fitness), to get a breathtaking view of the entire island - particularly at dawn or sunset (bring a flashlight). You will be surprised at how narrow the sand strip is between the two main parts of the island.
'''Monkey Beach''' - accessible on foot or by renting a canoe, or be lazy and charter a longtail boat. Don't forget to take some bananas for the monkeys! Be careful as they can sometimes be aggressive.
'''Fireshow''' - there are several highly skilled and entertaining fireshows held nightly in several venues on the island, including at Carlito's, Apache Bar, Hippies, Carpe Diem, and The Tia and Millie Sunflower Bar on Lohdalum.
'''Tsunami Memorial Garden''' - by the Tia and Millie Sunflower Bar; a beautiful place for quiet contemplation and paying one's respects to the victims of the recent tragedy.
'''Phi Phi Don''' This island is the largest of the 6 Phi Phi islands and consists of two main sections. It is on Ton Sai where the original inhabitants settled and is now the home of the main accommodation area. Phi Phi Don is quite stunning and has earned the title of one of the most fantastic islands in the world. Nowadays though, with development, the beaches have had to pay a cost and so they_fre not quite as spectacular as they were in the days of yesteryear. The landscape however, can never be ruined.
'''Phi Phi Le''' The second largest of the Phi Phi Islands is extremely beautiful, and pristine, but authorities in charge do not allow visitors to stay overnight. Besides the beach, other attractions include the Phaya Naak Cave with its prehistoric paintings and edible-nest swiftlets.
'''Yao Beach - Phi Phi Don''' Yao Beach, just south of Ton Sai, offers visitors some fantastic views, scenery and coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving. This small place is packed out however, with places to stay and so some people do complain that the vicinity has been rather over developed. You can get there either by walking from Ton Sai or taking a long-tail boat.
'''Lanti Beach - Phi Phi Don''' Next door to Yao Beach, Lanti Beach is very similar in many regards with its great scenery and coral reefs. You can get there on foot.
'''Hin Khao Beach - Phi Phi Don''' This beach is extremely quiet and can only be reached on foot.
'''Ton Sai Bay - Phi Phi Don''' Ao Ton Sai is where most of the action is; be it restaurants, bars, hotels or guesthouses. Most tourists stay at Ton Sai Bay because of the convenience. Even though it isn_ft the most beautiful place on Phi Phi, it is still impressive.
'''Laem Tong, Phi Phi Don''' Laem Thong, located at the very north of the island offers visitors and lovely quite beach with exhilarating scenery. Accommodation on Laem Thong is aimed at higher spending tourists.
'''Yung Island''' This island just north of Phi Phi Don has a rocky beach and some coral.
'''Pai Island''' Not far from Yung Island is Pai Island. On the northern and eastern sides of the island are sandy beaches.
'''Other Attractions'''
'''Ko Pida Nok''' Besides an abundance of pretty coral, this island is home to plentiful marine life including: leopard sharks, turtles and moray eels. This island is popular with divers.
'''Ko Pida Nai''' Just up from Pida Nok is Pida Nai. Like its sister island, it is a good place for diving.
'''Shark Point (Hin Bida)''' Shark Point is a marine sanctuary with a reef that comprises of three pinnacles. The largest of which actually breaks the surface appearing as a barren rock outcropping. The reef is home to a delightful abundance of tropical, colorful soft corals and vibrant sea fans that decorate the limestone pinnacles.
'''Garang Heng''' Garang Heng is a small submerged reef just east of Phi Phi Le. It offers healthy reef with anemones, soft corals and even sharks.
'''Maya Bay''' Maya Bay has arguably Phi Phi_fs most fantastic beach and was the location for the movie The Beach (Leonardo DiCaprio) in 1998. The bay also has superb marine life and is a favourite spot for experienced divers.
'''Wang Long''' This site is well known for its underwater cave systems and is only recommended for experienced divers. The caves tunnel into the rock face in two places and open out into a larger cave where surfacing is possible.
'''King Cruiser Wreck''' A popular and perhaps the best dive site off Ko Phi Phi is King Cruiser which claim remnants of a passenger ship which sunk in 1997 after it hit the Anemone reef. The Anemone reef is in itself a unique dive site with a massive limestone pinnacle which soars 30 meters from the seabed to just 4 meters beneath the surface. The site is well-known for its abundance of sea anemones that cling to every surface while attracting enormous schools of fish. Different types of fish to be seen include: tropicals, snappers, groupers and colorful clown fish, along with larger game-fish like tuna and barracuda as well as the occasional leopard shark.
'''Hin Dot''' These submerged pinnacles, often called Chimney Rock, are located just to the south of Phi Phi Don. The formation drops to a depth of 30 meters and has several coral shelves for exploration upon your gradual ascent. Nurse sharks can occasionally be found here.
'''Lohsamah Bay''' The bay is popular for night-time divers. It has a sandy bottom with oysters and clams and patches of brain coral for nocturnal reef critters to hide amongst.. There is a spectacular 15 meter deep canyon just wide enough for single file swimming on the eastern side.
'''Hin Pae''' This is a relatively shallow dive site - 10 to 15 meters deep. Its shallow depth offers excellent snorkeling. Its soft and hard coral provide shelter for a rich variety of coral fish. Crabs, lobsters, angelfish, groupers, snappers and surgeonfish are also residents of this area.
There are many dive shops, and some very good dive locations. Prices are regulated, so expect to pay the same everywhere. Shops on the island do a few different trips. The typical trip offered is a two tank local dive within the Phi Phi Marine park which will run about 2500 baht, 2000 baht if you bring your own gear. They also do 2 -3 tank trips to the King Cruiser wreck with your follow up dives at both Shark Point and Anemone Reef, this trip usually runs between 3200 -3900 depending on the number of dives you do. No diving trip to Phi Phi would be complete if you didn't head down to Hin Daeng. Hin Daeng has some of the stepest drops in Thailand (60m+) as well as being the place you are most likely to see Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. This trip usually runs around 4500 baht. The town centre is crammed with [http://www.krabidivers.com dive shops] and is fiercly competitive. For a more relaxed experience there are several dive shops also available on Longbeach. Check out [http://www.divethailand.com DiveThailand.com]for more information. (The original UK ran [http://www.longbeachdivers.com/ Long Beach Divers] are located on the beach opposite the main reef - Feel free to use our hammock!.) Koh Phi Phi Krabi Dive Sites:
'''Dive shops'''
Most stuff is brought in by boat, so most things are less original and more expensive than on the mainland. However, there are a few shops that manufacture their goods on the island. Prices for commodities vary widely between shops.
D's Books, with two locations on Ko Phi Phi and many others throughout Southern Thailand, is a well respected book store.
Most of the items sold here are either made by local fishermen or they are brought to the island from Phuket town. Rising commercialization and inflow of tourists throughout the year seems to be a big bonus for these locals. Prices told may exactly not be worth the item, but if you are a good talker, you can bargain for a good price.
'''Spa, Pharmacy, and Other Service'''
'''Rock Climbing'''
Krabi with its specific landscape is ideal for learning rock climbing, there are lots of different courses for beginners ? advanced. The courses available range from just half a day to three whole days in length. All instructors are properly qualified and well-experienced. There are at least ten rock climbing schools in Railay and Ton Sai, and several more in Ko Phi Phi.
In regards to advanced rock climbing - over the years, many Thai and foreign rock climbing experts have blazed routes up the many rock faces both on the mainland and Koh Phi Phi. There are now more than 600 routes.
'''Diving'''
With its crystal clear water, colourful coral and huge diversity of marine life, Krabi is a must-go for all those interested in diving. There are courses for anyone, regardless to whether they are near-on experts or complete beginners. PADI Open Water courses take around three to four days to complete and their instructors are a totally world-class standard.
In general, Southern Thai food is renowned for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (Khanom Jeen) and chicken birayani.
Food on Ko Phi Phi is extremely varied, given the diminutive size of the island, but is not as spectacular as it generally is in Thailand, because most ingredients have to be brought in by boat from the mainland. Nevertheless there are some restaurants that manage to serve surprisingly tasty food:
As for Ko Phi Phi, reasonable priced and tasty seafood is obviously what most tourists long for when visiting a coastal province like Krabi. In this connection, the wing shell (?????????) is Krabi_fs famous cuisine and is eaten with a spicy dip. In addition, stirred fried Spotted Babylon (???????), which is found in mangrove forests, with chilies and basil is also famous. This cuisine is common in Krabi_fs restaurants. Another great Krabi taste is, of course, seafood.
Drinks prices are quite high (cocktails 180 baht). Many bars offer similar entertainment, cabarets and striking fire shows - performed by the same people, advertised by posters and flyers apparently drawn by the same person...
Accommodation is relatively expensive - doubles range from 400 baht up into the 1000s the closer you get to the beach front. If you are a budget traveler expect to work hard to find a decent price. If you get really desperate a couple of places rent out tents for about 200?300 baht - mind your valuables! One thing to note, prices are double during the high season which runs from October/November until May. Other time of year you can find relatively cheap accommodation in the 200 -300 range.
To have the best choice for accommodation, arrive in Phi Phi just before the time of the full moon party, when most people will be on Ko Pha Ngan. Since a lot of people move from Pha Ngan to Phi Phi after the party, accommodation may be very hard to find on Phi Phi around this time. It is not uncommon to see people arrive on the morning ferry only to leave on the afternoon one because they have been unsuccessful in aquiring accommodation.
Ton Sai Bay has a variety of nightlife; something for everyone_fs taste. Jazz, Blues and Classics can be found at the leading hotels. Or, if it_fs romance you are after, you and your loved one can relax in one of the outside hotel bars and sip a cocktail under the stars.
If 5-star hotel service isn_ft within your budget, then never mind; there are some bars on Ton Sai set on the beach where you can order a beer and lay back in one of their hammocks or sit back on the beach and enjoy the company of friends. The Karma Bar is one of these popular _ehippy_f hang-outs. For those however, who love nothing more than a dance to compliment their drinks then they won_ft be disappointed. Phi Phi has a collection of bars where visitors can boogy away to the latest dance tunes while having the chance to savor a breath-taking variety of cocktails. Top bars in Phi Phi include the Reggae Bar and Tin-Tin Bar. The law-enforcers usually allow, if there is no trouble, bars to open until the last customers go home.
'''Medical Facilities'''
Ko Phi Phi has a couple of pharmacies. For any bad illnesses, go back to Krabi Town or better still, Phuket.
There are currently more than 1,000 foreigners living in Krabi, many of them retirees. Ko Phi Phi however, since it is very tourist-orientated is not a retiree_fs favorite destination.
There are some other retirees though, who reside in extremely quiet locations well away from the tourist scene. Of course, the cost of living off the beaten track is far cheaper.
In the author_fs opinion here, costs in Krabi have shot up over the past decade and it is now one of the land_fs more expensive retirement destinations (tourist areas).
Nationwide television, cable TVs, local cable TV channels are available in Krabi province especially in tourist spots. International newspapers and magazines are available at some bookstores in downtown and tourist spots.
Landline telephones, satellite phones, all mobile phone systems, high-speed internet (ADSL), post offices and parcel services are available in some parts of Ko Phi Phi.
The best time to visit Ko Phi Phi is between the months November to April when the area_fs climate is less hot than usual. During this period the island gets a lot of dry North Easterly winds, so giving dry blue skies and starry nights. Then, down on the beaches one can enjoy nice sea breezes. From May to October the area gets a lot of rainfall, more on average than the rest of the country. During this period the island gets a lot of moist South Westerly winds, so giving a mixture of dry days and wet ones. The sea stays at a warm 29 degrees Celsius all year round. Visitors however, coming in this period will find it cheaper.
'''Do's'''
'''Don_fts'''
'''Phi Phi 3 Days / 2 Nights'''
'''Tour & activity operators'''
The area code for Ko Phi Phi is 075